I’m trying to venture into the off-road world to expand my route options, but I have zero experience with MTB or gravel biking.
I’m torn between an XC hardtail or a gravel bike like the Topstone or Diverge. I’m not sure which would be the best fit for the type of terrain in my area.
The photos show the kind of roads I’d be riding on…
I’m leaning toward a gravel bike because I like the idea of riding fast, and my routes would be about 20% paved. My area is very hilly with nothing flat, and I’m mostly worried about the loose gravel on steep descents. That’s making me wonder if a hardtail would be a safer and more comfortable option given my lack of technical skills.
What do you think?
by Magnifico99
35 Comments
You don’t need a hardtail MTB for that. Firmly gravel bike territory.
Saddle up and send it. Looks good to me. Our gravel roads here in Florida can get way sketchier.
Gravel with 38’s will handle that fine. But….go 42-50 if you want more cush and send it.
Gravel bike 100%. I love my Orbea Terra M31 ETeam
This is well within the range of a gravel bike. With that said, before I bought a Grizl I rode gravel like this with my wife on my Transition Vanquish hardtail up to a big 70 mile day and it was still pretty awesome. Just hated killing my MTB tires on the paved sections. I was an idiot who knew exactly what he was doing wrong but did it anyway. Rode those 70 mi on DHR/DHF Minions… gah.
Either will work! Just go have fun.
That’s gravel for sure!
32mm gk slicks
IMO this is in the overlapping portion of the gravel bike / hardtail venn diagram. Gravel bike would be fine, especially if you get something that can take thicc tires (2″+). That said, a hardtail could make it comfier while not sacrificing too much, especially on fast descents. You can also lock out the fork for the flat bits.
A road bike
Plenty of that is crushed down by cars. Send the gravel bike.
Seriously you could ride a road bike if your abilities are on the level. My advice to you is ride what ever is fun. It doesn’t matter what we say! Only you know your limits.
700×45
Panaracer Gravel King SS 35c would be fun
Rusted up beach cruiser could handle that
The roads around me are exactly like that and my favorite set up for this is my Lauf Seigla with 2.2 Rene Herse knobby. It’s light and fast and the leaf spring fork takes out the jarring of the frequent rock strike.
Gravel bike with 38mm semi knobby tires. That first pick looks like the only road where you actively need to steer clear of those bigger rocks.
If it’s hilly like you say, you probably want hyd brakes > hydro mech > mech brakes with compressionless housing > stock mech brakes depending on your budget.
Endurance road bike or gravel bike with 35mm semislick tires.
I’d choose my gravel bike over my hardtail for that. But, I’d probably swap my 700×38 tires for 700×45 to handle the chunkier bits better. Most of my gravel rides are smoother.
If it were me, I would take my gravel bike on those roads 🤙🚴
You can even ride a road bike on terrain like that. I would say if you own different bikes try each one on it and see what you like best
Road bike, 28 or 30mm tires
I would ride 28 mm to 32 mm tires on that road. Steering clear of the larger rocks, of course.
Definitely a bike with high tire clearance and 650B wheels, the broadest tire possible. Maybe add a suspension stem as well.
25mm will do.
(Wider tyres would be faster, more comfortable, and less unnerving, though. Supple 40mm slicks seem right.)
Any bice can ride this
A gravel bike with 40mm tires.
Isn’t it gravel?
I’d send that on my road bike with 32mm tires, but it’d be much more comfortable on my XC MTB with 2.2in Aspens
Yes. The road I live on looks like that. I ride 28 c on it
Yes please
Like everyone else has said, gravel bike all the way — the one thing I’d definitely note is that tubeless at lower PSI will help greatly
Gravel bike with 40mm tires minimum, but wider if you can fit them.
I have 35mm gravel king slicks on my road bike and have no problem with gravel like this. I’ve also ridden on 28mm road tires and while it gets across it, the 35mm are much more comfortable and sure footed.
A dedicated gravel bike would be great and wider tires would certainly make it more comfortable, but this sort of gravel that isn’t very chunky, more of a dirt road with some loose chunks, is quite doable on a road bike with 32mm or larger tires IMHO.
I agree with other posters that the pictures terrain is fine on a gravel bike with 40ish tires.
However: the neat thing about an XC Hardtail is that you can ride terrain like this just fine, but also tackle much more challenging terrain with time and practice.
I bought a gravel bike 3 years ago and destroyed it learning to Mountainbike. Just bought an XC Hardtail and am loving the shit out of it.
I’ve ridden rowdier gravel on a CX bike with 32mm semi-slicks. It’ll be fine. How determined are you to “compete” vs “participate”?