Gravel Bike vs Hybrid
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Gravel Bike vs Hybrid
I've been loosely toying with the idea of adding a gravel bike to go alongside my Trek 7.3 FX, something under $1000 so just looking for some bike suggestions, advice or any other thoughts.
85% of my riding is on hard & loose pack gravel trails, which the FX does well with. The reason I'm thinking about the gravel bike is for those times I venture out on the road for a ride, a little more speed than the FX on the trails or simply different riding ergonomics. There's some pretty good hills so I'm thinking a 46/30 up front and 8 or ideally 9 on the cassette. 2 bikes that have caught my eye are the Diamondback Haanjo 3 and the Raleigh Willard 2, which on paper seem very similar since they are the same company with the advantage going to the Raleigh for the through axles.
85% of my riding is on hard & loose pack gravel trails, which the FX does well with. The reason I'm thinking about the gravel bike is for those times I venture out on the road for a ride, a little more speed than the FX on the trails or simply different riding ergonomics. There's some pretty good hills so I'm thinking a 46/30 up front and 8 or ideally 9 on the cassette. 2 bikes that have caught my eye are the Diamondback Haanjo 3 and the Raleigh Willard 2, which on paper seem very similar since they are the same company with the advantage going to the Raleigh for the through axles.
#3
Senior Member
I have a trek 7.2 fx and a Raleigh tamland. The trek is currently hooked to the toddler trailer and is my "family time" bike. The Raleigh is my "me" bike. I'm not in to mountain biking and will never be a road racer, so these two bikes fit my lifestyle and local roads perfectly. The local county roads are pretty rough and I'm pretty big, so the durability and comfort of the tamland was a selling point for me.
#4
Senior Member
For now I am using a specialized sirrus for gravel. I put drops on it and upgraded to 9 spd drivetrain. I have been wondering if it is strong enough to handle gravel in the flint hills of Kansas?
#5
Senior Member
I'm in a similar situation. I haven't ridden a bike with drop bars for almost 30 years. I am thinking I want to replace my Raleigh Cadent 2 with a gravel bike, but I am not sure. Unfortunately my local bike shop is limited to Trek and doesn't have a gravel bike in stock. I recently found a great online deal on a Diamondback Haanjo Trail, but I don't know how long the deal will last. I hate to spend money on a bike that I have never ridden and am not sure if I will like. I am really torn as I doubt I will ever see this deal again. If I buy it and don't ride it, I will have a really neat looking decoration, which is the last thing I want to do.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 3,691
Bikes: Too many bikes, too little time to ride
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 430 Post(s)
Liked 460 Times
in
318 Posts
Anything more than 13 miles and I find myself preferring drop bars instead of flats. I think you'll enjoy the differentiation that a gravel bike offers from a hybrid.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
I'm in a similar situation. I haven't ridden a bike with drop bars for almost 30 years. I am thinking I want to replace my Raleigh Cadent 2 with a gravel bike, but I am not sure. Unfortunately my local bike shop is limited to Trek and doesn't have a gravel bike in stock. I recently found a great online deal on a Diamondback Haanjo Trail, but I don't know how long the deal will last. I hate to spend money on a bike that I have never ridden and am not sure if I will like. I am really torn as I doubt I will ever see this deal again. If I buy it and don't ride it, I will have a really neat looking decoration, which is the last thing I want to do.
I had that debate with myself too with Bikes Direct, Raleigh, and Canyon. I ended up looking at the return policy and asking myself if the “deal” was worth risking the $50 return shipping fee? Unless it was a screaming deal, it would have to be returnable.
One bonus for Canyon, is that their bikes are 100% refundable if you don’t want to keep it (including shipping). I ended up buying two and returning the one that I liked least.
Seems like the Haanjo has been on sale for a while now
Then again, the OP only posted once in this forum, and that was many months ago.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
The sirrus should be good for gravel, as long as you keep the wheels on the ground and don't jump it.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,186
Bikes: 2016 Surly Cross Check, 2019 Kona Rove ST
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 284 Post(s)
Liked 313 Times
in
211 Posts
Me too. I switched from flat bars to drops in my mid-50's (a time when many people are going the other direction and trying to get more upright and while it did take some extra adjustment due to my flexibility (or lack thereof), I would never go back to flats on any kind of gravel, touring, adventure, etc. bike. For my dedicated MTB, sure it's flat bars, but anything else, drops FTW (and I went through several different "alt" bars too).
#10
Senior Member
You might review some of the YouTube videos done by Clint Gibbs. Clint had both a Gravel bike, a Cyclocross bike and two MTB bikes. He rides flater gravel in Florida a large amount of the time. He ended up modifying his Cyclocross bike for gravel and selling the Gravel bike, which he documents the reasons for.
I can ride the “gravel” roads at my back door every day. My issue is there are very steep up & downs everywhere. I am modifying my cyclocross bike for fast shifting over lower gear ranges. I am about to turn 69 so I am not interested in being fast/racing. I am more interested in getting up steep hills and not loosing control of tires in deep sandy gravel over pavement.
I can ride the “gravel” roads at my back door every day. My issue is there are very steep up & downs everywhere. I am modifying my cyclocross bike for fast shifting over lower gear ranges. I am about to turn 69 so I am not interested in being fast/racing. I am more interested in getting up steep hills and not loosing control of tires in deep sandy gravel over pavement.
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 19
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Just to mix things up... Here is my Hybrid/Road/Gravel bike.
Edit: For context, to those who may say this is a hair brained idea, I have 3 slipped discs in my back and need the comfort of a flat bar, but I'm also very fit and love to put the miles down at 20+mph. Drop bat's are no go due to geometry, and the Iso Speed Decoupler of the Trek FX5+ range make this the comfiest bike I've ever owned.
Edit: For context, to those who may say this is a hair brained idea, I have 3 slipped discs in my back and need the comfort of a flat bar, but I'm also very fit and love to put the miles down at 20+mph. Drop bat's are no go due to geometry, and the Iso Speed Decoupler of the Trek FX5+ range make this the comfiest bike I've ever owned.
Last edited by EpicTwiglet; 08-16-18 at 09:05 PM.
#12
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 7,490 Times
in
4,189 Posts
Just to mix things up... Here is my Hybrid/Road/Gravel bike.
Edit: For context, to those who may say this is a hair brained idea, I have 3 slipped discs in my back and need the comfort of a flat bar, but I'm also very fit and love to put the miles down at 20+mph. Drop bat's are no go due to geometry, and the Iso Speed Decoupler of the Trek FX5+ range make this the comfiest bike I've ever owned.
Edit: For context, to those who may say this is a hair brained idea, I have 3 slipped discs in my back and need the comfort of a flat bar, but I'm also very fit and love to put the miles down at 20+mph. Drop bat's are no go due to geometry, and the Iso Speed Decoupler of the Trek FX5+ range make this the comfiest bike I've ever owned.
do you find yourself sliding off the nose of the saddle with it pointed down so much? Wasnt sure if that helps woth the back or what.
#13
Gravel Rider
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: CT
Posts: 153
Bikes: 2019 Trek Checkpoint ALR5 | Trek Farley 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 93 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I haven't ridden drop bars since i was a teenager (44 now). A few weeks ago I bought a Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 that has drop bars and sold my Specialized Hybrid with straight bars and I adapted really fast. Speaking of fast the speed difference between the two and how light a bike is without shocks is now making me want all my bikes to be without shocks. I am one bike away from getting rid of all bikes (that are mine) with shocks.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NWNJ
Posts: 3,704
Bikes: Road bike is a Carbon Bianchi C2C & Grandis (1980's), Gary Fisher Mt Bike, Trek Tandem & Mongoose SS MTB circa 1992.
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 722 Post(s)
Liked 353 Times
in
226 Posts
I've been loosely toying with the idea of adding a gravel bike to go alongside my Trek 7.3 FX, something under $1000 so just looking for some bike suggestions, advice or any other thoughts.
85% of my riding is on hard & loose pack gravel trails, which the FX does well with. The reason I'm thinking about the gravel bike is for those times I venture out on the road for a ride, a little more speed than the FX on the trails or simply different riding ergonomics. There's some pretty good hills so I'm thinking a 46/30 up front and 8 or ideally 9 on the cassette. 2 bikes that have caught my eye are the Diamondback Haanjo 3 and the Raleigh Willard 2, which on paper seem very similar since they are the same company with the advantage going to the Raleigh for the through axles.
85% of my riding is on hard & loose pack gravel trails, which the FX does well with. The reason I'm thinking about the gravel bike is for those times I venture out on the road for a ride, a little more speed than the FX on the trails or simply different riding ergonomics. There's some pretty good hills so I'm thinking a 46/30 up front and 8 or ideally 9 on the cassette. 2 bikes that have caught my eye are the Diamondback Haanjo 3 and the Raleigh Willard 2, which on paper seem very similar since they are the same company with the advantage going to the Raleigh for the through axles.
#16
Senior Member
Hybrid or Gravel bike? Does the “straiight” bar make it a Hybrid.
Last edited by McMitchell; 09-10-18 at 01:03 AM. Reason: More info, can’t seem to get pictures to fit
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Iowa
Posts: 239
Bikes: Fuji Gran Fondo 2.1 and Scott Sportster P45
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 81 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Just to mix things up... Here is my Hybrid/Road/Gravel bike.
Edit: For context, to those who may say this is a hair brained idea, I have 3 slipped discs in my back and need the comfort of a flat bar, but I'm also very fit and love to put the miles down at 20+mph. Drop bat's are no go due to geometry, and the Iso Speed Decoupler of the Trek FX5+ range make this the comfiest bike I've ever owned.
Edit: For context, to those who may say this is a hair brained idea, I have 3 slipped discs in my back and need the comfort of a flat bar, but I'm also very fit and love to put the miles down at 20+mph. Drop bat's are no go due to geometry, and the Iso Speed Decoupler of the Trek FX5+ range make this the comfiest bike I've ever owned.
At the end of the day though its what works for you right. Looks to me like the FX 5 and 6 are pretty nice bikes.
#18
Senior Member
I was in a car accident, herniated all but one cranial vertebra. I also paddled white water and caught dogs on a bite sleeve for 20-30 years, which does not help thoracic or lumbar vertebra much. Exercise can help, especially stretching & sit ups......Sometimes my bike helps issues sometimes not so much...which may be fit issues.
It is certainly worth doing a little experimenting with bike fit to find what works for various issues.
I am currently experimenting with end bars on a carbon riser bar.
It is certainly worth doing a little experimenting with bike fit to find what works for various issues.
I am currently experimenting with end bars on a carbon riser bar.
Last edited by McMitchell; 09-23-18 at 07:48 PM.
#21
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 7,490 Times
in
4,189 Posts
#22
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 7,490 Times
in
4,189 Posts
the Univega worked well for what i needed at the time, but the geometry was slower than my current gravel bike and way slower than many modern gravel race bikes.
gravel bikes is a wide category. Anything from light carbon gravel frames with semi-aggressive geometry to moderately upright high stack-height 29er style drop bar mountain bikes are considered gravel bikes.
point is, some gravel bikes may be similar in some geometry to old hybrids, but many arent.
#23
Senior Member
Just to mix things up... Here is my Hybrid/Road/Gravel bike.
Edit: For context, to those who may say this is a hair brained idea, I have 3 slipped discs in my back and need the comfort of a flat bar, but I'm also very fit and love to put the miles down at 20+mph. Drop bat's are no go due to geometry, and the Iso Speed Decoupler of the Trek FX5+ range make this the comfiest bike I've ever owned.
Edit: For context, to those who may say this is a hair brained idea, I have 3 slipped discs in my back and need the comfort of a flat bar, but I'm also very fit and love to put the miles down at 20+mph. Drop bat's are no go due to geometry, and the Iso Speed Decoupler of the Trek FX5+ range make this the comfiest bike I've ever owned.
#24
Banned
"Gravel" is just an unpaved road, that pavement dwellers discovered is not a busy road..
as if its a new thing..
as if its a new thing..
#25
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 7,490 Times
in
4,189 Posts