Good morning …
I am going for a ride today in Phoenix on my first gravel bike.
The gravel bike is something new but it is exploding in popularity. I am excited to use a gravel bike because I want the feeling of a road bike and the ability to go off road just a bit. What is a gravel bike?
Gravel bikes are “jack-of-all-trades” bikes, said Kala Riester, a dietitian and cyclist in Salt Lake City. They have lightweight and compact frame shapes like road bikes for speed but also the low gearing of mountain bikes so you can climb steeper hills without working so hard. Most are equipped with drop bars (handlebars that curve downward, offering multiple hand positions for long rides) and are fully rigid (they don’t have soft mountain bike suspension), which makes them fast. The frames allow for wider, grippier tires — though not as large as mountain bike tires. Taken together, these features allow gravel riders to move efficiently and handle rugged terrain over long distances.
On this past cycling trip in Italy, my friend Michael rode a gravel bike up and down the mountains with us and had no problems with his speed going up and plenty more comfort going down with the wider tire.
I want the feeling of more rubber on the road especially for descents and the often dirty roads of Phoenix.
Between disc brakes, gravel bikes and e-bikes, the joy of road biking can be enjoyed well into your 70’s and I intend to be one of those people.
Gravel bikes are another reason I am bullish on the fashion and ‘software’ sector of the industry as different form fits of clothing are used which more lend itself to ‘off bike’ fashion.
At portfolio company DSTNC.com, the curated marketplace has many gravel clothing items to choose from.
