Gravel bikes were born in the US, where long stretches of long unsealed roads bridged the gap between riding destinations. Riders cobbled together road, cyclocross, mountain, and older bikes to go on long adventures. None of the bikes did the job well. However, bike companies recognized the needs of these riders and developed a new style of bike specifically for these adventures.

The new style of bikes became hugely popular due to their versatility. As they were designed for long days in the saddle, gravel bikes are extremely comfortable. Roads ridden for exploration are often not the smoothest, so the bikes are often vertically compliant with comfort features built-in.

Disc brakes are a must-have feature, ensuring you have plenty of control when it comes to stopping, regardless of weather or load. They also enable the bigger, knobbly tires to have plenty of clearance—a crucial component for maximizing comfort and traction off-tarmac.

What is so different from a cyclocross (CX) bike? Cyclocross bikes can certainly be ridden on gravel, but they are designed as race bikes. This means the rider's positioning will be lower and more aggressive. Crucially, CX bikes are also typically limited to a maximum tire width of around 35mm. If you want to run bigger tires for increased comfort and traction—which is the hallmark of true gravel riding—you will be severely limited.

Gravel bikes are inherently efficient, allowing you to explore further and for longer with less effort. Their versatility means they can adapt to almost any purpose:

• "Road:" Put slicker tyres on, and you have a slightly heavier but still capable road bike.
• "Commuter/Touring:" Keep the racks on, and it's the ultimate commuter or light touring machine.

The options are truly endless when you are on a gravel bike.

Handlebars are one of the three main contact points on the bike, so comfort is paramount. While narrow handlebars with less "flare" may be more aerodynamic, they lock you into only two positions. Flat bars offer even fewer options.

"Wider yet shallow drop bars" offer a greater range of hand positions. This allows you to constantly move and change your position throughout your multi-hour epic rides, significantly reducing fatigue and increasing comfort over long distances.

"1X" drivetrains (single chainring) are often seen on Mountain and Cyclocross Bikes, thanks to their ease of use and reliability. Road bikes have been slow to adopt them because the larger jumps between gears make it difficult to maintain an efficient cadence, but gravel bikes are more prone to using 1X systems.

This preference is due to simplicity: "there is less to go wrong in the middle of nowhere." Touring bikes often stick with a 2X system in some cases as the extra, tighter-ratio gears provide the necessary range to conquer tough hills when the bike is fully loaded with gear.