Why Relaxed Geometry “Gravel Bikes” Suck if you want to go fasttttt.

On this journey into Rant and Rave world, I am going to focus on the “What the hell is this bike considered, a road or gravel bike?” territory.

First off, the rant is going to be just that, but the rave is going to occur once you consider some of the rants.  Shit deep thoughts, huh?

I will be very honest here.  I think traditional gravel bikes are a joke, more below.  Now if you want to talk “All Road” bikes, you have my attention.

Let me start with a big old Rant.  Gravel bikes have been around FOREVER.  They are called Cyclocross bikes.  What is a cyclocross bike?  It is a road bike with tire clearance that allows up to, and sometimes more that a 33mm tire.  Simple definition but extremely accurate.  There is more to it but it does not apply to its usage on the road or gravel.

Question, why last year at the UCI Gravel Championships did basically NOONE used a “Gravel” bike and most everyone used a Cyclocross bike.  I mean even the companies that make gravel bikes sent their squads out on Cyclocross bikes.

So what in the hell is a “Gravel” bike for then?  Seriously, I do not know unless you have a femur that is longer than your entire arm or that you simply don’t want to effectively transfer power.  There might be an argument for 100+ mile races with a shit ton of gradient.

Why am I talking about femurs and power transfer?  Traditional “Grevel” bikes have an insanely “relaxed” seat tube angle.  Road bikes and All Road bikes have a more race or “traditional” geometry.  The Glutes and the Quads produce the most power in the pedal stroke, by a HUGE margin.  The Hamstrings and Hip Flexors are WAY behind these.  It is important to utilize both, but gradient change with fire the Hamstrings and Hip Flexors organically as you slide back on your saddle.  If you cannot get you feet “over the pedals” (think forward of the axle), you simply cannot engage your Glutes and Quads nearly as much unless you literally want to sit on the very edge of the nose of the saddle, and blow out your knees because you have are going to limit out the “float” on your cleats.  For those people who say gradient or the butt on the saddle position does not change your fit, I can give you a one minute drill that will prove otherwise.

Holy shit, I just came up with a reason for a “Gravel” bike.  It might honestly be the worlds best Bike Packing option you have. 

Back to the rant, sorry about the epiphany!

MOST of my fits in the last two years have been helping people “fight” the bike geometry of a “Gravel” bike.  In most instances we were successful to an extent.  HOWEVER, the bike will still not be as efficient as it should be as you are fighting the intended purpose of the bikes design.  HOWEVER, this approach ALWAYS necessitates a new seat post (always a zero setback or zero plus seat post) and a new stem (always longer).  This basically adds more money than you have already dropped for a bike that was sold to you as one thing and turned out to be something else entirely.

And very coincidentally, a MAJOR brand just announced a new “gravel” bike in addition to the one they have been selling to the public for years.  The “new” gravel bike will make a lot more sense if you read the above before figuring out what I am referring to.  My question would be “what were they selling you before this so-called epiphany.”  I will tell you what, marketing, they were selling you a marketing concept.

Until next time my friends.

k