Hello!
I can’t be the only one who’s been unsure about this, so I’m asking now in hopes of getting some useful inspiration and help.
A little info about myself:
I’m a 39-year-old man. 179 cm tall and weigh about 74 kilos. I’ve never cycled before, but due to a serious shin injury, I’ll never be able to run long distances, so I’ve been recommended to start cycling.
For a few months now, I’ve been riding a gravel bike—a very cheap starter gravel bike that I paid about €800 for brand new. Specifically, this gravel bike: Rock Machine Gravelride 200
It really surprised me how much I enjoy cycling. Getting out and pedaling is just an amazing feeling. Even though I’m a complete beginner and generally new to “exercise and fitness,” I decided it was time to start. I bought this cheap starter gravel bike so I wouldn’t start out too expensive, but I can feel that I’m getting more and more into it.
Gravel or road?
Now I’m wondering: if I upgrade to a better bike someday (maybe next summer, lol) should I go for another and better gravel bike or a road bike? Gravel is great because I can ride almost anywhere—by the coast, in the forest, on gravel roads, and on paved roads. But a road bike also seems really appealing. A couple of my friends have “real” road bikes (€2,500-4,500 range), and they’re just so nice—but then you’re limited to riding only on paved roads.
I’ve considered keeping the cheap gravel bike I have now (no reason to sell it) and buying a more expensive road bike. That way, I’d have one of each. A big plus with that approach is that a road bike doesn’t take as much beating from stones, dirt, and mud as a gravel bike does, which suits my OCD quite well.
For those of you who’ve faced the same dilemma, what did you do, and which bike did you choose if your budget didn’t allow for two expensive bikes?
Thank you so much for your time 🙏
by H2OSCO
1 Comment
Road bikes are A LOT of fun. Riding a light and stiff and well fitting road bike that simply just wants to go fast is a real rush. At the same time, a road bike will restrict the roads in which you can ride on.
A gravel bike will open up a whole lot more potential routes and types of rides, even bikepacking!
We’re pretty much at the same age, height and weight, and I’d say get yourself a road bike and join your friends! Take your time researching, finding the right bike and more importantly something that fits. We’re both height wise just in the overlap for either 54cm or 56cm frames, and I’ve learnt that 54cm is very decidedly my size and the one I’m more comfortable on. Sizing a larger bike down with shorter stems and such will have more impact on handling than sizing a smaller bike up the same way.
Also consider some wild card bike types. A cyclocross bike is basically a road bike/gravel bike hybrid, with a road bike-like geometry, but also tire clearances more towards a gravel bike. Check Specialized Crux for reference. I’ve also lately really enjoyed cross country MTB riding (XC). I’ve got a Scott Scale 940 which I love riding local trails on, and the feeling that you can ride literally anywhere is also very very fun.
As for your OCD, maybe avoid carbon framesets, as ‘carbon anxiety’ is a real thing. I’m slightly guilty myself, even if I know it’s largely irrational. There’s some fantastic options across all bike types in aluminium, steel and titanium. Get something you’re comfortable putting to use and ride hard without worries, and shrug off those first scratches or chips, the bike is meant to be a fun machine, and if you ride one to pieces then it has given you lots of fun and you’ll never stop lusting for that next hot bike anyway.