For me, it was a want for a bike that is more capable. If I see a trail on the side of the road that I want to explore, I want a bike that is capable of letting me do that. As a teen, I rode my Peugeot UO-9 everywhere, but those days are long over. I need a bike that is a little more forgiving on the body. I think I started a trend locally, as gravel bikes were non-existent in my area when I bought one. They are just starting to become popular as more people, including my LBS, are seeing the potential. My LBS owner got his first gravel bike last October and his review on Facebook said "This may be the future of road bikes for those that want to ride any road surface at any time, and get off the pavement whenever they can." Personally, I doubt there are many people who don't meet that criteria - who haven't at one point or another said to themselves "I wonder where that road goes".
Last edited by medic75; 07-08-19 at 09:12 AM.