Gravel bikes are among the best do it all bikes you will ever find. They can go on and off-road, are perfect for adventure cycling, bikepacking, and are very comfortable for riding long distances.
Cyclists often ask us what the differences are between a gravel bike and a cyclocross bike because we can appreciate they look very similar and both work well on similar terrain. In this article, we’re going to discuss the following:
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What is Cyclocross vs Gravel Bike?
Gravel and cyclocross bikes on the surface do seem quite the same, but they are very different under it all. We will start this article by telling you a little about each before comparing their key differences.
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What Is A Cyclocross Bike?
A cyclocross bike, typically known as cross bikes, is designed for cyclocross races. This is like a road bike race but on a short muddy course where the participants will do laps, and the first to finish a certain amount wins. It’s an extremely popular sport, and many road cycling professionals spend their time in the winter making the most of the cyclocross race season.
The bikes are very similar to road bikes and have a lightweight frame with aggressive geometry. They need to be light and fast. You typically have disc or cantilever brakes for good stopping power in wet and muddy conditions, and many racers actually have two identical bikes they swap mid race.
The wheels used in cyclocross are 700c road bike wheels and will be equipped with small off-road tires. In UCI professional cyclocross racing, the maximum size tire allowed is 33mm (33c) to ensure it’s an even playing field for all the riders.
What Is A Gravel Bike?
A gravel bike is designed for gravel cycling. They are ideal as a do it all bike, and generally, cyclists use them as multi-terrain and adventure bikes more than anything else. However, UCI has grown to add gravel cycling to professional racing in recent years. Many professionals transfer from road cycling to gravel cycling, as mixed terrain riding is exciting and new.
Gravel bikes are generally made of aluminum, carbon fiber, or steel. They come with a relaxed geometry for a comfortable ride and also give the user a lot of control. You get some gravel bikes that are designed for heavy off-road riding and others for road and light off-road.
You have disc brakes on gravel bikes for great stopping power in all conditions. When it comes to wheels, you either have a 650b or 700c wheelset which are two different sizes. Gravel bikes tend to have tires that can be as small as 35c and as large as 60c.
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Can I Use A Cyclocross Bike As A Gravel Bike?
In theory, you could use a cyclocross bike as a gravel bike, but you will not get the same experience. Cyclocross bikes won’t offer the comfort you get from a gravel bike or the ability off-road.
Cyclocross bikes can do multiple terrains, but they are designed for cyclocross racing and very little else. They are made for speed and performance, while a gravel bike is made for mixed riding and adventure.
Very few gravel riders go down the route of using a cyclocross bike as they end up with an aggressive riding position and when it comes to gravel an upright riding position is better.
What Is The Difference Between A Cyclocross And Gravel Bike?
So what are the key differences between cyclocross and gravel bikes? Here’s everything you need to know when it comes to gravel vs cyclocross:
Relaxed Geometry
The geometry is the position the bike creates for the user. A racing bike that is made for speed and aerodynamics will have an aggressive geometry. A bike made for long days out on the bike and social riding will have a relaxed geometry.
Cyclocross bikes generally have a fairly aggressive geometry as they are designed to be raced. It isn’t going to offer a lot of comfort, but it will put the rider in a very aerodynamic position for speed.
Gravel bikes are generally made with a very relaxed geometry similar to many mountain bikes. This gives the rider a less aerodynamic position but offers much more comfort. The geometry offers the rider more control and the ability to ride much longer distances.
Horizontal Top Tube
The top tube of a bike is what sits between your legs when you cycle. Depending on the angle and the length it gives the bike different characteristics.
A horizontal top tube is a feature you will see on a lot of road bikes and also a lot of cyclocross bikes. It gives the rider a more stretched position and also makes the bike easier to shoulder when they need to run with it.
A gravel bike will often have a sloped top tube making it difficult to shoulder, but it can help make it a more comfortable ride and helps control with low down weight.
Longer Wheelbase
The wheelbase of a bike is generally how long it is. A short wheelbase makes for a very agile feeling, nimble bike. A longer wheelbase gives much more control and stability but takes away a lot of the bike’s agility.
Cyclocross bikes have a short wheelbase. They are designed to be incredibly agile as they are given very challenging courses and must be nimble to get around them. This makes the handling on a cyclocross bike feel fast and snappy.
A gravel bike has a much longer wheelbase. This makes the handling much less nimble, and the bike does lose a lot of agility. On rough and loose terrain though, it makes it incredibly stable and easy to control, perfect for gravel racing.
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Tire Clearance
Next, we have tire clearance. This refers to how large a tire you can fit into the frame and forks of a bike. A smaller tire is better for road and light trails and offers minimal rolling resistance and a harsh ride. A wider tire is much better for more technical off-road terrain and does offer a much more comfortable ride.
On a cyclocross bike, you generally only have clearance for up to 35c tires or even 33c tires. This means you are limited when you want to run a larger tire for more technical off-road sections.
A gravel bike will typically go up to around 50c tires. This offers much more clearance for a wide variety of different tires. A gravel bike gives you many more options when it comes to using a wider range of tires.
Wheel Size Options
Some bikes have the ability to use multiple wheel sizes. This is very handy because it can completely change how the bike will handle and the tires you can use.
Smaller wheels, such as 650b, can give you better acceleration, agile handling and fit wider tires. While larger wheels such as 700c can give you a better high speed, the ability to roll over obstacles better, but does limit you for tire width.
Cyclocross bikes are generally only 700c, while most gravel bikes are made to be used with both 700c and 650b, giving you many more options for different bike setups and much more customization on tires.
Flared Drops
Flared handlebars are very similar to drop handlebars, but they flare out where they come down at the bottom. The wider flared bars make the bike much easier to control, which goes a long way on this sketching off-road gravel descents.
Cyclocross bikes are equipped with standard drops, while gravel bikes are equipped with flared drops. This means your gravel bike has a wider stance in the drops, which helps for control but isn’t so ideal for aerodynamics.
Mounting Points
Finally, we have mounting points. You use these to attach accessories such as water bottles, fenders, bikepacking equipment, or even your pump. They are incredibly handy when long-distance touring or going on long rides.
Cyclocross bikes are generally made for racing, and only limited models come with mounting points to make it work. Gravel bikes generally are full of mounting points as companies know there’s a strong possibility that a lot of long-distance riding will be done on them.
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Which Is Better, Cyclocross Or Gravel Bike?
Although fairly similar, cyclocross bikes and gravel bikes are designed for completely different cycling disciplines. Cyclocross bikes are made for cyclocross racing. They are made to be light, aggressive, and incredibly agile.
Gravel bikes are made for gravel riding, which can be many things. They are designed to be comfortable, stable, and be loaded with gear for bikepacking.
We recommend, for cyclocross riding, a cyclocross bike. You will probably get more from a gravel bike for anything else, such as gravel riding, bikepacking, and long-distance riding. It really comes down to personal preference, but from both, you are going to have an excellent experience cycling on light off-road terrain.
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