When Is A Gravel Bike Not A Gravel Bike?

Gravel bikes have opened the doors for us road cyclists to have more adventures beyond the pavement, but the common question always comes up: why not just get a mountain bike instead of a gravel bike? This got us thinking that it’s time we put both bike disciplines to the test to show that gravel bikes can do everything that mountain bikes can do …or can they?

00:00 Can Gravel Bikes Do Everything MTB’s Can Do?
00:39 Special Guest: Blake Samson
01:25 Our Bikes!
03:04 First Challenge: 1km Time trial
05:17 First Test Results
06:20 Second Challenge: 350m Long Climb
08:24 Second Test Results
08:46 Third Challenge: Double Black Diamond Downhill Trail
11:28 Third Test Results
12:44 Conclusions!

Useful Links:
Everything Cycling. All In One Place 👉 https://www.globalcyclingnetwork.com
GCN Uploader 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnuploader
Visit the GCN Shop 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnshop
GCN WhatsApp Channel 👉 https://gcn.eu/GCNwhatsapp
GCN Instagram Broadcast Channel 👉 https://gcn.eu/instagrambroadcast

Which bike would you opt in for? Blake’s Orbea or Hank’s Canyon? 🔥

Let us know in the comments below! 💬

Watch more on GCN…
📹 The Ultimate Gravel VS Mountain Bike Showdown! 👉 https://youtu.be/QCb7PXPXf1M?si=gjfGZjQ8no8586TT
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 https://gcn.eu/editorschoice
📹 Or why not check out our Features Playlist 👉 ​​https://gcn.eu/gcnfeatures

🎵 Music – licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
Drama-0-Rama – Ryan James Carr
Electric Rock Dawg – Def Lev
Funky Munky Biznis – HATAMITSUNAMI
Glitch Digital 2 – SFX Producer
Mezcal Negroni – Auxjack
Million Dollar Smile – Duke Herrington
Never Die Old – Sven Karlsson
Old School Trip – Duke Herrington
PREL Glitch 9 – SFX Producer
PREL SSFX Glitch 6 – SFX Producer
Rush Hour – Sven Karlsson
Shuffle Showdown – Aiyo
Step on Up – Rockin’ For Decades
Street Rev Anthem – Aiyo
The Meerkat – HATAMITSUNAMI

#gcn #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #bike #bikes #bikelife #gravel #mtb #mountainbike

📸 Photos – © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sirotti Images

The Global Cycling Network (GCN) is the largest online cycling channel in the world, bringing together a global community of road cyclists to celebrate everything that’s great about the world of cycling.

Our videos bring fans compelling daily content including expert tutorials, techniques, training, racing, cutting-edge bike tech, unparalleled behind the scenes event coverage, humour, entertainment, and more.

Presented by ex-pro riders, GCN offers a uniquely qualified insight into the world of cycling, and most importantly it’s fuelled by our passionate and enthusiastic fans – everyone who makes up the GCN community. We also bring the latest and greatest tech to your attention, showcase the best places in the world to ride and get exclusive access to events and races.

Welcome to the Global Cycling Network | Inside Cycling

Thanks to our sponsors:
Pinarello Bikes: https://gcn.eu/Pinarello
Topeak Tools: http://gcn.eu/Topeak
Canyon Bikes: http://gcn.eu/-Canyon
Camelbak: https://gcn.eu/Camelbak
Pirelli Tyres: https://gcn.eu/Pirelli
Orbea Bikes: http://gcn.eu/Orbea
Vision Wheels: http://gcn.eu/Vision
Wahoo Fitness: http://gcn.eu/Wahoo-Fitness
Park Tool: http://gcn.eu/-parktool
Selle Italia: https://gcn.eu/SelleItalia
SiS: https://gcn.eu/ScienceInSport
Zwift: https://gcn.eu/Zwift
DMT Shoes: https://gcn.eu/DMT
Silca: https://gcn.eu/Silca
MET Helmets: https://gcn.eu/methelmets
Strava: https://gcn.eu/strava
ShadowStand: https://gcn.eu/ShadowStand
Precision Fuel & Hydration: https://gcn.eu/precisionhydration
AGU: https://gcn.eu/AGUxGCN
Elitewheels: https://gcn.eu/Elitewheels

Watch our sister channels:
GCN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gcntech
GCN Racing – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network – https://www.youtube.com/@gtn
GCN Italia – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnitalia
GCN en Español – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Français – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenfrancais
GCN Training – https://www.youtube.com/@GCNTraining
Global Mountain Bike Network – https://youtube.com/@gmbn
GMBN Racing – https://youtube.com/@gmbnracing
GMBN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network – https://www.youtube.com/@embn

gravel bikes have opened the doors to us Ries having Adventures past the tarmac but the question we always get asked is why not just get a mountain bike which got me thinking it’s about time we put them to the test so I can show all of you lot that gravel bites can do everything yes those Mountain bites can do my opinion this is what we’ve got in store for all of you what you like it now it’s time to hit the Thumbs Up Button a yeah in order to create a fair test I roped in my favorite body double yet you guessed it Blake Samson if you listen really carefully you might be able to hear [Music] him here he [Applause] is right enough man love we’ve got a challenge thank you accepted the challenge first off time I jump are you ready yeah 100% right mountain bike versus gravel first off we need to tell you all about the tests I have lined up challenges to test both of our bikes from speeds all the way to bike handling now you want to see our weapons of choice and interestingly these blur the lines between mountain bikes and gravel bikes check these out the weapon of choice I’ve gone for Canyon’s Grizzle CFS 8 Trail it can take on any terrain what you riding Blake that’s a mouthful I’m running the Ora Alma M team a fully thorough breed at XC racing oh I’ve also taken a leaf out those mountain bikers books and I’ve added some forks with suspension I’ve got rock shocks Rudy 30 mil travel up front you got suspension Blake no I’ve taken a leaf out of your book I’ve gone for the fully rigid Ora spirit Fork the omx oh the other thing I’ve taken out of the mountain bikers book is a Dro her seat post yeah got the aridium 80 mil drop on that saddle allowing me to move on the saddle especially when we go downhill yeah what you got Blake sounds like you got M bike I I’ve taken a leaf out of their book and I’ve gone full of fully rigid seat post oh I’ve also got 45 mil tires this bike can hold 50 mil tires but I’m thinking these are going to be perfect for that uh slippery sections what have you got Blake oh I’ve got XC tires I’ve got the perelli Scorpion xcm tire and it’s a 2.4 super high rolling Tire enough to get the edge up when it gets a little bit rough we’re both running one by the question is is gravel bike going to be the mountain bike time to take the trail right before we kick off Hank you’re not really graveling off you what you me bit tight Arrow I know gravel dude come on go sort yourself out yeah anyway while he’s getting ready over there this is the first challenge the first challenge is a speed trial a time trial in a 1 km stage on this gravel fairly flat the fastest one through with the shortest time wins oh ready for it better I justel kind of put it over my top it’s fine I need the pockets fine anyway you ready to hit the start line ready to hit the start line obviously with a time trial or speed trial there’s an A and A B the BB and the Finish Line This is the Finish [Music] [Applause] Line time stops when you cross that line and this my friends is the start line of our 1 km time trial yes who’s going first then well the only way to find out that is good old fashioned game of rock paper scissors you ready y 3 2 1 shoot that means I win all right so who you lose I’m chasing your setting yep good luck buddy speed be with you it will be watch this for you flat rigid mountain bikers out there I got you back up here for thinking down here for power and speed I’m ready to rock and roll dude yeah [Music] here he comes go on Blake dig in lad up up up time stops now my turn it’s the gravel bike here goes nothing 3 2 1 slow start he stood up for the Finish got good good good yep woo you ready to go through the times yeah let’s go through the times scores on the doors the one km time Char is been and it’s done done and dusted how do you find it tough hard at the end I found it hard it was like just long enough to to make it bite I actually just had a some squirreling nearly went off the road a couple of times anyway we’ll see if that reflects in the results Blake I’m going to give you your result first thing as you went first okay you did a time of 2 minutes and 11 seconds 2 minutes wow is that good no why you did it in 1 minute 52 you did a 1 minute 52 so I think I just show the gravel bike is the faster bik it’s more Arrow it’s exactly that cuz it was flat it’s more Arrow I was on the drops I probably got a bigger gear I’m pretty sure I got a bigger gear yep so I’m right at the bottom and I spinning up and I was able to get low fast um wow which brings us on to the next event it does all right come this way my friend I’ll follow you challenge two could benefit both bikes the gravel bike and the mountain bike cuz it’s a 350 M long climb the bottom bit is fairly look little bit of loose gravel the top bit gets a lot nigher so could suit this guy the question is who is going to win this challenge cuz it’s a head to head ah we got some stats for You Beautiful People weightwise now how much does your bike weigh so I’ve just weighed my bike on a pair of weighing scales and I got 10.2 kg I got 9.6 interestingly yeah that is interesting seeing as like everyone would think that a mountain bike would be heavier but because I’ve got the added benefit of yes my drop post and the forks knocks up a little bit but is it not that much though are you going to win this probably not how much do you way body yeah 13 stone yeah we’re not far off each other you know right go on my whistle my [Applause] friend oh no the mountain bike takes over on the Steep stuff yeah but I just can’t find the traction I think you got more power oh oh come on that was close that was close that was close that was close that was close I actually worked for that that was a hell of a CL right the results as you may have seen from just watching this guy won I’ll set the next challenge well actually the next challenge is what goes up and you SC down yeah and it’s one a piece yeah let’s do it Winner Takes all Winner Takes all next challenge mountain bike it’s going to be a bit rough now we’re at forine Trail Center trail park and there’s a trail here called GBU it’s a double black diamond so it’s going to take every skill that you need to get down it now you have suspension on the front you have a dropper post you got some curly ass bars but you can get down this Trail do you know what happened last time we uh yeah we went up against each other yeah you beat me mega Avalanche you beat me yeah one of the world’s hardest downhill events just saying just saying so you never know what I could do anyway all of you that are kind of wanting the gravel bike to win please don’t put too much pressure on me he’s a professional mountain bike just I’m just going to remind you lot right on that note I am going to go first and watch you across the line at the bottom hopefully one no we we’re going together right okay cool watch this follow me so it’s a race it’s a head to head you ready you steady bit nervous about this hold on one sec hold on hold on ah there we go I feel good now hang on I can’t do that no you can’t do that there’s a drop here huh there’s a drop there seriously serious yeah all right three two one what oh Christ [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] oh my [Applause] God I oh my God go that my friend is rough if it holds your hands look you pump dude pump dude I’m coming off my bike oh pumped how did you find that that was tough tough was it I’m not going to lie if I didn’t have a drop a post oh you’d be in I wouldn’t have been able to do that so fair play I’ve got not a huge amount of travel but 30 m travel still something but this Dr post Really Got Me Down definitely because I don’t have like a bucketload of skill like you do no well I struggled on this I cased a few jumps it is super rough I can’t really get the way over the back cuz I haven’t got a dropper that’s where that comes in handy get that thing away from your bum get your weight over the back so you can descend comfortably and I don’t have suspension I don’t have thumbs anymore no I can only imagine I got to say though that was a double black diamond it started off with double black then we ended up on cork screw which is a black which I feel like is way rougher than what we rode up the top yeah 100% so if you are asking and if gravel bites can do it well they can do it I just wouldn’t say they’re that fast at it all that fun it it’s fun it’s fun it was fun it was little scary at times but yeah fun nonetheless fun nonetheless right you ready head back please let’s go come on that’s three challenges down I won the first one I won the second and um you won the third I won the third and I’ve got to say like gravel bikes have got their place they have you know they really opened up those Adventures like I said at the beginning of the video and it has allowed us to have Amazing Adventures you know way past the tarmac and onto the dirt roads it’s just probably not as gnarly as the ones we went on today uh what I will say though is that I said we had four challenges and this is the last Challenge and I want you all to get involved which one do you think looks better have a good look make sure you let us know in the comment section below is it blak’s or baale or is it my Canyon we look forward to go diving into the comment section below to seeing what you thought of each bike and at the end of this video I’ve got to say massive thank you to Blake Samson go check out on gmbn and a massive thank you uh to also the guys here at for of Dean bike park for letting us destroy the trails didn’t do that many skids yeah and I’ll see you in the next video see take care cup of tea yeah