I am a road cyclist, and I intend on getting a new bike soon. I’d like to use it to zoom around town for fun like I already do on my road bike, but I also want to be able to commute with it. As such, I’d like it to be able to handle light grass and dirt when I need to (no mud, gravel, excessive drops, etc). I’ve been thinking about a gravel or cross bike, but they’re just not quite “zoomy” enough for me; I like more aggressive geometry and a nice, aero frame. Additionally, there has been a growing trend for thicker tires on road bikes, so a modern road bike should be able to fit cross tires. Should I just get a new road bike and throw some 33mm cross tires on it? Or should I suck it up and get a cross/gravel bike that’s actually designed for dirt? On one hand I want to zoom and won’t be on dirt/grass all that much, but on the other I don’t want to ruin an expensive bike by taking it off-road when I shouldn’t. Help a brother out.
I started out as a mountain biking kid with my dad, but pretty much exclusively road bike now. To be honest, I routinely go over grass and dirt on my road bike for shortcuts, as long as you’re careful it’s fine. Especially if you throw slightly more robust tires on them and it’s more the occasion than the rule I wouldn’t worry about it.