- Road cycling has been undergoing a change in recent years
in that it's no longer confined to just roads.
- Take for example, that mountain over their
Jebel Shams it's the highest peak in Oman
the third highest on the Arabian Peninsula.
By all accounts it is a fantastic ride to the top
but we know that it's not completely paved.
There is tarmac but there is also gravel.
No for this kind of mixed surface riding,
you can get yourself a dedicated bike.
A gravel bike.
Now despite the stupid name they are actually great,
we love them, they're fantastic fun.
And they open up loads of new riding opportunities.
- Do you really need one though.
I mean for this kind of surface
with tarmac and gravel would you not be better off
on a bike that excels on tarmac, the majority,
and then just kind of gets by on the dirt.
- I don't actually know.
But this seems like the perfect opportunity
to test it out.
I mean an epic venue for an epic race.
Road versus gravel.
(mood- music)
- According to the route planning app Komoot
the climb is 21 kilometers long
and roughly 20 percent of that is gravel.
Now I'll probably lose so I've sneakily
added on an additional gravel loop
around the summit which takes the ride up to 60 kilometers
and is now 50-50 gravel and road.
A true mixed surface route.
(mood music)
- What then are the weapons of choice.
Well I'm being resolutely traditional
in the sense that I've got narrow 25 millimeter wide tires,
and rim brakes.
Those two factors combined with a super light
Orbea frame set means that this bike
does not weigh very much.
Close to six point eight kilos.
Perhaps not surprising that it's close to
the legal racing weight limit.
'Cause this bike would absolutely
be at home in the pro (mumbles)
were it not for the fact that it's being ridden by me.
Now if I was to use a disc brake version
I would be able to get wider tires in there.
Starting to blur that boundary a little
between road and gravel.
Although another thing I'm gonna miss
the disc brakes having that extra braking performance
in these arid conditions.
I perhaps will regret that tire choice.
My main concern being impact punctures.
So I'm having to run a little bit higher pressure
than I otherwise would like.
My second concern if I'm honest
is for my paintwork ratteling down
those rocky descents.
(high energy music)
- I've opted for this absolute beast the Canyon Grail.
Now it may be heavier than size featherweight
or bare but it's designed to take an awful lot
of punishment.
And much like myself, it's kind of like strong,
rugged and versatile.
This is a bike that's capable of on and off road,
has much bigger tires than size
so much more clearance.
It's kind of the cycling equivalent
of an SUV to size sporty little coupe.
Although in the right hands this could be
far more capable off road than an SUV.
Although it probably would struggle
to tow a Caravan or fit three kids in the back.
You'll notice that our ride to the summit
of Jebel Shams includes over 2,000 meters of climbing
but we're gonna begin with a gravel descent.
Step aside sir, I picked the right tool for the job.
- I'm not actually gonna do that at all.
I don't fancy a double puncture straight out of the box.
(mood music)
This is kind of quite close to the limit.
I'm just telling myself that Pyre Ruve is bumpier.
- Ya mate, I've got a flat.
- I've got some spare tubes if you want.
- This isn't supposed to happen.
- I brought 14 of them.
It's weird, I thought it would be better out here
than that.
(energizing music)
- Well I'd image that Ollie has a grin
like a Cheshire cat right now.
Where as I am having to breath a sigh of relief.
I didn't hemorrhage as much (mumbles)
his slightly ironic puncture and the fact
that was pushing pretty hard.
But never the less we're on time right now
so the ball is in my court.
I would hope that I'm moving considerably faster.
Primarily down to my skinny, slick tires
which role considerably faster.
It's not exclusively down to rolling resistance though.
Aerodynamics plays a big factor.
Wider tires are less aerodynamic.
Good handful of watts are cruising speed.
And while it might not feel like it's important
it all adds up to the sensations you get on the bike.
A road bike just feels faster because it is basically.
I mean Ollie was right when he said
this is a sportier little coupe
press on the accelerator and away you go.
Even the geometry is designed to make this bike feel fast.
It all adds up to being super responsive
and super engaging.
I don't really care about that
because I know a little geometry can make a bike
feel fast it doesn't actually make it any faster.
And Sy knows this too 'cause he even
did a video on it two months ago.
And although the wider tires aren't that great
and the stable handling isn't helping me going uphill
on smooth tarmac.
Well it certainly felt blooming amazing
going downhill on that gravel like a rocket ship.
(drums)
(mood music)
- Bridgie, still havin' fun mate?
- I'll admit I'm not quite making that headway
I'd like to on the smooth section.
That while I'm saying is entirely down to the bike
not the rider.
But, fortunately there is still more gravel to come.
Which will play into my hands.
Coming for you Richardson.
(baa)
- This is what I like about road bikes,
their all about perfect roads, dancing up smooth tarmac
just ticking off those meters of climbing
and just being rewarded with every pedal stroke.
All the while bathed in absolute agony
of lactic acid.
That happens whatever bike your on right.
- Sy is clearly set out to make the most
of his Orbea road bike in it's natural habitat, the road.
The tarmac section is a good 30 kilometers
and particularly on these final steep gradients
he's stretched out quite a gap.
Also helped in part by my slightly ironic puncture.
Maybe I was just getting too rad even for a gravel bike.
Either way gravel fans, there's no need to panic just yet.
- What's it like to ride a gravel bike on a climb
on a road like this.
Well I own a Orkan much like Sy's
and I can tell you that this being heavier
and having the wider slow rolling tires
is noticeably more difficult.
I'm really having to put out more effort.
But, my bike does have gears that are better equipped
for these steep gradients than Sy's.
I've got 34-34 which means although slower
I have no problem getting up.
And this climb Jebel Shams is an absolute brute.
There's loads of them, double digit ramps
and it's the altitude too, it's hard.
But another key point is that although I do have
slower rolling tires I have the option
to run narrow, skinny slicks.
But Sy wouldn't have the versatility or the option
of putting my tires on his bike.
They wouldn't fit.
This is hard.
(upbeat music)
Back to gravel, we're here in three, two, one.
Feels a little bit like walking barefoot
across really rough ground.
I just kind of want to tip toe
but I can't.
To be fair I mean, I've missed speed up hill
but the chances of doing any damage
to my wheels and my frame are pretty limited.
Certainly no more so then hitting something big
on a road.
But I've just got to hope that nothing sharp
finds it's way through my tires.
There's the gravel.
Yes, gravel to the top now.
There it is.
The odds swing back in my favor.
'Cause I have the wider tires
I can run them lower pressure.
I'm running about 40 PSI, which means
I've got more traction on a loose surface
and better rolling resistance.
I'm coming for you Richardson.
(upbeat music)
This extra loop sees les wheeled traffic
then the main climb.
And so it's increasingly less forgiving
on the road bike.
In fact it's pretty rough.
But just perfect for the gravel bike.
My cunning plan has worked.
Time for me to get my head down.
- Crossed in the rough later.
(mood music)
- Again, I'm a little bit over this now I think.
The gravel is really exhilarating
in small sections.
Like there's this illicit thrill
'cause you get a feeling that you
actually shouldn't be doing it on a road bike.
But after this many kilometers I know that
I actually shouldn't be doing it on a road bike
because it's really uncomfortable
and because I'm not actually having as much fun
as Ollie.
(mellow music)
- Back on the tarmac.
I've got a gap.
I reckon, I can push off and get this.
Feeling alright.
Here we go.
Back onto tarmac.
Only slight problem now is I've got
quite a bit of ground to make up
and my body is in bits, it is not happy
with riding copious amount of gravel on a road bike.
Or maybe it's just the fact that we're 2,000
goodness knows what meters.
And we've just done an epic ride.
(dramatic music)
I'm coming for ya.
Really slowly.
The road's so twisty turny I can't get a glimpse of him
so I can't know how far ahead he is.
(mood music)
(mumbles) this is the top.
Where is he, where is he, where is he.
Can't see him.
Oh my god.
Oh.
(dramatic music)
Oh man.
(dramatic music)
(beep)
(footsteps)
- I want Sy to think I've been here ages.
Got to think I've got changed.
Act casual Bridgewood.
- Oh my goodness.
You're in casual kit, you must have been here ages.
You smashed me.
- Yeah, yeah.
- Fair, fair mate.
Well done.
That was crackin' race.
I didn't think you would have made it back
to actually got to ride together
as opposed to two solo (mumbles).
That was good fun wasn't it.
- Mate, this is off the charts.
- Stay away from the edge Ollie.
(mood music)
- Gravel bike, road bike.
Gravel bike's word on gravel but which would you have
if you could only have one.
- If I'm honest, that's a tough one.
- I would not want to sacrifice any part of that bike
that makes it so great on the road
but yet compromises it for gravel.
But yet, I mean you did admit you had a lot of fun.
- Yeah.
- I thought, I don't know.
I mean that's more versatile but that's just
an out and out thoroughbred and I love it for that.
- I don't think it's an either, I just want both.
I'd have both.
(mumbles) and all that.
(laughing)
- There we go.
I'd hopes to conclude that actually a road bike is perfect
on gravel but it's (mumbles) bit's of gravel.
But it prefers the road.
- We're gonna go downhill now, on gravel
so good luck with that mate.
(laughing)
- Right, well if you want to see another video
where Ollie and I actually discuss
a quite complicated issue gravel versus cyclocross
then you can click through to that one
just down there.
Please make sure to give this video
a big thumbs up as well, nothing else.
Just been an absolutely cracking place for an epic ride.