Gravel Bikes NZ: What You Should Know About Gravel Bikes

Gravel bikes are specially constructed to navigate various terrains with ease and often make longer rides more comfortable due to their relaxed geometry and greater tyre clearance.

Pushbikes gravel bikes NZ utilise a 1x drivetrain, which bypasses the front derailleur and offers simpler operation with reduced chances of dropping the chain. Some also employ 2x systems, which provide a greater range of gears to achieve an ideal cadence.

Frame

A gravel bike is designed for riding off-road with wider tyres than road bikes; thus, its frame tends to be heavier. However, this allows for greater stability and riding comfort over rugged terrain.

Pushbikes gravel bikes NZ are constructed from aluminium frames; this material is more cost-effective and offers sufficient stiffness for off-road use than many other materials. Some gravel bikes feature adaptable designs with provisions for mudguards and rear racks to make them suitable for long-day excursions or commuter use. Clipless pedals with cycling shoes with cleats offer greater power transfer while increasing pedalling efficiency on rough surfaces. At the same time, suspension forks will provide greater riding comfort over rigid forks, offering adjustments according to weight and rider preferences.

Fork

Gravel bikes utilise forks to connect their frame to their head tube, with suspension forks expanding their capabilities and encouraging riders to explore terrain that would be difficult on a rigid bike. While suspension forks add weight, how much you notice will depend on terrain and preferences; some gravel bikes feature suspension forks specifically designed to be lighter, like RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR, which has a 30mm upper tube diameter, smaller and lighter shock, as well as a dedicated Charger Race Day damper.

Many gravel bikes feature suspension dropper posts for added travel options. Riders can add more travel by simply clicking, while many retrofitted systems give older gravel bikes new life.

Seatpost

Gravel bikes feature handlebars in an upright position compared to MTBs, placing more body weight onto the saddle and seatpost than is typical on mountain bikes. Fatigue may result without shock absorption to soften impacts over long rides. Although gravel bikes typically don’t include suspension on the frame or fork, adding a dropper post could greatly enhance comfort while riding over rough terrain.

Dropper posts are shared on MTBs, though less so on road bikes. Offering multiple levels of adjustment that allow riders to lower or raise their saddle with just the push of a lever on their bars, droppers provide an array of adjustments allowing riders to lower or raise their seat to their preferred setting with ease. Constructed often of carbon for reduced overall weight but may also utilise rubber-cushioning elastomers and mechanical pivots that help smooth bumps and vibrations out – some models even allow riders to switch lever types according to riding styles or needs, such as PNW Rainier 27.2IR that offers four standover height options as well as three lever types designed to fit most frames including those featuring internal cable routing capabilities!

Brakes

Gravel bike brakes are specifically tailored for riding through mud and dirt, with wider rotors than typical road bikes to accommodate the wider off-road tires commonly found on these bikes. This extra tire width creates more traction while at the same time smoothening your ride, especially when combined with an adaptive frame design that doesn’t restrict motion too severely. Lower air pressures dampen vibration and deflection off rocks or other obstacles.

Most reliable modern Pushbikes gravel bikes NZ feature hydraulic disc brakes with superior braking power and all-conditions performance over traditional rim brakes. They are also quieter than their counterparts and automatically adjust for pad wear.

Gearing

Gravel bikes feature wider tyres than road bikes, enabling lower tire pressures for a smoother ride and increased traction on off-road terrain. Although their wheels may roll slightly slower on paved roads, wider tires offset this trade-off by providing additional comfort and control benefits.

When choosing a gravel bike, the drivetrain with a larger cassette than a road bike should provide enough range to manage steep climbs and fast descents. A cassette with a 48t chainring and 21t cog may even give a gear ratio as low as 1:1 (where your top chainring matches its number of cogs).

Larger cassettes enable riders to run smaller front chainrings for easier climbing and better traction on rough terrain – something commonly seen with gravel bikes. Combined with wider tires, this helps maintain a more comfortable cadence at speed and reduces the risk of gear shortage on steep climbs.