Where is all that gravel?

[PH]

I don't care what they're called, there's some great bikes available now and people are buying them and reinventing touring, isn't that a good thing?
Of course there's nothing new - including this subject, how many time have we done it? Does the op think they've had as original thought?

[Bmblbzzz]

There are plenty of roads or tracks in Britain like both of thelawnet's two photos. Just without the palm trees! As he says, mtb with front suspension would be better for the broken one but a fattish tyred rigid drop-barred bike would handle it too. But mud is probably more common and that's where knobbly tyres really come into their own.

[Garry Booth]

What was a path bike, in the olden days?

[andrew_s]

What was a path bike, in the olden days?

A track bike, assuming you're referring to the period when clubs called themselves "XX Road & Path CC".
In terms of the actual bikes, back then multiple bikes were less of an option, so there would have been allowances for general use, like brake drillings at the fork crown, and sufficient clearance for mudguards.

[iandriver]

What was a path bike, in the olden days?

Pashley do the Speed 5 and guvnor as a reissue of their old path racer. Would love one, except for me, it would be completely pointless. Shame.

[Brucey]

What was a path bike, in the olden days?

A track bike, assuming you're referring to the period when clubs called themselves "XX Road & Path CC".
In terms of the actual bikes, back then multiple bikes were less of an option, so there would have been allowances for general use, like brake drillings at the fork crown, and sufficient clearance for mudguards.

1910 Rudge-Whitworth 'aero special' path racer

commonly path racers appear to have had fatter tyres than the one above; presumably not all paths were as well beaten, if you like.....

Ironically you wouldn't be allowed to road race some century-old path racers under current UCI regs, (even with brakes fitted). The reason? They are built too light....

cheers

[Eyebrox]

I've got a Grovel Bike. Took me ages and a lot of DIY to get my wife to agree.

[pwa]

If you want gravel (stone chippings to be accurate) there's loads of it here in South Wales. But I'm not sure I'd take anything less tough than a full-on mountain bike on proper gravel. Rough bits commonly have chippings of 4 cm or bigger, with the odd rock sticking out. And you can venture off onto dodgy side paths if you have a proper off-road bike.
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.6526141 ... 6?hl=en-GB
Miles and miles of gravel around this valley, but cyclists there tend to be on MTBs, not "gravel bikes".
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.6553338 ... 6?hl=en-GB
I'd be happier doing this corner on an MTB than a gravel bike.
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.6548196 ... 6?hl=en-GB
On a gravel bike you might feel more comfortable sticking to the smooth track below, leaving the adventurous stuff to MTBs.

[pete75]

What will a so called gravel bike do that an ordinary touring bike can't?

[PH]

What will a so called gravel bike do that an ordinary touring bike can't?

Sell to the yoof

[pwa]

What will a so called gravel bike do that an ordinary touring bike can't?

Sell to the yoof

And take bigger tyres, and less baggage.

[Tinnishill]

Between Stranraer and Wooler

[thelawnet]

I keep seeing adverts for, and reviews of, so-called gravel bikes. But where is all this gravel.

Where are all the mountains that mountain bike owners in Southern England are riding up and down?

Technically mountain bike is not really a current term

You have 'cross country', 'trail', 'downhill' and 'enduro'. Cross country is for any sort of track, trail is a bit more in the way of big bumps, downhill is for jumping off rocks very beavy, and enduro is a slightly lighter version of downhill.

I think there is a divergence in that 'trails' (built specifically to test a mountain bike) become increasingly demanding, whereas cross country tracks could just be a muddy bridleway or whatever, so you might not need a 'mountain bike' at all,and could use some sort of 'gravel' bike.

When I am in Indonesia there are lots of large rockand, holes, and front suspension AND far tyres can be useful just to get from a to b. I'm not convinced you need more than fat tyres in the UK for getting anywhere, so you end up with a 'trail' bike for artificially created mtb riding.

[MikeF]

If you want gravel (stone chippings to be accurate) there's loads of it here in South Wales. But I'm not sure I'd take anything less tough than a full-on mountain bike on proper gravel. Rough bits commonly have chippings of 4 cm or bigger, with the odd rock sticking out. And you can venture off onto dodgy side paths if you have a proper off-road bike.
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.6526141 ... 6?hl=en-GB
Miles and miles of gravel around this valley, but cyclists there tend to be on MTBs, not "gravel bikes".
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.6553338 ... 6?hl=en-GB
I'd be happier doing this corner on an MTB than a gravel bike.
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.6548196 ... 6?hl=en-GB
On a gravel bike you might feel more comfortable sticking to the smooth track below, leaving the adventurous stuff to MTBs.

A rough surface does not equate to gravel. None of that is gravel, but perhaps the Americans call it that.

There's a short section of path near me that is gravel and it's extremely difficult to cycle along.

[whoof]

I keep seeing adverts for, and reviews of, so-called gravel bikes. But where is all this gravel.

Where are all the mountains that mountain bike owners in Southern England are riding up and down?

Technically mountain bike is not really a current term

In reality it is and it's used by every bike shop in this country.
https://www.evanscycles.com/bikes_c

https://www.merlincycles.com/bikes-75265/

https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes

https://www.tredz.co.uk/bikes