![]() On gravel bikes, bigger tires are all about increased traction and puncture resistance on dirt roads. “On performance-oriented road bikes, bigger tires are better at filtering out vibrations caused by uneven surfaces, reducing rolling resistance and increasing comfort. The trend towards wider tires has different facets. It’s about longer rides, which sometimes means taking detours on poorly maintained side streets and cobblestone paths in the best Belgian or Roubaix style, combining comfort and speed. “A modern road bike isn’t a bike that you can ride anywhere, but an update that meets the needs of performance-oriented road cyclists,” explains Philip. The Canadian brand are simply looking at a new way to live the sport. Another bike category? No, no need to worry. ![]() Philip says something that makes our ears prick up: “we don’t call the Caledonia an all-road bike, but a modern road bike”. They don’t see road bikes as sensitive machines that are only designed to convert watts into speed. The term “all-road”, much like the buzzword “gravel”, leaves a lot of room for interpretation, but Cervélo draw a clear line. Tire clearance is an important indicator of the intended use, but it is by no means the only distinguishing feature.Īll-in-one, all right, all-road – Does this bike category even exist? To sum up: the more tire clearance a bike has, the more freedom the rider has with the intended use. Doing so requires structural changes to the frame, which comes at the expense of stiffness and weight.” However, if the bike is mainly intended for rough gravel riding, we must allow for more voluminous tires. You have to consider aerodynamics and rolling resistance as well as the stiffness, strength and weight of the frame. “We restrict the tire clearance of our all-road model in a way that makes sense for road riding. Along with gravel-specific components and frame details such as mounting points and adapted geometries.”Ĭervélo take a nuanced approach regarding tire clearance too. As Colin explains, “the segments are the easiest to distinguish by looking at the tire clearance. This definition is still too vague for us, so we dig a little deeper.įor FOCUS, the term “clearance” plays a big role. That’s how we interpreted the development of the ATLAS.” Gravel bikes could therefore be seen as good mood touring bikes with a focus on going off-road and bikepacking. ![]() They’re all about getting out into nature, going on two-wheel adventures and, above all, having a good time. “On the other hand, we see gravel bikes as ideal bikepacking companions. So, all-road bikes are good mood touring bikes with a focus on road riding. For the German bike brand, these are comfortable, road-oriented bikes that appeal to riders who are more interested in having a good time on the bike than in racing. “For us, an all-road bike is still very much a road bike that you’ll mainly ride on the road, though you don’t have to be afraid of encountering bad roads or woodland paths,” says Colin Pfister, Product Manager at FOCUS. ![]() We use 415 mm chainstays for the Caledonia and 410 mm chainstays for the R5.”įOCUS make an equally clear statement regarding the gravel and all-road segments. “If we’re looking for faster and more responsive handling, like on a high-performance road bike, we usually use shorter chainstays, which goes hand in hand with a reduced trail up front. While longer chainstays increase stability on loose surfaces, Philip says they also affect performance. The same applies to the cockpit and fork.”Īs always, there are two sides to every coin. But does this impact the handling? The Canadian bike brand’s product manager has a clear answer: “The increased tire clearance results in longer chainstays than we would want on high-performance road bikes. Of course, the frame and fork determine how wide the tires can be. In principle, road and gravel bike geometries are interchangeable, but the demand for tires that are at least 35 mm wide requires a design that’s able to accommodate them.” “Tire size and intended use are decisive. This takes us right to the point of the matter because the difference between gravel and all-road bikes is based on two factors, according to Philip. Others think of it as very loose, uneven terrain, more like the kind of stuff that you would usually tackle with a hardtail mountain bike.” “Some equate the term gravel with unpaved woodland roads or hard-packed gravel. “Not all gravel is equal,” Philip Spearman, Global Product Marketing Manager at Cervélo, jumps right in with the differences.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |