Top 5 | 2022 Gravel Cycling Trends
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- Опубліковано 1 чер 2024
- Here are the 5 biggest trends in gravel cycling for 2022.
Gravel cycling is still very much in its infancy, which means the latest trends and tech are developing quicker than you can setup a tubeless gravel tyre.
With so much going on, it’s very easy to miss something, but fear no more! Catch up with five of the top gravel trends that you need to know about for 2022.
Don't forget to let us know what you think of our list in the comments!
00:00 Intro
00:38 Suspension on Gravel Bikes
02:20 Aero Gravel Race Bikes
04:00 Wider Tyre Clearances
05:07 Gravel Kit
07:01 Everything Is Going Electric
SRAM XPLR | Gravel Suspension Fork + Dropper + NEW Groupset | GRX Killer?
→ • SRAM XPLR | Gravel Sus...
Shimano RX8 Gravel Shoe | Lightweight, Supreme Comfort, But Watch Those Treads
→ • Shimano RX8 Gravel Sho...
Rapha’s Knitted Gravel Shoes, SRAM Rival AXS & :money_mouth_face: Custom Sunnies | Tech of the Month Ep 11
→ • Rapha’s Knitted Gravel...
We Went Gravel Racing! | Grinduro Wales 2021 | BikeRadar Gravel Diaries EP 02
→ • We Went Gravel Racing!...
What Are Pro-Level Gravel Cyclists Riding? | 2021 UNBOUND Gravel Race
→ • What Are Pro-Level Gra...
Best gravel bike tyres in 2021
→ www.bikeradar.com/advice/buye...
Our top 5 gravel bikes in 2021:
→ • Top 5 | 2021 Gravel Bikes
Listen to the BikeRadar Podcast
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#GravelCycling #BikeRadar #GravelTech - Спорт
The trend for gravel bikes where I live is being driven by our local highways department and their lack of maintenance. I need a gravel bike just to go for a road ride.... in some places I’d be better off on my MTB!
People don’t want to pay taxes, but want perfect roads, great power grids, and exceptional schools, etc…. 😆😆😆
Same boat here in CT. I bought a gravel bike just to not be in pain while riding my normal road rides
The global bike shortage and covid stay at home orders brought me to find a hobby to keep busy. Finding vintage mountain bikes and bringing them back to life as drop bar gravel bikes or neo-bmx cruisers. What’s old is new again.
We really all needed a good reset
I did not even watch the video and went straight to comment for gravel bike roast
I'm just gonna convert my 1998 cannondale hardtail F700SL to a gravel bike, with drop bars, 700c wheels already fit, job done, saving thousands no doubt!
I ride 45 mm tires tubeless, Red Shifts Stem on my cross bike and My Diverge . Hard dirt roads here some sand and gravel. Comfortable enough for a senior to ride 4 hours every day. Salsa Vaya steel last year. I ride thousands of miles on gravel 6 to 8ooo yearly. Five decades of road , had enough.
Gravel has grown into a wide range of bikes, filling the gap between XC and endurance road. People gotta accept that not all gravel bikes evolve in the same direction, and will eventually get categorized with respective names. Same as with MTB, where XC and DH are two completely different breeds of bike.
I personally want to be able to put on my road wheelset and still have a capable endurance road bike with no drawbacks except weight. So I wouldn't mind isospeed/future shock/..., but suspension fork is too much for me.
I do not think there is a gap between XC and endurance road. There is an overlap
@@youling1997 An actual overlap would mean you could ride modern XC courses with an Endurace or Roubaix.. Just no.
But of course you can just get a DH and ride everything from Red Bull Rampage to the Trans Am Bike Race. No gap here.
I bought a downcountry gravel bike
@@LordFata no gravel is where they overlap
Hello, for me a gravelbike must have mounts...and a very good gear range ! I do not need electric stuff or suspension for more comfort, wider wheels are enough.
Can't wait for flat bar gravel bikes with 100mm forks, clearance for 2.3" tyres and slacker head angles to finally arrive!
I think gravel ride is getting gnarly and we will need 200mm front and back, tire clearance for DHF, DHR
Gravel Fat Bikes for soft terrain and more comfort :-)
@@jochenkraus7016 that already existe, the TŌWMAK from Bearclaw.
And a boost hub perhaps...haha
That exactly describes my hardtail xc bike.
I love my monstercross/gravel bike conversion. It's a drop bar steel 1998 Rocky Mountain Blizzard with a 80mm Rockshox Reba, a Tamer carbon suspension seatpost, and b6er setup. Great for riding to the trails hitting the singletrack
Gravel bikes are genuine all road bikes with a fashionable name.
Unfortunately too many of are are binary thinkers who can’t progress past the old MTB/road categorisation. Thankfully we now have a plethora of options on the continuum between these 2 categories. It is not marketing bs as many lazily claim.
All road bikes are the stuff.
I think that's the answer for the overwhelming majority of those who like gravel bikes, but don't need to be full-on roadies and who don't care to hit mountain bike trails.
I’ve had 2 Crux in the last 5 (6?) yrs. I use the current one for CX, gravel and road (diff wheelset). I have a Red Shift stem which makes a big diff on ratty trails and single track. I’ve done seriously hard bikepacking on it but prefer to use my Epic hardtail for that - much more comfortable w front susp and flat bars. Crux takes a 50mm front but only 42mm rear tyre but that’s ok for me. The 22 Crux will have (apparently) more clearance but same weight. Can’t wait! I’m 72 btw.
I bought my Crux in 2017 and have two wheel sets, road and gravel. The Crux is a great all around option!
I have a Cannondale topstone lefty. I sold my mountain bike when I got this bike. What you get isn't a lightweight mountain bike, it's a highly capable gravel bike 😊 This bike is much lighter and a better climber than my Santa Cruz and perfect for the mildly aggressive trails I ride. Not too mention it's just a great all around bike, you can ride it on the road to the trails you like even if they are far away!
Gravel Kit is a real thing...
And it's about time. Road kit makes no sense for gravel where you're more likely to fall and don't need to be as aero as possible. Besides, sitting on a log or in a field or on a stone requires burlier material. It's time has come. Streamlined cargo shorts, slightly looser roadie jerseys and refined MTB gear is the ticket. Let the bastardization of roadie & MTB continue. Bring on the era of the Groadie.
So many people don't seem to understand that flex and suspension have a completely different purpose on gravel then on mtb. On gravel it is purely to reduce "trail chatter" that the rider can do longer rides before getting fatigued by it. While suspension on mtb is made to go over objects such as roots and rock gardens more easily and fast. Thereby there is no point to start saying gravel bikes with flex/suspension are like MTBs, because clearly they are not.
Indeed. There are different cassettes for the road, gravel and mountain bikes and, likewise, there are different suspensions.
I think if you looked at how many MTBs are sold and how many are ridden fast over roots and rock gardens you would actually find most are being bought for the type of terrain most gravel bikes are being used on. The gravel bike may just evolve into the bike of choice as a general do it all for the average rider. It will do on and off road reasonably well while excelling at neither.
@@seankearney6915 yes that’s exactly why I sold my MTB and road bike to get a gravel bike. Whilst I’m not a fanatical cyclist who needs (wants?) a different bike for every scenario, I do enjoy the capability of gravel to get me around wherever I want to go with relative speed and/or comfort.
Imo you're often better served by going for wider tires over suspension for that. Of course you can have both but sometimes you'll see gravel bikes with suspension and narrow 38mm tires. To me a bike with less than 2" tires is meant for roads that don't need suspension.
No need for expensive complicated suspension on gravel bikes when shock absorbing stems and suspension seatposts suit the capabilities of gravel bikes so well, are more discreet, lightweight and maintenance free...But I suppose affordable upgrades won't sell new bikes...
It kind of depends on where you ride. I've been on gravel that is very chunky. I think I'm still suffering the brain damage from my race three weeks ago. We had someone on a mountain bike we dropped on the climb to have her blast by us on the decent.
The best suspension for a gravel bike is a steel frame. 👍
I had a almost identical experience a few weeks back. :)
LOL
I love this trend for many tan-wall tires for my "old" 29" XC by Jemis. It looks pretty and 45-47C just the same as 1.9" MTB.
Hybrid bikes were the original gravel bikes, literally a hybrid of a road and mtb.. but, they were seen as dorky. Then some marketing person came up with the term 'gravel' and now $10k gravel bikes are normal.
It's the drop bar that makes them look cool 😎
Yea i mean, besides the fact that hybrid bikes had totally different geometry...
@@driventomadness117 and they dont even have drop bars. they are nothing like gravel bikes to me.
Good video. I’ll stick with my steel gravel bike that I’ve been riding for the past 7 years. Seen the trends come and go and rode through them all
IMO, steel is the best material for gravel.
Titanium is great, but it's not 3X as much money great.
I'm probably done with aluminum & carbon.
It looks like a lot of the gravel kit is going for neutral earth tones. While I agree it looks better and it's what I'd prefer on a trail I think visibility is just as important when you're riding on back roads as it is on highways and city streets
I just bought the Redshift shock suspension stem for my Canyon Grail & love it
I just bought a SAVA gravel bike with Shimano Ultegra, I can’t wait to start riding it this weekend.
Yes you got it right! Thank you!
For me, gravel bikes will always be road bikes with tire clearance up to 700c x 40/45.
Putting shocks, flatbars, and wider tires on it is like picking up a rock and hitting yourself with it... Just get an MTB!
What do you think about the Scott Speedster Gravel bike 2022 models?
MTB still has the more upright geometry you need to comfortably attack very technical riding, proper gearing, and the lower top tube so you don't smash your bb makers. road riders are just so insecure they needed to slowly be converted from 25c to 28c to a whole new bike built around a 1x with improper gearing to a 1x w/ suspension w/improper gearing to finally realizing they should have had separate MTB/road bikes all along.
I'll go one step further, I'm looking for a bike that can do a paved trail with lots of potholes but a Mountain bike is too much and a road bike just can't take the bumps that well
will a gravel bike do well here or a flat bar urban bike? I'm looking at the Kona Splice for this type of riding what do you think? love the fact it has front shocks a still has a large selection of gears for road riding.
I would say a front shock isn’t needed go with the specialized future shock and then get a 1x group set because it’s got all the gearing you need for that terrain. I personally went with campagnolo ekar but sram and shimano also make 1x gravel groups or road groups you could repurpose. Canyon makes some great gravel bikes that’s what I’d suggest
@@markclements6303 cool thanks for the help!
@@pioneer8634 your welcome
I like the more casual baggy clothes. I left the tight fitting uniform on the wrestling mat. I'm not use to feeling naked in front of people anymore 😆
The transformation continues …. We’re almost back at the 1990‘s XC Mountainbikes (still need the horns back instead drop bars) which we’re already as good as it gets. Sometimes human AND development has to go a long way out to finally recognize that the best has already been there !
They are keeping this incredible last advancement for the 2025 models but don't worry they will be gravel-specific highly advanced straight bars with horns that have absolutely nothing to do with those outdated funny straight bars with horns
@@emanuele8226 they are currently „out of fashion“ …but they’re still much better than those Harley Davidson like three-feet-wide ridiculous handlebars as you can change the hand positions during longer rides and different ground conditions. Sure they will slightly „change“ the look a bit …but the function itself is already pretty much perfect. And they are not at all funny ! If you‘ve experienced them you know they are GREAT. Keep in mind: the golden era of XC Mountainbikes was in the early 90s … not today!
@@bikemike1118 I was in fact agreeing with you and being sarcastic about some "innovations" in bike technology that are 99% hype and marketing.
I don't know, for me gravel is a trend on it's own, a sign of things to come in cycling. Gravel was born from the need to bridge the bap between road and MTB but I think it goes deeper that that. Is it just me or are there more people that would gladly swap their multiple bikes for that true do-it-all machine (I'm talking sub 6.8kg, aero frame with hidden mounts for everything, with electronically adjusted both-end compliance levels and a dropper-post, capable of hauling your kinds to school, some gravel during the week and a TT comp over the weekend with just a swap of components)? Basically: practical, modular, adjustable and fun.
The whole point of "Gravel" is that MTBs are too complex, specialist and vile on road. Gravel riding is about testing your skills. Being under-biked.
I did an MTB Red run on my CX bike. It's about fun, not going fast.
I’m thinking about a suspension fork for my gravel bike, but they don’t seem to make perfect sense because they are only slightly lighter than a good MTB fork but offer a lot less gravel, like 40 mm. Any more travel and it alters the geometry of your bike. The only way it makes sense is if you don’t own a mtn bike and so adding an $800 gravel suspension fork is still cheaper than buying a whole new bike. But if you add 1.5 - 2.0 lbs to your gravel bike, it still isn’t equal to the hardtail when off road, and the advantage while on road is lessened, so I’m not sure I would buy that.
I feel they’re losing the way with this. Ok yes, there’s a market but part of gravel riding is the simplicity, the lumps and bumps and making it a challenge. I say keep with that but if people want to ride the same course, maybe slower but more comfortable then MTB’s also have a place
I have been on a few gravel rides where a bit of suspension would have made the horrible washboard roads much better. Any more than that though, I have a hardtail.
What bike is shown at 4:58? Is that a (short travel) rear suspension?
I would guess Moots Routt YBB.
@@ronalcasid3844 Thank you, that's possible.
But the price 😱
Can u make a video of the LAUF bikes??
Which is the bike at 2:22 min??
im just going to put a drop bar on an mtb for fucks sake
Riser Bar , and Welcome in the 90s. Name : Mountainbike
The only thing more interesting than a gravel wardrobe would be the keys to Jack’s wardrobe 😀
👏👏👏
@@bikeradar Why thank you BikeRadar 😊
I think gravel like real gravel roads jiggle jiggle jiggle for a long time. So I'm happy to see some jiggle prevention tech. Anti jiggle international organization.
Gravel loose clothing just negated your aero frame.
I think the most innovative products for grave bike are the suspension stem and seatpost.
S M H...At last the gravel sheep trend is exposed, and on the marketing goes...In order for the industry to keep selling YOU, now the Gravel thing has hit full on...Gravel races, pies, drinks, clothing, shoes, electric components, even full price for half of a front fork. Please, attack me if you must, but the word being "sold" here is hard to miss out on. I love to cycle, got crazy into all the new stuff, and road cycling was my thing...magazines, gear, ride hard...la de da....I for one just want to ride A bike, the trends are just that....what next....B T W...I love all the stuff, just grew up, and out of the need to have it all...Pedal on.
Of course gravel suspension is awesome. It just sucks that I recently spent over $5000 on a gravel bike WITHOUT IT!!! Darn!!
What is your top gravel trend for 2022? Let us know in the comments! 👇
Mullet gearing and a dropper.
Upgrading my 5700 1x10 to SRAM 11sp. Just ordered an e13 9-46 cassette, rival 22 shifters, rival 1 rd. I plan on using the left lever as a dropper remote on a ks 100mm dropper.
Hardtail mountain bikes with dropper post. ok, we could have saved time and just put our road bike bars on our hardtails
It makes them mtb from the 90s.
Every bike frame is funneling into enduro. XC is getting slacker and adding more travel. I dont even consider XC cross country as you literally go in a loop around a course for several laps. Enduro is the literal definition of cross country as they have evens like Mega Avalanche.
road bike > cycle cross > gravel > gravel with suspension. Eventually these people will be wanting fatter tires and more travel. To a point where a frame manufacturer will market their DH frame with drop bars and say they engineered it from the ground up. Imagine a Santa Cruz V10 with drop bars.
#gravelspecific
UCI need to keep their nose out of Gravel bike/racing.
My topstone lefty rides nothing like a mountain bike. It’s a road bike with road specific suspension that maintains the efficient feel and rigidity of a road frame. I’m glad manufacturers are understanding that there is a difference and are making zero sag small travel units.
Road specific suspension? What's that then? 🤣
we can use either gravel bike or hardtailz because the road is very bad
So your first point is about suspension but it doesn’t have a single mention of the BMC URS or URSLT?????
"specifically for gravel bikes" 😂😂
Now UCI well be helding a gravel races...
just like the crossover trend in the car industry
I‘ll buy a such a bike if there is a 170mm enduro gravel bike.
At what point are these gravel bikes just xc bikes 🤣 I'm perfectly happy with my hardtail xc.
Domane or checkpoint? Help me out
Domane
Domane with 32mm tires will make for a nice endurance/all road bike
4:51 is that a gravel bike?
Mullet Gravel. M.G.
I’m sorry, but I will NEVER ride a lefty fork. My eyes just can’t get past how awkward it looks
gravel bike trend? the "arrival" of flatbar gravel bikes, which essentially cleared that gravel bikes are, no matter how hard you try to convince others, they are dumbed down/rebranded hybrid/hardtail/road endurance bikes. Cheers.
If you wanna go fast on gravel roads or mixed terrain roads. What do you ride? A road bike.. no! A mtb? Nope. Well, there it is
If you wanna go fast on gravel roads, ride a road bike with clearance upto 35/40 mm. There you go.
You are right, and longer chain stay and a less steep head tube angle. Maybe some suspension in your front fork to eat up the worsts bumps on your 8h ride.
And there you have it. A gravel bike.
The UCI should've stayed out of gravel , gravel was fun. UCI ruins everything
Cyclists: people who are offended when companies sell stuff people want to buy. The nerve of those companies.
Front suspension on a gravel bike = a hardtail xc bike with drops.
Nothing new here, move along now...
Roadie MTB bikes. I think its funny when I see 2.1" tires on a gravel bike and the guy calls it a gravel bike. My question is wide tires and suspension, why on earth would you choose gravel bike positioning on a bike over MTB? MTB is arguably better
A drop bar gravel bike has more hand positions, better aero performance in some of them, better paved road performance for the majority of transitions to and from the gravel roads not outside our front door, and more modern frame geometry than most pre 2010 MTB frames.
Gravel bikes today are literally mountain bikes from 30 years ago it’s hilarious
Long way around the barn. Why not just put drop bars on a mountain bike? Done.
Gravel seems to mean different things depending on country. The places I ride the bike would have evolved quicker if they put drop bars on an XC bike rather than "off road" a road bike. I only got a gravel bike because at my age I wanted one with a lightweight hub motor and that wasn't available in a hardtail XC bike so I have a Ribble CGR ebike but it has flat bars. On a good day I still prefer a 2014 XC hardtail. It has 100mm front suspension so if Gravel bikes end up with that there really wont be much difference and I can ride easy trails easier.
Hime.sri.labka.Thankas🙋
Full support karo sab
i just want the fastest bike on dirt
Just buy a lightweight XC hartail mtb. Then you have a gravel bike and a mtb.
Really? Suspensions and dropper post on gravel bikes? Whats next? Lower the bb height and slacken the head angle to 64.5 degrees? So the future of gravel bike is a mountain bike?
Bingo. Ha!
How dare the UCI stick their nose into it.
Definitely mountain bikes. But for people with moustaches and silly socks.
Suspension on gravel bikes dismays me. It might seem an innocuous trend at first, but it's a slippery slope, and before too long we'll all be stuck with heavy, spongy, ridiculously inefficient, and very limited bikes completely unsuited to anything but super gnarly, tank-like riding. This extreme level of specialization is what gravel bikes were meant to counter, and I sincerely hope this pernicious trend dies very quickly.
The world has gone mad...
Next hot trend….. dropbar mountain bikes! 🤣🤣
A fool and their money are easily parted!
OMG, bike with front D, heretics
I love bikes, however, modern gravel bikes are really blurring the line between gravel bike and cross country mountain bikes. Personally, I will never understand how drop bars make any sense off road. Jumping on a gravel bike looks a bit ridiculous, IMO..
Likewise, having so much weight over the front, balancing on a relatively small tire is just ridiculous. Especially when doing so in skin tight lycra. Every time I see one of these gravel cats on the trail I shake my head. Just absolute nonsense. There is a reason mountain bikes morphed into what they are today, capability. Mountain bikes started out as what modern gravel bikes are.
But the beauty is that you can get through on a short trail to reach another gravel section. Long distance on a gravel bike is more comfortable because the drop bar gives you at least three different hand positions.
@@Eddie_-_ Totally understandable point. However, starting to see more guys trying to rip single track on their drop bar gravel bikes and I’ll just never understand that.
#UCI should fu¢k off
Please just give us 155mm tires, full electric drive with capability of going 60mph on highways and a range of about 100miles. provide an optional roof and a 2nd set of wheels. Then the engineering of the gravel bike is finally complete. Maybe make it a tandem with a small boot and add air-conditioning.
Seriously, from the introduction of the hydraulic disc break on drop bar bikes (which for me was the game changer) to a reinvention of the modern "fully mountain pedelec" it took roughly 5 years. We need a new market now: "true gravel" or something that does away with all the junk and comes back to clean cycling.
Fun fact: living in semi-rural Germany, I have seen an actual gravel bike for the first time in a _train_ in our regional capital city Stuttgart. Not where it is supposed to be. Not even slightly.
The category -interesting as is seems- in practice is a joke. It just wants an 7th and 8th slot in your garage / basement. Get a MTB for versatility and/or a cyclocross for fun. The middle-ground is a MTB with a drop bar -which is utterly impractical on actual technical terrain.
I do not want to take away anyones fun or passion. My primary fear is that the trend will go into lala land where it gets tricky to buy a practical above-midrange unsuspended trail-capable non-electric bicycle again. First brands are dropping non-electric fully MTBs from their catalog already. Alloy cyclocross is a niche already between carbon-race-cyclocross and MTB-like gravel. When they get electrified, it is game-over for me.
Flat bars please.
Gravel bikes trying to be MTB huh 😅
Wider tires, flatbars, suspensions... They are turning into mountain bikes.
Just buy an light xc mtb btw.
Hahhaha....looks like the old tech from the 90s are back. Marketing gimmick to the max. ESPECIALLY, the disc brakes.
gravel and mountain bike are the two genders. just like with human gender, there is a spectrum between gravel bikes and mountain bikes. gravel bikes with suspension are the they/thems of offroad bikes
Just put a drop bar on a hard tail MTB and you have the same thing.
Completely absurd. I still can’t watch a ‘gravel bike’ video without shaking my head and wondering if it’s all some sort of weird, long running joke 😕 Even the commentator sounds like he’s taking the piss. And there was a short clip of a mountain bike in there, as if hinting at the joke.
Get over it. You have not understood it. Don’t know where you live, but in many countries it makes more sense and is more fun and less traffic when on gravel roads or tarmac/gravel combined. A hard tail is simply too slow
Go get a XC MTB. Enough of this gravel nonsense
Why is it nonsense? How many gravel races have you done?
I’ve got a very nice XC MTB and I’ve recently bought a gravel bike.
I never thought I’d say it, but I think for the majority of my cycling the gravel bike is becoming my favourite.
@@michaelb9664 same as
@@Eddie_-_ mmm. someone won a gravel bike race on a Specialized Epic with a dropbar. go look it up
@@youling1997 yes its Lael Wilcox.
Every bike is a gravel bike. Not every bike is a MTB/Road/CX bike.
Every clothing is gravel clothing.
That is the appeal. There’s something for everyone and all are welcome. No need to buy something new. Bring what you have and you will fit in and have a good time!
The rest is just marketing.
Trend #1 - BikeRadar is clueless as are their viewers. 😆😆☺️
Geez. Can you please talk slower. I just couldn't make out what you were saying at that pace.
I watched the video at 2x speed and did just fine.
@@marcalvarez4890 hahaha. Too funny.
@@edlorenz1552 Not a joke. He speaks just fine.