All-Road Vs Gravel: The Do-It-All Bike Challenge

Summary by Krater

Two cyclists compare an all-road bike and a gravel bike sharing the same frame set across a 20km versus 30km route through English countryside, concluding that all-road bikes with wider tire clearance offer greater versatility and speed on varied terrain.

From the video

Answers: Should I buy an all-road bike or a gravel bike?

• All-road bikes vs gravel bikes
• Tire clearance and tire width in cycling
• Road cycling vs off-road cycling
• Bike handling on mixed terrain
• Aerodynamics and tire pressure in cycling

What it concludes

• All-road bikes and gravel bikes can be very similar beasts when sharing the same frame set.
• All-road bikes are fast, versatile, and save a couple of watts with internal cabling and optimized aerodynamics compared to wider-tired bikes.
• Wider tires give the ability to ride on varied surfaces in relative comfort and control, though they may feel slightly squirmy on normal roads.
• Having the wrong bike for a certain type of ride is often more fun, making riding more engaging and challenging.
• Tires are the most versatile tool you have, and an all-road bike with enough tire clearance for big fat tires can handle fast gravel just as well.