{"id":19560,"date":"2017-05-04T12:22:22","date_gmt":"2017-05-04T11:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/?p=19560"},"modified":"2017-05-04T12:22:22","modified_gmt":"2017-05-04T11:22:22","slug":"really-need-gravel-bike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/really-need-gravel-bike\/","title":{"rendered":"Really Need a Gravel Bike?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The last few years have seen Gravel Bikes become popular all over the cycling world. But do you really need a gravel bike to ride gravel tracks?<\/p>\n

N+1 gone mad?<\/h2>\n

Races such as Strade Bianche (Itlay), Battenkill (US) and Cicle Classic in the UK are, in the main, ridden on standard bikes, so if pro racers use standard road bikes for gravel terrain at high-speed, do we really need gravel bikes? Even UK sportives such as the Tour De Staveley include gravel tracks…<\/p>\n

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Tour De Staveley Sportive Gravel Track through a Cumbrian Forest.<\/p>\n

Horses for Courses<\/h2>\n

Granted, for longer, or more challenging adventures, a standard road bike might not cut it. Add in the need for mounts for panniers & racks, flexibility to tackle almost MTB like terrain, and more relaxed geometry then the gravel bike would completely have the edge. However, for most of us just wanting to explore local tracks, slightly wider tyres at lower pressures will get you around surprisingly well on a standard road bike \u2013 if you ride with care.<\/p>\n

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Tom Moses winner of the 2014 Cicle Classic Race, following the smoothest bit of track…<\/p>\n

How to ride gravel on a road bike<\/h2>\n