We learned a lot of lessons from this year鈥檚 bike test. One of our key takeaways is that gravel is no longer a niche category within the road-bike market; instead,聽it鈥檚 driving all drop-bar bike development.
Here are three elements that are shaping the future of gravel聽bikes.
Tire Clearance Is Everything
The leading bikes in this year鈥檚 test stood out for their impressive tire clearance. If a brand鈥檚 gravel bike couldn鈥檛 fit 700-by-50-millimeter tires, it fell off the back of the pack.听
Widths of 48 to 50 millimeters聽are the new normal for the category. Companies like 听补苍诲听 are leading the charge with fast-rolling, high-volume tires that really take the edge off rocky roads.听
To be sure, not every gravel聽ride warrants that much rubber. This style of riding encompases everything from hard-packed dirt roads that are as smooth as asphalt, to chunky gravel, and even singletrack. In keeping with the versatility of the breed, the ability to adjust to different types of terrain is a must.听
That same frame and fork clearance is almost as important for clearing mud as it is about fitting wide tires. Events such as the聽, with its gummy red-clay roads, are case studies in the importance of tire clearance when dirt gets聽wet and starts sticking.
Single-Ring聽Drivetrains Are Not the Answer鈥擸et
As gravel tires grow wider, the amount of space between the front derailleur and rear tire has shrunk. One way bike designers addressed this lack of real estate was聽by getting rid of front derailleurs altogether. After all, it worked for mountain bikes, so why not gravel?
Many of our test bikes featured single-chainring drivetrains. Two of them, the and , were dedicated single-ring聽frames. Overall, our test team wasn鈥檛 impressed with the limitations of even the widest of these聽options available.听
Gravel cycling is not mountain biking. Our testers noted that the average tempo of a gravel ride is much broader聽than most mountain-bike rides, so having narrower steps between gears is very important for maintaining a consistent cadence, especially on endurance rides. So far, neither Shimano nor SRAM has聽managed to combine small steps between gears in a wide range on a single-ring聽drivetrain. It will take more cogs on the cassette before that happens, and our testers are in no rush to get there.
That said, both Shimano and SRAM聽are aware of the limitations of single-ring聽drivetrains for gravel. For 2020, both developed purpose-built two-ring聽gravel groups that push the front derailleur and chainrings out to gain chain 肠濒别补谤补苍肠别.听
We鈥檙e not saying a single-ring聽drivetrain is the wrong choice for every gravel ride, rather that those built with two chainrings are聽still the safest bet if you鈥檙e not sure where the road will take you.听
Suspension Is the Future of Gravel
Suspension and/or engineered flex systems were present on many of the gravel bikes this year. Why is suspension becoming such an important piece of the puzzle, you ask?聽
As someone who has finished five 鈥檚, I feel confident stating that comfort equals speed. Hands, shoulders, and your back聽all start to ache as the hours tick by. Technologies that mitigate any聽high-speed vibrations will keep you feeling fresher longer. Even if you鈥檙e not planning on pinning on a number plate, the additional cushion provided by these systems can make your ride more enjoyable while still giving you the benefits of a drop-bar bike.听
Gravel suspension runs the gamut, from flex systems like those found on Trek鈥檚 and BMC鈥檚 , which聽bow to absorb road chatter,聽to actual full-suspension drop-bar bikes, such as Niner鈥檚 .听
Sitting somewhere between these extremes is the latest generation of Specialized鈥檚 , with an updated Future Shock 2.0 front end. It features 20 millimeters of suspension travel under the stem, providing聽a floating sensation over even the roughest gravel roads.