What The Heck Is Gravel Anyway?

“Gravel” is a relatively new name for a type of bike that’s been around longer than any of us.

Back in the early days of cycling, the divisions between on-road and off-road bikes were blurry, sometimes nonexistent. The first person to ride a bike round the world finished in 1886. Asphalt wasn’t invented until 1902. Just think about that for a second!

Even after manufacturers started designing bicycles for surfaced roads, riders kept pushing their limits. Road racers would train by racing off-road in the winter, and the sport of cyclo-cross was born. And adventurous cycle tourers would use their bikes as a means of crossing wild, uncharted terrain and gravel was born.

Modern gravel bikes have evolved from every corner of cycling.

Road bike-style drop bars and 700c wheels give them speed on the tarmac, but they can also accept racks and mudguards for commuting or touring. Gravel bikes tend to have fatter tires than dedicated cyclo-cross bikes, because they’re meant to be ridden all year round, rather than just carving through muddy winter racecourses. And to mix things up even more, innovations from the mountain bike world like dropper posts and tubeless tires are starting to show up in the land of gravel too.

Gravel bikes might look like road bikes, but they ride very differently. Most road bikes are limited to narrow tires due to lack of frame clearance, but on a gravel bike, there’s more cushioning between you and the road, giving a more comfortable ride. Gravel bikes also have lower gears to make the hills less painful, even with camping, commuting or bike packing gear on board. They’re also designed for a relaxed riding position, but are generally a bit lighter and more lively than old skool touring bikes.

Many modern gravel bikes come with plenty of mounts to attach luggage and bike packing equipment, disk brakes are standard fare, dropper posts have become more and more common.

Many people ask “can I put gravel tires on a road bike?” and the answer is usually no, but that depends on your frame.

So why “gravel”? It’s a term that comes from the US, where it’s used to describe the miles of unsurfaced dirt roads that sweep across its mountains, plains and forests. Gravel bikes aren’t just good on gravel roads though: they’re fun to ride on anything from dirt tracks to rought roads to tamer mountain bike trails.

It’s for that reason we’ve given our bikes the Marin ‘Beyond Road’ title because that’s exactly what they do, they’ll take you down the road and beyond the asphalt to whatever comes next.

And that’s the real joy of gravel bikes: they’re not as capable as a mountain bike on the off-road stuff, or as fast as a road bike on the road, but when you’re riding one, you can mix and match terrains without having to worry about whether you’re on the right tool for the job.

Because it’s easy to cover some serious mileage on a gravel bike, they’re a good training aid if you’re looking to boost your fitness, a great way of exploring the riding your local area has to offer, and they can also make short work of your daily commute, whilst letting you throw in some traffic-free route options.

There are also lots of dedicated gravel biking events and multi-day rides around the globe. Some are seriously tough challenges, but many go for a fun, inclusive vibe that’s very welcoming to beginners. We’d recommend the Grinduro series of gravel events as a great place to start.

The question of what to wear on a gravel bike is somewhat divided and - like any new trend in cycling - creates plenty of debate.

Roadies going beyond road tend to wear lycra, opting for the aero benefits and comfort of lycra. Mountain bikers straying into gravel tend to wear baggie shorts and technical teeshirts, with mountain bike pedals and looser fit, more flatting gear.

In our experience, skinny-fit kit is best suited to long days in the saddle and rides where you maintain higher speeds for longer periods. Rides that lean a little more towards the ‘road’ end of gravel. Baggier, looser-fit kit is often better suited to more off-road, slower-paced rides. That is, rides that lean a little more towards the ‘mountain biking’ end of the gravel spectrum.

Either way, what you wear doesn’t really matter. Many people love the inclusivity of gravel and the fact that riders of all shapes and sizes, styles and fashions can rider together in whatever gear and on whatever bike they feel comfortable. Pick your gear based on what you have in your wardrobe and what you feel the happiest riding in.

Should I Get A Gravel Bike?

The answer to “should I get a gravel bike?” is of course yes!

If you like the sound of this and you're thinking of springing for a gravel or ‘Beyond Road’ bike, there are a few things to look out for.

We’ve already talked about wide tires but these make a big difference: going a bit wider than standard 28mm road or 32mm cyclocross tires really helps comfort and control when things get rough. Wider bars with a bit of flare can put your hands in a more natural position, which is great on longer rides or broken-up surfaces. Bolt-thru axles are super secure over the rough stuff and make for stiffer steering. Mounts matter too: the ability to attach front or rear racks, mudguards and specialist accessories like top tube boxes and frame bags comes with virtually no weight penalty, but makes your bike much more versatile.

Disc brakes are a revelation if you haven’t used them before: lots of controllable power and no more worn-out rims or brake blocks. Mechanical disc brakes are easy to maintain wherever you are in the world, although hydraulic discs are a good upgrade if you can find the budget for them. Most modern gravel frames use low-profile flat brake mounts, which are super neat and keep the weight low. Single ring drivetrains are taking over the gravel world too - they’re reliable, wide enough for hilly days out, and if you want to get really rad, they free up your left-hand lever so it can be used to activate a dropper post.

So while gravel riding might be as old as the bicycle itself, the new generation of gravel bikes have lots of tricks up their sleeves to make them fun, fast and hassle-free.