Stylish road bikes are platonic for getting us to destinations faster or for racing. But unfortunately, these bikes are non that effective when riding on uneven roads or crude terrain. And obviously, no i wants to buy two different bikes for different roads.

No worry my dear friend; you lot can convert your road bike anytime into a gravel bike easily. That's why here I am today talking well-nigh this affair. The process of converting a road bike to a gravel wheel is not that difficult. Past converting your bike, information technology volition exist suitable for all kinds of roads and also go several benefits. You may have to spend some money, but doubtless, it is much less than the cost of buying two different bikes.

In this commodity, I will discuss this cycle conversion procedure and its pros and cons. If you are a passionate bike lover, then this article is for yous.

What Is A Route Cycle?

Road bikes are lightweight and stylish bikes built for speed on paved roads. The bike's carbon fiber aerodynamic frame and drop handlebars help the rider achieve loftier speeds in a short time. Manufacturers typically use narrow & strong tires and 24-speed drivetrains on route bikes. And, these brand route bikes more than efficient and faster.

The incremental improvements have divided road bikes into different categories. Now yous can select road bikes based on your needs. Only equally there are road bikes for going fast over curt distances, there are different route bikes for covering long distances. Anyway, road bikes are not primarily designed for comfortable riding, only fast commuting.

What Is A Gravel Bike?

A gravel bike combines a route bike, mountain bicycle, and cyclocross bike. Confused? Well, typically, companies design these bikes in such a way that allows you to move smoothly on all types of on-road and off-road. Although today's gravel bikes are often used off-road, the bikes are also useful for fast riding on flat surfaces, including tarmac.

Wider tyres and more than upright riding position of the bikes let yous to ride comfortably. As these bikes are versatile, making them ideal for variable terrain and bicycle-packing, whether the journeying is crude trails, sandy beaches, or paved roads, a gravel bicycle can be your faithful companion.

At present you might wonder since we can use gravel bikes on the road effortlessly, then what are the major differences with road bikes?

Differences Between A Route Bike And A Gravel Cycle

There is a huge difference in looks and performance betwixt a route cycle and a gravel bike. Both bikes are platonic for applied purposes.

  • Road bikes are best when y'all need to go fast on polish roads and gravel bikes are all-time when y'all need to ride fast on crude roads.
Parameter Road bikes Gravel bikes
Purpose Of Utilise By and large, a rider uses a road bike to travel fast over short distances. Those who regularly ride on both smoothen and uneven roads use gravel bikes.
Frame Geometry A longer accomplish ‍& shorter wheelbases help get more aerodynamic and maintain strong power output. A slacker head and insufficiently longer wheelbase improve the treatment and stability of the bike.
Riding Posture More ambitious, non comfortable. Relatively comfortable than road bikes.
Tire Width Narrow tires, about 23 to 28mm wide. Wider tires, oftentimes it is 38 to 45mm wide.
Stability Narrow tires make these bikes less stable, specially on uneven roads. Wider tires make bikes more stable on any type of road.
Gears Modern road bikes unremarkably have 9, x, or 11 sprockets with two chainrings. Gear systems consist of one or ii chainrings and ten or 11 cassettes.
Brakes Rim brakes and disc brakes, you may detect both. Exclusively uses disc brakes.
Handlebar Less broad, unremarkably 42-44 mm wide. Relatively wider, can be up to 52 mm wide.
Pause Typically, road bikes exercise not come up with pause. You lot tin observe suspension in both the forepart and rear of these bikes.
Pedals Well-nigh road bicycle users adopt SPD-SL-style 3-commodities pedals. Riders like to apply SPD-fashion two-bolt pedals and cleats on their gravel cycle.

So, Can You Convert Road Bike To A Gravel Bicycle?

Yes, you can convert your road bike to a gravel bike, but the process can exist expensive. Although this conversion will non completely alter the cycle, you can get the desired result. Peculiarly, if you need to ride on uneven or rocky roads, then yous tin effectively employ your modified cycle on those roads.

Then, How To Convert Route Bike To A Gravel Bike?

Converting a road bike to a gravel bicycle is not a complicated process. You tin do information technology yourself at habitation (DIY Job) with a few tools and desires. All you accept to practise is alter the geometry and riding position of the cycle by irresolute the wheels, tires, and gearing.

  • At present I am going to depict the entire procedure step past step below to make your converting journey easier, more than comfy, and doubtless.

Footstep 1: Change Wheels

Y'all may know that road bikes use 700c wheels and gravel bikes use 650b wheels. The relatively short wheelbase of road bikes helps the rider achieve a more aerodynamic position.

  • Since you'd expect a comfortable riding position on a gravel bike, you'll demand to alter the bike's wheels first.
  • Companies employ high-priced carbon cobweb rims on the wheels of road bikes. So yous can use this type of rim if yous want, or you lot tin can too utilize a relatively inexpensive aluminum rim.
  • Also, exist conscientious almost the width of the rim, because you may expect to utilize wide tires on your modified gravel bikes.
  • But when deciding on wheel rims or tires, you must pay special attention to the forks of your road cycle.
  • Since road bikes are designed for narrow tires, brand certain the fork has plenty tire clearance even when using thick rims or tyres.

Stride 2: Upgrade Tires

Upgrading tyres are the nigh important part of your bike conversion. Peradventure y'all're converting your bike to ride on uneven or rocky roads, so naturally, you should utilize tyres as wide every bit possible. Where a road bike tire is 25-28mm wide, you may want to use a 40mm tyre. Because these types of tyres provide a more than comfortable and stable ride on uneven roads.

  • But if you ride on woods tracks, or well-groomed gravel paths, a slightly narrower tire than 40mm will accommodate better.
  • Specially if the fork of the bicycle is not suitable for using a forty mm tire, and so you tin can use a tire of 32-33 mm Because tires of this width generally fit all bike forks.
  • However, if y'all have to ride on rough gravel, wet or glace roads, then you demand tires that offering maximum grip and control. In that case, plan to apply aggressively treaded broad tyres.

Step 3: Changing Gear Organisation

Y'all can apply smaller chainrings and larger cassettes on the bike to make the cycle conversion more than efficient. Information technology can assistance you steadily when going up or down steep hills.

  • Specified wide and low gear sets while riding will help you pedal through challenging terrain and glace surfaces.

Step 4: Alter Handlebar

Gravel bikes usually utilize slightly wider handlebars. Because wider handlebars play an of import part in a smoother and more stable ride, especially on uneven surfaces.

  • Gravel cycle's specific handlebars with a flared drib tin increase command and comfort on the bike rather than the traditional drop handlebars of road bikes.
  • Also, a daze-absorbing thick bar tape will ensure comfy riding by preventing vibrations.

So, you should effort replacing the handlebars on your road bike with a longer gravel bike'south handlebar.

Step five: Replace Pedals

Road bikes generally require more power through continuous pedal strokes. That'due south why companies brand the pedals of these bikes thin and clip-on. But on a gravel cycle, the pedals come with a concave design for improve grip.

So that when you lot desire to ride your modified bike on different terrains, the bike pedals need to be according to the gravel bike's pedal as these pedals are going to assist you perform well on time to come rough terrain cycling.

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Pace 6: Upgrade Contact Points

Raising the handlebars slightly to bring them closer to the body can make riding more comfortable. For this, y'all tin utilize a 130mm slammed stalk as this will facilitate bicycle control, especially during descent.

  • Route cycle seats are non that comfortable. That's why you can employ a carbon cobweb seat mail. And, this volition help yous stay comfortable during big impacts.
  • Also, equally mentioned earlier, bar record with thicker padding will provide more cushioning.
  • Fatty tyres can scratch the cycle frame due to stone throwing. To protect the bike frame from these scratches, you tin can use sticky tape that can exist cut to the required shape.

Finally, past performing the above 6 modifications or steps, any enthusiast cyclist or biker can transform his/her road bike into an effective gravel bicycle.

Advantages Of Converting Road Cycle To A Gravel Bike

Road bikes are stylish and the riding feel is exciting. Merely converting a route bike to a gravel cycle can requite y'all several benefits. Such every bit-

  • The bicycle becomes more versatile and you lot can ride on polish roads equally well every bit rough and unpaved roads efficiently.
  • Wider tires provide more than traction on uneven or slippery surfaces, making riding safer.
  • Now you tin can ride this bike more stably on uneven roads.
  • A low gear ratio helps to go on pedaling on rough terrain or steep hills.
  • Riding the bike for a long time is not hard because of the comfortable riding position.

Disadvantages Of Converting Route Bike To A Gravel Wheel

There are indeed several advantages nosotros can get by converting a road bike to a gravel bike, simply there are also some drawbacks. I'll describe the disadvantages beneath.

  • Although wider tyres brand riding safer by providing more traction on the route, they besides make you relatively slower.
  • The bike's weight tin can rising a chip, which makes moving the bicycle a bit inconvenient, specially in a place like an apartment.
  • The conversion requires you to change several accessories, which tin exist quite expensive.
  • Fifty-fifty after you complete the conversion process, the converted bike will not perform similar an bodily gravel bike.

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Final Sayings Over Converting Road Bike To A Gravel

There are a few other modifications or processes that you tin can follow to catechumen a road bike to a gravel bike. But I have explained the whole thing keeping in mind how you can practice it in the easiest and fastest style possible. For example, a fork with suspension will brand the bicycle more comfortable, only information technology volition increase your cost and effort.

Nonetheless, if y'all don't know about some things similar wheel change, tire change, etc, and then you tin can read our previous articles. We take explained these processes in detail in that location. Thanks, Dear Swain. And, Have A Prophylactic Cycling Every Twenty-four hour period.