Gravel cycling is one of the fastest growing disciplines and they are becoming one of the most popular types of bikes on the market. What makes gravel bikes unique is they come in all shapes and sizes and the experience you get from one gravel bike to another can be completely different. We are often asked about the gravel bike frame. Unlike other disciplines of cycling, gravel bike frames can look completely different from one another. Understanding gravel bike frames can be quite challenging. In this article, we’re going to be speaking about gravel bike frames and telling you what you need to know.
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What is a gravel bike frame?
Gravel bike frames are very unique but they generally don’t look like it. It’s the subtle differences that matter here. Although they look like road bike frames and some even look like mountain bike frames they are made for an entirely different job and have some features that make a big difference.
Gravel bike frames are made for riding on gravel. When we speak about gravel we are talking old fire access roads, rough paths, and light trails. Although this is the intended purpose a lot of cyclists use them as do it all bikes or even road endurance bikes. Here’s what makes a gravel bike frame unique;
Geometry for control
The first thing to mention is gravel bikes are built for handling, they are a drop bar bike designed for off-road. Although they look like road bikes, gravel bikes typically sport a shorter stem with a longer rake which makes them very agile and give them very nimble handling. Most gravel bikes also have quite relaxed geometry, really helping control and comfort. A gravel bike is designed for off road riding where control and stability are key.
Longer and lower
Next they are generally longer than other kinds of bikes such as road bikes. With extended chainstays and the front rake making the bike longer you are stretching the bike out much further than you might think. With a gravel bike being longer this hugely adds to the stability of the ride and again adds to the control. You will also find on a gravel bike the bottom bracket to be much lower to the ground keeping the bike closer to the floor.
Big tire clearance
Gravel bike frames are designed for mixed terrain riding. You might be on road, off road or even on a trail. For this kind of riding you need big tires. Gravel bike frames come with large tire clearance. Your typical gravel bike will use 40c tires but some can be seen with tires up to 2.1” mountain bike tires.
Durable
Gravel bike frames are made to be much more durable than your typical road bike frames. With most being rigid and gravel bikes made for off road terrain such as off road paths and even mountain bike trails. They need to be able to take a hit, maybe even a few falls and still be good to ride again.
Disc Brakes
The next part you will always see on modern gravel bike frames is disc brakes. Disc brake technology came over from mountain bikes and no gravel bike is complete without them. You need great stopping power when riding off road and in poor conditions and rim brakes just are not enough to cover it.
Related Reading: 7 Best Gravel Bike Shoes
What is the difference between a road bike frame and a gravel bike frame?
A question we are often asked is what is the difference between a road and gravel bike frame. A gravel bike frame is much less aggressive and generally will be more comfortable to ride. You will also find a gravel bike frame offers much better stability and handling.
Gravel bike frames are able to fit much larger tires compared to a road bike frame. A gravel bike frame is much more durable compared to a road bike frame but because of this is typically heavier. Finally road bike frames come in both rim and disc, gravel bikes generally only come in disc.
Gravel Bike Frame: What to Know
So now you know what makes a gravel bike frame unique, what do you need to know when buying one? In this next section we’re going to speak about the questions you need to be asking yourself before hitting that buy it now button.
What size gravel bike frame do I need?
Gravel bikes are all designed differently and because of this when it comes to sizing it can get a little complicated. We highly recommend when searching for a gravel bike check the manufacturer’s guidelines for what size they recommend for your height or inseam. As a general rule this is where you can expect to be:
| General Frame Size | Categorized Size | Height Range |
| 48cm | XS | 4ft 9” – 5ft 2” |
| 50cm | S | 5ft 2” – 5ft 6” |
| 52cm | SM | 5ft 5” – 5ft 8” |
| 54cm | M | 5ft 7” – 5ft 11” |
| 56cm | ML | 5ft 10” – 6ft 1” |
| 58cm | L | 6ft – 6ft 4” |
How to choose a good gravel bike frame
Choosing a gravel bike frame can be very challenging, and because they are all very different, you need to ensure that you’re getting the best bike for the rides you’re going on. Here are the questions you need to be asking yourself.
What material?
A gravel bike frame will typically come in three materials. You have carbon fiber which is the lightest and stiffest. Steel is the heaviest but the strongest and most flexible. Then finally, aluminum and titanium which sits in between. We recommend carbon for racing, steel for adventure, and aluminum for a bit of everything.
Geometry
It’s worth having a good look at the geometry the gravel frames your looking at before buying them. Some are made to be aggressive for racing, and others are made relaxed for bikepacking and touring. Getting the geometry to suit what you plan to do with the bike is important.
Off-Road or Road
One thing we have noticed when it comes to gravel bike frames is that you will generally get road focused with the ability for the odd light trail or frames that are completely off-road focused. We recommend picking the gravel bike frame that will suit the riding you plan to do.
Brand
We feel the brand really matters when it comes to gravel bike frames. If you use a well-known brand such as Canyon or Ritchey. You will spend a little more, but you will get great quality frames, and spares are easy to find. Using lesser-known brands might save you a bit of money, but you might not get the same excellent experience.
Mounts
A lot of riders overlook mounts when it comes to a frame. If you plan on going bikepacking or touring, you will benefit from having many mounts. Check the mounts to ensure you can attach fenders and all the accessories you might need. A lot of cyclists try to use a cyclocross bike as a gravel bike off road or bikepacking, but without the mounts it doesn’t compare.
Weight
When it comes to gravel bike frames, they can hugely differ in weight. Framesets that are made of steel can weigh in more than their aluminum or carbon fiber competitors. Before buying, it’s good to look at the bike frame’s weight because they can be kilos apart.
650b or 700c
When picking a frame, we highly recommend checking what gravel bike wheels it can work with. Most gravel bike frames can do both but not all of them. If you have to choose, we recommend 650b for off-road riding and 700c for road riding. 650b is better for off-road because you can fit larger tires on, and 700c, although it has smaller tires, is much better at higher speeds.
What is the best frame for a gravel bike?
We have been lucky enough to ride many different gravel bikes and recommend some amazing frames that will give you an excellent gravel biking experience.
Richey Outback
Ritchey is known for making amazing bikes, and they make them from the most incredible steel. The Outback is a great example of a gravel bike that gives incredible ability, speed, and comfort. It comes in a matt green and sunset fade and is covered in mounts for adventure.
Canyon Grail
The iconic Canyon Grail really put gravel bikes on the map. They made a bike that was ready for some rough trails but also could put speed in on the road. The double shelf handlebars not only added comfort but also control. The frame is made for speed, and if you are looking to go fast, the grail is the bike for you.
Lynskey GR300
Lynskey knows gravel bikes, and the GR300 frame is a design they have built upon for years. It’s made of titanium which is very light but still offers the flexibility of steel. The geometry is ideal for a mix of going fast or going on big adventures. You can even buy this bike fully equipped with bags for bikepacking. Lynskey makes one of the lightest gravel carbon fiber forks, which comes with the frame.
Giant Revolt
Giant is one of the largest bike manufacturers in the world and even makes bikes for many other brands. The Revolt is one of their best gravel bikes. It has a small rear A-frame and offers great stability with its length. It’s a fun bike to ride and made of Giant’s great ALUXX aluminum.
Choosing the best gravel bike frame for you
Gravel bike frames are very different from other kinds of bike frames. There’s a lot more variation across geometry and ability. When looking for the perfect gravel bike frame for you, it can be challenging, and you do have to take a little more time to research.
Our best advice is to go for a bike suited for the kind of riding you want to do. If you are going to be off-road a lot, you will want a 650b steel gravel bike with huge tires made to take hits. If you spend most of your time on the roads and won’t see any aggressive trails, then you might want a 700 lightweight carbon gravel bike frame.
We hope you enjoyed our guide. With the information you have learned today, we hope you have found the perfect gravel bike frame and are now ordering the groupset and wheels to go with it.