How to choose a gravel bike?

Apr 26, 2024 10 min

Suppose you are considering purchasing a gravel bike. However, you face a vast market and often do not know where to begin. Do not panic; our gravel bike expert, Robbie, will assist you with his bike-buying guide.

Firstly, you must ask yourself the right questions about your expectations and how you will use the bike. Then, consider which gravel bikes appeal to you. Do you have favorite brands, designs, or colors? Next, it is time to filter more pragmatically with questions about price, size, availability, and quality. Let's look at this together.

First things first: define your needs

A gravel bike isn’t like any other type of bike. It’s incredibly versatile, great for many kinds of riding, and suitable for replacing multiple bikes. But ask yourself this: Why do you want to buy a gravel bike?

Explore our range of gravel bikes on buycycle now!

Searching for the one-do-it-all bike?

When cycling is seeing a lot of new technology, which often comes at a high price, many cyclists would instead put their money into one bike they can use all year round. On gravel bikes, you can also swap parts, such as wheels, to adapt them for the ride you're doing.

Do you want to explore unpaved roads?

It’s not about having a new type of bike for a new discipline. It’s about having a bike to do some of everything and bring you many new, exciting routes and challenges. You can also be part of an amazing, hugely growing gravel community online.

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Find out on our blog the best places where to buy a bike but also when to buy a bike to get the best prices of the market.

Most important: What do you expect from your new gravel bike?

When choosing a new gravel bike, many options are available, and it can be pretty overwhelming. You will want to look out for a lot, and by doing your research, you can give yourself the best experience possible. Here are the questions you need to ask yourself.

Do you check these boxes?

You want something exciting, fast, and fun to ride.
You need to improve handling and confidence when riding off-road.
You search for something comfortable with larger tires and relaxed geometry?
You want to open yourself to a new set of routes and trails.
You think about adventure riding, bikepacking or bike touring.

If you answer yes, rest assured, a gravel bike is the bike for you.

Looking for fun, versatility and performance? A gravel bike is the right choice!

What will you use the gravel bike for?

The question to ask yourself is what you will use the gravel bike for. Gravel bikes have a very mixed range of abilities depending on the make and model. Some are designed as off-road monsters, and others for light trails.

If you plan on mainly riding roads and the odd light trail, a road gravel bike will be more suited to you.

A more off-road gravel bike will be the better option if you are mainly on trails. There is also the option of an all-rounder.

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If you want to start bikepacking, we have selected the best gravel bikes for bikepacking and a guide on how to choose a bike for bikepacking.

Are you a commuter, too?

If you are seeking a gravel bike versatile enough for athletic adventures and daily urban commutes, several models cater to precisely this need. These bikes balance performance and adaptability, typically featuring dynamo lights and mudguards to ensure a clean arrival at your destination. Moreover, many include a convenient integrated luggage rack, perfect for carrying your work or shopping essentials.

gravel bike in the city — Having lights, a mudguard and a luggage rack can be useful in everyday life

What components do you need?

It has different component options, depending on which gravel bike you buy. Here’s a good explanation of what components you will want, depending on the gravel bike you use. This can be further explained in the gravel bike buying guide if you want to know more.

Different components for different types of gravel bikes

Component	Road Gravel	All Rounder Gravel Bike	Off-road Gravel Bike
Frame	Road Bike Shape	Road Bike Shape	Mountain Bike Shape
Wheels	700c	700c / 650b	650b
Tires	35c to 42c	38c to 45c	42c to 52c
Suspension	None	Rarely	Common
Bars	Standard Road	Light Flare	Heavily Flared
Mounts	Frame	Frame	Frame And Forks
Gearing	2X	2X / 1X	1X
Disc Brakes	Yes	Yes	Yes

As you can see above, you now know what to look for on a gravel bike, depending on your riding style. Another great gravel bike buying guide tip is to go for components from well-known brands, which many other riders choose. Shimano and SRAM are excellent when it comes to gearing.

Is a carbon frame relevant for a gravel bike?

Carbon frames can be suitable for gravel bikes due to their lightweight, compliance, and stiffness advantages.

"They offer enhanced performance and comfort, especially for endurance rides or racing." - Alice Huot @buycycle

However, they tend to be more expensive and may lack the durability of metal frames. Ultimately, the choice depends on personal preference, budget, and riding style.

Not sure which gravel bike to buy? Have a look here!

Do you have a budget?

Next, it’s important to establish a budget when choosing a gravel bike. Considering the price is reasonable when searching for a new gravel bike. If you are unsure what you want, you often spend too much or too little.

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The second-hand gravel bike market is amazing. On buycycle, you have the advantage of buying second-hand but without the worry of getting something that isn’t quite right. You will save a lot of money going down this route.

So, think about a budget, stick to it, and look for the right bike. You might choose between $1000 and $1500 or go up to $3000 to $4000. Whatever is realistic for you is going to be the right amount.

It is time to filter your choice!

Do you already have a favourite brand?

So once you know what you want and have the budget you will spend, it’s time to start looking. It would be ridiculous for us to advise you to look only at the practical and technical aspects. Of course, the bike's look is just as important as the rest. So, look at your favourite brands and see if their bikes match your technical criteria.

Make sure to choose the right size

Gravel bikes have sizing, and this is vital when choosing one. It would help if you were on the correct size bike, or you will not have a very good experience riding. The information you need is on the manufacturer's website.

Do you want any particular design?

If you are eyeing a green gravel bike, especially since green happens to be your favorite color, and you have already got all the cyclist gear to match, here is a helpful filter for your bike search: Don't forget to ensure your green dream also ticks all the technical boxes.

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We have detailed reviews on the Rose Backroad and the Rose Backroad FF.

Matching your bike to your outfit is fun, but don't forget the technical requirements!

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You can enter all these attributes into the filter on buycycle, and it will list the gravel bikes that are the right size for you, the correct brand, and within your budget.

Women's gravel bike

While few brands offer women's models, they do exist! These bikes are tailored to women cyclists, with adjusted geometry, saddles, and available sizes. Choosing a women's model ensures greater comfort and supports brands that provide options beyond the male-centric cycling perspective.

Amongst most popular Women's gravel bikes, we have the Canyon Series Grail and Grizl, Decathlon's Triban Grvl or the Cube's Nuroad.

women gravel bike — The canyon grail for women is one of the most popular bikes in its segment

What to avoid when buying a gravel bike

When it comes to getting the right gravel bike for you, we highly recommend avoiding some things.

A gravel bike without disc brakes
A bike too focused on sport when you only wanted to ride for leisure
The other way round: a bike not sporty enough for your skill level
A bike that is the wrong size for you
Something that could be a replica

How about some tips from our expert, Robbie?

When first buying a gravel bike, I highly recommend getting something basic. It will give you time to see if the bike works for you and then if you find you have really taken to gravel biking it’s a good idea to sell you bike through buycycle and then purchase something better later.

There’s nothing wrong with buying an all singing all dancing bike straight up if you don’t want to go down this route. We often get asked which is the better road or a gravel bike. Surprisingly many distance road riders choose gravel bikes for the extra comfort.

So, which one will be your new gravel bike?

Now you know how to choose a gravel bike. Gravel bikes are a fantastic tool to have when it comes to cycling - it is very versatile and can be use as a touring bike as well as road bike.

They are a lot of fun to ride and open you up to so many different routes. Check out our excellent bikes, which we have available on our marketplace, and check out our great blog for more articles like this.

Check out our bikes now!

gravel bike couple — Enjoy your new gravel bike and gravel friends!

Gravel bike buying guide

Which bike is for you

Gravel bike brands

Gravel bike reviews

Bike vs Bike

Where to buy a bike?

Components

What are the main gravel bike parts? Check out our guide to gravel bike components!

Sizing guide