You may have seen a lot of cycling media telling you that you need a gravel bike. You may now be trying to figure out what the difference is between a gravel bike and a cyclocross bike. Luckily, we have the answer for you, and you'll be happy to know that it's not just marketing.

This article will tell you the difference between a cyclocross bike and a gravel bike so you can better understand their differences. Then it will serve as a guide for you to choose between a cyclocross bike and a gravel bike.

The quick guide to this article:

• Quick description
• What is a cyclocross bike?
• What is a gravel bike?
• Differences in bike geometry
• Cyclocross vs. Gravel frames
• The difference in tires and wheels

A cyclocross bike or a gravel bike?

Cyclocross bikes and gravel bikes look similar. Both look like racing bikes, but with stronger tires. Whether you need a cyclocross bike or a gravel bike depends on your needs. If you are a professional racer, a cyclocross bike might be more suitable for you. The gravel bike has a wider range of uses.

You will also have a friend who tells you that the difference is just marketing, but if you look deeper into both types of bikes, you will notice many differences. The key differences to keep in mind are that a gravel bike is less aggressive, more stable and has greater tire clearance. Now it's time to wallow in the mud as we delve deeper into the worlds of gravel bikes and cyclocross bikes.

Cyclocross bike

They say Cross is coming, but while it was busy coming, the Gravel has quietly sneaked into the bike shop, making some people think it's just a marketing exercise. Cyclocross has been around longer than gravel, at least in mainstream cycling, and I'm sure we'll find people who claim I'm wrong.

Cyclocross, or cross for short, has its roots in the early 20th century. The belief is that cyclists used to race from city to city, sometimes taking shortcuts. They drove across fields, through forests and jumped over fences. They did this in the winter and used it as a fun way to stay in shape for the next road season.

The first races and the French championships took place in 1902. So cross bikes have had a lot of time to evolve. Therefore there are now set routes, but the UCI now uses a formula. Cross routes will be between 2.5 and 3.5 km long. There will be obstacles, steep hills and a variety of terrain types. Obstacles like hurdles force riders to get off their bikes and carry them. The race lasts between 30 minutes and 1 hour.

Cyclocross bikes then evolved into aggressive racing bikes.

What are gravel bikes?

Gravel bikes are a type of racing bike that can also be ridden on non-technical off-road routes such as gravel paths, canal banks and flowing singletrack.

Therefore, these bikes are more robust than road bikes, can accommodate wider tires and are sometimes equipped with various mounts for backpacking or cycling trips, for example.

Isn't that just the old cyclocross bike? No. Cyclocross bikes are a different type of bike than gravel bikes, although as with everything there is a point of overlap. You might be worried that the bike industry is trying to get you to buy a cross bike but pay more for it. Read on and you'll find out why cyclocross and gravel bikes are different.

The gravel bike

Gravel cycling is a much newer addition to the cycling pantheon. It's also worth noting that gravel bikes can go by many other names. They are also called all-road, adventure or any-road bikes.

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly when everyone decided gravel was great; it was definitely in the last decade. The reason for this was the fact that people have been riding gravel trails and modifying their bikes for gravel trails for decades.

Gravel bikes take elements from touring bikes, road bikes and cyclocross bikes to create the perfect machine for gravel. The ideal gravel bike is different for everyone. Some want to race for 200km. Others want to load their bike and cycle across a continent. Then there are others who want to take the occasional canal bank path.

So gravel bikes have a much broader range of applications than cyclocross bikes. This versatility makes them an excellent choice for the average cyclist. You can use it as a commuter bike during the week, for quick rides on the weekend, and then for a bikepacking vacation in the summer - a variety of bikes in one.

Bike Geometry: The difference in bike geometry is one of the main differences.

The geometric frame shape differs between cyclocross bikes and gravel bikes. Cyclocross races are action-packed events with sudden changes in terrain and can also be tight and twisty. Because of this, cyclocross bikes have a more aggressive geometry than gravel bikes. You also have to jump up and down from the bike quickly. In addition to jumping off the bike, you may also need to jump the bike over various obstacles if you don't want to lose speed.

If you think about how you use a gravel bike and a cyclocross bike, you can see why they require different geometry.

With a gravel bike, you may be planning on long days in the saddle, perhaps even over several days. You'll be out in the wilderness, and the routes you choose might surprise you with a few little surprises. You may be loading the bike, so you'll need a stable platform to ride on. You want a bike that won't throw you off while riding over rough country roads.

Cyclocross is all about racing on a muddy winter field. You'll likely spend an hour up and down in the saddle - jumping over hurdles, throwing the bike around corners, avoiding ruts and dealing with ice and snow. This bike is designed to speed through a sprint event.

Gravel rides generally do not contain the tight curvy features you find on a cyclocross course. You also don't have to jump your bike over obstacles or constantly get off it. Typically, you'll be driving in road-like conditions, just with a slightly worse surface than most asphalt roads.

This means you will be looking for a different geometry. You will be traveling at higher speeds and possibly with a load, so you will need a sturdier bike. A gravel bike will have longer chainstays and as a result a longer wheelbase. A longer wheelbase makes a gravel bike more stable than a cyclocross bike. To increase stability, the height of your bottom bracket will also be lower than that of a cyclocross bike.

Cyclocross races are short, and therefore you can get away with a short stack. Since gravel bikes are designed more for long distances and longer rides, they have a higher stack. The higher stack puts you in a much more comfortable position. This position is typically slower than the sprinting position you take on a cyclocross bike.

This means that cyclocross bikes tend to have more aggressive angles than gravel bikes. One is designed for endurance and the other for sprints.

Complicating part of gravel bike development is the fact that entry-level cyclocross bikes used to come with bottle mounts and fender and rack mounts. This should make them a better buy. Commuters could buy them and then participate in cyclocross on the weekend. These mounts are now typically found on gravel bikes, and there is a big difference you may notice between gravel and cyclocross bikes that is helpful for commuters.

Standover height for cyclocross bikes

Cyclocross frames are equipped with a frame designed to be worn on the shoulder. This is why cyclocross bikes appear as if they have a larger front triangle than road bikes. They also used to have a higher bottom bracket height to accommodate terrain elevations. The combination of these factors means your bike's standover height is greater than a standard road bike. Therefore, people would choose a smaller frame size to reduce the standover height.

However, you shouldn't do this as it would make your top tube length shorter. Another problem would be the stack height. Cyclocross bikes were racing bikes in nature and always had a low stack height.

What is the stack height?

Stack height is an important measurement when fitting a bike. It measures the vertical distance from the center of your frame's bottom bracket to the top center point of your frame's head tube.

Stack height on gravel bikes is suitable for commuters

You may have seen pro riders with low-slung stems. They mount their stem as low as possible and add nothing to the bike's stack height. Some may even lower the stack. However, these individuals have massage therapists, chiropractors, and doctors available to them. They also earn a living by cycling. This probably doesn't apply to you. Imagine sitting at a desk all day. Would you be as flexible as a professional driver?

The answer is probably no. This is why stack height is important. Can you adapt to a low stack height? Most of us can't do that. Cyclocross bikes are designed for racers and have a low stack height. If you ride a smaller bike, make that stack even smaller. In this case, you might want to try yoga.

Gravel bikes rely on a larger stack height. How do you do that? They have a longer head tube than on cyclocross bikes - a pretty simple but clever solution. You now sit a little more upright than with a low stack height. This puts less stress on your spine and hips. You should have less lower back pain, and it may help relieve groin pain. Nobody wants to have groin pain. You might even find that you ride your bike more efficiently.

A higher stack height is great if you are a commuter.

The stack height on gravel bikes is suitable for commuters.

You may have seen pro riders with low-slung stems. They mount their stem as low as possible and add nothing to the bike's stack height. Some may even lower the stack. However, these individuals have massage therapists, chiropractors, and doctors available to them. They also earn a living by cycling. This probably doesn't apply to you. Imagine sitting at a desk all day. Would you be as flexible as a professional driver?

The answer is probably no. This is why stack height is important. Can you adapt to a low stack height? Most of us can't do that. Cyclocross bikes are designed for racers and have a low stack height. If you ride a smaller bike, make that stack even smaller. You'll probably want to do yoga if you do this.

Gravel bikes rely on a larger stack height. How do you do that? They have a longer head tube than on cyclocross bikes - a pretty simple but clever solution. You now sit a little more upright than with a low stack height. This puts less stress on your spine and hips. You should have less lower back pain, and it may help relieve groin pain. Nobody wants to have groin pain. You might even find that you are a more efficient cyclist.

A higher stack is ideal if you are a commuter.

The head angle is different.

However, that's not the end of the story about the head tube of your bicycle frame. Your cyclocross frame is designed for racing. It is designed to steer at high speeds. A gravel bike, on the other hand, is designed for comfort and possibly fully loaded touring.

You therefore need a different steering angle for these two bikes. The cross bike will have an angle of around 72-73° for quick steering maneuvers. On gravel bikes you will notice a flatter angle. The shallow angle makes them much more stable, especially when riding downhill with a fully loaded gravel bike. You don't want to tip over when you have a month's worth of supplies on your bike.

In keeping with this head angle, we will also notice that gravel bikes have a shorter top tube length than cyclocross bikes. The shorter top tube will give you a slightly higher riding position and prevent you from feeling as stretched out as you would on a cyclocross bike. Here, too, it's about stability and comfort on long journeys. It's okay to be stretched during an hour-long race, but after an 8-hour gravel ride you'll probably feel completely different about it.

Chainstays 

Like the top tube, the chainstay lengths of a gravel bike and a cyclocross bike will also be different. This time the longer tube is on the gravel bike, and the cyclocross bike has shorter chainstays. The cross bike has short stays to give a racing feel while the gravel bike has long stays for stability.

If you need stability for touring, you could also pay attention to heel clearance. You don't want to bump into panniers with every turn of the pedal. You won't have the problem of panniers during a cross race, so cyclocross bikes will have chainstays that are around 425mm long.

You will see that gravel bikes have chainstays that are around 460mm long. This longer length also gives road vibrations the opportunity to be dampened down to you. You can then be both comfortable and stable, all through a correctly designed rear frame length.

You'll also notice that some gravel bikes designed for extremely long endurance races shorten their chainstay lengths. The reason for this is that these bikes are designed to use the huge saddlebags and frame bags that are currently in vogue. These bikes are designed for speed. This is what we used to mean when we talked about cross-pollination.

You also want to look at tire clearance while looking at the rear wheel of your bike.

Tire widths for gravel bikes

The UCI has set a limit for tire width in cyclocross. To compete in a UCI cyclocross event, your tires must be no wider than 33mm. Cyclocross frames were then designed with this value as the maximum clearance. You can fit a 33mm tire and get some mud clearance, that's it.

However, the UCI has no influence on gravel biking. The more people rode gravel, the more they realized that tires are what make gravel bikes comfortable - the wider the tire, the more comfortable the ride. Sure, they might drive slower, but you're out there anyway and want to take in the scenery, don't you?

You will now be able to find gravel bikes that can accommodate tires up to 2 inches wide. Perfect if you accidentally end up on a real mountain bike trail. There's something else that gravel bikes and cyclocross bikes adopt from mountain bikes - tubeless tires.

Having to stop and fix a flat tire is never fun. By switching to tubeless, you can help eliminate this danger. Flat tires can still occur, but for the most part they will close on their own and you should be able to continue driving without your tires having lost a few PSI. You can also drive safely with lower tire pressures and thus achieve more driving comfort.

Riding tubeless is great and with the right wheelset and tire choice, setup can be done in minutes.

Bike frame: Do you want comfort or stiffness?

The cyclocross frame is lighter because it has to be “carried and walked” often. The gravel frame is usually heavier because it needs stiffness to increase the load.

The basic cyclocross frame doesn't provide mounting holes for fenders and racks, but Gravel's original intent is to carry gear that can handle the harsh environmental conditions of multi-day rides. Generally, in addition to the usual bottle cage holes, there are down tube and water bottle holes at the outer end of the front fork, and there are luggage rack mounting holes at the rear of the tee; The wheelbase of the cyclocross frame is shorter, the frame geometry is more aggressive and the position of the bottom bracket is higher than that of the gravel bike frame. Height of.

In terms of frame geometry, cyclocross bikes typically use a 72-73° head tube angle for faster steering. The head tube angle of a gravel bike frame is typically around 71°. Using a gentler angle contributes to a more stable ride. , Suitable for long-term comfortable traveling and driving.

Since the gravel bike frame has a longer head tube and a shorter top tube, the chainstay length is longer than the length of the cyclocross frame. Most gravel bike frames are typically around 465mm long; and Cyclocross The frame is usually around 425mm long.

Cross races are short, fast-paced races; This means that cyclocross frames are stiff. Comfort is not often an issue for cyclocross frame designers. Integrating compliance into a cross-frame takes you seconds and can cost you a race. You want to know that every pedal stroke is moving you forward as efficiently as possible.

Gravel bikes are generally not suitable for short journeys. The longer you sit in the saddle, the more you look for comfort. A gravel frame will still have some stiffness, but engineers have worked hard to ensure the frame can also be weighted. You don't want a bike that shakes you to pieces on a 100 mile ride.

Some gravel bikes try to make up for this lack of mounts by having every type of mount you could want. Some come with fender and bottle mounts, but no pannier mounts, as they are designed for bikepacking bags and light, faster touring.

You will need all the mounts as you can never have enough water. If you decide to go on a multi-day bikepacking trip, you will also need to be able to take a sleeping bag, tent or bivouac, tools and food. Fender mounts will also be a popular feature when commuting on your gravel bike.

The bicycle tires and wheels are different

(ICAN AC388 Bike Wheel)

Gravel bikes don't have this 33 mm wide rule, and you'll now be able to find gravel tires that rival mountain bike tires for width. The reason for the extra width is comfort. The wider your tire, the more comfortable your bike will be. If you go tubeless, you can also combine this with low pressure for even more comfort.

Gravel bike wheels also come in 2 sizes. You'll find 700c wheels and 650b wheels. Cross bikes only come with 700c wheels. The reason that gravel bikes come with 650b wheels is that you can use wider tires than you can on a 700c wheel. The extra width will bring more comfort and, in another turn of fortune, also be the same height as a narrower 700c tire. That means the 650b tire will bring you as much speed as the 700c.

(ICAN X-Gravel Bike Wheel)

Cycling equipment

Cyclocross generally uses more gear ratios of 46/36 chainrings with center rear flywheels such as 11-28 etc. which require smaller gear ratios to cope with climbs; While gravel bikes need a wider gear ratio to cope with the moment. For changing mixed roads, the mainstream uses the SRAM Force 1X system, while the dual discs generally use 50/34 pressure plates and 11-32 rear flywheels. There are also some brands that fit 48/32 or 42/28 chainrings.

The ICAN AC388 is the cyclocross bike that breaks all the rules. It has a higher stack than some cyclocross models but a lower stack than gravel bikes. If you are a weekend warrior then this is the frameset or bike you need.

The conclusion

From this article, do you understand the difference between a cyclocross bike and a gravel bike? If you want to buy a bike, you have to make a decision. The following video introduction can also tell you more about the cyclocross bike or a gravel bike.

Where should I buy the cyclocross bike and the gravel bike
You can buy the cyclocross bike and grave bike online from ICAN.
If you have any other questions about a cyclocross bike or a gravel bike, please feel free to let us know！