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What are the Best Gravel Bikes for Double Duty as Road Bikes?

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by (120 points)
What I’m looking for is a gravel bike that has good performance as a road bike as well. Which models are the best for this purpose?

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by (340 points)
The CLL Asaro and the Specialized Crux are among the best gravel bikes that can be used for dual purposes as a road bike. These bikes also have a head tube angle of 72 degrees or greater allowing the bike to handle well while riding under road conditions. Besides, they also often have a 2x drivetrain setup which gives a broad span of gears having closely knitted steps which is better for road riding.
by (100 points)
This was such good content, I have a 2020 checkpoint. The bike is perfect for what you’re saying I think that’s why I will not get rid of it. Great content, looking forward to more.
by (100 points)
I've owned a Cervelo Aspero and I now own an Ari Shafer. The Ari is hands down the better bike both on and off road. The slack head tube angle is not detrimental at all. I'm using 50mm Schwalbe Overland 365 tires and I have no problems on B+ and A- club rides. I just finished a century and I hung with the road bikes with no issues. I also have a ton of cornering confidence with larger tires. I think the pros  out weigh the cons. I'm a firm believer that stability equals speed.  I may be wrong, but I expect to see road bikes following gravel bike geometry trends in the near future.
by (100 points)
I use my Giant Revolt 2022 as a dual purpose bike. I like it's endurance geometry. Despite I ride shorter 60mm stem, long flip chip setup and 1x drivetrain it feels very nice on the road. Of course, a proper road bike is much faster and aero but I just can't have 4 bikes The most important thing with my Revolt is that I feel very comfortable and have no issues with pain after rides. And i find it more significant then max average speed. Choosing a bike is always a compromise
by (100 points)
My dual purpose beast is the Felt Breed Advanced. With moderate race geometry, 71,5 head tube angle and 50mm tyre clearance it really does it all :)
by (100 points)
Ben, I hope you are getting better by the day. If you need someone to ride your bikes until you heal, send them here to Michigan, lol. Great content. I'm using the Aspero for dual purpose
by (100 points)
Good content, Ben. I have limited experience with other bikes, but would second the Spesh Roubaix. SL8 with 40mm clearance is great, but I actually use my SL5 (2018, first gen with future shock) on both road and gravel. 700cx28 wheelset for the road, and for gravel I run 650b wheels with a 43mm GKSK front and 38mm GKSS back. The frame only clears 700x32 radially, but with smaller diameter wheels there is enough lateral clearance for the sizes above. And because the rolling diameter of the front is equivalent to 700x23 (before squish), it handles super sharp. Very easy to point down twisty single track. I don’t ride chunky gravel, so this is as much tire width as I need. YMMV. Oh, and the future shock is a big bonus off-road too.
by (100 points)
Good vid bro n congrats to Brennen! Hey what about the giant bike revolt? Did you love that bike and does it do road/gravel????
by (100 points)
Thanks for a great channel Ben! My ”only bike” is an Open U.P. A frame that’s been around for a long time (update in the works I heard) and does most surfaces great. Max 700c is 40mm so maybe should be considered an allroad bike today. BB drop is more in line with road bikes so I have two wheelsets for it: 700c with 35mm Rene Herse Bon Jon Pass. Great for road, commuting and not too rough gravel. And really light 650b set with Specialized PF 47mm. Both with rotors and cassettes. Love both setups. My one bike quiver.
by (100 points)
I guess there aren’t many CX bikes anymore, but I have a 2018 Focus Mares.  It has a 70 degree head tube, but can def make tight turns, and has space for 40mm tires.  I changed the drivetrain to be standard road compact: 50/34 up front, 11-34 in back.  Worked well for both fire roads and tarmac, depending on which wheelset I use.
by (100 points)
I love my Scott Gravel Addict with 44mm Rene Herse. Fast and comfy on/off  gravel
by (100 points)
Heard so many testimonies from Specialized Crux owners of the bikes great dual purpose performance.
by (100 points)
Nobody ever mentions Norco in the gravel sphere. Is there a reason for that? The Search XR A1 has the recommended (by Ben) 2x GRX, 72 head angle (in 58cm size), 70mm BB  drop, and decent tire clearance. Seems to hit all the buttons. But I can never find anyone recommending it. Norco MTBs rock. Not so much on gravel???? Views/opinions welcome.
by (100 points)
I really like my OPEN UPPER.  Mine is set up as a dedicated gravel bike, but a close friend of mine has hers set up for double duty with two complete wheel sets.
by (100 points)
Ditched my high end road bike for my gravel with two wheel sets even though the vast majority of my riding is on the road. Running 32’s is just so comfortable and stable. Only person I’m racing is myself.
by (100 points)
I have the latest Specialized Crux. Frame, fork, and headset weighs exactly 3lbs. I wouldn’t consider another bike for dual purpose. Just about perfect.
by (100 points)
Latest gen Canyon Grail is working for me.  Somewhat aero, internal storage, 42mm clearance, 1x , and nice aero bars.
by (100 points)
My Domane ALR road bike was my original “gravel” bike. I have since acquired a Lynskey GR300 and set up the Domane in road mode. Both are 1x, there is some overlap and I could certainly live with the Lynskey alone.
by (100 points)
I went from a Cervelo Caledonia to an Aspero5 and couldn't be happier. What surprised me the most is how my climbing has improved. The Aspero puts me in a position where I just feel more powerful. It's not exactly a fair comparison, they are designed for different purposes. And as Ben pointed out in an outstanding content on aerodynamics, the Aspero has an aero bar versus the round bar on the Caledonia, and an aero bar has a higher percentage of aero gain than even aero wheels do.
by (100 points)
Nobody ever talks about Superior. Their bikes are purpose built to be dual-purpose. They can fit a road 2x groupset (many gravel bikes can only accommodate the smaller chainrings of a gravel groupset), and they have bigger tire clearance and the geometry to do both
by (100 points)
+1 for Cervelo Aspero as the perfect dual purpose gravel / road bike. It’s awesome on the road and the GRX 2x is the perfect gearing (better than most road bike gearing) for those of us in the real world majority who need some easier gears for the hills!
by (100 points)
I’m enjoying my Gen 3 Domane. 71.9 HTA, set up with 2X gearing and has clearance for 35’s.  In dry gravel I could fit 38’s, but I’m actually really enjoying a set of Maxxis All-Terrane tires at the moment.  Since my road tires are 32 and my offroad tires are 33, the feel of the bike doesn’t really change.  If I want to get to anything chunky, I use my XC bike.
by (100 points)
Thinking about selling my Tarmac SL6 for a bit more comfort. The new Defy is on my list. Funny thing is, stack and reach don't differ that much from my SL6 (both size 58/L). Reviews say the new Defy is like a TCR, but with a bit more comfort. No need for tall stack en short reach numbers, so this bike seems to be a sweet spot. Can take up to 38mm tyres as well, with a 2x setup.
by (100 points)
My Ti gravel bike is also my road bike.
71.5deg HTA
73deg STA
70mm BB drop
45mm tyre clearance, but can run 50mm in the dry.
Often use 38mm Spez Pathfinder as it doubles up as fast (enough) road tyre and can do some gravel too, but is limiting in steep terrain.
by (100 points)
I run 35c Gravelking SK's on my Canyon Ultimate and it's super fast. Only in dry, pebble gravel races, but very fast.
by (100 points)
I realized recently that I'm using my 2022 Revolt mainly as a road bike, so I"m glad I have the Di2 2X drivetrain.  I like it on the road but it's not very aero - or maybe that's more me.
by (100 points)
Scott Addict gravel.. serveral people including myself Got this and two wheelsets here In Denmark. But but i also have a trek roadbike and a giant tcx i use for gravel ‍♂️ my son and i fit the same setup, so we can ride together
by (100 points)
I have a Specialized Roubaix with a road wheelset and a gravel wheelset with 40 mm Conti Terra Speeds. Anything rougher than this setup can handle I'll take my XC bike.
by (100 points)
Ventum GS1 with 2 wheel sets
by (100 points)
I ride a 2020 Giant revolt advanced with a 1x mullet setup and 2 sets of wheels. With what modern gravel bikes have turned in to I feel like my revolt is more all road now. I love how it handles with 40s or 36c road tires.
by (100 points)
I go for a Rose Backroad FF Shimano 2x12 GRX Di2 with a second wheel set.
by (100 points)
The 2020 TREK checkpoint alr5. Adjustable rear and I love how stiff the BB (no flex). It's not aerodynamic design though....
by (100 points)
I am fortunate to have a few bikes, my favourite road bike is my old school S Works tarmac SL4. Super Light, snappy, “quick”. My gravel bike is a Cervelo Aspero. I have Ultegra C36’s with Pirelli P ZERO 30 mm,, for the Aspero as a “road bike”, it is super comfortable and would be an ideal multi purpose bike. But if you like light and fast and “quick”… that it is not. The 2x front with a big cassette make it work for everything. But I spin out pretty early and I climb at a much more relaxed pace than with my tarmac or my Allez Sprint. If you aren’t racing your road bike, if you ride for fitness and fun and adventure… the gravel bike as a multi purpose machine is awesome
by (100 points)
Love your content! So, I need a gravel bike. I live in Northern Cali. We have a ton of forest roads that connect highways around here. The rides would be 60% road and 40% gravel. I would need a bike capable of screaming highway descents, and forest road shenanigans. Convince me not to get a Crux....?
by (100 points)
I think but not sure. Shimano has the 2x12 GRX group that provides a good choice for those who are interested in having a gravel bike with more options for long distance pavement rides.
Personally I have a Shimano 2x11 with a crazy 48/30 chainring up front on a sweet White Industry crankset.
by (100 points)
I like the thought of the Mosaic GT iAR, but the $8,300 price tag is too much for me. What similar bike would you recommend in the $3,000-$4,000 range?
by (100 points)
Diverge E5. Nothing proprietary on it as stock. Reliable GRX400.  Set of nice road wheels with 32’s, 11-32 rear for road rides, 21#. Stock wheels with 38’s and 11-36 rear plus redshift suspension post for the trails, 23-24#
by (100 points)
I went for two wheelsets. Swapping is quick. I have the OBED Boundary 2x which ticks all the boxes. 72 angle and first 40mm easily. Ultegra/GRX mix. Also can do bike packing.
by (100 points)
My Giant Revolt is a great dual purpose bike , I use it mostly for gravel . With the chip flipped I can put on 2.2s  . With road tires I run 32s. It is a great bike for both. ‍♀️ the jersey, socks and hat are great.  facial hair makes men look older lol
by (100 points)
My Trek Checkmate SLR 9 with 1x13 goes well on the road and gravel.  Basically a Madone that can take a wider tire.
by (100 points)
Allied echo
by (100 points)
The ultimate dual-purpose bike: Which drop bar XC is good on the road and why Supercaliber?
by (100 points)
The go bike are Open U.P.!
by (100 points)
Wilier rave slr
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