bhoot960

In the communities opinion, what would be the best bike for someone who rides on all types of terrain, road, pavement, grass, gravel, rocks, everything you can think of what would be your choice for comfortablity and sturdiness? I am a 16 year old male and am 5'11, 140 lbs or 63 kilos. You can reccomend me a whole genre of bike or a actual bike with a link. Thanks!

bikemig 

Gravel bikes are marketed for the kind of riding you want to do. Do you have a budget you are working with? If you happen to be limited on budget, used bikes can save you a lot of money.

shelbyfv

Yes, "gravel" bike. Post what brands your local shops carry and your budget if you want more specific recommendations.

CAT7RDR

If on a tight budget, look at fully rigid mountain bikes from the 1990's or a hardtail that was converted at a later date.

50PlusCycling

Most mountain bikes made over the last 30 years would work. They are great on trails and rocks, and surprisingly useable the road. I bought an old Giant AC-1 mountain bike during my summer in Hawaii last year, rode it on the trails, and around Oahu on a mix of paved and unpaved roads. I brought it back to Tokyo with me, and I still ride it regularly here.

Eric F 

Another vote for a gravel bike. This is my bike that I ride on all that kind of stuff...

LarrySellerz

hey bro you want a hybrid bike like a Giant Escape 3

Broctoon

Could go with a flat bar road bike with at least 32mm tire width, a gravel or allroad bike, or a cross country mountain bike. As mentioned, even a rigid mountain bike from 20 or so years ago would probably suit your needs, at pretty low cost. A few models I like in the “hybrid” or flat bar road bike category are the Trek FX line and Verve line. My wife has an FX2, and it’s very nice.

Whatever you choose, be sure to get one that fits you. That is very important. Aside from that, you should buy the nicest bike you can afford with regard to components and wheels, not something trendy or stylish with cheap parts. What I mean is this: Walmart and Target and even big sporting goods chains have cheap bikes with what appears to be lots of features. They are junk and will not make you happy. You’re much better off getting a simple, high quality bike for a little more money, even if it’s used. Frame material isn’t important; there are really good bikes made of carbon, steel, and aluminum.

Chuck Naill

If you want a gravel and an ability to carry some luggage, the Kona Sutra comes ready to attach.

Broctoon

For brands, I really like Salsa, All City, and Surly. Each of them has a good variety of models, and you won’t go wrong with anything from one of these makers.

adlai

Yeah get a cyclocross/gravel bike.

It's basically a road bike but with thicker tires and lower gearing.

KerryIrons

What you are looking for is a "all road" bike. Read up on the topic from Bicycle Quarterly. Basically a road bike with clearance for wide tires. Google all road bikes and you'll find lots of information. A new one will not be cheap and they are not a high-volume market segment.

Broctoon

Really?

I'm not an industry insider or market analyst, just a casual observer, and I thought the following situations exist:

1) Allroad bike is sort of another name for gravel bike. Some subtle differences, but lots of overlap. (Also a lot overlap with CX bikes, the biggest differences being gear ratio range and presence or absence of luggage attachment points.)

2) It's an extremely popular segment, perhaps the fastest growing niche in cycling for the past few years.

Am I wrong in either of these perceptions?

PeteHski

In other words a “gravel bike”, which are very popular.

majmt 

For your consideration, a classic lugged-steel fast-touring bike with only minor mods could cover all of the ground you described young Jedi. Fast on the road and solid on gravel and trails. I have many bikes but if I could only have one, this would be it (got one set up for the wife too).

”an elegant weapon for a more civilized age” - OWK

Gresp15C

This is kind of an aside, but note that at age 16, you might not be done growing. Anything that fits now might be too small soon. For this reason, I wouldn't put too much effort into finding the perfect bike. Have fun with this chart. My hunch is you might grow another couple inches:

https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/dat...l/cj41c021.pdf

ljsense

I'd look for a 26" hardtail mountain bike; one with a rigid fork could tackle all the terrain you mention and be comfortable, sturdy and economical.

This category should accommodate any budget. A Schwinn High Sierra from the late 80s or early 90s, for example, should only set you back $100-200.

I'd also look for Specialized Stump Jumpers, Trek OCLV, Litespeeds, Kleins, Ritcheys, GTs, or pretty much any big manufacturer that had bikes in proper bike shops.

KerryIrons

I think if you read up on "all road" bikes you will find significant differences from the "average" gravel bike. Wider tires being the most obvious difference, but many others as well.

rosefarts

A gravel bike is definitely what you should look for.

You’re 16, so I assume you’ll occasionally use it go to work, friends house, a booty call, and probably smacking into a few more curbs and trees than us mature folk do.

Get something that doesn’t look that nice. My bike is too bling to use in any utilitarian way, even though it could.

Get a Surly Disc Trucker with a completely trashed paint job.

Broctoon

So, you’re recommending a gravel bike, or a touring bike?

rosefarts

Yes

CAT7RDR

Just for kicks and giggles, I looked up what Fuji offered with their most affordable gravel-adventure option.
A Jari 2.5 goes for $1,000.
https://www.fujibikes.com/products/2022-jari-2-5

OP what is your budget. At 16 y/o I imagine $1,000 is more than you had planned for?

PeteHski

Okay I read up on “all-road” bikes and they are apparently somewhere in-between road bikes and gravel bikes. Personally I would just get a gravel bike for maximum versatility both on and off road.

Dave Mayer

So you ride on: "gravel and rocks"? Then you want something that is sturdy enough to handle impacts and loose conditions. My latest bike is a mint 1991 Rocky Mountain; no suspension. It can go anywhere except gnarly steep and rough mountain biking conditions. Despite being reasonably light, it can go places that a so-called 'gravel bike' cannot go. The perfectly set-up canti brakes are surprisingly good, something that the bike industry seems to want you to forget.

The fat knobby tires on the Rocky make if definitely slower than a road bike or a 'cross bike, but if you are going over "gravel and rocks" or hitting curbs, then you need 2" tires and a sturdy frame.

I suggest you look at an older MTB hardtail. Not a Huffy or Schwinn etc, but a top-end bike mountain bike from the 1987-92 timeframe. My Rocky cost me $100 at a sports swap store.

BikeLite

Hard tail mountain bike is my choice.