Why isn't gravel bike a forum yet?
03-06-19, 08:35 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Why isn't gravel bike a forum yet?
Sure, it's trendy and there's a lot of empty marketing....but it's a real thang.
03-06-19, 09:03 PM
#3
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,650
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista
Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3090 Post(s)
Liked 6,594 Times
in
3,781 Posts
03-06-19, 09:23 PM
#4
Non omnino gravis
This post strikes me as awfully trolly, seemingly made by someone has been on this site for a decade and never noticed the CX & Gravel sub-forum.
__________________
03-07-19, 04:36 AM
#7
Senior Member
03-07-19, 07:16 AM
#8
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Posts: 33,000
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene '04; Bridgestone RB-1 '92
Mentioned: 325 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11967 Post(s)
Liked 6,635 Times
in
3,479 Posts
Maybe they should switch the name around - Gravelbiking and Cyclocross?
Nahhhhhhh.
Nahhhhhhh.
__________________
See, this is why we can't have nice things. - - smarkinson
Where else but the internet can a bunch of cyclists go and be the tough guy? - - jdon
03-07-19, 07:34 AM
#9
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Posts: 33,000
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene '04; Bridgestone RB-1 '92
Mentioned: 325 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11967 Post(s)
Liked 6,635 Times
in
3,479 Posts
To be honest, when I first heard about gravel biking, and when it got lumped together here with Cyclocross biking, I assumed it was another rough-and-tumble form of cycling similar to Cyclocross, featuring roads of thick, coarse gravel stones much like a gravel driveway. Aside from the fact I couldn't picture riding on that as an enjoyable thing, I couldn't picture how so many guys were all of a sudden finding all these gravel roads to ride on. I had no idea people were actually talking about dirt biking, simply a hard packed dirt surface with a natural mix of sparse embedded stones and maybe a light sprinkling of loose pebbles on the surface. 
But to each his own.
But to each his own.
__________________
See, this is why we can't have nice things. - - smarkinson
Where else but the internet can a bunch of cyclists go and be the tough guy? - - jdon
03-07-19, 08:30 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
would have been funny if the OP posted it in the Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational) subforum
luv me some gravel
luv me some gravel
03-07-19, 10:34 AM
#11
Sr Member on Sr bikes
First I just want to say that I am strictly a road cyclist. But, in defense of gravel cyclists...maybe it should have its own forum. I'm not much of an expert on other forms of cycling, but I have seen enough cyclo bikes to know what one looks like (at least I thought I had). Alas, apparently there is a notable difference between cyclo and gravel. A couple of years ago while traveling, I stopped into a LBS to inquire about renting a road bike. On the showroom floor there was what I thought was a cyclocross bike. I commented to the LBS employee (who I think was actually the owner) how I thought it was a "...nice looking cyclocross bike." He quickly responded "Oh no. It is definitely a gravel bike. We just built it up." So I asked what the differences were...but he said really only slight variations in frame geometry. But...so if mountain bikes and fat bikes each have their own forum, should not cyclo and gravel each have their own? (And I want to state that it really doesn't matter to me. I'm just saying for the sake of argument.)
Dan
Dan
03-07-19, 10:44 AM
#13
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
03-07-19, 02:26 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 252
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 100 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
2 Posts
Gravel? Nope. We have plenty of sand and loose gravel over top. The only bike that is even equipped to be passable is a fat tired thing. You'll be carrying your gravel bike.
03-07-19, 04:38 PM
#15
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
To be honest, when I first heard about gravel biking, and when it got lumped together here with Cyclocross biking, I assumed it was another rough-and-tumble form of cycling similar to Cyclocross, featuring roads of thick, coarse gravel stones much like a gravel driveway. Aside from the fact I couldn't picture riding on that as an enjoyable thing, I couldn't picture how so many guys were all of a sudden finding all these gravel roads to ride on. I had no idea people were actually talking about dirt biking, simply a hard packed dirt surface with a natural mix of sparse embedded stones and maybe a light sprinkling of loose pebbles on the surface.
But to each his own.
But to each his own.
Around here the DOR prefers to dump pea gravel and not compact it....so after a fresh-dumping it is loose and not at all compacted, but a few months later it is compacted or spread to the sides by cars leaving dirt.....or after drought may be hard packed dirt, or may be softpack dusty dirt. Of course on the west coast--you'll hear/see lots about fire-roads.
You might also find dumped railroad ballast on occasion on more private roads that are MMR insofar as the county is concerned.
Conditions are as variable as CX....except last a great deal longer than 45minutes-1 hour.
03-07-19, 06:59 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,595
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 608 Post(s)
Liked 352 Times
in
225 Posts
I think the name gravel bike is a little misleading. The term adventure bike is much more descriptive to me. With that said I do think it is time to have a separate category because the recreational cyclocross/gravel bike doesn't make sense, since they are so different.
People can say niche of a niche but even Fat bikes got their own category. Talk about niche of a niche of a niche.
People can say niche of a niche but even Fat bikes got their own category. Talk about niche of a niche of a niche.
03-07-19, 07:04 PM
#17
Sr Member on Sr bikes
I also think that penny-farthings should have their own forum.
Dan
03-07-19, 08:23 PM
#18
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,614
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10963 Post(s)
Liked 7,489 Times
in
4,189 Posts
To be honest, when I first heard about gravel biking, and when it got lumped together here with Cyclocross biking, I assumed it was another rough-and-tumble form of cycling similar to Cyclocross, featuring roads of thick, coarse gravel stones much like a gravel driveway. Aside from the fact I couldn't picture riding on that as an enjoyable thing, I couldn't picture how so many guys were all of a sudden finding all these gravel roads to ride on. I had no idea people were actually talking about dirt biking, simply a hard packed dirt surface with a natural mix of sparse embedded stones and maybe a light sprinkling of loose pebbles on the surface.
But to each his own.
But to each his own.
03-08-19, 02:49 PM
#19
vespertine member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Land of Angora, Turkey
Posts: 2,476
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 687 Post(s)
Liked 220 Times
in
163 Posts
Gravel biking is definitely a thing - particularly for those of us in more rural areas where half the roads are...gravel.
I'm not sure if it makes a ton of sense to separate it from the 'cross forum at this point: the majority of the posts in that subforum are actually about gravel biking. There's also obviously cross-over (no pun intended) with other sub-forums, especially long-distance cycling (for the brutal, long-distance events), touring (relevant to bikepacking on mixed surfaces), and fatbiking (for those who do gravel on fatbikes).
If anything, a few stickies like "show us your gravel bike!" might make the dual nature of the subforum more apparent
I'm not sure if it makes a ton of sense to separate it from the 'cross forum at this point: the majority of the posts in that subforum are actually about gravel biking. There's also obviously cross-over (no pun intended) with other sub-forums, especially long-distance cycling (for the brutal, long-distance events), touring (relevant to bikepacking on mixed surfaces), and fatbiking (for those who do gravel on fatbikes).
If anything, a few stickies like "show us your gravel bike!" might make the dual nature of the subforum more apparent
03-09-19, 09:28 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 7,085
Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 478 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 87 Times
in
67 Posts
Its actually helpful to have cyclocross and gravel together. Although there are differences, there are also similarities. All in one forum. Otherwise, it would be going back and forth to get information. You know, decision making. What works for you.
03-09-19, 09:35 AM
#21
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,635
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4733 Post(s)
Liked 1,532 Times
in
1,003 Posts
Why does the CX/Gravel forum have a "(Recreational)" qualifier in its title? Is this supposed to distinguish this forum from others in some way?
03-09-19, 10:20 AM
#22
Senior Member
There are several sub-forums dedicated to competition events, while many ride gravel just for fun.
03-09-19, 10:30 AM
#23
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
Yup. Same idea as having a "road cycling" and "MTB Cycling" forum and a dedicated racing boards for each of those disciplines.
03-09-19, 10:45 AM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Southern California, USA
Posts: 10,475
Bikes: 1979 Raleigh Team 753
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3375 Post(s)
Liked 371 Times
in
253 Posts
I'd rather put them all together. When you break them up there is a lot of overlap like "training" or even a lot of equipment that fits better in the general.
I see two groups on BF.
Competitive - The sport/s - racing (goal to win), anything that is competition and getting there first, in less time, fastest, longer (if you are competing against another rider) is better than not. It can be the riders, the coaches and the fans - but it is all about how to win, or get closer to it.
Non-competitive. They can show pictures of bikes, scenery, water, snow and cool stuff that costs 20X what it should. Posting about what goes faster is still fun, even when not doing it to win an official race.
I am tweaking the tandem - tubulars, aero bars, Di2 (the tandem stuff would fit well on any gravel bike too) but have more in common with the racing thread where they deal with Di2 and tubulars than tandem when it is more tourists.
I see two groups on BF.
Competitive - The sport/s - racing (goal to win), anything that is competition and getting there first, in less time, fastest, longer (if you are competing against another rider) is better than not. It can be the riders, the coaches and the fans - but it is all about how to win, or get closer to it.
Non-competitive. They can show pictures of bikes, scenery, water, snow and cool stuff that costs 20X what it should. Posting about what goes faster is still fun, even when not doing it to win an official race.
I am tweaking the tandem - tubulars, aero bars, Di2 (the tandem stuff would fit well on any gravel bike too) but have more in common with the racing thread where they deal with Di2 and tubulars than tandem when it is more tourists.
03-09-19, 10:49 AM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Central Io-way
Posts: 2,673
Bikes: LeMond Zurich, Giant Talon 29er
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1221 Post(s)
Liked 629 Times
in
472 Posts
I'm still confused, what forum do I post about my rides that are a third road riding, jump to gravel at the edge of town for a third then hook up to a rail-trail mup for the remainder? All the while on my horizontal top tube LeMond with brifters and GP4ks2's?
Can't really post in Gravel (recreational) since I dropped a known cat 1 racer from my Strava. Sure he was probably (100% definitely) doing a recovery ride. Also he might have been riding no handed and snacking.
Can't really post in Gravel (recreational) since I dropped a known cat 1 racer from my Strava. Sure he was probably (100% definitely) doing a recovery ride. Also he might have been riding no handed and snacking.