Gravel bikes are faster than hardtails on most types of terrains such as fire roads, smoother surfaces and paved roads as a result of more road like geometry, faster rolling tires and lighter weight.
Although hardtail bikes will be faster than a gravel bike on rough trails and very technical trails where the suspension provides for better stability and control.
The older hardtail mountain bikes make the best gravel bikes and with some modifications you can turn an old mountain bike into a very capable gravel bike.
Using a drop bar conversion and an upgrade to a simple 1x drivetrain can turn any mountain bike into a good gravel bike.
Gravel bikes also often get less punctures as gravel bike tires are often tougher than normal bike tires and wider tires with lower pressure can absorb bumps in the road and make the tires more resistant to puncture.
Some types of gravel bike tires may actually get more punctures but it depends on the tires your gravel bike has.
You can also put mountain bike tires on a gravel bike.
Putting mountain bike tires on a gravel bike can provide you with a cushioned ride that can float over bumps and rough terrain more comfortably.
The larger mountain bike tires on the gravel bike will also provide you with more traction and grip on loose and technical terrain.
Mountain bike tires can also give you a faster ride than gravel tires, even when riding on smooth surfaces and provide better protection against tire puncture.
Popular mountain bike tires for gravel bikes are the Continental Speed King tires and Schwalbe Thunderburts tires.
A good average speed for a gravel bike is a speed of between 12 mph to 14 mph when riding on gravel roads and rough terrain.
On paved roads and smoother roads a good average speed on the gravel bike is between 15 mph to 16 mph.
The speed you can maintain with your gravel bike also depends on the terrain and tougher and rougher terrain like mud or loose gravel will slow your speed down.
You can put straight handlebars on a gravel bike.
Putting straight handlebars on a gravel bike is actually a common modification done to gravel bikes and some gravel bikes are even sold with straight handlebars from the factory.
Straight handlebars on a gravel bike can provide the rider with more and better control and a more upright riding position, on technical terrain.
When riding the gravel bike on singletrack or gnarly gravel the flat bars can help you explore farther, stay safer and ride faster.
A gravel bike does not always need drop bars unless you're riding long distance and at higher speeds.
Drop bars on gravel bikes offer a range of hand positions, which can help reduce fatigue and strain on your shoulders, wrists and hands.
The drop bars can also help you to maintain a low resistance riding position and stead the handlebars of the gravel bike on uneven terrain.
Drop bars though can also be difficult to use for some people, especially if you're a beginner and the drop bars can also make it harder to change your grip positions quickly enough on difficult terrain.
The best position on a gravel bike is to be in a slightly upright posture position and also with a slightly forward lean and keeping your hips over the saddle.
This position on the gravel bike allows you to have good control as well as shock absorption and also allows you to navigate uneven terrain.
Most gravel bike riders will sit on the gravel bike in a slightly more upright position and use slightly wider handlebars for added stability when riding off road.
A gravel bike is the only bike you need because a gravel bike is a versatile bike and allows you to ride comfortably on both rough terrain like gravel trails and paths and even paved smooth roads.
Gravel bikes are suitable for exploring and light off road trails and even commuting or just riding around town on.
A gravel bike can go as off road and handle up to moderately rough terrain which includes fire roads, easy single track trails, dirt roads and loose gravel.
However gravel bikes are not designed to handle extremely rocky mountain bike style trails or highly technical style trails.
Once the trail becomes too rooty or rocky it becomes hard for the gravel bike to handle.
Gravel bikes can handle bumps and the gravel bike can handle bumps even better than regular road bikes as the gravel bike has wider tires.
The wider tires of a gravel bike provides more surface are which absorbs impacts from any bumps and uneven terrain, which makes the gravel bike suitable for riding on rough roads and rough trails with potholes and bumps.
A gravel bike can also be a road bike and you can ride your gravel bike on just about any terrain and they are great for both going on gravel roads and gravel trails as well as riding on smooth paved surfaces and even on city streets.
The kind of trails that a gravel bike can handle are gravel trails and gravel roads, dirt roads and dirt trails, park lanes, city streets, dryer valley trails, dirt roads and easy trails.
Gravel bikes are versatile bikes and can handle almost any type of trail that you come across.
You should choose a gravel bike when you need a versatile bike which can handle light off road terrain as well as paved roads.
Because a gravel bike can handle both light off road terrain and paved roads it makes the gravel bike a good choice for commuting on less than perfect roads and rough roads and exploring different surfaces and bikepacking.
Gravel bikes are also good for riding situations in which you may encounter light trails, dirt paths or gravel roads or trails.
The limits of a gravel bike are the speed, Terrain they can cover, the comfort tire clearance and weight.
Gravel bikes combine features from road and mountain bikes and also have wider tires for off road use and an upright seating position.
Gravel bikes also require more maintenance and wear faster than road bikes.
Gravel bikes are also designed to be robust and can also be heavier than regular road bikes and a high end gravel bike can weigh around 18 lbs to 20 lbs and a cheaper regular bike can weigh 22 to 36 lbs.
For some people gravel bikes are not as comfortable as a regular bike or mountain bike with front suspension and gravel bikes are also slower than road bikes when road on paved terrain and are slower than mountain bikes when rode on off road trails.
Also gravel bikes aren't designed for the biking trails that are the most challenging and riding the gravel bike on deep sand lanes or steep root carpets may not go to well on a gravel bike.
A gravel bike also has less suspension than a regular bike, making the gravel bike faster on paved roads.
However, the gravel bike also has more tread on the tires and a sturdier frame than a road bike, giving them more stability and comfort on unpaved paths.
A gravel bike also has a taller headtube, steeper headtube angle, and a lower bottom bracket.
This makes the gravel bike stable mostly in a seated position and optimized for minimal tech.
Most gravel bikes also don't have a suspension fork or shock.