Join Neil Donoghue and Blake Samson for an epic race across the wild Swedish landscapes as they put the question of XC Vs Gravel bikes to the ultimate test! Which rider will be victorious? Will the capabilities of the XC beat the outright speed of the gravel bike? There’s only one way to find out! 🎬
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26 Comments
What's your go-to bike? Share with us down below! 👇
At 52 and just getting back into riding, I'm thinking suspension may not be as "required" as I once thought. I certainly won't be following Blake down A0Line, but is there a gravel bike with front forks w/LO you would recommend? The Canadian road system does have some gravelly surfaces here and there…… but also some fun double track.
A definite lack of Lycra on show here🤔
I use both types as I ride MTB's and gravel/CX bikes….All good fun off-road but there is stuff around here (Peterborough UK) I don't tackle on drop bars.
Having a Redshift suspension stem (20mm travel) and 45c tubeless tyres on the gravel bike does help through the rougher stuff though……
XC Bike & slap some TT-Bars on them and you have the ultimate do-it-all bike for long days in the woods
Neil's enjoying the view and the ride, Blake's enjoying his free lunch.😁
I would love to see the results on a race like “grinduro” 70 mile cyclocross/gravel race on a cx bike vs Xc race bike such as supercaliber 60/100mm suspension
Xc, gravel sucks
he must be a Shimano Athlete ??
Got a Canyon Grizl a few months back, and I have to say, it's as close to a do-it-all bike as you can get. Handles off-road surprisingly well, has a lot of attachment points for bags and holders (even went grocery shopping with it XD ), and with the absence of suspension, maintenance is way less of a bother. I saying this because I switched from an enduro bike which was loads of fun, but boy was keeping it up and running a bother. Plus, the bike is amazing on long distances.
light xc bike for the win!
I doubt gravel bikers ride like Blake; flat out and loose hehe!
I own a high end gravel bike (3T Exploro Racemax) and a high end carbon hardtail (Bianchi Methanol) setup with the same Vittoria Barzo 2.1 tyres. On any non-technical stuff the gravel bike is significantly faster, on average about 4km/h faster over my usual 50Km loop. I lost interest in technical MTB trails, so the hardtail doesn't get much use
67,2 degree headangel on XC bike? Isnt that more like a Downcountry (XC-Trail) bike terroirty?
drop bar 29er hardtail
I own a gravel bike (mainly for bad B roads) but just bought an XC bike. I don't have Blake's talent for taking that gravel bike everywhere and am getting too old to rattle myself to pieces.
both. sometimes you wanna smash the trail, other times just a tickle
full sus … thats cheating 👻
xc fun , gravel exercise
ors , energy bar , sandwich , banana 😂😂😂👍
Wicked shot of Blake riding through the puddle… Love it… The video quality at GMBN is outstanding…
XC for the win… Can do what a Gravel bike can… and then more… If you don't like riding trails in the forest with rocks and roots and drops and jumps, then a gravel bike might be for you but if you even have a small itch to venture into the wilderness, then XC or even a Trail bike for the win! 🙂
Should have taken the same route. Hard to compare otherwise.
it's like comparing a Land Rover to a rallycar. My XC mtb will go anywhere, anytime all day long. Slow and fully customized for bikepacking it's as capabla as ever, but lovable and approachable to strangers as I ride. It's jolly, if anything. My gravelbike on the other hand, urges me to go fast over anything reasonably smooth be it tarmac or dirt. A different kind of fun that is.
xc is too heavy. Next time do it with 8kg canyon hardtail. Carbon wheels and everything
Spent about 500 miles on it and so far so good. https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA Pros:1. Very light2. Solid quality build3. Fast delivery: It arrived 5 weeks earlier than expected.4. Easy assemblyJust a few cons but nothing major:1. Cheap tin tubes and had flat on first day… but not a big deal. I replaced the tubes.2. Seat is a bit uncomfortable but that's pretty much the same situation with most bikes.3. Seat post is a bit long/high for a smaller size 48 bike – had to saw 2 inch off to fit properly. The lowest setting is too high. The post locking system does not seem to hold well (perhaps because I saw 2 inch off).4. wheels are not tubeless compatible (from what I can tell)