Reddit for cyclists who enjoy riding and racing gravel

Hey all. I recently purchased a 2024 Cube Nuroad EX. It comes with CUBE GR 2.3 Disc rims, and 45mm tyres. Im wanting to replace the tyres with either GP5000, Prielli P Zero or Schwalbe G-One RS - Looking at around 32c or 35

I cand fine any information on these rims (or any labels on the rims themselves, in regards to min tyre width.

Will these rims take 32c tyres ok?

Is this a matter of bottom bracket spacing, or will I need an XTR crankset?

The old Ultegra 6870 derailleur was braze-on with a high clamp adapter. The new XTR is mounted using a high clamp adapter.

https://preview.redd.it/apf9kffz5fge1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea280b4ba481f3d5c3710fc6f1196e38f8f996cd

I'm new to this corner of the cycling world and I've seen conflicting guidance on handlebar sizing. Some go with the road bike convention of matching bar width to shoulder width while others recommend going wider—sometimes dramatically wider. So I'd like to tap the wisdom of the crowd.

Please indicate your bar width preference relative to your shoulder width below. If you haven't properly measured your shoulder width, please refrain from participating until you do so.

View Poll

Welcome to the dirt, Mystique! (I'm not totally sold on the name. Alternates could be: Nebula, Saddness, and Bo-Katan)
Third build ever...and I can honestly say it was my least favorite. I ran into every problem possible and spent hours upon hours doing research; scouring the interwebs for opinions, advice, anecdotes, and last resorts. I even learn new curse words!
I'm *almost* certain it was worth it...someone convince me!
Last thing is to take off the rest of that "unicorn horn"...but I also think it can wait a bit.

https://preview.redd.it/iq9rvrkfvege1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c74ebcd02fe75545f9f916976ecca93ff752c7f

I'll be doing the Homegrown Gravel 100-mile race (called "Border Wars" until 2024) in a few weeks and I'm looking for some tire advice, especially from people familiar with the terrain.

The race is 70/30 gravel/pavé. From what I can tell, there are some pretty non-trivial paved climbs:

Solid means paved.

At the moment, in Central PA, where most of the gravel is relatively well-behaved and there's always plenty of paved road to get to it, I'm running 44mm Tufo Thunderos, but I'm thinking that I might be better off with something even bigger — e.g., MTB tires such as the Conti Race King 2.2 — for Homegrown, especially after watching this recent video from Dylan Johnson.

I'd love to hear some thoughts, again especially from anyone familiar with this race!

I got a new bike with a CN-M8100, but considering going down the waxing route and instead of getting the 8100's chains for spares might just go with the 9100 series. Anyone have issues with this chain on Gravel

I sold my road bike to buy this beauty!

Hey guys, i just bought a new gravel bike, which came with wtb riddler 700x45 tires. But since im planning to ride in 75/25 road/trails ratio, im thinking that those are too gnarly for me and i would rather have some tires that are faster-rolling on the tarmac. So i was thinking about selling those and buying a new pair of the Pathfinder 42mm tires or Schwalbe G-One RS 40mm ones. Do you have any experience with either of those and would you recommend me any other ones? Thanks for your opinions :D

Hi all, I am a long time road cyclist. I currently have a Specialized Tarmac SL7 with Ultegra 12 speed di2 that I absolutely love. I am looking to get into gravel cycling and I need help choosing a bike. I will be buying used. I live in the midwest (USA) with lots of packed down rural gravel roads where I will be doing most of my gravel cycling. I will not be doing any cyclocross or trail type riding and no gravel races.

I have been looking at a used Cervelo Aspero with SRAM Rival AXS 1x. From things I have read, this seems to be catered to fast riding with a more aggressive geometry. A lot of people have said it is almost a road bike with gravel capabilities. The trend in gravel cycling seems to be to put wider and wider tires on the bike, and the Aspero is limited in that it can only fit 40mm tires (at least for the 2022 bike that I am looking at.) Most of my gravel riding will be very casual rides with my girlfriend going from small town to small town to stop at coffee shops or bars. I do want the ability to throw some slick tires on for when I want to do casual road/paved trail riding but don't want to bring my Tarmac.

I guess my question is do any of you Aspero owners or any owners of a gravel bike with 40mm tires wish you could put wider tires on it? I am also considering a Specialized Diverge since it has a more relaxed geometry and can fit wider tires. As far as the geometry is concerned though, the Aspero is very similar to my Tarmac which I find quite comfortable, I am just not sure how that riding position translates from smooth roads to bumpy gravel.

Any thoughts or insights on tire size and racey gravel bike vs. relaxed bikepacking type of gravel bike is appreciated. Thanks!

Looking to get into Gravel riding and use the same bike on the Kickr trainer about 50-50 split since I live in cold Chicago

I see a 2019 Niner RLT 9 Apex Flat bar listed for $700. Specs are below
Carbon Fiber Aero fork
SRAM Apex drivetrain, 11-speed
SRAM Level Hydraulic disc brakes
Tires: WTB ALL TERRAIN, 700 X 37
Salsa Bend handlebars
Foundation pedals and bottle cages
More details: https://www.jensonusa.com/Niner-Rlt-9-Apex-Flat-Bar-Road-Bike

https://preview.redd.it/lb06gdv49dge1.png?width=2350&format=png&auto=webp&s=fb4df3fbd3b273f1d079406944e09834837432e2

I also see a 2020 Specialized Diverge E5 listed for $800. Specs below

GRX groupset
Completely new brake lines, bottom bracket, shifting cables and bar tape
Frame itself has between 100-200 miles
Tires are like new Panaracer GravelKing SK 43
Future Shock in the headset

E5

GRX

I have a 2018 Giant TCR pro road bike but it is too aggressive for me and want something more comfortable. Which one would be a good choice between the RLT and the E5? Is the GRX a better choice for groupset when compared to the SRAM? Appreciate any other factors that I need to consider before deciding on these two that fall in my price range.

I am in the market for a new gravel bike. My main purpose would be trails like the Green Divide in the Netherlands and similar. https://www.reddit.com/r/gravelcycling/comments/uyvwmo/300km_gravel_ride_in_the_netherlands_green_divide/

At my LBS I was adviced that an endurance would be the best option. See the picture. It fits up to 35 mm and that is probably fine for the type of rides I plan. Also, delivery times are shorter compared to ‘real‘ gravel bikes.

Any thoughts?

https://preview.redd.it/y7t8rm4n4dge1.png?width=3859&format=png&auto=webp&s=ebf924fbef9d460de8840bd7658f37bc0635ac31

https://preview.redd.it/czhs7m4n4dge1.png?width=3859&format=png&auto=webp&s=96e7736aa5f8d6e32a1742cd5df2cc16c8c64df5

My first gravel bike. :D. Hoping i got the right size as im 5’8 with a 31” inseam. Ended up going with a 54cm (M) since a 52 (small) had me feeling too cramped

Finally got around to finishing this off today. Yes it’s an old MTB that’s cosplaying as a gravel bike, yes I could probably have bought a second hand actual gravel bike for the money I spent making this but I’ve had fun and learnt a lot and half the parts I can transfer onto something else should I buy an actual gravel frame.

I looked for a Gravel for a couple of months now, and i was really close of buying the Canyon Grail. But then I found this version of Orbea Terra M31eTeam 1x with electronic SRAM (fully carbon was my only requirment)

Went to the store and the seller really primed me for buying it (his job, sure). What I really do not understand is if the so-said discount is real (4000 EUR -> 3250 EUR).

He did make it sound like it's my lucky day that they still have only one, my size, and it's discounted because 2024 model...

Specs:

• Frame: Orbea Terra carbon OMR Disc, monocoque construction, HS 1.5", PF30, powermeter compatible, Thru Axle 12x142mm rear, thread M12x2 P1, Internal Cable Routing, LOCKR service box
• Fork: Orbea Terra ICR, full carbon, 1-1/8" - 1.5" tapered head tube compatible, Thru axle 12x100mm, thread M12x2 P1
• Headset: FSA 1-1/2" Integrated Aluminium Cup
• Crankset: SRAM Rival 1 Dub Wide 40t
• Shifters: SRAM Rival eTap AXS
• Cassette: SRAM XG-1251 XPLR 10-44t 12-Speed
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM Rival XPLR eTAP AXS
• Chain: SRAM Rival 12-Speed
• Handlebar: OC Gravel GR31, Reach 70, Drop 110
• Stem: OC Road Performance RP10, -8º
• Brakes: SRAM Rival eTap AXS
• Wheelset: Oquo Road Control RC25PRO
• Tires: Vittoria Terreno Dry CX-Gravel G2.0 TNT 700x38c
• Front Axle: Orbea Thru Axle 12x100mm M12x2 P1 Solid
• Rear Axle: Orbea Thru Axle 12x142mm M12x2 P1 Solid inner threaded
• Seatpost: OC Performance XP10 Carbon, 27.2mm, Setback 0
• Saddle: Prologo Akero AGX STN size 155mm
• Bar Tape: Orbea Anti-Slippery/Shock Proof

While I do know a bunch of things about Shimano and MTB, i know nothing about SRAM and this would be my first gravel. So I'd appreciate some opinions.

Long time roadie venturing off road on the Scott Addict 30 Gravel with SRAM electronic shifting. Loving it so far. Big tyres are so comfortable. Found it to be only marginally slower than my road bike. It was the paint that got me.

Hi guys,

I come from mountainbiking and am about to buy my first gravel bike for both short speedy rides as well as longer backpacking trips.

With a height of 187.5cm and 86.3cm I am in between the L and XL frame for the brandnew Cube Nuroad C62 Race according to Cube‘s Website.

I was able to testride the XL (pictured) and the staff told me it fits fine. However, I felt very stretched on it. Can anyone tell from the image if this is how you are supposed to sit on a gravelbike? Is this streched feeling normal? Or does the reach look too long?

Unfortunately I was not able to test the L as it is not in yet. However I managed to ride the previous season‘s L and it felt more comfortable even though the saddle was obviously much higher above the handlebar. But the salesmen kept saying due to my long torso they would recommend the XL. They were not really enthusiastic about it though.

The L is only marginally shorter (-1.5cm) but the stack is like 2.5cm lower.

Any input would be appreciated. I bought a wrong frame size once on a commuter bike and would like to avoid such a mistake again.

Thanks!

Current setup - Cannondale Topstone Carbon with Apex 1

Hey fellow gravel riders,

I have a Cannondale Carbon Topstone Apex from 2022 and already upgraded some minor parts in the past two seasons:

• Went tubeless
• got better tires (Schwalbe G-One R in 40mm)
• replaced saddle
• new stem and handlebar (Service Course SL-70 XPLR)
• OEM rear freehub broke twice - finally I replaced it by a DT Swiss 350

Wheelset is currently a DT Swiss G540 DB.

What kind of upgrade in your humble opinion is worth spending money? I thought of switching to an electronic shifting maybe or a carbon wheelset? Do these things make a significant change while riding? The geometry is fine for me, don't have any pain or issues sitting on the bike for a few hours.

Current rides range from 30-40km after work to ~100km on days off.

Thanks