Gravel Bike Buying Guide

Gravel bikes have exploded in popularity over the last few years. There are now dozens of gravel bike events around the UK and a growing number of long distance cycling routes designed with gravel bikes in mind. In this gravel bike buying guide we’ll take you through the main things to consider when picking a gravel bike.

What’s the appeal of a gravel bike?

The main appeal of gravel bikes is versatility,. You can use them on normal roads but they’ll also work great on forest roads, old railway lines and farm tracks. So you can go for a ride off-road, avoiding cars and traffic, but link it with sections of tarmac as well. Of course you can do this on a mountain bike but a gravel bike will generally be faster and lighter. This also means you can cover some big distances when touring. A lot of gravel bike riders are road cyclists who want to get away from traffic.

As gravel bikes often get used for touring and bikepacking most will come with mounting points for bags. This luggage capacity combined with speed, and ability to handle mixed surfaces, means that gravel bikes are also extremely popular for commuting on.

Read our full gravel bike buying guide

Are Gravel Bikes Good for Commuting?

Gravel bikes are very popular for commuting. We sell lots of them on the cycle to work scheme. One of our biggest stores for gravel bike sales is our Greenwich shop in London. They're mainly selling them for commuting around central London on. We’re going to run you through the pros and cons of commuting on a gravel bike and answer the question ‘are gravel bikes good for commuting?’

The Pros of Commuting on a Gravel Bike

Gravel bikes are fast, nearly as quick as a standard road bike. They are certainly quicker on the road than most mountain bikes and many hybrids. That means you can get to work, and home, in the shortest time possible. But what makes gravel bikes so good for commuting is that they are extremely versatile. They can be ridden on tarmac, cycle paths, old railway lines, canal towpaths, and even off-road trails. So, it’s easy to mix it up on your commute and avoid traffic.

Another big advantage of commuting on a gravel bike is that they're generally more comfortable than road bikes. This is because they have wider tyres and longer wheelbases, which results in a smoother and more stable ride. So you don’t get bounced around as much on rough roads. Most gravel bikes have a fairly upright riding position which makes it easier to see what’s going on in traffic. The combination of stable handling and the comfortable riding position is a massive confidence boost for the rider, especially on wet roads.

Read more about the pros and cons of gravel bikes for commuting

Who are Orbea?

Orbea pronounced Or-bay-ah is named after the brothers who founded the company in 1840. Initially, the company manufactured rifles and guns. The company has been making bikes since the early 1930s and winning Tour de France stages for just as long. All Orbea Bikes are assembled at the Orbea Factory based in the heart of the Basque country in Northern Spain or in their facility in Portugal.

Orbea does things a little differently from many of the big American bike brands. As the heart of Orbea's manufacturing is still in Spain and Portugal Orbea can offer much more customised service. This includes the ability to swap out colours and parts on most of their higher-end bikes to suit individual customers through their MyO program.

Although best known for their road bikes Orbea are increasingly making a name for themselves as a mountain bike brand.

Read More About Orbea Bikes

Price Match at Cycles uk

We understand that price is important, so we regularly price-check our competitors to make sure we have the best offers available. We recognise that we will not always be the cheapest, so if you see the same product cheaper from any of our competitors then please get in touch via the form below and we will do our best to match any reasonable advertised price.

Please note: Manufacturers can sometimes change the specification of the products from time to time.