Cycling has evolved over the past decades, it has become more available to people and there is much more joy here than using regular vehicles. Let’s take it from road cyclists, they are hard at work finding new ways to enjoy cycling. Just like this mountain bikers and even triathletes are exploring the joys of going off-road and having new adventures.
Gravel riding has become more famous now, with this new trend the main question that arises is what is the difference between Cyclocross Bikes and Gravel Bikes? And which one might be the best one for you? Although there are key differences between these two bike types, we must first focus on the purpose these bikes fulfill.
Understanding the purpose of these bikes will provide clarity on them which will allow the consumers to make better decisions for themselves.
Cyclocross Bike
Cyclocross bikes are meant for cyclocross racing. These races are held at flat courses that test the skills and patience of racers. That is why these bikes are made for high-intensity riding that is why there is no compromise on the quality.
These bikes are supposed to deliver sharp steering and even an aggressive riding position. This is because of the As per nature of these races they are used in. These are the main requirements of a cyclocross racer and the bike must fulfill these basic aspects.
The UCI also instructs about cyclocross bike geometry. These instructions are pretty strict and the bikes have to fill them. If the criteria are not met then the bikes are just simply disregarded. UCI is the entity that governs professional racing and also instructs manufacturers to follow these protocols.
Let’s take a UCI-sanctioned cyclocross race as an example. In these races, the bikes being used should have a maximum tire clearance of 33mm. If it is found to be more, then the bikes are deemed unusable.
Gravel Bike
Let’s discuss the gravel bikes now. Unlike their cyclocross counterparts, they are designed for a variety of purposes. I have used my Apollo Gravel for so many fun adventures like bike-packing. It went on for days and I even explored different kinds of terrains.
You can also use these bikes for gravel races, which bring out the best in riders. Gravel-riding is a varied discipline. This means that these bikes are going to have different designs and different structures.
There are no “Special Instructions” to be followed for their manufacturing, most outstanding gravel bikes share basic features (Which we will get to later on!).
In my experience, it’s the road disc brakes that bring out the best performance in a gravel bike. Because before these types of bikes were even in the fray, people were using Cyclocross bikes with extra versatility and different features. These cyclocross bikes even came with mudguards and rack mounts. This is something you see in gravel bikes and mountain bikes usually.
When the Gravel bikes finally came, they offered comfort and versatility like none other. That is why a lot of people love using them.
With the basic knowledge of both Cyclocross and Gravel Bikes covered, we will now discuss what makes them truly special and what differentiates them.
Gravel Vs Cyclocross- What’s The Difference?
Geometry
There is a difference in the geometry of the two bike types, it is what makes them special and loved. When we look at a gravel bike, we can see that it has a relaxed construction and geometry. The reason for this is to allow the riders to spend multiple days riding this bike, and for a variety of reasons too.
Since gravel bikes are concerned more about comfort, their emphasis on aerodynamics is very less. Apart from that, these bikes also have a short reach but they do support an upright riding position. You may also notice that gravel bikes are not made to be used for higher speeds apart from the aero gravel race bikes. The main reason is that these types of bikes are made for gravel racing.
Bottom Bracket Differences
Another aspect between these two bikes is the bottom brackets. A bottom bracket should be as low as possible (In some bikes), with this adjustment there is a better sense of stability with gravel bikes. This is what makes riding over rough terrain easier and it also reduces the standover height. With these features, if you are riding over technical terrain then it becomes very easy to dismount whenever you want.
Gravel bike users enjoy better stability thanks to the lower bottom brackets installed and a longer wheelbase. These are also the key aspects that make riding these bikes fun!
Cyclocross bikes are all about the thrill of the race, riders who use these bikes require sharp steering and aggressive riding positions. You will notice a higher bottom bracket in these bikes as compared to gravel bikes. This addition improves ground clearance and allows for aggressive but safe riding. A higher bottom bracket also allows the user to shift their weight towards the front of the bike which enhances the steering.
Head Tube Differences
There is also a matter of head tube angles between the two bikes. Gravel bikes feature a slacker head tube angle, this is very familiar to mountain bikes. Cyclocross bikes, however, have a steep head tube angle familiar to racing road bikes.
Gravel bikes allow them to have great off-road performance as compared to Cyclocross bikes.
Tires and Tire Clearance
The next major difference between these two bike types is tire and tire clearance. As we discussed before, UCI has ruled out some rules when it comes to cross bikes manufacturing. With that ruling in place, cyclocross bikes have tires that have a maximum width of 33mm. Naturally, with this kind of effect, these bikes have narrow tire clearance.
Cyclocross Tires are also of different types:
- Super-Aggressive Treads: Allows clearance for mud, high-intensity racing
- Bone-Dry Treads: Best for grass and mud
Tire Protection
Another thing I found in my research is that cyclocross bikes don’t have tire puncture protection as compared to gravel bikes. This is where the nature of the bikes comes into play. Gravel bikes are meant for multi-terrain whereas Cyclocross bikes are meant for high-intensity racing.
Tire Width
Gravel bike tires are much wider as compared to their cyclocross counterparts (40mm). There are also some new and improved frames that allow for tires that are 50mm wide. If you are planning to go for tubeless my advice would be to go for gravel bikes. That’s because tubeless works best with gravel bikes. These wider tires allow the riders maximum comfort over long rides and also make it easy to ride over technical terrain.
Gearing System
The gearing system of these two bike types is also defined by their nature and intent. When it comes to cross bikes, a narrow gear range is best suited for these types of bikes. When you have a gearing system like this you can have a strong sprint that even allows you to ascend short climbs powerfully. Apart from this, you can also tackle mud and grassy areas.
Cyclocross bikes first started featuring 2x drivetrains but they often had complaints of being too heavy. Now modern cyclocross bikes come installed with a 1x drivetrain. This makes a huge difference in reducing the overall weight of the bike. Apart from this, having a 1x drivetrain also protects against mud buildup. But you can still choose between 2x and 1x drivetrains when purchasing a cyclocross bike.
Wider Gear Range
As per the nature of gravel bikes, they require a much wider gear range to perform perfectly. One reason for this is that gravel bikes have to ride on all kinds of terrain, from mountainous regions to technical terrain. This category of bikes is also fitted with 1x or 2x drivetrains, my preference is to go for the 2x drivetrain.
If you won’t be riding the technical terrain that much and will be focusing on paved roads, you will love the nature of the 2x drivetrains. Moreover, with the 2x drivetrain choice, you will also be able to enjoy an easy bottom bracket.
While 1x drivetrains are also great, they still have limits that badly affect the user’s experience. Although there are some groupsets that offer customized experiences like Shimano GRX, SRAM XPLR, and much more.
Luggage Mounts and Mudguards
Normal bikes that are used for a variety of reasons have luggage mounts and mudguards installed. When it comes to cyclocross and gravel bikes, this becomes very different. Let’s take a look at cyclocross bikes first.
As per the nature of Cyclocross bikes, most of them are only meant for racing. There are no mounts for luggage or even a mudguard. Most of the time you will only see a singular bottle cage. The reason for this is that racers believe that they need only one bottle for a whole hour of intense racing.
Of course, this depends from racer to racer but that is how the construction of these bikes is implemented. The bright side of this is that it keeps the build streamlined making it very easy to maintain/clean the bike.
Gravel bikes on the other hand have a very generous construction with the exception of some “Special” gravel bikes. Versatility is a very big feature of gravel bikes, which is why these bikes are fitted with various bottle cage mounts. You may even sometimes find a third bottle cage and fork blade mounts that allow you to carry cargo.
People love munching while on the go, especially on adventures. That is why some gravel bike frames even have a mount on the top tube where you can place a snack box or something like that in the category. Mudguard mounts are also very common in gravel bikes. Most of the time you can install front and rear racks.
Finishing Kit
The last main difference between Gravel and Cyclocross bikes jots down to the finishing kit. The finishing kit depicts handlebars and dropper posts and seats so that is where we will be shedding a light.
As per instructions issued by the UCI, cyclocross bike handlebars should have a maximum width of 50cm. It cannot exceed this, you will find most cross bikes have a narrow handlebar width as compared to this. I would recommend testing out the handlebars and seeing what makes you comfortable before purchasing a cyclocross bike.
Gravel bikes and Mountain bikes have one thing in common and that is super-wide handlebars. These handlebars make sure that the rider feels comfortable while having their long adventures over multiple terrains.
Let’s discuss the bars now, you will see that gravel bikes feature a flared bar whereas cyclocross bikes have a more traditional drop. The positioning between these two drops is also different. You will find that it is wider than what is placed on the hood. Nevertheless, an adjustment between the two bars is there to make sure that descending is safe and easy.
Seatposts
Gravel bikes have the kind of seat posts that allows the user to flex, which is necessary for comfort if you are looking at bumpy roads and long distances. Cyclocross bikes on the other hand have seatposts that allow for aggressive riding, and sharp turning, they allow maximum power transition.
What Do We Prefer? The Fun Factor
We have discussed the main aspects that differentiate Cyclocross and Gravel Bikes. What I like to do is use these two bikes in reverse roles. What I mean by reverse roles here is using a gravel bike for cyclocross races and a cyclocross bike for gravel cycling. Confused? Let’s discuss it!
Even though the nature of these bikes is different, many racers have customized their cyclocross bikes for off-road adventures. The only limiting factor over here would be the tire clearance but you can sort that out.
Even in some cases, the difference in geometry between the two bikes is minimal. With the right customization, you can turn your cyclocross rig into an off-road race bike. You can even use a normal road bike for cyclocross racing if it well pleases you!
The other question is if gravel bikes can be used for cyclocross races. The short answer is yes. Most gravel bikes can be used for these sorts of racing because of their construction. Unless it is a UCI race because that is where the rules will have to be followed.
Even if the gravel bikes tend to have a wider tire clearance and wide handlebars than 50cm, they will work perfectly. People are encouraged to apply and test out their skills in the local cyclocross leagues. If you are a beginner, you can even start with a normal mountain bike. This is one way to grow your skillset. Gravel frames are strong so it is fine if you take a bump or two.
One important thing to consider here will be the weather conditions and tires. If you are using a gravel bike for cyclocross racing and the terrain is wet or muddy then be sure to swap out the tires. You will need something for the extra strong grip and stability. Cyclocross tires work really well in this regard! Gravel riders will love the combination of their bikes in these sorts of races.
For me, the clear winner is undoubtedly Gravel Bikes. The reason behind my choice is their exceptional adaptability and versatility. These bikes have a robust geometry that ensures your adventures are never limited. Although I did experiment with cyclocross bikes for a while, I ultimately reverted to my beloved Apollo simply because I couldn’t bear to part with the exhilarating rides it provides.
Recap
With all the key differences between Cyclocross and Gravel Bikes explained you can easily choose which one you want to opt for. All these bikes are unique and have special usage/features.
Use them according to your needs and leisure. The fun thing with these bikes is that they can be used for both the varying disciplines, apart from some rules, you can use them however you see fit.
Nevertheless, going for either Cyclocross or Gravel will definitely not disappoint you.
