A cyclocross bike is designed for racing on tight, twisty cyclocross courses where fast handling and acceleration are required.
A gravel bike is designed for long rides on gravel roads. While these bikes look similar, some differences make them shine in their respective categories.
So in this article, Ill explain the main differences between a cyclocross bike and a gravel bike.
Table of Contents
Top Tube
Most gravel bikes have a sloping top tube allowing more Seatpost extension. This allows the seat post to flex to be more comfortable by absorbing bumps.
Cyclocross bikes, on the other hand, have a flatter top tube that allows you to get your shoulder underneath to lift the bike over barriers and up.
Seat
Gravel bike seat stays are flatter, as is the top tube, which allows the frame to flex a bit to absorb bumps, making the bike more comfortable for long rides.
Cyclocross bike frames, on the other hand, are generally stiffer thanks to a stiffer top tube and stiffer seat stays. This allows these bikes to accelerate faster at the expense of comfort.
Head Angle
The head angle of gravel bikes is generally softer. This allows these bikes to be more stable on fast descents.
Cyclocross bikes, on the other hand, have a steeper head angle. This makes the bike more agile on tight, twisty cyclocross courses.
The downside of a steeper head angle is that the bike can be more twitchy in the fastest sense of the word. However, in a cyclocross race, you usually dont encounter speeds higher than about 40 km/hour.
Chainstays
On gravel bikes, you will find longer chainstays. This further increases stability on fast descents at the expense of low-speed handling. Most gravel bikes today will need to braze zs for racks and fenders.
Many gravel bikes have front chainrings, which means you also have a front derailleur. This allows for a wider range of gears to cover a wider range of speeds you encounter when riding on gravel roads.
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Chainring
Some gravel bikes today have a single front chainring and a wider-spaced rear cassette. While this simplifies the drivetrain, youre making a sacrifice by having a wider jump between gears.
And since you dont reach as high speeds on a cyclocross race as you would on a typical gravel ride, I found that a single front chainring on a cyclocross race bike was perfect.
Brake Rotors
Most gravel bikes will have at least 160-millimeter brake rotors on the front and rear. This gives you more braking power due to the speeds you reach on a gravel ride or more.
The cyclocross race bike has a 160-millimeter brake rotor in the front, but a 140-millimeter rotor in the rear; the 140-millimeter rear rotor provides marginal weight savings. But for me, the advantage is that youre not as likely to lock up the rear wheel on wet cyclocross trails.
Wheel
Many gravel bikes these days dont have a quick-release wheel axle. The changes arent as significant on a long gravel ride.
Whereas cyclocross race bikes have a quick-release axle in the front and rear, allowing you to make quick wheel changes in the pits of a cyclocross race.
Tires
Gravel bikes generally have wider tires, at least 35 C. Larger tires absorb more bumps, which can wear you out on long gravel rides. Youll also notice that the tread on the gravel tire is smoother.
You dont need to take as many sharp turns on a gravel bike as you would in a cyclocross race. A smoother tread will have less rolling resistance, which makes a big difference on a long gravel race.
Looking at a cyclocross tire, youll notice that it has bumps. You have to take tight turns on cyclocross courses and sacrifice some rolling resistance to get more grip in the turns.
According to UCI rules, a cyclocross race tire cannot be wider than 33 C.
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Rims
The cyclocross bike has carbon rims, which allow for more precise cornering and faster acceleration, whereas the rims on this gravel bike are aluminum. I found that aluminum rims absorb bumps better.
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Water Bottle
Most gravel bikes have two or maybe even three water bottle holders. A few years ago, you would only see one water bottle holder on cyclocross race bikes. Fortunately, today many cyclocross bikes that are coming out have two water bottle holders, making the bikes more versatile.
Considerations for choosing the right bike
Nothing beats a mountain bike, whether youre looking for a great way to get some exercise or a little adventure. This is especially true if you get off the beaten path and onto trails that will take you deep into the wilderness.
Cross-country is one of the most common forms of outdoor cycling, so when youre ready to buy a new bike, which one should you choose?
Our guide will highlight the best cross-country mountain bike models and tips to help you choose the right one.
Whether youre headed to Washington forests or Utah deserts, theres a model and style for everyone in our comprehensive list.
How to Find the Perfect Bike
To find the best cross-country mountain bike for your needs, you need to be a smart shopper and keep a few key factors in mind during your search.
Bike size
The size of the bike you buy will depend on your stature. If you are a shorter rider, you will want a smaller bike, while a taller rider will need a larger bike. To make sure you get the best size possible, we highly recommend going to your local bike store to get measured. Once you have a clear idea of what size bike you need, finding the perfect bike will be that much easier.
Tire size
The size of your tires and wheels depends mainly on the areas you plan to ride. If the terrain is relatively smooth, you may get away with a smaller tire height, which can help reduce the weight of your bike.
Number of gears
For most cyclists, youll go with 18 or 21 different gears. This should give most cyclists and trails a lot of flexibility for the different climbs and descents youre bound to encounter but wont be too complex and expensive to maintain.
Suspension systems
All-mountain bikes have a front suspension system that helps cushion your hands on rough terrain. However, you can also find bikes with rear suspension, which is ideal for big drops and extremely rough trails.
Weight
Since youre looking for a cross-country mountain bike, youll want the weight to be as low as possible. Cross-country rides can involve rough trails, big inclines, and beautiful scenery.
Best Cyclocross Bikes
1. Raleigh Bikes Tokul 3 Mountain Bike
Raleighs Tokul 3 is built around a lightweight, graceful aluminum frame that, combined with its quick-shifting transmission, makes it perfect for climbing big hills fast. The 27.5-inch tires provide good traction, even when the trail gets extremely rocky and rough.
Another thing that stood out in our testing was the hydraulic braking system. Even going down the steepest hills, this bike will keep you at a slow and steady pace or stop quickly. When you order this bike, you can also select different components to get what you paid for, which will help you get the most out of your cycling experience.
Summary: This is a great cross-country bike! Its lightweight frame and easy-to-change transmission make it an excellent bike for climbing hills, and its powerful brakes and great tires make it an excellent bike for descending them, too. When you order your bike, you can also choose from various components, giving you a chance to have a customized riding experience.
2. SE Bikes Big Mountain 2.0 29″ bike
These wheels are perfect for getting over rocky trails and make it the ideal bike for novices just starting on the trails. The front suspension is also a big help, as it smooths out the rough stuff for you, helping you stay in control even at top speed.
This bike is equipped with a 21-speed transmission from Shimano. While the shifting isnt as fast as our number one selection, it should still give you enough gearing to get you up and over the steepest hills.
Summary: The Big Mountain is the perfect bike for someone just getting into cross-country. Its fat tires and soft suspension help compensate for a riders lack of experience, and its 21-speed transmission will get you up and over hills with relative ease.
3. Raleigh Bikes Tekoa Mountain Bike
Raleigh Bikes offers oversized 29-inch tires, just like our number two selection. These larger-than-average tires make it easy to overcome obstacles and gain traction on rough terrain. This bike also has an extremely light frame, allowing you to fly over single-track trails relatively easily.
The front suspension will give you a relatively smooth ride, although it offers less damping than other bikes weve tested. The hydraulic braking system works well, even on the steepest hills, giving you the freedom to get out there and explore.
Summary: The Raleigh Tekoa is a great bike if youre no longer a beginner but not quite an expert. The fat tires and light frame make it easy to traverse rough trails. The suspension, while still good, doesnt offer as smooth a ride as the other bikes we tested.
Best Gravel Bikes
Mongoose Elroy Adventure Bike
- Alloy frame and Steel fork
- 2×7 drivetrain with Shimano Tourney derailleurs
- Internal cable routing
- Large front rack
Tommaso Sterrata
Aluminum Frame combined with a Modulus Carbon Fiber Fork- 3×8 Shimano Claris Groupset
- Avid BB5 disc brakes
- wider 700x40c tires for increased versatility and stability
Schwinn Vantage Rx
- S
chwinn carbon fork, with aluminum steerer - 22-speed Double Tap shifters
- Front and rear derailleur
- Sram Rival hydraulic disc brakes
Conclusions
So those are the differences between a gravel bike and a cyclocross race bike. These differences are subtle but add to bikes that feel quite different.
But I would like to add that you can ride a cyclocross bike on a gravel bike and use a cyclocross bike to ride gravel.
However, if you want to maximize your cyclocross racing speed, its probably best to use a cyclocross racing bike. And if you want to maximize your long gravel road rides and be as comfortable as possible, its best to use a gravel bike.