Gravel bikes, serious fans and much more | Bicycle components (2023)

Svenja, product management

How it all began ...

When and how exactly the history of modern gravel bicycles begins: there are almost exactly 100 years between the two conceivable beginnings and also a lot of space for interpretations ...
If someone follows the explanation that sees the origin on the European soil, the view inevitably focuses on the bicycle career of Biancos in Italy in the early twentieth century.At that time, bicycle races by bicycles were moved on unpaid gravel roads.The English term for gravel- "gravel" has not played a lead role.
However, he did this very well in the second possible starting point of this type of bicycle: since 2015 (or a little earlier), the first gravel bikes rolled over the extensive "gravel paths" in the west of the United States.Speed on non -paved surfaces and straight kilometers.About England for Europe and found its fans as a "adventure racing bike" or gravel cycling within a small, manageable community.

What is gravel and what is not?

Visually, gravel bikes are relatively similar to CX bicycles, also called CX: a more or less filigree frame, profiled tires, run cyclist, also known as the fall bar.Because the motto is applied to tombs: the road is the goal.And not around the round in an established course.In this regard, gravel is also synonymous with freedom on two wheels.For the adventure you can try on this wheel.I simply continue without having to worry a lot about the way the distance is seen on the route.
With this versatility, a tomb bike follows the old requirement of a certain ritchey tone: a bicycle for everything, the "bicycle".And at the same time, the gravel also clearly differs from the surrounding bike categories: the bike mountain, which is born in many different subgroups, and the highly high, in favor of speed but also sensitive (clumsy) pure bike.
In this context, tombs are not subject to rigid rules that, for example, try their heads.

How do I recognize a gravel bike?

The most impressive feature of a gravel bike is the combination of autumn bar and, compared to the running bike, the wider tires.The latter requires a certain freedom of tire for the frame and fork to give the most outlined tires.The width of the tire fluctuates between 35 and 50 millimeters, depending on the bike.
An important but less impressive feature is the geometry of gravel bicycles.These bikes are designed to make a distance, regardless of how the surface is.Therefore, the distance between axles is quite long, which guarantees the rest.The steering angle is relatively flat to giving slope safety.String supports are relatively long, so that the even more demanding terrain can be dominated.And the lowest support is quite deep, which also ensures the stability of driving on rugged terrain.The seat position can be mainly compared with this of resistance and tourism running bikes: it is something more vertical, not for aerodynamic, but in long days in the assembly chair.
When it comes to equipment, bravelbike disc brakes, excellent delay, are standard.Impulse is a mixture of mountain bike components and race bike, but now it is increasingly consisting of pure races groups on many bicycles, simple units with a single plate, but a large tape is already installed in a large number ofbicycles.This provides weights by weight, maintenance, looks elegant and is sufficient in many regions due to broadband translation rate.However, two chains in some places have advantages, for example, in the Alps with very long and steep climbs.

What is the advantage of a gravel bike?

With a lot, the best of a gravel bike: you no longer need to worry about choosing the route.The instructions modulated on the route do not restrict it, invite you.Where running cyclists in front of Flick's Flick pebbles.- The organ keeps its hands in its carbon carbon and the reversal cyclists or allergic mountains to the audible resistance of the tires, begins with the gravel motorcyclist that begins the adventure that the adventure begins .. because in a gravel bike it doesn't matter ifThe asphalt suddenly produce if the gravel route becomes a root carpet.A gravel bike is designed for such discovery rides exactly.
And here is exactly where the versatility of this bicycle comes into play: a gravel bike is much more than a new bicycle category, forms a type of platform you can use according to your wishes and preferences.Equipped with protective and lighting sheets, it is a quick and robust vehicle for trafficking in cities and work trips: "gravel trips", as it were.Until attracting gravel races ...