♪ [music] ♪
- [Matt] What can a gravel bike do that a road bike can't? Well, we're going to find
out the answer to that very question whilst tackling a gravel epic ride.
- [Dan] Yeah, that's right. It seems that somehow Si has managed to persuade Matt
that what he's been missing in all these decades of riding a bike is a gravel bike,
and not just because it's got double-sided pedals will make
it easier for him to click in.
- [Simon] I think I can persuade you too by the end of the day.
I've been wanting to explore these mountains in Mid Wales for a long,
long time. So what I've done is consider this a good excuse to do just that.
So I've got a little route, some nice road riding, some effort gravel riding and we
will find out exactly what a road bike can't do that a gravel bike can.
How many inches you got today, Dan?
- Oh, I've put in, you know, kind of... I put 6 inch same as normal.
- Same as normal.
♪ [music] ♪
- If you've got the feeling that I'm a little bit skeptical about all road bikes,
then you'd be right. So I'm going to tackle Si's so called epic ride on my road
bike while Matt and Si is going to ride their new Ridley X-Trails.
They're kind of like road bikes but with clearance for wider tires,
a bit more stability, practicality and Sram 1X Drivetrain for reliability.
- All right then, Dan, first of all let's tackle the road question, just
how much faster is your road bike? Well, our X-Trail's have got 40 millimeter-wide
tires on there whilst your road bike, obviously, has 28. Now, a greater width in
itself doesn't really add much rung resistance. So we're not going to be
losing out too much here. We do, however, have a bit of tread on there so that is
going to add a bit of extra resistance, admittedly. Although, I am pretty sure
that tread is going to come in handy. You punctured yet, Dan?
- No. You punctured yet?
- No. How about now?
- No. Look, seriously I'm fine. Just stop bothering me.
- Actually, skinny road tires on gravel like this are far more puncture resistant
than you might think. We've actually shared that before, but puncture
resistance is only just part of the equation.
- That's right. Tire pressure is the other, and see, Dan is probably having to
run about a hundred PSI in his tires in order to avoid pinch flats. And hopefully,
touch wood, it's going to be quite successful, but what about comfort?
You see, Matt and I have got about 40 PSI in our tires. That's about three bar,
meaning that although they still roll very well on tarmac, they are now
also comfortable on gravel.
- And it's not just about comfort, because me and Si are running
on lower tire pressure, it means we get a lot more traction both uphill and down.
You get punctured yet, Dan?
- Sod off.
♪ [music] ♪
- All right, I'm going to admit it, I'm normally very happy to use my road
bike on short gravel sections how they...whatever really. I mean, did I
mention that I once finished top 10 outside of Yonker? Yeah, I probably did.
But the route that Si has designed for us today certainly isn't one that's meant for
road bikes. So whilst here, Matt really aren't suffering any extra at all on the
asphalt road, when we get off-road, I'm rattling about like a gooda.
- He's got a fair bit of pace, isn't he?
- Do you think he can stop?
- I'm not sure. We'll soon find out.
- Enjoyed that, Dan?
- Yeah, I'm loving it. Where are we going to next, Si?
- Set, just that way mate.
- All right, come on then.
♪ [music] ♪
- Right, well according to Si, we are now coming towards the end of this God awful
ride. Now I have to say, I've been pretty impressed with the way that this
road-specific machine has held up over some fairly rough off-road terrain.
In all honestly though, I've had quite a good fun this day. I'm starting to see the
idea behind these gravel bikes. It's been quite enjoyable, which is a new play too
that you haven't done this over quite sometime. I just wonder though,
if actually I might have enjoyed it a little bit more on one of those.
- Yeah, I think you would. Definitely. Now, although this is a durable bike,
I personally wouldn't trade my fast road bike for this. But then there are plenty
of people out there for whom I think this would be the perfect bike.
It's a little bit more comfortable and it's a little bit more stable even if you
don't take anywhere near gravel. It's got slightly more stable handling.
It can fit longer mud guards. You got slightly more reliability from your
hydraulic brakes, and also you're one bi-groupset.
- I think it's worth adding as well that it feels really niffy.
It feels very, very fast, in fact, and to me the bike has the feel,
has more related to a road bike than a cross bike, in fact. Anyway,
you fancy giving that a nudge?
- I think we should. I say, last one to the town sign buys the pints,
and let's be honest, nothing says epic gravel ride better than a sprint.
Let's go.
- Cheat!
♪ [music] ♪
- That's such a [inaudible 00:06:52].
- There's no tires.
♪ [music] ♪
- Well, I think this is going to be a rather fitting end to a quite epic ride.
So cheers, lads.
- Cheers.
- I'm not cheersing that glass.
- I'll cheers, mate, don't worry.
- Anyway, our last epic ride, mine and yours, Si, was Colle delle Finestre
remember that one? Over in Italy. Eight Ks of gravel roads. Arguably the finest,
most beautiful, spectacular climb I've ever seen. And in Italian,
it means, "Window to the world". If you fancy watching that video,
click just up here.
- That was beautiful actually.
- Thanks, mate.
- Now, if tech is more your bag, then if you click down there, then
you get through to a video about Sram 1x we've been riding all day today, and
Neil's at the launch of their product, you can get a load more information
just down there.
- Yeah, and if you've enjoyed this video, you can let us know by giving us a like
which is the thumbs up icon just down below this video. And if you haven't
already subscribed, it's free. All you've got to do is click on one of us gnarly
gravel grinders.
- I like that.
- Groad riders.
- That's going to catch on.
- Who's paying for this anyway? And who's paying for my first one more importantly?
- Oh, it's not me. I haven't got my wallet actually.
- Yeah, sorry mate.