5 Best Gravel Bikes That Make Cycling On Rough Terrain Comfortable
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A gravel bike or all-road bike is best for handling terrains ranging from mellow singletracks to dirty forest service roads. This type of bike is better than a road bike or mountain bike as it helps you transition from daily commutes to adventure rides smoothly. Most gravel bikes come with a few common features like high-volume tires to travel comfortably on any type of terrain, an upright seating position for added comfort if you ride long distances, and multiple mounting points for extra gear and water.
If you plan to buy a gravel bike soon, go through this guide to find the best model within your budget.
Let’ take a look at the best gravel bikes.
1. Mongoose Dolomite Mens Fat Tire Mountain Bike
Mongoose is undoubtedly the pioneer when it comes to delivering high-quality, durable, and reliable gravel bikes. Like always, this model doesn’t disappoint. Its Dolomite Fat Tire helps you conquer off-road trails like a pro. The rear derailleur has seven speeds that make it easier to climb hills. Additionally, its twist shifters allow you to change gears swiftly. If you are looking for a gravel bike that has supersized all-terrain knobby tires and provides top-notch performance, go for this model without any doubts in your mind. It’s the best thing that can happen to a bike lover.
Pros:
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It has beach cruiser pedals that ensure full safety of both the front and back tire. In fact, they also keep the rear disc brakes safe so that you can twist and turn in forest trails without losing control.
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The seven-speed rear derailleur makes it easy to climb hills, and the twist shifters allow you to shift gears quickly.
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The lightweight yet strong alloy rims make the bike durable.
Cons:
- It doesn’t come as a fully assembled unit. You need to assemble everything alone.
2. Schwinn Vantage Mens/Womens Sport Hybrid Bike
The Schwinn Vantage Mens/Womens Sport Hybrid Bike is one of the best gravel bikes for beginner or intermediate riders. It doesn’t come with a pair of heavyweight tires, thus making it easier for newbie riders to control the bike when traversing through rough terrains. If you are one of those who want to ride quickly and leave your friends behind, this bike will help you win. It comes with Schwinn Smooth Ride Technology that includes an elastomer soft tail suspension frame. The frame offers optimal support to make your rides through forest trails comfortable.
Pros:
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Its rack and fender mounts allow you to customize your rides according to different road conditions. The ergo dual-density grips ensure that your hands don’t slip when you ride through rough roads.
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This bike has 21-speed drivetrain and trigger shifters. You can switch gears within a split of a second while riding.
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The Schwinn 35c hybrid tires offer a comfortable ride, irrespective of the type of road you want to ride on.
Cons:
- It is best for people between the height of 5’ 3” and 5’ 7”. Taller guys may need to slightly crouch forward while riding.
3. ICAN Triaero Carbon Gravel Bike
ICAN AC388 Triaero Carbon Gravel Bike AC388 BB86 49/51/53/55/57/60cm Shiman0 R8000 Groupset
Although Mongoose and Schwinn are two of the most popular brands for gravel bikes, ICAN has fast become their toughest competitor in the last few years. The ICAN Triaero Carbon Gravel Bike has one of the most durable constructions. Its carbon fiber body frame is ideal for regular riders. Rain, dirt, or extreme heat – this bike can handle any weather condition without showing signs of wear and tear. Just make sure you clean it properly to keep its shine going. Its Sapim CX-Ray Spokes Wheelset doesn’t bend or break even if you fall down accidentally.
Pros:
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The carbon fiber Toray bike frame makes the bike durable. It can withstand regular wear and tear and extreme weather conditions efficiently.
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Its tapered headtube and sturdy bottom bracket ensures that the frameset remains stiff so that the handles don’t wobble when you go downhill on a gravel road.
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ICAN provides a lifetime crash replacement program for frameset and wheelset and a 2-year warranty for manufacturing defects.
Cons:
- The seat is relatively small compared to some of its competitors.
4. Schwinn Mikko & Huron Adult Beach Cruiser Bike
The Schwinn Mikko & Huron Adult Beach Cruiser Bike has classic cruiser handlebars and a dual-spring padded cruiser seat, thus offering a comfortable riding position. Its 7-speed drivetrain allows you to change gears quickly. The twist shifters make your bike suitable for right on hilly areas without experiencing too much bounce. Moreover, the intuitive rear coaster brake offers simple stopping power that allows you to stop the bike instantly to avoid accidents. Its retro fenders are crucial to keep the bike dry and clean for weeks.
Pros:
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Its steel-framed construction ensures that the bike can withstand rain, hailstorm, or scorching heat without showing signs of wear and tear.
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This bike offers a single-speed, three-speed, and even seven-speed drivetrain to suit your riding needs.
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The aluminum alloy rims make the bike strong and lightweight. Its padded cruiser saddle comes with a set of springs that make your ride comfortable.
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The full rear fenders keep dirt and mud away from the bike and your clothes. Cons:
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It is not the most stylish bike on the market. Many people call it ideal for girls who want to try graveling riding for the first time.
5. Takara Oni Single Speed Drop Bar Fixie Road Bike
Takara Oni Single Speed Drop Bar Fixie Road Bike, 700c, Medium
Are you looking for a budget gravel bike that comes with basic features? If yes, you should go and buy the Takara Oni Single Speed Drop Bar Fixie Road Bike. It is a professional-level gravel bike that doesn’t cost a fortune like some of the popular brands. However, it is still a new brand in the market. Most people prefer buying from reputable brands whenever they think of purchasing gravel bikes. But Takara Tomy is slowly becoming a prominent brand due to its ability to consistently deliver high-quality and durable gravel bikes.
Pros:
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It has a high-tensile steel frame and top-quality fork, making the bike easily controllable in rough terrains.
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The single pivot alloy brakes ensure that you can stop the bike instantly and avoid unfortunate accidents.
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It has 32-hole double-wall alloy rims that don’t bend or break even if you hit a rock or fall down while riding in the forest.
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It has a flip-flop rear hub that keeps the freewheel fixed.
Cons:
- The weight is slightly on the higher side. It may be comfortable enough for professional riders but a tad heavier for beginners.
What Is A Gravel Bike And Why Do You Need One?
As you can understand from the name, a gravel bike is ideal for gravel trails. However, you can also use it on forest service roads and double tracks. If you don’t want to traverse through the rocky forest terrain with your bike, make sure you use a gravel bike. Its heavyweight tires, multiple mounting locations, and sturdy frame construction make it suitable for such roads. This type of bike has longer wheelbases than usual to make them stable for high speeds. You will notice that the bike doesn’t wobble even if you travel on a road with various sizes of rocks lying around.
Benefits Of Using A Gravel Bike
A gravel bike isn’t just for riding on rough terrains. Many people use gravel bikes for daily commute also. These bikes can make your transition from the daily commute to professional gravel bike rider smooth. Their long wheelbases prevent you from falling down and injuring yourself while riding. They ensure that you can ride them comfortably through rough roads without injuring yourself. The disc brakes, wide tires, and durable construction make the bike durable. This means, once you buy a gravel bike, you may not need to invest in another bike anytime soon.
Things To Look For In A Good Gravel Bike
Buying a gravel bike involves checking various parts to make sure that you pick the best model of the lot. Here are a few factors that you must keep in mind while buying a gravel bike:
- Frame material – Always choose between aluminum and carbon fiber. Don’t go for any other material.
- Gears and drivetrain – How many gears do you want in your bike? 7 to 11 is a standard number for beginner to intermediate riders. You can go up to 22 if you are a professional.
- Wheel size – Try to choose between 650b and 700c wheels. 700c is ideal for mixed-terrain riding and 650b is suitable specifically for gravel roads.
- Brakes – There are two types of brakes: mechanical disc and hydraulic disc. Mechanical discs use a cable system to slow you down. Hydraulic discs contain fluids to stop the bike instantly.
Conclusion
The above bikes are excellent if you want to start riding on gravel roads for the first time. But if you want to make your investment worth every penny, you should pick the Mongoose Dolomite Mens Fat Tire Mountain Bike for its unmatched quality and durability.
