Every Mountain Biker Should Own a Gravel Bike

Gravel bikes have been all the rage over the past few years. Some think that this attention is well-earned, and others feel like it's a cash grab by the bike industry to deepen their pockets further. 

While I won't sit here and tell you that the gravel concept is a far cry from rigid mountain bikes or even hardtails, it is a very different game than many believe. On the road, it's just a slow-riding road bike. On the trail, it provides a "sketch" factor that many of us mountain bikers yearn for, and that's why I've taken such a liking to them. If you've never taken an XC bike, and ridden it on more challenging terrain, you're missing out. Being "under-gunned" is a favorite pastime of mine. I enjoy feeling as if I'm holding on for dear life on a short-travel bike. It gives me the chance to practice some of the technical skills I want, whereas on a bigger bike, plowing straight through would be a sufficient option. There's also a bit of thrill involved that's worth chasing.

Take all that, and put it into a drop bar bike, with 700 X 40c tires. It's a whole new world. The options for what a ride looks like become so much more endless. Often times I'll find myself on the road, commuting to work, seeing trails off the road that seem fun, so I choose to take that path. Sometimes it's singletrack, sometimes fire roads, and sometimes true gravel. The mix-up makes things feel fresh. That same boring commute becomes the ride you needed to change your entire day. 

As a mountain biker, the skills you need to excel are already there. Line choice, braking, and weight placement are all familiar feelings. These are the hardest things for a roadie to learn how to go when transitioning to gravel riding. I'll be the first to tell you, my fitness isn't always my shining star, but when it comes to class 4 roads through the hill towns in Vermont, fitness matters so much less than technical ability. Fitness comes with time, bike handling comes with a lot more time.

Mountain bikers should rejoice, there's a category of riding that opens up doors for all of us to play with. Why wouldn't we at least give it a fair shake? 

I've heard the arguments about gravel bikes being "Less good at riding trails, and less good at riding roads" and you won't get an argument from me on that. What it boils down to, is perspective. Instead of putting these things into the two categories they can do, why not create a totally new category that encompasses everything? 

Gravel bikes are terrible road bikes, and even worse mountain bikes, but you know what? They're pretty damn good gravel bikes.