{"id":5168,"date":"2023-07-05T17:34:06","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T15:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/?p=5168"},"modified":"2023-07-10T17:37:20","modified_gmt":"2023-07-10T15:37:20","slug":"choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing Your Perfect Gravel Bike by Juliet Elliott"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Summer tends to draw even the most road-inclined of us towards trails in one way or another. If you\u2019re considering a gravel bike as a new addition to your two-wheeler fleet, here is a quick guide for what to focus on when choosing the perfect fit.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>A very important thing for you is to consider what type of activity or terrain you would like to enjoy on the gravel bike and for how long, such as single-track mountain bike trails or all-road riding with gravel and tarmac sections. This will largely inform your final choice and influence the bike&#8217;s features and capabilities.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Here is what you should focus on once you\u2019ve decided what you want the bike for:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>1. Decide on the frame geometry that suits your preferences and riding goals. Cyclocross bikes offer fast, sharp handling but may not be as comfortable for long gravel rides. Gravel-specific bikes often have a longer wheelbase and slacker geometry for enhanced comfort.<\/p>\n<p>2. The bike&#8217;s tyre clearance. Gravel bikes typically accommodate wider tyres compared to road or cyclocross bikes. The wider tyres provide increased comfort, grip, and the ability to handle different types of terrain.<\/p>\n<p>3. Consider the gearing options. A 1x (single chainring) setup is commonly preferred for gravel bikes. Ensure the bike offers a wide range of gears to tackle steep climbs effectively.<\/p>\n<p>4. Assess the wheels that come with the bike. While wheels can be upgraded later, it&#8217;s good to have tubeless-ready wheels for a more comfortable ride and reduced risk of pinch flats.<\/p>\n<p>5. Depending on your preferences and riding style, you might want to consider additional components like suspension forks, suspension stems or a dropper post. These can be upgraded later if necessary.<\/p>\n<p>6. The type of handlebars. Flared handlebars provide increased control during descents and cornering, as well as a wider turning circle. They also allow for the attachment of bikepacking bags without interfering with the shifters.<\/p>\n<p>7. Look for a bike equipped with disc brakes. Disc brakes offer reliable and consistent braking performance in various conditions, ensuring your safety during rides.<\/p>\n<p>8. Check if the bike has frame mounts for additional accessories. Depending on your needs, you may want to mount a stem bag for storing gels during gravel racing, attach extra bottle cages on the fork for bikepacking or add a rack or mudguard.<\/p>\n<p>9. Lastly, ensure the bike fits you properly and provides a comfortable riding experience. Consider factors such as reach, top tube length, and head tube length, which affect the bike&#8217;s handling and your overall comfort.<\/p>\n<p>Remember to test ride different bikes, consult with experts, and consider your specific preferences and riding goals before making a final decision. Happy gravel riding!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summer tends to draw even the most road-inclined of us towards trails in one way or another. If you\u2019re considering [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":178,"featured_media":5174,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"global-categories":[],"class_list":["post-5168","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-the-latest"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.3 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Choosing Your Perfect Gravel Bike by Juliet Elliott<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Choosing Your Perfect Gravel Bike by Juliet Elliott\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Summer tends to draw even the most road-inclined of us towards trails in one way or another. If you\u2019re considering [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"\u0160koda We Love Cycling - United Kingdom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-07-05T15:34:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-07-10T15:37:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/18\/2023\/07\/Juliet-Elliott-Gravel-Bikes-CVR.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"990\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"660\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"evelynfindlay\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"We Love Cycling\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/\",\"name\":\"Choosing Your Perfect Gravel Bike by Juliet Elliott\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/18\/2023\/07\/Juliet-Elliott-Gravel-Bikes-CVR.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-07-05T15:34:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-07-10T15:37:20+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/person\/0fb8f5556d93cedeab625dee98f6bf84\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/18\/2023\/07\/Juliet-Elliott-Gravel-Bikes-CVR.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/18\/2023\/07\/Juliet-Elliott-Gravel-Bikes-CVR.webp\",\"width\":990,\"height\":660,\"caption\":\"Juliet Elliott\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/\",\"name\":\"\u0160koda We Love Cycling - United Kingdom\",\"description\":\"\u0160koda WeLoveCycling - United Kingdom\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/person\/0fb8f5556d93cedeab625dee98f6bf84\",\"name\":\"evelynfindlay\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9ca0246e815ce39c3171ab03d96ff7a0617b252ab40d91e1c1e799819dc92fcf?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9ca0246e815ce39c3171ab03d96ff7a0617b252ab40d91e1c1e799819dc92fcf?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"evelynfindlay\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/author\/evelynfindlay\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Choosing Your Perfect Gravel Bike by Juliet Elliott","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Choosing Your Perfect Gravel Bike by Juliet Elliott","og_description":"Summer tends to draw even the most road-inclined of us towards trails in one way or another. If you\u2019re considering [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/","og_site_name":"\u0160koda We Love Cycling - United Kingdom","article_published_time":"2023-07-05T15:34:06+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-07-10T15:37:20+00:00","og_image":[{"width":990,"height":660,"url":"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/18\/2023\/07\/Juliet-Elliott-Gravel-Bikes-CVR.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"evelynfindlay","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"We Love Cycling","Est. reading time":"3"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/","url":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/","name":"Choosing Your Perfect Gravel Bike by Juliet Elliott","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/18\/2023\/07\/Juliet-Elliott-Gravel-Bikes-CVR.webp","datePublished":"2023-07-05T15:34:06+00:00","dateModified":"2023-07-10T15:37:20+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/person\/0fb8f5556d93cedeab625dee98f6bf84"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2023\/07\/05\/choosing-your-perfect-gravel-bike-by-juliet-elliott\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/18\/2023\/07\/Juliet-Elliott-Gravel-Bikes-CVR.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/18\/2023\/07\/Juliet-Elliott-Gravel-Bikes-CVR.webp","width":990,"height":660,"caption":"Juliet Elliott"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/","name":"\u0160koda We Love Cycling - United Kingdom","description":"\u0160koda WeLoveCycling - United Kingdom","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/person\/0fb8f5556d93cedeab625dee98f6bf84","name":"evelynfindlay","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9ca0246e815ce39c3171ab03d96ff7a0617b252ab40d91e1c1e799819dc92fcf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9ca0246e815ce39c3171ab03d96ff7a0617b252ab40d91e1c1e799819dc92fcf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"evelynfindlay"},"url":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/author\/evelynfindlay\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/178"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5168"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5168\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5182,"href":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5168\/revisions\/5182"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5168"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5168"},{"taxonomy":"global-categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/global-categories?post=5168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}