Gravel bikes

[Ken]

I'm thinking I should switch my bike preference to a gravel bike for the wider tire and hence more comfortable ride  - the bike will mainly be used as a road bike. Has anyone else done this or considering doing it to get a more comfortable ride?

[Adam Rice]

It's not a bad idea, although "gravel" is such a fast-changing category that what would have been called a gravel bike a few years ago would be called an "all-road" bike today. Or maybe just a road bike—35-mm clearance on bikes marketed as straight road bikes is pretty common today, and serious gravel bikes often have 55-mm clearance now. I think Pirelli has a 50-mm slick, so in theory you could take advantage of that.

I have used a Redshift suspension seatpost and stem. They're effective but pretty heavy, and don't fit all bikes.

> On Jul 9, 2026, at 16:08, Ken <kenneth...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> I'm thinking I should switch my bike preference to a gravel bike for the wider tire and hence more comfortable ride - the bike will mainly be used as a road bike. Has anyone else done this or considering doing it to get a more comfortable ride?

Adam Rice :: Austin TX USA :: adam...@8stars.org :: http://8stars.org/

[Jeff Newberry]

I tell anyone who will listen that if they want a more comfortable ride, they should be running the widest tires their frame will allow. A custom frame or a gravel frame is going to expand your horizons on tire width, if you're willing to make the jump. Since mid 2019, I've been rolling almost exclusively on my custom Thompson, 650b 42mm, 40 psi in front, 42 in back. Should I happen to grab my "beater", my custom Rivendell which used to be my pride and joy, I'm on 700c 32mm, 59 psi in front, 70 or so in back. The differences I feel just riding around Austin on those "skinny tires," the bumps on descents I never noticed on my Thompson, really get my attention. Once you go wide, it's hard to go back, even to the standard that you once believed was more than sufficiently comfortable. You can get used to anything-- back in 2005, I was riding centuries (you start randonneuring, you stop using that term) fixed gear on 700c 20mm pumped up to 120 psi. Not much fun when it starts to rain. The confidence the increased contact patch of a wider tire on mountainous descents of 8-9% is an extraordinary advantage as you let it rip, enjoying the payoff of a long grind to the top.

Next stop, raising your bars some. This ain't the Tour de France and your lower back will be happier at the end of a long day in the saddle...

Jeff

[Ken]

I wonder if other riders have any other gravel bike recommendations?

 I'm looking at Cannodale's Topstone range - the 3 is around $1,600 so not bad for an entry bike to the wonders of comfy riding. It would be nice, though, to try out a gravel before paying over the money. but no shop around here has any kind of - ride and see if you like it - program. What other bikes are out there?

Ken.

[Olaf Roepke]

I bought a used Salsa Warbird 2 years ago with mechanical 11-speed shifters and disc brakes. Very happy, lots of mounting points, usually riding 35 street tires. I used it on my one and only 200 km ride around Bastrop in January. 

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[wgdu...@aol.com]

Olaf,

My main bike is a gravel bike set up for road ride for exactly that reason.  I even race it.  From what I can tell the main difference between road and gravel is tire clearance.  Some also have a more relaxed geometry.  Similar to what Trek has done with the Domane vs the Madone.  In that case they are both road bikes, but a similar idea.  I also ride GRX shifters but that was because that was all I could get during covid when parts were spares.  Honestly, I can tell the difference between those andUtegra (both are made by Shimano).

Wayne

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[Tucker Cullum]

I also favor my gravel bike for remote areas. You can run a much heavier duty drive train on them as well. Currently running a Wilde Earthship with SRAM Eagle. Single 38 tooth chainring and a massive 52 tooth granny gear in the back. I've been pretty happy with Pirelli's new 40mm P-Zero tires. Lots of speed and comfort.

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Respectfully,

Tucker