The gravel bike has the combined features of a road, mountain, and cyclo-cross bike intended for off-road rides, prioritising handling and ease. The relaxed geometry and wide tyres allow comfortable manoeuvring on most paths from the tarmac, chunky gravel, soft sand or narrow singletracks.
Cyclo-cross and gravel bikes share similar features with key differences since the cyclo-cross can withstand intense but short racing conditions. In contrast, the gravel can endure multi-day adventures or 50-mile rides on varying road conditions, which is perfect for bikepacking.
Select the perfect gravel bike in Australia with the necessary particulars for your next adventure.
Gravel Bike for Bikepacking
The gravel bike versatility is excellent for variable terrain, bikepacking and long-endurance rides since you can incorporate different routes, surfaces and trails in one ride. Its form allows high speeds on flat surfaces and tarmac yet endurance when taking off-road paths.
Most men's and women's gravel bikes have the following features for bikepackers:
- Built-in mudguard mounts
- Downtube third bottle cage mount
- Top tube bag mount for storage
- Rear and front racks
The companies making the best gravel bikes Australia will understand that you need space to store your essentials while going on your bikepacking adventure. Having a bike with the appropriate number of mounds and racks will make your next trip easier.
Gravel Bike Main Features
Aside from function, what can you expect from a gravel bike? Overall, it is excellent for different rides outside of bikepacking. You can go sightseeing, have a picnic in the forest, or look for hiking trails with friends.
Most gravel bikes include features you can't find on cyclo-cross, road and mountain bikes, like drop bars that flare out on each side, contrary to aero bars. The flared drop bars provide better stability and improved handling, especially on off-road terrains.
Body or Frame and Geometry
The geometry and frame for the gravel bikes Australia are heavier than the frames on the road bike, increasing durability and providing extra support for mudguards, luggage and accessories. Your intended use should dictate what type of frame to buy and not the other way around.
Like most bicycle standards, companies make frames for gravel bikes for sale Australia from the following materials:
- Aluminium - durable and lightweight. Significantly more affordable than carbon frames.
- Steel - heavier than aluminium and carbon. Excellent durability and comfort among the three frame materials.
- Carbon - lightest and designed for speed and performance. Most expensive among the three.
Select the material for gravel bikes Australia suitable to your riding style. If you're an off-road racer, you should look for lightweight and durable frames to handle different terrains since you wouldn't want to bring a heavy frame full pelt up a steep slope or be anxious about your expensive frame giving way on a rocky downhill glide. If you're the type who wants a bike to carry all your belongings safely, you may compromise weight for durability and comfort.
The gravel geometry includes slacker head tube angles and longer wheelbases than road bikes, allowing better stability through corners and technical terrains. Unlike cyclo-cross and road bikes, the best gravel bikes have better handling at slower speeds.
Even with drop bars, you won't ride gravel like a road bike since your position will be upright and more relaxed. The slacker fork angle, shorter reach, and longer head tube make the rider's position more comfortable for long periods, allowing shifts in your centre of gravity over descents and technical sections.
Wheels and Tyres
Always consider the wheels when choosing the best gravel bike Australia because they come in different sizes and shapes. Most gravel tyres have a width of 40mm, which grants them more off-road capabilities, puncture resistance and durability than most traditional road tyres.
Choose your wheel size. The classic gravel's 700c wheels make the best all-around performance and comfort, but some hold 650b tyres with smaller diameters, which can still fit the wider 700c wheels. The 650b tyres for gravel bike Australia fare better off-road because a small wheel means less rough surface traction. The gravel's wheel design allows the 650b to fit either a 650b or 700c tyre, depending on your intended trail.
Choose your tyre. The wide tyre setup suggests lowering the pressure to around 50psi since gravel bikes are faster than mountain bikes and some cyclo-cross styles. Gravel uses tubeless tyres; the lack of inner tubing allows you to run without fear of pinch flats and resist punctures due to sealants filling slight cuts from sharp objects like rocks or thorns.
Gravel Bikes Australia
Are you thrilled to take part in your next adventure? You can choose comfort, speed or both when looking at the gravel bikes for sale on Bikes Online. The wide range of high-quality and sturdy bike selections will make your next trail easier to conquer.
