Updated: 23rd January 2024
Gravel bikes are revolutionizing the world of cycling. But are they a fleeting fad or a lasting trend? What’s certain is that cyclists of all stripes are eagerly exploring the gravel bike phenomenon. So, how do they stack up against traditional touring bikes?
Gravel bike or touring bike?
Both gravel and touring bikes are crafted for adventure, but they diverge in their capabilities. While traditional touring bikes are primarily confined to tarmac and paved roads, gravel bikes break these boundaries, allowing riders to venture off-road while still accommodating all their gear.
Gravel bikes are ideally suited for light touring and adventurous excursions. Although they might not be as robust as their traditional counterparts, their geometries offer a diverse range. Ranging from road bike-like designs, which may be less comfortable for extended rides, to touring bike styles, featuring upright riding positions and enhanced on-bike comfort, they cover a wide spectrum. In contrast, touring bikes are purpose-built for carrying gear, typically utilizing racks and bulky panniers for storage.
This adaptability makes gravel bikes a versatile choice, opening up new terrains and experiences for cyclists. Whether a fleeting trend or a mainstay in the cycling community, their appeal lies in the freedom and versatility they offer to riders.
Touring bikes typically boast a wider gear range, accommodating both climbing and descending with ease. In contrast, some gravel bikes excel in higher gears but may fall short on slow, steep climbs. This highlights the importance of selecting the right gravel bike for your adventures. Carefully choosing a model that aligns with your needs ensures that you’ll have a bike well-equipped for both the exhilarating descents and challenging ascents you’ll encounter on your journey.
Exploring the Various Styles of Gravel Bikes
The choice extends beyond simply deciding between a gravel bike and a touring bike. Each category encompasses a range of sub-types, each uniquely tailored to meet diverse cycling needs. In this section, I’ll guide you through the myriad of bike variations, unveiling the distinct characteristics and advantages of each style. This exploration will help you find the perfect match for your specific cycling pursuits.
Here at Cycle Travel Overload, we have covered a huge range of gravel bikes. But give this a read if you want to learn more about all the different types of gravel bikes.
- Best adventure gravel bikes
- Best bikepacking-specific gravel bike
- Best women’s bikepacking gravel bike
- Best monster cross gravel bike
- Best flat bar gravel bikes
- Best all-rounder gravel bike
- Best roadies gravel bike
- Best gravel race bikes & Fastest gravel bikes
- Best commuter gravel bikes
When comparing just these types of gravel bikes you will find variations in geometry, specs, and overall design. These aren’t officially specific categories as the gravel market is a grey area. This is why it’s important to do appropriate research before purchasing a bike.
Then you have gravel bikes which are more suited for touring.
Exploring the Various Styles of Touring Bikes
Touring bikes are a little simpler to explain, as they have only a few different sub-categories.
- Traditional Touring Bikes
- Light-Touring Bikes (The gravel bikes suited for touring fit in this category)
- Off-Road Touring Bikes
- Expedition Touring Bikes (Sometimes limited but Flat Bar Touring Bikes might fit this section.)
Touring Bikes And Gravel Bikes Compared
Touring Bikes
Pros
- Durability: Made from steel, which makes them tough and resilient.
- Simplicity in Maintenance: Often equipped with bar-end shifters for ease of maintenance.
- Storage Capacity: Equipped with numerous racks, fender mounts, and braze-ons, and some come with front and rear racks.
- Versatile Wheel Options: Available in 700c, 650b, and 29″ sizes, with tire widths ranging from 37C to 48C.
- Extensive Gear Range: Larger gear ranges for tackling various grades, with an average range from 18″ granny gear to 120″ high gear.
- Robust Components: Often have stronger wheels with 36 spokes for carrying extra gear.
Cons
- Weight: Typically heavier, ranging from 13kg to 15kg.
- Material Limitation: Predominantly made from steel, offering less material variety.
Gravel Bikes
Pros
- Material Diversity: Available in a variety of materials including steel, carbon, titanium, and aluminum.
- Comfort: Commonly have flared drop bars for extra comfort on rough terrain.
- Tire Size and Versatility: Wider tires, ranging from 38c to 60mm, are suitable for diverse road conditions.
- Lightweight: Generally lighter than touring bikes, ranging from 9 to 13 kg, enhancing maneuverability.
- Accessibility to Mounts: Equipped with rack and fender mounts, though variability exists.
Cons
- Inconsistent Mounting Options: Some models lack necessary mounts and rarely come with racks.
- Limited Gear Range: Often have narrower gear ranges, especially in climbing gears, with a maximum of around 100″ high gear.
- Less Spoke Strength: Typically have 32 spokes on the rims, which might not be ideal for heavily loaded adventures.
The pros and cons list provided offers a general overview of gravel and touring bikes. However, it’s important to note that there are exceptions within each category. Some bikes may exhibit unique characteristics that don’t align perfectly with the general traits listed, underscoring the diversity within these bike types.
Therefore, it’s more effective to compare bikes on an individual, bike-to-bike basis.
When examining the physical characteristics of gravel and touring bikes, several distinct traits help differentiate them. Below, each paragraph highlights a specific aspect of the bike and explains how that feature characterizes it as either a gravel or a touring bike. This format facilitates an easier comparison between the two types.
What Is The Difference Between A Touring Bike And A Gravel Bike
Touring Bikes
Classic touring bikes are predominantly made from steel, making them heavy but exceptionally durable and forgiving. I find steel to be the ideal material for adventure cycling.
These bikes often feature bar-end shifters for easy maintenance on drop bar models, and some are equipped with flat bars.
Touring bikes are designed with numerous racks, fender mounts, and braze-ons integrated into the frame. Some models even include front and rear racks.
Typically, touring bikes are fitted with 700c wheels, but 650b and 29″ options (MTB 700c wheel and tire) are also available. The average tire widths range from 37C to 48C.
The weight of a typical touring bike varies from 13kg to 15kg, with some models falling outside this range.
Touring bikes feature a wide gear range, both on the high and low end, making them more adept at handling various terrains. The average gear range includes an 18″ granny gear, which is excellent, up to a 120″ high gear.
In general, touring bikes have more robust components than gravel bikes. For example, their rims often have 36 spokes, creating stronger wheels to carry extra gear.
Gravel Bikes
Gravel bikes are available in various materials, including steel, carbon, titanium, and aluminum. While touring bikes can also be made from these materials, it’s less common than with gravel bikes.
The most common handlebar type for gravel bikes is flared drop bars, offering around 6 to 20°+ flare in the drops for additional comfort on rough terrain. Flat bars are also a popular choice.
Gravel bikes may have all the necessary rack and fender mounts, sometimes even top tube mounts for integrated bags. However, the availability of these features can vary, and it’s rare to find gravel bikes sold with racks.
Gravel bikes generally have wider tires than touring bikes. They are often equipped with 700c and 650b wheels, designed to provide more traction and grip on various road conditions. This makes them more capable in wet conditions, on gravel roads, and other rough surfaces. Tire sizes typically range from 38c to 2.3″ or 60mm, offering a smoother ride due to the larger tire volume.
The average weight of a gravel bike ranges from 9 to 13 kg, making them lighter than most touring bikes. This lighter weight is a key factor in their appeal, allowing riders to explore as much, if not more, terrain than on a touring bike.
Regarding gear range, gravel bikes often have a narrower range compared to touring bikes, with difficulties finding models with less than 20″ for climbing and a maximum of around 100″ or less for the highest gear. This is due to the common use of 2x or 1x drivetrains while touring bikes typically have 3x drivetrains.
Gravel bikes generally have fewer spokes than touring bikes, with an average of around 32 spokes on their rims. This is indicative of their design, which is not intended for fully loaded adventures.
Can you use a gravel bike as a touring bike?
Certainly, if you choose a gravel bike that’s ready for adventure, it can be an excellent choice for your next tour. Ideal gravel bikes for touring often feature a stack/reach ratio over 1.5 and mid-length chainstays, typically around 430 to 445 mm, creating a well-balanced ride. For those planning a tour or a long-distance bike trip, gravel touring bikes are worth considering.
However, not every gravel bike is suitable for touring and long-distance journeys. Some are designed with characteristics similar to cyclocross and road bikes, prioritizing speed and aerodynamics. These bikes might not offer the long-term comfort that is crucial for touring.
Moreover, the geometry of some gravel bikes may not be conducive to carrying large loads of gear. Therefore, it’s essential to examine the specifications of the gravel bike you’re considering.
In summary, gravel bikes are an excellent option for light touring. Steel gravel bikes, for instance, are more than capable of supporting exciting bikepacking adventures without compromising on camping gear. If your plan involves primarily pavement riding, and using panniers, and you’re not concerned about speed, touring bikes are still a perfect choice. However, gravel bikes offer a versatile all-around option, allowing you to venture into terrains where touring bikes might not be the best or most feasible choice.
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