Same fit, drop and reach, as road bike?
06-30-23, 03:19 PM
#1
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Same fit, drop and reach, as road bike?
I am looking at getting a gravel bike. Do people usually go with the same fit as on their road bikes? Or, for example, do you start with a slightly smaller drop and reach? How about handlebar width? I've got my road bikes dialed in and wondered if I should start with that or something different.
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06-30-23, 04:47 PM
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Same as my road bike.
06-30-23, 05:04 PM
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Many gravel bikes have a longer (frame) reach and shorter stem, and sometimes wider, splayed drop bars. What really matters is keeping the distance between the nose of your saddle (assuming same length saddles) and your favorite position on the bars (eg, inflection point of the brake hoods or hook of the drops).
06-30-23, 05:19 PM
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I have my saddle position the same on all my bikes, but my gravel bike has a bit less drop than my road bike. The reach feel is very similar, but I don't know if the measurements are actually the same. On my gravel bike, I prefer a less aggressive position largely for better handling in technical terrain. I use the same width bar on both bikes, but the flare of my gravel bars (Whisky Spano) gives me a bit more leverage in the drops.
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06-30-23, 06:55 PM
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Similar fits for me, but it depends on what your gravel is like and how you like to ride it!
I like to ride "fast" and hit things hard, I can't help it. I run the same saddle height and saddle-to-bar reach, but around 2cm less drop on my gravel bike. I don't need to be quite as aggressive, plus the geo doesn't really allow it.
Bar width is the same at 40cm. I ditched the stock flared bars (they flared out to 50+ at the drops!) for some standard style road drop bars. Personal preference.
I like to ride "fast" and hit things hard, I can't help it. I run the same saddle height and saddle-to-bar reach, but around 2cm less drop on my gravel bike. I don't need to be quite as aggressive, plus the geo doesn't really allow it.
Bar width is the same at 40cm. I ditched the stock flared bars (they flared out to 50+ at the drops!) for some standard style road drop bars. Personal preference.
Last edited by tempocyclist; 06-30-23 at 07:01 PM.
07-01-23, 11:44 AM
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My stack and reach is the same for my main road bike and my gravel bike.
The trail is the same too, when tire size is accounted for. Actually, same chainstay length and almost the same bb drop as well.
My gravel bike has a -6 stem and my main road bike has a -17 stem.
The effective result, when the different hood and bar lengths are taken into account, is both bikes have the same reach and the road bike is 10mm lower in stack height.
The trail is the same too, when tire size is accounted for. Actually, same chainstay length and almost the same bb drop as well.
My gravel bike has a -6 stem and my main road bike has a -17 stem.
The effective result, when the different hood and bar lengths are taken into account, is both bikes have the same reach and the road bike is 10mm lower in stack height.
07-01-23, 12:51 PM
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More BB drop on gravel bikes in general to compensate for larger tires. And you're not laying it down in the corners on gravel like you do on pavement, and the lower position gives you slightly more stability on bumpy downhills.
07-01-23, 03:29 PM
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I would say it's good to start with the road fit and then adjust according to the type of riding you intend to do with the gravel bike. For gravel river trails I don't see any need to change but if you're doing more technical stuff then you might appreciate a wider bar, for example.
Last edited by tFUnK; 07-03-23 at 01:26 AM.
07-02-23, 04:28 AM
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It depends on what type of gravel you ride. If "gravel" means smooth dirt roads, then your road fit will be fine. For me, "gravel" means anything that isn't pavement, including some very steep rocky descents and MTB trails. For that type of riding, it is better to have your bars higher and closer to the saddle. Wider bars with a flare also give better control and access to the brakes from the drops.
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