I’ve been wondering if a gravel bike without any changes to the wheels or tyres can actually work just fine as a road bike for winter riding when the roads are wet and slippery? The new Canyon Grail with its fast rolling wide tyres and mudguards has got me wondering this very question so I went for a ride to see if it worked or not?
Does a Gravel Bike work as a Road Bike? https://youtu.be/1AAR88QfJvw
Canyon Grail CFR Review https://youtu.be/ce9kVeZMyqw
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48 Comments
Hi David and thanks (again) for a very intuitive and nicely put video.
I own a Canyon Grail CFSL eTap 7 for some months now, the one with the double handlebar and I really like it, on and off road.
Obviously a lot of people never liked the idea of putting a double handle bar on a bike, particularly maybe on a gravel bike. But, the truth is that it gives me a lot of pleasure, comfort and makes my rides very pleasant.
The new Grail you are presenting, has a brand new handle bar, which I would be really interested to try, since the rest of its 'setup' is very similar to the Grail I own.
And also, where I live, in the mid/south Sweden, we soon need to change to winter tyres to cope with ice and later snow, but the Canyon mudguards I have on do a very well job.
Thanks again for all your videos,
Cheers from Sweden,
Antonis
I avoided the issue by living in Australia.
I prefer road bikes – however i am considering either Colnago V3 or Orbea Aero both with DI2 groupset – which would you choose
Gravel bikes? Humph. From what I’ve seen most tracks in the U.K. are more suitable for mountain bikes. Anyway, why pay out large sums of money for a road bike for it to sit in a garage for 6 months of the year? And then pay out similar sums for a gravel bike. It’s not like carbon bikes are going to rot. A modern road bike is very durable and most these days will take fat tyres and some will even take mudguards. And they are faster. With proper gears. And leave the off road stuff for a decent mountain bike.
Endurance bike with ~35 mm tire clearance is the sweetspot for me. Enough clearance to do gravel (I don't ride gnarly stuff) and touring or slap on 28 mm tires and go fast.
It may seem cliche, but I really do want to see a comparison between the Endurace and the Grail where they both have the same tyres.
I hate the way you let the thruexle on ground
Rocking gravel bike for 5 years. 2 sets of wheels and ( does indoor roller wheels count as 3 sets ?😜 )….I wouldn’t trade it for anything 🤘🤘🤘
Yeah I’ve got a road bike, gravel bike, and xc mtb but its the gravel bike i use much more often. Especially in winter. The road bike restricts which roads i can take and i have to avoid any roads under construction. I like the freedom and adventure of the gravel bike, more often. I have 10x the route options and im typically not needing a bike computer. But during the winter season i have not ridden my road bike in 3 years.
Ironically I went the other way around. I started with gravel but swapped with a road bike as there's not really much gravel here in Tokyo area, they love paving roads even mountainous ones. I feel the road bike is super fun especially on fast mountain descents since I can be more aero compared to the more endurance geometry of gravel bikes. Less weight is also better as there's a lot of long climbs here.
For offroad I have a dedicated full sus mtb when I feel going to the trail head with friends on the weekend. The road bike is used almost everyday.
What size tires did you use for this video? And what is your normal summer road bike tire size?
I have been doing this with a Cube Nuroad I got in 2019. Pretty much the same package deal + a long distance bikepacking option with better paniers. One bike that fits all is really great to have. (Apart from riding on the road in the summer with friends who have faster gear than you or if you ride competitively).
I did that last winter. Had a cannondale synapse (alu) for the winter. Though I'm in sunny Southern California, but we got a lot of rain and cold weather last year. Worked out great. Problem is I sold that bike and might have to just go with what I have, or what I like to do, which is ride my mtb when the conditions are not so great.
Road bikes are painfully priced.
Comfort or fun, you can't have both. Road bikes forever.
Personally can't afford a new gravel bike so just put 35mm gravel kings on my giant defy instead, sooo comfortable on our crap roads and does surprisingly well off road too👍
Hello David. You thinking is exactly why I bought a Genesis Croix de Fer Ti about 4 years ago. Gravel bike in summer and swap out for a set of road wheels with 30 mm or 32 mm road tyres and proper mudguard mounts. I could use bigger tyres if I brought larger mudguards. I have now taken the gravel as a road a step further. Recently bought a Basso Palto as a gravel race bike and to use as a road/Gravel bike linking bridal ways together via road sections. I regularly do 100 mile rides combining roads and and bridal ways. Just brilliant fun. Winter riding isn't that bad David. You just need to have the right mindset.
Nice fender integration
Yah sure. $5000 price tag i would think you wouldn't say this bike sucks balls.
Am planning to replace my elderly road bike with a gravel bike.
Good job as always David! I'm eagerly waiting for you to test the Campy Super Record Wrl 🙂
Did you change the gear group??
Probably true these days, but i've got a Gravel bike, a steel endurance bike (both disc brake) and two road bikes (both rim brakes). When its nice and sunny and dry conditions, the rim brake bikes come back out. They aren't worth much, so not worth selling them, but they are fast when the weathers nice! Obviously if i was buying again, i would probably have gone for all disc brake bikes for my collection.
Actually, that mudguard quick release setup is very slick! Do Canyon sell these separately?
MOG or grail? Considering these two : )
I replaced three bikes with a ti gravel bike. I'm not doing much group road riding these days so being at the front is no longer a concern but with narrow tires I think it would still be fast enough. That said, I just moved to the mountains and I'm wanting another climbing bike. I love climbing so the search is on!
I like everything about the new Grail………apart from the tyre clearance. More clearance wouldn't take anything away from the bike.
You don't have to run bigger tyres if you don't want / need to, but it would be nice to have the option.
I guess Canyon don't want Grail to compete directly with their Grizl.
Wow this Canyon is a complete bike for my needs but the price probably isn't :/
Thanks for the great video! I love the mud guards.
Can you please tell me where I can find these mudguards!?
Hi David–I'm in the US. I've never used fenders before, but I am considering getting some for my Enve Melee for this winter. Are there any you recommend that would work with that bike as they do on your gravel rig? Thanks.
A bike without fenders is like a man without eyebrows.
Great video as always. I bought the new Grail (arrives tomorrow) with exactly that in mind. Swapped it for my Orbed Orca. You've reassured me I did the right thing!
Canyon Grail vs Giant Revolt….. which one would best for long days in the saddle? Also can you fit a the VCLS seat post into the Grail like one can with the Revolt?
How does it compare to your S-Works Crux?
We use our gravel bikes as primary now. Main reasons (1) roads have become more dangerous than ever (2) we ride for adventure, and it fits the style more since we can hit cool paths we find. We keep the road bike and mountain bikes for more specific rides, but the gravel is the jack of all trades for us. BTW, I have the exact Fairlight Secan you have, and I've tried switching out wheels (narrow) for specific rides, and it's great. So that's an option, too. Just have one gravel endurance frame and then switch out wheels.
I put file tread 38mm gravel tyres on my cross bike, ideal for rough Yorkshire roads
Absolutely agree. My Trek Damone disc is all you need. Remove the mudguards and add deep section Bontragers for the summer, hey presto!
Yes can make perfect sense particularly if you have limited space at home . If l could add one piece of advice tyre choice is important with the tread pattern for mixed riding choose a tyre with a close tread not big knobs as l have found the big knobs become a little slippery and a bit unstable on wet grease tarmac . I have had Cinturato gravel H or good year connectors to be excellent in mixed roads and the good year connectors are very good on loose gravel . Commenting on past experience . Happy safe riding to everyone . Cheers
Yes because gravel geometry is horrible.
May I ask about the mudguards?
What model are they?
Agree. My summer bike now on the trainer. Now moving to my BMC Roadmachine which is great. Ali frame, carbon fork and 1x mechanical gears. Guards fitted. Easy to clean. Obviously bigger gaps in the gears, but can do anything and explore the trails.
Well you need both ideally.. but I don't discount the idea of using a gravel bike on road in the winter – makes sense to me.. but it's never going to be 'Sunday best' in the middle of summer is it.
yes
Using a 900€ Vitus Energie (2019 CX bike) as a road, gravel and triathlon bike.
Fast enough with 28mm tires for most group rides. Not that bad for triathlon. I can't justify spending a fortune on dedicated road / tri bikes as I'm not a pro and would not win events anyway (being 100th or 50th isn't really important…).
Only wish it has a bigger (or double) chainring sometimes…
How does this compare to a Giant Revolt Advanced Pro 0? Use will be winter road bike with fenders + commuting 15 miles each way 2/3 canal path and 1/3 road then a little bit of weekend gravel sporadically?? Like your thoughts David on best option please
the bag available is in march 😥
As a bit of a rim-brake retro grouch even I can see the appeal of this bike. Did my 6th Dartmoor Devil Audax the other week on my road bike with 25mm tyres, wider tyres and discs would have made the downhill sections with flooded roads and awful road defects that brinelled my wheel bearings easier.