With cyclocross’s short courses and short, punchy climbs, a 1x drivetrain with a bigger gear is more useful.įor longer rides and bikepacking, gravel bikes are equipped with tons of mounts for bags, fenders, and extra water bottles.
#Gravel bikes plus#
UCI rules state you can’t run tires wider than 33c for elite racing, plus you want that extra room around the tire to allow mud to clear.Ī wider gear range on the gravel bike allows you to tackle long, hilly routes without having to get out of the saddle. Tire clearance up to 45c, and you’ll likely run wide tires with as much tread as you’ll need for the conditions.Īlso with tire clearance up to 45c, however, with a geometry optimized around a 33c tire. A higher bottom bracket and shorter wheelbase help make this happen. You need to turn on a dime and power out of dead-stops, not to mention you might need to bunny hop a barricade. The gravel bike’s geometry is long and low for stability and comfort, with a low bottom bracket and long wheelbase.Ĭyclocross bikes need to be snappy. Standover height isn’t a thing for these bikes – instead, they are designed with a large open triangle frame for easy shoulder carrying over cyclocross race obstacles and run-ups. The slanting top tube and small rear triangle save on weight and add some compliance to the frame for a more comfortable ride.Ĭyclocross bikes have a distinct straight top tube. The main difference? Cyclocross bikes like the Liv Brava Advanced are specifically made for racing short, punchy courses where you’ll likely have to carry your bike.įrame shape for gravel bikes follow the compact road bike blueprint. Though they look extremely similar and are both designed to be ridden off-road, gravel bikes and cyclocross bikes are meant for distinctly different uses. On road bikes the rider is always in the saddle, even on descents, so a regular seatpost is used. Some gravel bikes will have a dropper seatpost, which allows the rider to move the saddle out of the way for more technical descending while standing. Regular drop bars on a road bike are designed for speed and efficiency. Gravel bikes use flared drop bars that are a bit wider for more control and stability. While some road bikes have mounts for fenders and racks, most will only have room for two water bottles to keep weight down. Mounts for extra water bottles, fenders, and racks come standard on gravel bikes so you can load them up with gear for backcountry adventures. Most road bikes now come with disc brakes, but many road racers still opt for rim brakes which are lighter weight. Road bikes are designed to be super snappy and efficient with a steeper headtube angle and shorter wheelbase.ĭisc brakes are a must when it comes to gravel bikes for powerful and predictable stopping on any terrain. Gravel bike frame geometry has a longer wheelbase, lower bottom bracket, and slacker headtube angle, which make it more stable on off-road terrain.
Optimized for speed and efficiency on paved roads, road bikes typically have narrower tires, maximum 35c in width. Wider tires, maximum 45c, give gravel bikes more traction and make them more comfortable on rough roads and trails. On the flip, road bikes – whether designed for comfort over longer distances like the Liv Avail, speed on hilly roads like the Liv Langma, or flat out high-powered sprinting like the EnviLiv, they all have one thing in common: they are designed to be ridden on paved surfaces. The all-terrain-vehicle of bikes, gravel bikes are made to carry all your gear, handle any weather conditions and road surfaces, and do it all while being comfortable. So, what is a gravel bike? Let’s dive in to explore the differences between these bikes to find out what makes a bike like the Liv Devote shine. It’s designed to make off-road adventures comfortable, efficient and FUN. Sure, you can ride a road bike, cyclocross bike, or mountain bike on gravel and dirt roads, but there is a better tool for the job – the gravel bike. We know what you’re thinking… “Can’t you ride any bike on gravel?”
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