Originally Posted by
RiceAWay
A gravel bike is nothing more than a road bike with sufficient tire clearance for up to 32 or so gravel knobbys.
Clearance up to 32mm isn't at all the common max for what size gravel bikes take.
It's super neat that you ride gravel on 23mm or narrower tires. Just recognize that many others choose to use a different size tire for what are obvious reasons.
Me personally- a 23mm or narrower tire would not be fun to ride on gravel around me. I would deflect and bounce around more than what i do with a wider tire. I would absorb more vibration than what i do with a wider tire.
There is simply no upside to riding gravel with a 23mm or smaller tire, so bragging about how it was done without thought is funny.
Ultimately, what constitutes comfort for each rider is different. And what constitutes gravel for each region of the country is different. Some may find a 23mm tire at 120psi works for them in a certain area. Others may find a 40mm tire at 40psi works for them in a certain area.
Its bold to claim someone is 'doing it wrong'.