![]() We would strongly suggest looking for a wheelset with tubeless-ready rims and tires. That said, some of the smaller women’s-specific bikes may come with 650c wheels instead. Most gravel bikes are offered with 700c wheels (the same as the traditional road bike). That said it’s also significantly more expensive, and (some would argue) less durable. It’s lightweight, durable, and affordable.Ĭarbon composite is lighter and does a better job of absorbing vibration. The vast majority of bikes on the market are made with aluminum alloy. For instance, lots of gravel bikes are designed with a cheaper alloy frame but then finished with a carbon fork for better vibration absorption. The frame and fork will not always be made of the same material. Most women’s gravel bikes frames and forks are made with either aluminum (alloy) or carbon composite. This is so it can climb steep sections of trail yet not be spun out on paved road. You’ll also notice that gravel bikes tend to have a wider range of gearing in the rear cassette than a road bike or cyclocross bike. That said if you are accustomed to a front derraileur and like the larger range of gears, then make sure to look for a bike that is compatible with one. We like this trend.Ī 1x drivetrain is simpler to maintain, provides cleaner shifting, and doesn’t get as gunked up with mud and grime. More and more women’s gravel bikes are being offered with a 1x drivetrain as opposed to a 2x or 3x drivetrain (i.e. The drawbacks, aside from price, are that they do require more maintenance, and can fail in extreme cold. Most women will want to choose hydraulic disc brakes. Hydraulic disc brakes, while more expensive, offer superior braking performance. That said, they also require less maintenance, which can make them an ideal choice for some women. They don’t modulate as well as hydraulic disc brakes and they can cause more hand fatigue. Mechanical disc brakes are the cheaper of the two options. Gravel bikes come with either hydraulic disc brakes or mechanical disc brakes. Additionally, many folks choose a gravel bike for bikepacking and touring, so they are often differentiated by wider tires, less aggressive geometry, and more mounts for water bottles, racks, and bags. They need to be easy to carry, where a gravel bike doesn’t need to be. The biggest difference between a cyclocross bike and a gravel bike, however, is that cyclocross bikes are designed to be shouldered. You’ll notice several of these bikes on the list below. Many bike manufacturers are choosing to design drop-bar bikes that can be used for both purposes. They are so closely related, in fact, that at times it is pointless to differentiate between the two. Gravel bikes and cyclocross bikes are closely related cousins. Of course, women’s-specific bikes also tend to come in more feminine colors–and that might be important to you. If you are a taller woman or have wider shoulders, you should feel even less limited by gender-specific marketing. With the exception of the saddle, most of these tweaks are intended for more petite ladies. Good reasons to choose a women’s specific gravel bike are the all-important women’s-specific saddle (although this is easy to add to any bike after the fact), smaller frame sizes, narrower handlebars, and shorter cranks. We’ve included several unisex gravel bikes on this list, all of which are offered in smaller sizes to fit even the shortest ladies. Women’s-specific gravel bikes can be a good choice, especially for smaller women, but they are certainly not the ONLY choice. Here are a few things to think about when comparing bikes and choosing which one will be the best fit for you. What To Consider When Choosing a Gravel Bike You can ride it on pavement as well as gravel roads and even on mellow singletrack. In other words, it’s a great bike for doing a little bit of everything. It’s intended to be ridden on terrain that a traditional road bike can’t make it, but is lighter weight and faster than a mountain bike. ![]() The basic design of a gravel bike is a road-bike-like drop-bar bicycle that can be ridden on gravel and dirt as well as on paved roads. This relative newcomer to the bike world is a bit of a confusing mix between a traditional road bike, a cyclocross bike, and a mountain bike. We’ll guide you through what you should look for and consider when buying a gravel bike as well as offering up our top picks for women’s gravel bikes.īut first, what the heck exactly is a “gravel bike”? Good question. If you’ve been thinking about getting a gravel bike, but want to do more research before you buy one, this post is for you. And for good reason! They let you go just about anywhere and do just about anything. Gravel bikes are the trendiest niche in the bike world right now.
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