Gravel bikes are more capable than ever before but can a gravel bike really replace a road bike, a gravel bike and a mountain bike? To find out we set Ed the challenge of riding nothing but a gravel bike for 3 months to find out whether a gravel bike is the only bike you need in 2026.
During this time Ed used the gravel bike on a bike packing trip, time trial up Alp d’Huez, commuting by bike and of course for gravel cycling. In this video we look at a gravel bike vs a road bike and see whether a gravel bike simply has too many compromises to be one bike for all your cycling needs including road cycling.
Do you think a gravel bike is the only bike you need in 2026? Let us know in the comments below…
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31 Comments
my canyon endurace with 35mm tyres is proving perfect for winter road and all year gravel riding
Yeah i have a trek domane 2017 and it takes 35mm tyres so even that nike is fine for light gravel. Im not sure where endurance ends and gravel starts in 2025?
Only thing I would add is that I like the lower profile of a MTB – sitting high up on a gravel bike would trigger my panic responses on some of the gravel trails. In winter I also use the MTB in preference to the road bike. Gravel bike wouldn't do it for me, I see it as a neither here nor there bike. Perhaps they will take over from commuter bikes.
For the price of that bike I'd just buy a Kinesis G2 and R2 and have some change !
Sorry, but my gravel bike with 45mm tyres and 30psi might be fun and fine on the rough stuff but I have to say its a real slog on the road, and its much slower, whereas I average 16-18mph on the road bike I do about 13mph on the gravel bike, 30 miles on the gravel bike feels mor like 40 to 50 miles on the road bike. For me, one bike does not do it all.
I have a mason bokeh – I swap the tyres between 32/35m continental go5000s (currently on the 35s and love them) and 45m knobbly tyres for serious stuff.
Short of trying to win a road race or hardcore mtb – then yes it does everything I need as a rider! Crucially it just makes me ride
I haven’t done real touring myself, but a question to those who has: Could you actually use a bike like this for touring? Wouldn’t it be stolen as soon as you leave it outside a store or anything like that if you bring a bike with a value of 5500?
Riding a gravel bike all the time is perfect for those “that Bridleway looks good, I’ll just nip down there and check it out” moments. So good for exploring. Takes me back to what I loved about riding bikes as a kid.
I bought an endurace all road this summer. I’m 73 & haven5 ridden much in 30 years. The bike I had was a 78 schwinn super letour. Love the allroad, rode a lot, mostly road riding. Live near buffalo so not much riding right now. Can’t wait for Spring.
No, start out with picking the bike that suits the roads around you.
Gravel is a great compromise, but I'm glad I don't have one. The little I ride off road, I don't need more than a relatively inexpensive hardtail MTB. (about $1200). Also have a steal of a deal custom built racing bike, and a boring commuter bike, with lots of room for groceries. All three bikes, even with upgrades, were less than 5,000 total. There is a reason for all three bikes being different. Different use cases are best served by use-optimal bike designs. Just as I won't fly down the highway on my hardtail, I won't get groceries on my race bike, or pick huckleberries off-road on my commuter bike. Vive le difference.
"everything between hardtail MTB and road racing" That's actually not much of a stretch. He should have to do ALL of it, if he's going to have two wheelsets!
I'm curious for those brown touring tires, would you please inform on the brand and model?
Kicking in some open doors here, or is it just an ad for the manufacturer?
I have a high spec LOOK 765 with DI2 and a Fairlight Secan with mechanical GRX 1x. I tend to ride the Secan whenever I get the chance and have started accumulating wheels with different tyres so it can do everything. Absolutely love it so will be selling the LOOK and using the one bike does it all Secan going forward. At 59 my riding has changed and the Secan fits the bill.
Over 20 years ago, I bought a touring bike that, according to the advertisements, would allow me to go anywhere on earth. Except that the bike could only accommodate 28mm tires at most. And it had a Campagnolo groupset. I spend half my time in Africa, and it didn't work on the African gravel roads. Good luck finding Campagnolo parts in African villages! So, I bought a touring bike that can take 52mm tires and has a Rohloff hub. Ok their his no Rohloff part in African village, but so far I had no problem with the hub in Africa. With both bikes, I've covered 74,604 km in 17 years. I use another bike only for winter riding in the snow and salt to avoid damaging my good bikes.
My checkpoint does it all
Yes it was a mistake. How can you live with just one bike??? 😱
In the 80s we only had Raleigh. And in the shop you could get only 23 road tires or 32 nirmal tyres. And it worked as well.
Gravel bikes are amazing 👑🚲🏅
What are the brown tyres mentioned at the start?
Ed – brilliant "normal" reviewer, explaining why the average rider wants comfort, reliability and security in the flexibility of your steed…
How about when I really like riding on the tarmac but I really like exploring my neighbourhood? Not all the roads are nice. Not all the trails are even rideable (over 1m Nettles requires lifting the bike high to the sky). This is why lightweight gravel bike with good enough tires are the best for me.
I got 380mm aero hadnlebars on my gravel bike, mint!!
this was brilliant!!!
weldone cycling week love this sort of videos
That Lauf looks amazing. If I could have a dedicated gravel bike, I'd definitely get one. And in that colour.
IMO a gravel bike feels like a 2 size bigger road bike.
Gravel Bikes are superb on road or off road especially for senior riders.
Yes it can, my Ostro gravel does everything very well
Well presented and balanced, without the usual prejudice.
I have t been able to find the brown tires he’s referring to. I would love to find them as I’m planning a North Sea to Adriatic ride, and would love a set that are strongly resistant to puncture. Any advice appreciated