Can Gravel Bikes Be Used For Touring?
Can Gravel Bikes Be Used For Touring?
Gravel bikes have been one of the big trends of the last few years. All the big bike brands now have a gravel bike range. There are loads of gravel bike events and even a gravel bike world cup. They look fast and sturdy, and you might be wondering if gravel bikes can be used for touring. The answer is yes! Gravel bikes are a great option for touring, but there are a few things you should keep in mind before you hit the road.
The Benefits of Using a Gravel Bike for Touring
Gravel bikes are designed to be ridden on gravel roads. That means that gravel bikes are built to handle a variety of terrain from smooth tarmac to rough, rocky paths. So, if you're planning on doing some off-road touring, or just aren’t sure what the surfaces are going to be like, a gravel bike is a great option.
Although most modern gravel bikes are purpose built they still retain some road bike heritage. That means they are fast and can cover big distances easily. So you’ll be able to pack plenty of miles in.
Another benefit of using a gravel bike for touring is that they're normally equipped with disc brakes and wide range gears. Disc brakes offer more stopping power than traditional rim brakes, which is important when you're carrying all your gear with you on long rides. They also perform better in wet or muddy conditions, so you don't have to worry about your brakes failing when the weather takes a turn for the worse. Wide range gears will make life easier when riding a full loaded bike as you’ll be able to pedal up hills with less effort.
Bikepacking or Touring?
Most gravel bikes are setup for ‘bikepacking’ rather than touring. Bikepacking is the cycling equivalent of backpacking and normally assumes you are going to be doing short trips of 1 to 3 nights, or be prepared to rough it. A lot of people will also use a bivvy bag, or just sleep in the open, rather than carry a tent when bikepacking. If your tour is going to be using hostels, bothies or bed and breakfast type accommodation this shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you are going to be camping and need to carry a tent and several days’ worth of food you may find a gravel bike is limited for space.
Most gravel bikes are setup to take bikepacking frame bags rather than traditional panniers so you are pretty much limited to a lightweight setup. If you’ve got a lightweight tent, lightweight stove, lightweight sleeping bag etc, you’ll be fine but you will need to think about your gear.
Race Gravel Bikes V General Purpose Gravel Bikes
As gravel bikes are developing we are starting to see more dedicated race bikes. A good example is Orbea. They make their Terra gravel bikes with either an aluminium or carbon frame. The aluminium bike is designed to be very versatile and is ideal for bikepacking adventures. The carbon frame bike is lighter weight, faster, and more suitable for racing. You will see a similar thing with the Specialized Diverge range where the top end bikes come with carbon aero wheels and wireless shifting. Great for racing but not so much for remote touring routes.
A perfect solution for occasional touring
Gravel bikes are tough, capable machines that will help you explore the world around you like never before. They’ll open up new riding possibilities on your doorstep and allow you to go touring without having to buy a dedicated touring bike. You may be a bit limited on what you can carry but that’s often a good thing. You’ll be able to move faster, cover more ground, and have more fun if you aren’t carrying everything including the kitchen sink around with you.
