MTB to Gravel

[ChrisF]

1 hour ago, Iwan Kemp said:

If your riding looks like the photos shared so far, then you most likely won't miss a MTB. 

For me, a gravel bike can replace my road bike, but not my MTB. I ride mostly single track trails, with some technical features, and a gravel bike won't cut it there at speed.

Bottom line, it GREATLY depends on your riding. 

 

Well said.

 

37 minutes ago, babse said:

Gravel to replace roadie... Hmmm maybe if you getting old and soft, or you have a super light and doing the wheelset swap thingy.

 

Gravel to replace MTB... No chance I'm giving up actual mountain biking for groads (of which i live close to none).

 

Gravel bikes are for gravel riding, it has it's own place without replacing, IMO!

 

Uhmmm ... ja-nee ....

 

 

For the sub-3 100km riders a real road bike will always be the go to bike.

 

for those that like something a bit more than a paved, swept and bermed groomed trail ... it quickly gets to the point where a MTB has its place.

 

Gravel bike .... 1x or 2x ?  A decent 2x gravel bike will give road bikes a damn good go for its money !!  BUT, over a 100km race the rider is going to feel the difference ... still more than up to the job for most group rides.  Going of the hard packed surfaces .... I am surprised at just how good a gravel bike feels on the short cuts I take across a field and some sandy bits.  Even on gravel it feels surprisingly good.  BUT, I have not done any long sections on corrugated gravel, nor do I have any desire for that .....  Actually, it was bought as my "dikwiel pad fiets" .... given the poor condition of our roads, especially the sides where we cycles, the gravel bike is VERY nice !!!

 

 

The "one bike for all" .... that simply does not exist.  VERY good alternative for the not so serious rider ?  Sure, it will tick most of the boxes most of the time.

 

Glad I dont have to chose just one ..... 

[Bub Marley]

1 minute ago, ChrisF said:

Gravel bike .... 1x or 2x ?  A decent 2x gravel bike will give road bikes a damn good go for its money !!  

This only works if hes willing to to do the wheel swop everytime. And in terms of performance, there are so many different types of gravel bikes that not all of them will cut it. A proper gravel race bike, sure. 

 

Personally, if racing is anywhere in your thoughts, then a one bike to do it all is out of the question. But if you dont care that much about racing then sure it can be done. 

[NicoSmit]

Is this a mtb or a gravel bike ? Asking for a friend

[NotSoBigBen]

1 minute ago, NicoSmit said:

Is this a mtb or a gravel bike ? Asking for a friend

If it has drop bars to be ridden 'off road' it's a gravel bike ... in my opinion of course

Over the years I've 'softened' towards a bit of suspension not hurting on a gravel bike ... keeping in mind some manufacturers now sell gravel bikes as standard with suspension, Cannondale Topstone among others

[SSCC]

A gravel bike can be a one bike solution for road riding and gravel but not as an MTb replacement if you want to ride actual trails. 

Over the last 10 years I’ve owned 11 gravel and monster cross bikes. The full spectrum. Rode Kirstenbosch loop and Tokai when gravel bikes only had 38mm tyre clearance. Rocks and rigid is fun in the beginning but it sucks longterm. Revolt with 2.2 is about as good as it gets unless you add suspension. A Revolt is also good for sub 6 DC no problem. If you are a sub 5:20 rider then you may want an aero bike. 

[Baracuda]

1 hour ago, SSCC said:

A gravel bike can be a one bike solution for road riding and gravel but not as an MTb replacement if you want to ride actual trails. 

Over the last 10 years I’ve owned 11 gravel and monster cross bikes. The full spectrum. Rode Kirstenbosch loop and Tokai when gravel bikes only had 38mm tyre clearance. Rocks and rigid is fun in the beginning but it sucks longterm. Revolt with 2.2 is about as good as it gets unless you add suspension. A Revolt is also good for sub 6 DC no problem. If you are a sub 5:20 rider then you may want an aero bike. 

Which front chainrings do you have on the Revolt for the DC? Still the GRX?

Edited July 28, 2025 by Baracuda

[SSCC]

47 minutes ago, Baracuda said:

Which front chainrings do you have on the Revolt for the DC? Still the GRX?

For DC originally 2x with 48/32 front. Enough high and low range. 

Now 1x 48 front with 10/51. Don’t need the MTb cassette for DC but it’s my gravel setup.

Pros and cons for both. 

[Ispeed_V]

Being in my mid 50's and more of a roadie, but still enjoy the offroad experience, took a 26" HT mtb frame and converted it to a gravel bike with 27.5" wheels. 

Does the job perfectly well.

[NotSoBigBen]

On 7/28/2025 at 7:55 PM, SSCC said:

For DC originally 2x with 48/32 front. Enough high and low range. 

Now 1x 48 front with 10/51. Don’t need the MTb cassette for DC but it’s my gravel setup.

Pros and cons for both. 

A bit off topic but .... Since I have to change the groupset that was on my Tarmac Disc road frame I decided to do something different. I mean the pros used something like this on some TdF stages didn't they?

It was 10sp Ultegra Di2 with Avid BB7 mechanical calipers

Now 11sp Ultegra hydraulic shifters, 1x 53x11-42 ... SLX 11sp MTB derailleur

That frame, although a road disc, takes MTB calipers, fitted SLX ones

Couple of small things to do, hopefully test before the weekend then go for a longish ride Sunday ... sort the brake hoses, bleed and finish the gears (3d printed a more 'modern' take on the previous mullet adapter I used)

#BecauseICan

[Ispeed_V]

4 hours ago, NotSoBigBen said:

A bit off topic but .... Since I have to change the groupset that was on my Tarmac Disc road frame I decided to do something different. I mean the pros used something like this on some TdF stages didn't they?

It was 10sp Ultegra Di2 with Avid BB7 mechanical calipers

Now 11sp Ultegra hydraulic shifters, 1x 53x11-42 ... SLX 11sp MTB derailleur

That frame, although a road disc, takes MTB calipers, fitted SLX ones

Couple of small things to do, hopefully test before the weekend then go for a longish ride Sunday ... sort the brake hoses, bleed and finish the gears (3d printed a more 'modern' take on the previous mullet adapter I used)

#BecauseICan

Have been running a 1X setup on my road bike for a while now.

Yes I may have sacrificed some downhill speed, but far prefer the simplicity of the setup.

DA9100 Shifter and crank (CSIXX 44T), GRX DR and XTR 11-40 Cassette

[NotSoBigBen]

8 minutes ago, Ispeed_V said:

Have been running a 1X setup on my road bike for a while now.

Yes I may have sacrificed some downhill speed, but far prefer the simplicity of the setup.

DA9100 Shifter and crank (CSIXX 44T), GRX DR and XTR 11-40 Cassette

I have 2 other bikes running 1x ...

TT bike with 55x11-36 (perfect for the routes I use it on for a specific winter TT series), lots of top end and enough climbing gear

Bianchi with 50x11-36 (again fine for all my training routes, those who know the south I can go up Biggarsberg and Comaro, not easy but I can ... enough top end

This bikes top end will be the same, and I suspect the climbing gear will be enough for me

[JoeMerida]

Old School MTB Kona Cinder Very Similar to Gravel Bike.

First we had Progression.

Now we have Regression.

Most Old Timer MTB Riders Started on these or something similar.

Edited August 27, 2025 by JoeMerida

[Mook]

11 hours ago, JoeMerida said:

Old School MTB Kona Cinder Very Similar to Gravel Bike.

First we had Progression.

Now we have Regression.

Most Old Timer MTB Riders Started on these or something similar.

Many "Old Timer MTB Riders" still enjoy riding their 26" steel bikes 👴

 

[Dexter-morgan]

I will be installing a 50mm travel fork on my Frankenbike, the main reason for building it was for the early morning rides with the "club", don't have to worry about potholes, I keep up on most rides at around 30ave, I have a 1x set-up 42 front and 11-40 cassette, I spin out at around 49km/h, at the end of the day the bike puts a smile on my face, I even did a 3:40 on the 947 last year and I stopped for bears and some pictures.

[NotSoBigBen]

1 hour ago, Dexter-morgan said:

I will be installing a 50mm travel fork on my Frankenbike, the main reason for building it was for the early morning rides with the "club", don't have to worry about potholes, I keep up on most rides at around 30ave, I have a 1x set-up 42 front and 11-40 cassette, I spin out at around 49km/h, at the end of the day the bike puts a smile on my face, I even did a 3:40 on the 947 last year and I stopped for bears and some pictures.

Nice, it is best of course to stop for 🐻 😜

[etienne1]

Looks interesting and I am keen to try converting my Hard tail MTB 26" despite being told it is to expensive to do so . Can I keep the rims and change the tyres? I currently have Shimano deore LX group set on 9spd . Will 105 shifters be compatible with the deore  deraliuer