I assume they can as there is no tyre width limit [ unlike cross] and the weight is a minimum not a target

Gravel bikes are marketed as roadies will get one for the rough stuff and MTB to be faster so you have double the target audience .
As noted its rubbish at both hence the grief

I dont really hate them i own one but really use it as a comfy road bike

On my commute back from Karls Chapel night ride yesterday (on the Pinnacle Ramin 3+ with 27.5" Chronicles at 3") I came across this seemingly gravel path. Ended up being a rock garden that went on for almost a mile. Not sure if the roadies (read gravel bikers) have found this yet but some time soon someone will include in a gravel race and there'll probably be a lot of broken faces.

Twas (a bit) scary trying to descend it at (a bit) of speed...


Somewhere near Hope. Possibly Dirtlow Rake. There was alot of stunt biker jumpy types (read dirt bikes?) coming up whilst I was going down so it must be a thing.

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Sat Jun 04, 2022 7:06 am

However, I'm pragmatic enough to think that perhaps some folk actually care less about the bike they've bought and more about the image they've bought into?

Or maybe they're just not you.

Or maybe they're just not you.

Maybe

This made me LOL

I have friends that would not carry a saddle bag on their road bike as it looks awful/not aero/not cool/no one else does/don’t need it etc

and then…

When they get a gravel bike, it’s full of bags*

Two hour road ride? Just one bottle of water and no spares
Two hour gravel? Need to pack the kitchen sink and then some…!


*actually, this is me

I do find the bar bags attached to some gravel bikes quite amusing as most look like pencil cases. In fact, I'm considering buying one of these and adding some straps - only £2.70 too.

Hey that's good! Perfect "freebie" for next Winter Event I reckon.

As far as "Aero" goes, this is the only aero addition I'm prepared to make to any of my bikes. Would fit nicely in that pencil case.