Gravel Bike versus Hardtail Mountain Bike: How to Pick the Right Bike

In this video I talk about my experience with several gravel bikes. I also provide tips on picking the right bike.

1. Pick a bike for the riding that you actually do. Don't get a bike for the riding that you think you may want to do because you may end up not doing it.

2. Use the bike for the conditions it was built for. You will enjoy your bike more by choose routes/trails/riding that is appropriate for the bike type.

3. Don't underestimate the versatility of a hardtail. Hardtail MTB are very versatile, comfortable, and fun, and work really well on chunkier gravel routes.

4. Gravel is riding is being given way too much credit. It is quickly encroaching on cross country mountain biking. Gravel bikes are very expensive. Some of these gravel bikes with large tires, 1x groupset, and slack geometry end up losing the speed that people want from a gravel bike. These people would be better suited getting a mountain bike.