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Drop Bar Vs Flat Bar: Have We Been Doing Gravel Bikes All Wrong?
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- Опубліковано 18 бер 2022
- Gravel bikes have come under more and more scrutiny in recent years; are they just mountain bikes with drop handlebar bikes? After all, in the 1990s, the legendary John Tomac rode his MTB with drop handlebars too! Should we be taking a leaf from mountain biker's books and have flat handlebars on gravel bikes? Si and Doddy find out which is better, a drop bar mountain bike, or a flat bar gravel bike!
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Which would you rather have, a drop bar mountain bike, or a flat bar gravel bike? Let us know in the comments below!
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Which would you rather have, a drop bar mountain bike, or a flat bar gravel bike?
There's no such thing as either 🤣 A friend made a 29er into a mullet drivetrain 'drop bar mtb' with a Wolftooth adapter to fix the issue with road STi and MTB rear derailleurs. This video makes me glad I bought a gravel bike.
I actually run a drop bar rigid MtB & we call them "MonsterCross" bikes here in the USA Mountian West. Slow & Fun w/ 650b+ 3" tires
Drop bars all the way on whatever for more hand positions and general versatility.
My drop bar gravel bike has front suspension, so does that make it a drop bar mountain bike? 🤔
Flat bars all day, thank you GCN, never have I felt more of a mountain biker watching GCN.
So finally we are back where I started cycling. On a frame without suspension and flatbars. Well done bicycle industry. 👏
Well said!
@@svenlima I enjoy a modern mountain bike with 10 gears quite a lot. Zee is a lot cheaper than XTR and as long as you're not racing, just as capable. Also, they're much more niche components, they weren't impacted by the big bike parts shortage as much as others.
Yes, perplexing they refuse to call that rigid framed mountain bike a mountain bike.
Doddy has suspension...
@@svenlima I'm close to 5000km without any complaints so far. Do you know any resources where these components are tested for longevity?
I don't think you can do gravel wrong, you could be going for a gentle spin or racing, but no matter what gravel is meant to be fun and ride whatever you like as long as it makes you happy and leaves you smiling at the end. Have a great day everyone, from Australia.
I really like your comment :D
Join the dark side. Thats what 99.999% of mountainbiking is. Not many ppl care about racing, we just go out and have fun.
I disagree to the extent that riding with poorly suited tires can be the wrong way, since that can compromise safety
You certainly can do gravel wrong - look at Si's pants!
That is so true!
Two weeks back I was on a soaking wet, water everywhere, mud and downed tree beaches gravel road. I was on my full suspension mtn bike happily going slow and enjoying the ride. Guy passes me sliding around chaotic on a modern gravel bike. Pretty sure we were both happy as can be
Ride what you want
Yeeeees. This is the spirit! Love it.
so true, depends on style of riding
WORD! The best bike is the one you’re riding at a given time. 🤙🏼
Entertaining, but I would have preferred to see the same Canyon compared with the only difference being the drop and flat bar. Compared for comfort, speed and control.
They actually did that video already, I believe it was with Orbeas?
That was I thought this video was :(
It won't work, because the rest of the bike geometry is designed to work with either flat or drop bars. Mixing gets bad results. Don't forget drop bars are 380-460mm wide while flat are 600mm-800mm.
@@FalcoBikes what do you mean it won’t work, it’s literally what is in this video. The Canyon was a drop bar gravel bike they put a flat bar in. All they need is a stock one to compare too.
Having Doddy and Si do a shared video brings the fun factor for sure. Add several fun points for Si's clown pants as well!! Love it. Great video guys. I enjoyed the comparisons of these two builds.
Do you know the brand?
What we really need are bars that transform from flat to drop when needed. People (myself) included are literally buying 5 or more bikes to optimize very specific conditions. Heck, I have a flat-tail just to get 2 seconds on my dual suspension when sketchy descents aren’t involved. Sometimes gravel is severe enough that I wish I had a flat bar, but I don’t want that bar for the 15-mile road ride to get to the gravel trail. Yes, transformer bikes, that is the answer.
I built a flat bar gravel bike a couple years ago with a single chain ring up front and two sets of wheels. One with 2” 29ers for off rode and one with 33c gravel tires for everything else. It’s my favorite bike I’ve ever owned
Totally. Me too. Every bit this. And then some. Plus some more. U got it.
What I like best about gravel is that it isn't just one thing. It rejects the extremes of optimized modern road and mountain bikes and instead gives you the vast in-between space where you're free to find what makes most sense to you.
1987 (I think), I was at the NORBA mountain bike races in Mammoth Lakes, California. There was a dude doing some incredible nose wheelies around the parking lot before the races. Later that day I learned it was John Tomac after he demolished the field in his race. The guy was an amazing bike rider.
The Canyon is basically similar to my all rigid mtb from 1992 - which I use for gravel riding. Nice to be fashionable again.
Yup, my gravel bike of choice is my mid 80s Fuji all ridged MTB. I upgraded the brakes and drive train a few years ago and love it for easy off roading.
@@Mike-sh2dg rigid.
I’ve got a flat bar’d gravel bike - wouldn’t change it - predominately my background is road, so I love just mixing it up !!
The flat bar gravel bike looks really appealing, captures the essence of the early days on mtb and makes what would be an easy trail on your full suspension more interesting. The only thing I would be concerned about would be the lack of hand position options compared to drops, especially when climbing...... maybe it needs some little extension thingies on the end of the bars that you can use for climbing and cruising?!
Flat bar for me. I ride a mix of paved paths and crushed gravel (rail to roads type stuff) so I placed a pair of "bar ends" to the inside of my grips, angled forward, to simulate hoods. This gives my hands an additional position and allows me to pull my arms in to get slightly more aero on long straight aways. I just find this setup to be more versitile for my need than drops.
I love my fat tire bike but I had to add horns to the ends of my bars so I can adjust my grip on long rides. The drop bars give my hands different grip options on my gravel bike.
I love my flat bar hybrid. The ride is more intuitive and upright. I don't worry more about speed, but opt instead for comfort.
What exactly is hybrid bike? I'm new to cycling AND English is my second language. I own flat bar bike with front suspension and trekking XT line mentioned in video, is that a hybrid bike? Or does it qualify as "a gravel with flat bars and suspenion fork?" I've never seen such bike even mentioned in any video.
@@laughingbeast4481A hybrid is a flat bar bike without the shock absorbing fork. It is an upright ride and works great as a city bike, and can have wider tires than a regular road bike so gravel is not a problem.
Most hybrid bikes today are with shock absorbing forks.
Hybrid is really just an old market term for flat bar gravel bike (700C wheels) meant for more comfortable riding than road bikes and more efficient pedaling than mountain bikes. The bike industry has to change the name once in a while to attract more buyers. Don't blame them, I think hybrid is a terrible name.
A flat bar with barends and aerobars is perfect for both road and offroad.
Brakes?
Nice to see hybrid bikes getting a bit of attention on the channel 😄. Workhorses deserve love too
I'm bought Specialized Diverge 2021 Carbon Gravel bike and first I threw away drop handlebar and installed flat carbon handlebar(175g).
Very comfortable and light weight (total saved almost 300g)
SRAM Eagle AXS Controller weight (75gr ) fits with Derailleur XPLR Force AXS without any problem. Brakes Sram carbon Level Ultimate fits with SRAM Force flat mount CALIPER without problem too.
Tires Pirelli Cinturato M 700c×45 and Pirelli Cinturato tube (49g each) I think the best choice.
Love having Doddy do this! Combining GMBN/GCN makes for fun viewing
I now ride a Trek FX3 2022, which Trek call a 'hybrid', but I have declared it to be my flat bar gravel bike. It is light, fast, comfortable, confidence inspiring. I changed the following: a better saddle and a carbon roadie post, better flat composite pedals, and next are Pirelli Cinturato Gravel Hard 700x45c tyres, for more rubber, more air and tubeless. The Bontrager GR1 700x35C are in fact really good for road and light gravel, but time for an upgrade. So far this bike is the most fun bike I have ever owned, and I have been mountainbiking since 1990!
I was racing mountain bikes about the time John Tomac was using drop bars on his mountain bike, and if I recall the news stories the drop bars were his attempt at duplicating his road position on his mountain bike so he could switch between the disciplines seamlessly. And the only reason he had that interest was he recently--horrors of horrors--been signed to a road racing team. I also seem to recall him saying--later, after giving up road racing--how the drop bars made for some pretty scary races. Doddy said it himself: some pretty terrifying moments when things got tight. Love the comparison, very typical--i.e.: fun--GCN video.
The flat bar Canyon's poise and cockpit reminds me of my 1990 Stumpjumper which is very much at home blasting along the local single tracks and bike trails. I find inner bar ends (attached just outside the brake levers) have helped a lot, both in terms of comfort and aero.
I'm a recent gravel convert, at the road end of gravel. 700x38 tyres and a 50/34 Tiagra group. I absolutely can't stop raving about it. On my Spectral I've got maybe three route options before I have to get in the car and travel. On the Tifosi I can leave my house and be buzzing my t*ts off almost immediately. I can punt it down byways, bridleways and towpaths and it makes the most tame forest track feel like BPW. I love it. The thrills are much more accessible than attempting to justify 160mm of travel 🤣
That’s my lockdown summed up. Although… I never truly feel in love with drops hence the change to flat/riser bars. Can’t wait to smash my local gravel loops and feel the difference.
Needs some bar ends, preferably in purple anodised aluminium.
And max 600mm bars ;-)
I believe your experiment is biased. Seeing SI in these colourful bibs would make you laugh in any occasion 😂
Si can always say, sun's out, tights out. And who knows, maybe he wears 'em like pajamas to the grocery store. :)
I would not want drop bars on my mountain bike, but I am looking at adding some type of aero bar for the times where getting down in a comfortable way when bucking a wind or just trying to fly on the flats.
Would not want to do gnarly trails with out good flat bars. Fun is ALWAYS my #1goal. Sure some training type ride can be a slog, but even those rides, the sun might be shining or your scenery is great, see an eagle in a tree etc.
I have ridden more in the last 2 years than in the last 10. I have always ridden, but it has now become my 'thing'. - Cheers
Looking at the spec of some modern 'hybrid' bikes like the Specialized Sirrus X 5.0,they're basically flat bar gravel bikes like the Canyon in the video. The X 5.0 has Shimano SLX, 38mm tyres and a carbon frame/fork. I wouldn't send one down Whistler, but you could ride it almost anywhere, and have fun. They're not as cool as gravel bikes, and not designed for all out speed in any discipline, so they are often cheaper, but they could be the next big thing for a quiver-killer, do-it-all bike.
You mean the Specialized Diverge EVO? We see what you're doing there, Specialized...
I love it when you guys do challenges together
This should be interesting
“Mountain biking lite” was exactly how I described cycling on a 14 mile long gravel road, riding a 1985 Specialized Rockhopper with drop bars. That was more than 30 years ago! I did not wear neon tights.
Non-neon tights?
Hi to everyone. I have to say this much @4:28 I don't know what is more goofier..those goofier joypants and/or that hilariously joyful grin/smile that Si pulls off. That smile is such a wonderful smile it can make a bad day just joyous.
Flat bar bikes are great fun. If you are not into road racing, try one. They are great for touring. I regularly ride 150km a day on mine without any problems... hand position is never an issue. You don't need drop bars to have a great bike and have a great ride.
Yeah, just get a bar ends then, such a game changers
Hi CGN
Thanks for the fun video. I have one weird handelbar: flat bar with aero bars :) Some times ago, you post a video about "all-in-on" bike: I made mine. I bought a Look gravel which has GRX equipment. I changed the cassette to a 11-42 and rear derailleur to a XT one. Unfortunately GRX shifter cannot handle an XT rear derailleur so I have to change to XT shifter meaning changing drop handlebar to flat handlebar. As you said , changing from drop to flat means a different position, thus I changed as well the stem for a longer one. And to improve 'aerodynamic', I put aero bars on the flat handlebar. This is quite weird indeed: seems like a modern bow like this )=. I hope that shimano will propose shifter for drop handlebar able to handle xt derailleur. Anyway, I have my "all-in-on" bike with 3 pairs of wheels: 700x28 with road tyres, (all-in-one and most versatile) 700x33 with gravel tyres and finally 650x50 with mountain tyres. Ok all in one is not good in all but simply works for all except downhill with jumps and stones which I do not like. Thus works and is enjoyable for me !
As someone who put drop bars on a large sized 29er hardtail, I would suggest a few things for those interested in do the same thing.
It's a lot of bike. If you have a choice a smaller frame and 27.5 wheels would improve the agility. Or just going down to 27.5 improves handling by magnitudes Wider drop handle bars are better. Get an adjustable stem. Being able to the adjust the angle of the handle bars to your liking, gives you amazing flexibility. Lockout suspension is a must, that way you can turn it into a competent road bike when you want it to be.
I still think the idea has merit, I just wish someone would pursue the idea from the ground up. That a frame could be built with the concept at it's root. Essential a more rugged full suspension gravel bike. Decent commuter on tarmac and bit more capable on the rough stuff than a gravel bike.
Do you guys ever ride a gravel bike on gravel roads - like where it was designed to be ridden? I started off, in 1991, with drop bars on my Bridgestone MB-3, and have never looked back. But that's 95% on genuine gravel roads (interspersed with interconnecting pavement sections). For hours long rides, the drop bars allow a variety of positions that I find essential. My limited experience with mountain biking confirms flat bars are superior for true non-road, some-were-you-can't-drive-an-SUV conditions. But that's no where I'm at. True gravel road riding allows me got get out in rural areas and enjoy nature, while not ripping it up (I got that out of my system with motorcycles in high school).
I consider my trek 1120 a flat bar gravel bike. I swap around tire sizes, running anything between 29x3.0 to 29x2.4, depending on the ride. Jones h loop bar. I dig it.
All we need is some grip shifters and a Flexstem and we’ve come full circle.
and bar ends, too, gotta have a little pair parallel to the ground for serious uphill torque.
If you don't think there are flexstems then you haven't been paying attention to gravel.
Already switched my gravel to flat bar before I saw this video. Its more relaxed and agile. It just fits my riding style since I came from MTB and I hated the drop bar since day 1.
I have a steel cyclocross bike that I converted to flat bars and single speed that I use as an errand bike or a bike to go and have a blast on. The handling is definitely more twitchy, but that is part of the fun.
I convert my Canyon RoadLite from a road configuration to a gravel configuration simply by swapping my wheels and tires. It's a matter of 2 min., the longest part being to re-calibrate the disc brake pads (unscrew, apply brake, screw: done). So, depending on what I want to ride that day, it's an easy decision to take.
That's cool. I've been thinking about doing the same. Which wheel and tyre combination have you used?
I went even further and built both wheelsets using the same hubs and rotors - no more brake calibration needed!
@@prochiro The original wheels are Mavic CrossOne, I put 38mm Hutchinson Overide Gravel tyres on them. And I bought chinese wheels (Loca ?) that I use with 28mm tyres (Continental GP or Michelin Sport), same size as the original ones. I only need to adjust the brake on my front wheel because of a slight gap (probably less than 0.25mm !) causing some friction, only on the front wheel. On the back one, the current settings work with both sets. Oh, and I added discs on the chinese wheels, obviously.
Cheers mate. That sounds good. I'm surprised you managed to squeeze 38mm tyres in. 👍
@@prochiro I could have gone way bigger, there is a lot of space between the forks (though I would need to move the brake cable out of the way; it's attached inside the fork).
Man I clearly remember the sound of Tomac’s bike racing in the Grundig WC locally back in the day. That rear disc wheel had such a distinctive sound. It was the same spec as that vintage stomach bike you showed. Good memories.
In the 90s NZ company Avanti was making a what would now be called a flat bar gravel bike. They were great for mixed gravel/seal commutes and general cruising around.
I had a 2000s Ibex flat bar hybrid that rode well in all conditions. Miss that bike.
Not to be a nerd here but bike geometry is designed to suit the rest of the componentry. Typical drop bars are 400mm-ish while flat bars are 700mm-ish. That's a 75% gap in leverage, with the flat bar giving you more control and balance.
While the flat bar gravel may be nervous at first, you can get used to it after a while. But wielding a 600mm+ top tube and sub-70 degree HTA with a drop bar is just wrong. You MAY get a bit more used to it after a while but it won't be right.
Doddy is the man! Glad to see him here on GCN!
Just bought the kit to put flat bars on my Marin Gestalt - it has been my turbo trainer bike for years but finally took it to the trails this summer - older guy with a bad hip and I find I cant ride it down on the drops and pedal so riding on the hoods and trying to hold on and brake is terrifying! But I love the speed and acceleration on the gravel trails!
The biggest advantage to a drop bar gravel bike (at least, right now) is that you can run Shimano 1x12 drivetrain as-is! It really opens up the 1x capabilities and is much less expensive than a 'mullet' AXS build! Also, the braking performance is MUCH better with flat-bar levers on rough terrain. It's just much easier to stop when you're bouncing around a lot. Additionally, I think the flat bar opens up more real estate for a set of Aero bars (which normally would obscure most of the top of a standard drop bar). I built my current gravel bike with drop bars, and after riding it quite a lot, I can honestly say that I would go back and build it as a flat bar bike if I could do it again.
I still prefer my 2x flat bar. The 1x just seemed to limited for my riding style.
Too used to flat bars from mtbing.... so bought a lightweight hybrid and stuck gravel tires on it to gravel race...cheaper conversion and still pretty speedy with 52 up front! Admittedly put tribars on too for roads... only 10kg bike but can ride most blue mtb trails on it without suspension... foam grips help dampen vibrations! 😉
I actually have converted a Trek roscoe to a drop bar, for my winter commute.
The trick is to modify the mountain bike brake levers to fit on the flat part of the bars. Then I mounted some cheap areo bars and mounted the shifters on them.
It works awesome for commuting around town in snow ice and all.
It takes a bit to get use to but works great mountain biking. But then I'm not a professional so if im a little slower I dont mind. I seem to be able to keep up with my friends so im happy
I've been riding a Boardman hybrid for about 6 years now, bought it to do the Dirty Reiver, which I've done twice now, although only managed the 130! But did finish quite high up in both. Have also done a 900 mile bike pack on it, loads of road riding & go off road about 20% of the time. £550 brand new too 😍
Think ultimately it’s going to come down to how much (if any) road sections you have on your gravel rides. For me, I have to ride at least 5 miles of road before I get to any decent off road trails which is a doddle on the drop bars. I guess I love the fact that I can link up all the sections with road if I need to, also love the fact I can put some slicks on and turn it into a sportive road bike
Just use bar ends or even better aero bars for touring or longer road sections. My road bike has flatbars with Aero bars as well. Dropbars are outdated in my opinion and are only held relevant by the UCI.
@@The2808erik I do agree that bar ends are really GREAT …still love them on my 1993 Litespeed XC Mountainbike. Curious when the industry does rediscover them eventually!
@@bikemike1118 People make the argument that they are unsafe and you can jab yourself with them. Just use some that don't protrude more than the brake levers.
@@The2808erik …Never heard that before. I also never had the feeling that they can injure myself in a crash - although I had several crashs - minor ones and one more severe one …the bar ends were never part of a problem …not in the least! In my experience this fear is BS 🤷🏻
@@bikemike1118 Yeah probably true.
I wonder if the suspension on the mountain bike contributed to it feeling dodgy? I know if I were leaning down on the drops the very last thing I would want is a soft front end.
I love drop bars for the same reason I love my vertical PC mouse - the gripping positions are way more natural. When you grip a flat bar (or a regular PC mouse), the hands (and consequently also elbows) are turned 90 degrees compared to their natural resting position, causing tension and long term discomfort.
Your natural resting position of your hands are neither vertical nor horizontal, they are in between position. When you punch bag either with straight punch or hook your elbow goes from vertical to horizontal position at its strongest point at the impact area. When you perform barbell chest press your arms are naturally stronger when elbows are at horizontal position.
My buddy has a Roubaix with a flat bar and it is a blast to shred around town on.
To understand gravel bikes, watch motorcycle Speedway racing. I ride straight bar gravel and love the ability from safe & sane street riding to gravel paths where I can rip it up. Edit: If you are doing time trials, you are doing it wrong and missing the point. Gravel is about riding on the edge of disaster at non-lethal speeds.
See you next week for tribar mountain bikes
I have ridden hybrid bikes since the 90s. I will always ride hybrid bikes. Just setup the bar length, stem length, and stem height.
Frickin aerodynamics on a gravel bike? Lol, just put aero bars on the flat bar if you want aero. Control on offroad is a lot better on a flatbar.
Drop bar MTB all the way! I own a 2017 Koga Beachracer, which is basically a 29er Mountainbike with drop handlebars and rigid fork. So they do make it and I love it! It can do anything from Tarmac to MTB XC trail as-well-as race on the Dutch beaches off course. Best bike I own.
At the moment my perfect gravel bike is more of an all road bike. Road agility, gravel / endurance confort (or lack of it), dropper post for extra fun, and 1x because I like it.
I love my Drop Bars but ride whatever fits you!
Don't let anyone tell you what to do or not.
It's all about getting out on the bike. Everything beyond that is personal preference
My favourite bike of the half dozen I have currently is a Giant Toughroad. It's basically a modern take on a 90s MTB. Rigid both ends with 2.0 inch tyres and flat bars but up to date with 1x11 and hydraulic disc brakes.
Doddy and Si apply the theory into practice is going to be fun any day. Thanks great video.
You guys should do it the other way around.
Get a Hybrid, swap out the suspension fork to a Rigid fork, Flat Bar, and put in a 50x36 front Drivetrain paired with a 11-42 (10 -12 speed). Bike Geometry is less twitchy than a gravel bike with flatbars and much much more responsive (And less terrifying) than a MTB with a dropbar.
I find a rigid frame/fork hybrid to be the perfect balance of the two, easily hitting 40kmph -50kmph on the road while able to tackle gravel paths and novice to mid level trails.
Technical trails are a real challenge though and aren't that much fun, at least for my skill level with this bike.
Please try it again with cantilever brakes on new anodised rims……in the wet!! 😉
I love gravel bikes, but Ive never been comfortable on drops. I bought a Crockett 7 and within 3 months converted it to flat bar. Its so much more comfortable for me, and feels way faster on the trails and roads that I ride on. If your not comfortable, then whats the point?
Cycling innovations usually stem from racing, so if you’re not interested in going fast, dropped handlebars aren’t really necessary and may be detrimental.
@@TheSteinbitt Well my average top is 35 mph on a flat bar not fast but I prefer the flat
I love my flat bar gravel bike and is certainly faster than my mountain bikes on smoother sections of the mountain trials I ride , the mountain bike comes into its own when it’s muddy and rocky ,thanks for vid from the Philippines 🇵🇭
Bicycles aren’t about which is faster, because all bicycles are fast enough when pedalled by physically conditioned rider. Bicycles all about fun and exercise, besides transportation.
"Are you having fun?"
"No, it's terrifying!"
Now this is the spirit of mountainbiking :D
I was in a gravel race today. I was surprised to see several gravel bikes with flat bars and aero extensions.
That's my style....
Flats offer less overall comfort but are better for control.
@@UenoLocker54 which in that race, didn't matter at all. It was the Croatan Buck Fifty. It is flat as can be on the coast of North Carolina. Wind is the biggest issue in that race.
Flat bar!
Saw a lovely mountain bike with drops last summer: it was a Klein Attitude and I had to stop and talk to the owner I liked the look of it so much.
Damn, doddy's bike looks effing amazing with those flared drop bars
Haha! "Retro MTBs with brakes that actually work." I love it! My first MTB was a late 1980s Trek steel frame. There was no suspension back then. My current bike is a Trek Dual Sport 3 Gen 5 - fat tires, flat bars, no suspension (but carbon forks). Everything old is new again.
I have both a flat bar and a drop. I like them both I think for longer distances I like drop, but for short or rougher terrain I like the flat.
I rented a drop bar, I didn’t like the braking, and all main position, puts lot of weight on the ulnar nerve
Thank you, they clarified the doubts I had about the handlebar and the type of bicycle frame to use.
What was your choice?
I really enjoy seeing an exploration of different geometries/configuartions and the rolling implications of each. Having the subjective-objective comparisons from such outstanding presenters, and knowledgeable riders, is invaluable. This video was both entertaining and informative. I do wish there were a slo-mo replay from the joy cam of peak fun moments.
I've been saying this for a while, first thing I'd change on a gravel bike would be to put a flat handle bar on it. Drop handle bars just freak me out.
built 2 gravel bikes and love them but had to pick up a flat bar due to shoulder injuries. went with the Cinelli Gazetta Della Strada and it has be great relief and almost no pain at all. but how it rides, and being a Columbus steel frame, i am pretty smitten. it is somewhat twitchy on the road but rips on gravel and single track with a short bar and carbon wheels. was looking to upgrade the drive train to GRX but was told by LBS that the GRX is not compatible with MTB shifters. guess i need to do a bit more research.
My bike 15 years ago, a GT avalanche, was shod in Michelin country rock tires, basically 45mm wide mostly slick rubber. Apart from the 3x7 and the suspension fork, it was a modern gravel bike. I bought it because it had disc brakes.
Nice cross over. I did drop AND aero bars on my Salsa Beargrease (yes a fat bike). It’s a fantastic adventure bike that is great on gravel and even light trails.
I was gravel biking before it was a thing I just took my 10 speed road bike lowered the tire pressure to about half and went on the trails lol
Since I am basically a poor, I converted my old hybrid bike to a drop bar gravel grinder. Only downside is tire clearance. Mine was a “sporty”. Sesión of the Fuji absolute so I can fit max 38c on them. Oh and no disc brakes. Which have been a bummer at times. Either way it’s worked great!
A light weight hardtail with 2.1 Thunder Burts will do the job.
Turned my 2004 Trek Cross bike into a flat bar. More upright and stable for riding with kids or pulling a kiddie trailer. Doesn't feel as fast as a drop bar on faster sections, but gives you an excuse for another bike!
Always a pleasure to see the riders having so much fun.
When I was a kid in the 80's we used to buy old "racers" from 2nd hand shops and put knobbly tyres on them and cow-horns, and we called them "trackers". My brother even had one with a Sturmey Archer back wheel at one point
I'll want to grab a flared drop bar, for whichever frame I'll choose. For frames, I'll choose a rigid, light XC frame of any material, and a hydroformed, triple-butted aluminium frame.
But the local bike shops near me have run their supplies of metal flared drop bars out of stock... so that'll lead me to grab a comfortable set of bar tape by next week, first.
I love the comparo, but the gap can be narrowed. I've done both things. I had a Salsa Warbird I fitted with drop bars and a Lauf fork, and then later on set up a Specialized Epic 29er with wide gravel style drops, and a Fox 32 fork with 100mm travel. Used both on similar trails like these dudes, but also on the road to the trails, which is why I converted to a drop MTB. The results would reflect what would happen if you are riding the bikes at their limits, not an average 8/10ths ride in the park. Nothing can beat the turning and stopping/accelerating of a gravel bike with flat bars. It feels like you're on some sort of stunt bike. However, handling on the drop bar MTB bike doesn't need to be "dodgy". It's going to be slower in comparison to a gravel bike due to the longer wheel base. The "oversteer" problem they talk about is from too much of a forward shift in center of gravity when turning. Turning a bike pitches the center of gravity forward, and causes the oversteer sensation. They were right about a shorter stem, it puts weight rearward. But a 51mm offset fork with 100mm or less of travel, and a mullet configuration (29er front and 27.5 rear) will fix the center of gravity very nicely while maintaining decent geometry. If you're still pitched too far forward in the turns, a raised stem and maxed out headset spacers will help maintain center of gravity further. The advantage of the drop bar mountain bike is comfort and stability over the long run due to it's longer wheel base and extra room to move around, and that fork is wonderful for the ruts, roots, and rocks I encounter while railing along at an 8/10ths pace. You won't win any races, but if you can set it up correctly it has it's place in your world, do not despair.
The answer is neither - bullhorns all the way. You can put TT brake levers in the end of the horns and thumb shifters on the flat section. Then you have a nice sporty position when on the horns, and a relaxed upright position, that recruits the glutes, when on the flat section. All that's required is a wide bullhorn, not one of these 30 something cm ones that fixies riders use.
Bloody hell it's marketing scam. The same thing with the disc brakes on road bikes, and the 1 by chain ring, 29" MTB, etc. All scam to promote buying.
Gravel, mtb, road, dirt jumpers, bmx, it doesn't matter, they are all capable of being ridden anywhere you are willing to take them. I ride an e-road bike with drop bars and 47c slicks. It's my favorite flavor right now. I do have a road bike and an emtb as well. Really, they are all great.
I’ve had a 2016(?) gt grade flat bar for 5+ years. I’ve never had a drop bar so it seems like an alien position to me, it’s just my pootle about bike. If the frame could take a wider tyre i wouldn’t be on the look out for a hard tail
That Canyon looks like a more expensive version of my nearly 20 year old hard tail mountain bike. It's got some rust and dings from crashes but it's still a great commuter bike for getting around the city. Just seems like bike categories have gotten a bit silly.
Great video chaps! Having Doddy with his retro steed added a lot of quirk to the comparison.
It would be interesting to see a flatbar gravel bike compared to a modern drop bar mtb.
I don't think it would be a huge difference other than the hand position. Which is pretty much personal preference.
I got fooled at first too, Doddys bike is actually modern 29er mtb with dropbars, just retro inspired visuals. Bike check at 13:59
Here's a frankenbike quandary: flat bar gravel bike ... with aero bars. It is wonderful. The wide comfort stance of a wide flat bar and when an aerodynamic position is beneficial - aero bars are there!!! Looks crazy but VERY FUNCTIONAL. Thoughts???
60cm flat bar with bar ends plus aero bars work well for long rides. I don't understand why ppl perpetuate the myth drop bars are the only option for that use case. It just works.
I'm more comfortable and have a better steering with flat bar than drop. I am sticking with a flat bar gravel bike and will add bull horns and aero. Best custom.
That was awesome 👌 i really enjoy the gcn gmbn collaborations! And doing either diciplines in a contrast way. MORE LIKE THIS please 🙏 🙏
Joy pants! We should all have a pair. At least one. 🤣
I love to use gravel bike dropbar. Especially on long distances mountain roads, gravel roads and even plain roads. Even in the city roads it is easy to overtake and insert on traffic jams leaving all the cars behind.
Regarding the flat bar, it is only good for offroads short distances exhibitions, but not comfortable on long distances speedy travel and so tiring Even in the city traffic, it is so hard to insert and overtake the cars.
I put some dropped bars on an old mtb frame and that thing is super fun, completely converted bike to a whole lot of fun. Big smiles when I ride it.
That's what it's all about!!
i think si should open his own fashion category on the gcn online shop
Gravel bikes and flat bar bikes is all down to the rider. Cyclo cross and Mtber
Class act Tom piddock shows its just what talent does! Confidence sheer training , genetics make speed. Wout van Aert , Van der Poel, plough through snow, sand , gravel and fire road and off-road with ease. The debate of the right bike wont make you a superstar but fun is key. Ive done mountainbiking and gravel and if you can race in competition your fit. All the kit and still shxt is what middle aged men do to waste disposable income trying follow the masses.
Flat bar looks a bit crap, but comfy but drop bar looks better and a bit varied position make it easier but its confidence after a long ride and are happy at the end of the ride?. Love to see 700mm bullhorn with hydraulic brakes , 50mm rims and 42mm-50mm tyres and crazy athlete tear it down a hill!
After spending thousands of dollars on my first Gravel bike with expensive Carbon wheels and an alternative wheelset for road riding, and many hours tinkering with internal cabling and hydraulic disc maintenance, I finally realized Gravel bike is a huge bicycle industry marketing scheme to sell something that is totally unnecessary. Selling my Gravel bike and keeping my endurance bike for the road and MTB for the trails. Flat bar or Drop bar, No grabel bikes beats a dedicated road bike or MTB, unless you ride "Gravel" trails 100%
Anything can ride gravel, depending how fast and efficient you want to be. My.bike was used £80 carrera Crossfire disc hybrid, it does everything just not to the extremes