Gravel? Dirt? Roads? All Roads?
You might have read when I spoke of terminology in past writings. Clarity is important to me. Those that ride with me know that I speak of road, dirt or trail. I use the word gravel sparingly. Because the truth is the dirt roads in my area have gravel … but are more dirt than gravel in most cases. If they are more gravel, then I might choose another word. Deep gravel is not a joy.
Alas, our industry has chosen the word ‘gravel’ to represent a category of bicycles. They did not call me and ask me for another option. I suspect you were not on that call list either. I also suspect either of us could have provided a better word.
Jan Heine was riding those types of roads, and very publicly, in his writings and publication, proposed the name All-Road, which I think is more accurate – Gravel Road, Dirt Road … All Roads. But somehow he was ignored. Not the first time he has been ignored, which I think is a shame. If you know, you know. He was the early voice proclaiming that wider tires are faster, and the industry mocked him. Now those same companies cite his early research. Vindication, Jan. If you do not know him or his site or publication – check it out, definitely worth a read. Yes, All Road does seem to be gaining some momentum, but only as a subcategory of the Gravel world, or as a transition category from Road to Gravel.
Back to naming of categories. I would have voted for his name over Gravel. Actually, I would have voted for many names over Gravel.
We already had cross bikes (a shortening of cyclocross bikes). In fact, I, and many others, were riding mountain bikes and cross bikes on dirt roads. I know, they are a specific subset and are often limited by UCI regulations. That could have been overcome. Maybe too confusing? There have been Monster Cross bikes. Sounds a bit like a Monster Truck Rally to me; but I think that might have been purposeful as sometimes it fits.
Anyway – we have a category of bikes called ‘gravel,’ which is actually quite diverse. It can include a bike with modestly wide tires that might travel down a road that is not paved or just rougher pavement. In the past we just called it a road bike – because, well, dirt roads are still roads … and Road bikes were a bit more versatile in the past. But, in the intervening years, Road bikes became more and more specific to – fast racing bike made for smooth and fast paved roads. Gravel slides into a bit more dirty terrain as it takes on dirt (gravel) roads, then rough gravel roads and then maybe ‘at one time this was a dirt road but now is pretty rough’ and even into the double track, single track and rough trails. I personally have ridden mine on all of them. Yes, different builds excel in different ways on different terrain. That is pretty normal though. Think of road bike vs time trial bike. Think of the different categories of mountain bikes … the sub-categories in that area alone are getting to be quite the list…
Regardless, it is too late now, it is what it is, and now we (mostly) take it for granted. I personally wince a bit each time I hear the term. Not an inviting term to a new person for certain. Gravel is the name of a category of bikes (I say road bikes). Speaking of mountain bike and gravel bikes … this is not the first time a name has been proposed and another one chosen. In the beginning, Mountain Bikes was a brand. Yes, just like Coke, Kleenex and others. All-Terrian Bike was the term that was being tossed about as an optional name for the category.
But alas, the industry selected ‘mountain bike.’ Although it is a “cool term;” it is not really descriptive of where most ride. You can ride a mountain bike, and enjoy it, without mountains. I agree that the mountains are a joy, and I do have a preference for mountains. But trail bike or ATB (all-terrain bike) both might have been a more inclusive term. Mountain bike we have. It is OK. Wayyyy better than Gravel bike.
Ah, the musings that go through my head. You have opinions? Maybe next time they will contact one of us for our opinion … probably not.
Agree, I begrudgingly use “gravel bike” and wince every time I say it.
When I bought my first moutain bike in the late 80’s, people not in the know were confused. “Mountain bike? Where do you ride it? There’s no moutains around here.” And I understood their confusion. Some people tried to use other names, like “trail bikes”.