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What does each term mean?
Don’t worry if it all seems a bit confusing - there are blurry edges around all the various definitions used in adventure cycling, with riders often not describing themselves as being a certain type of cyclist or doing one thing or the other.
Bikes used in adventure riding can be very different too – before gravel became a thing, people would often ride hardtail mountain bikes to go out on multi-day adventures, and many still do.
Touring bikes have also been around for many years – heavy-duty and designed to travel long distances, with lugs for rear paniers and bags on front forks, internal hubs from brands like Rohloff and Shimano are a popular option, some bikes come with a front suspension fork, sometimes fitted with mudguards and used mostly on roads with the capability for light off-road use.
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Gravel bikes have evolved in the last ten years or so to be the best of all worlds, taking elements from other bike styles to create the perfect adventure-ready bike. Lighter with no suspension, drop bars, good clearance for muddy conditions and wider tyres. Many gravel bikes come with a 1x (one-by) drivetrain - a single front chainring and a wide-range rear cassette - which is popular for its simplicity, reliability, and reduced weight. Slightly more relaxed rider position to a road bike.
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Electric gravel bikes using lighter weight motor and battery systems than standard eBikes are available from brands including Specialized, Scott and Ribble with prices around £1000 over their normal gravel bike equivalent.
There are now many gravel-specific products that have developed to cater for this growing market with light and compact bags specially designed for gravel bikes (typically inside the frame triangle, on the top tube, seat packs that attach to saddle/seat post, and stem/handlebar bags) all with strap fittings so minimal lugs on frames required. A number of clothing, shoe and kit brands have also designed new lines for this type of riding.
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