For those who want to comfortably ride on both paved and unpaved roads with just one gravel bike
If we're being particular, owning both a road bike and a gravel bike is ideal.
However, considering how often one rides and where to store them, combining it all into one bike is often the practical choice.
In such cases, it's perfectly fine to use a gravel bike like a road bike.
Gravel bikes have sufficient performance for riding on paved roads,
and many can be adapted quite closely to a road bike depending on how they are used.
In fact, Grumpy staff members use their gravel bikes for everything from city riding and hill climbs to long rides,
and painter Takenoshita even prefers a gravel bike over a road bike for long rides.
Recently, a new genre called gravel racer has emerged.
These gravel bikes are designed for high-speed, continuous riding over long, flat races like the Unbound Gravel.
Gravel racers, in particular, are very well-suited for road-like use.
(Cervelo Aspero-5 Frameset 48cm Five Black)
However, if you're primarily using a gravel bike on paved roads,
you might wonder if it could ride a bit lighter.
That's when the most effective customization is the wheels.
Considering its use not for winning races, but for weekend exercise cycling and occasional long rides,
・Easy for everyday use
・Not too expensive
・But still offers a noticeable improvement
Such wheels are the
The RC30 TEAM has a 30mm rim depth and weighs approximately 1425g for the pair.
It's a manageable balance that isn't affected by crosswinds and reduces fatigue on longer rides.
The rim has an inner width of 25mm, making it easy to secure air volume,
and allows for stable riding from paved roads to dirt.
It strikes a nice balance that comfortably sits between road and gravel.
Once you change the wheels, the next factor that comes into play is tire width.
~35c: Primarily paved roads
36~38c: Paved + dirt
40c~: Primarily dirt
If you're consolidating into one gravel bike,
36~38c offers a good, balanced option.
The greatest charm of a gravel bike, I believe,
is being able to enjoy the best of both road and gravel cycling,
adapting to your mood or route for the day.
By changing the wheels,
it can lean towards either a road bike or a gravel bike.
Why not try such a versatile way of riding?