Is a gravel bike the ultimate winter bike? Why you should make the switch to gravel from the classic winter road bike

Riding a bike outside during the winter months in the northern hemisphere can be challenging, mostly due to unpleasant weather conditions. It can dampen your motivation and quickly turn your pride and joy into a creaking mess. Here's why I've chosen not to buy a dedicated winter road bike and spend my money on a gravel bike instead. 

My summer bike is a Specialized Tarmac SL6. Even though it has disc brakes, I'm hesitant to expose it to the salted winter roads. I want to keep the more expensive parts lasting longer, yet I'm not keen on spending the whole winter locked up on the turbo. Therefore, I've been on the lookout for a suitable alternative bike that can handle the winter conditions. 

Many people invest in a cheap bike that they don't mind abusing over the winter months, but I've gone down an alternative route and picked up a 2018 Specialized Diverge Comp with SRAM Force 1 from Facebook Marketplace instead. 

Specialized first introduced its Diverge in 2014, and for the 2018 model year it gave the Diverge a complete overhaul. The bike is designed for road and off-road riding, featuring Future Shock suspension which provides 20mm of basic suspension. It also has tyre clearance for tyres up to 42mm and 'Open Road' geometry, which was an attempt to move away from traditional cyclocross geometry to differentiate the gravel and 'cross genres. 

> Best gravel bike tyres

The best winter bike for you is one that makes you want to go out riding in the winter months, of course - but let's take a look into why I think a gravel bike, like my second-hand Specialized Diverge, is the ultimate winter bike. 

1. You can ride it during the summer as well 

Unlike buying a cheap winter bike that may only withstand a few months of use before parts start wearing out, a gravel bike can be ridden all year round. I'll actually want to ride the Diverge in the summer as well as in the winter, too!

Gravel bikes are great for more than just riding on actual gravel, proving to be capable on almost all surfaces except very technical mountain bike trails. 

If you can budget for it, opting for two wheelsets will give you even more versatility, as you'll have the flexibility to have one with road tyres and one with gravel tyres on. For example, I have a pair of wheels set up with an 11-32 cassette for dry, fast rides, and another pair with an 11-42 cassette on for slower, solo rides. 

2. 1x gives enough gears for winter and easier maintenance

> Should you run a 1x set-up on your road bike?

As mentioned, my Diverge is set up with SRAM Force 1. I like that the 1x drivetrain gives me enough gears to get up steep, technical climbs, as well as reducing drivetrain maintenance. 

Gravel bikes typically have lower gearing than road bikes, which is achieved through the use of wider-range cassettes and often a 1x drivetrain. Gearing on a gravel bike is very rarely limiting. For most people, it will get you up just about everything, with a bit of sacrifice at the top end on fast descents. 

1x drivetrains also contribute to simplifying maintenance with fewer moving parts. This means they are less prone to issues caused by winter weather, such as debris build-up and snapped cables. 

3. Wider tyre clearance 

Gravel bikes have generous tyre clearance, meaning there's room for fatter knobbly tyres as well as slicks. While it varies a lot, most recently released gravel bikes will take at least 40mm tyres. The Lauf Seigla, for example, can take whopping 57mm tyres!

Many cheap road bikes, especially on the second-hand market, still have rim brakes, meaning they are limited to 28mm tyres at the most. Personally, I prefer to train with wider tyres and have the flexibility to use even wider ones with mudguards. 

You can experience the best of both worlds by equipping your gravel bike with slick 28mm tyres for a road bike-like feel. Alternatively, switching to wider, knobbly tyres means you'll still be able to ride even when ice and snow make riding on the roads dangerous. 

4. You can mix up your rides

> How to increase your cycling motivation in winter

Repeating the same routes on your road bike can become monotonous, especially when trying to stay motivated during the winter months. That's where the versatility of a gravel bike makes it a great option, as it opens up lots of new places that you can ride and explore. 

You aren't confined to gritted main roads to avoid muddy lanes and ice. Instead, you can plot more interesting routes incorporating road and off-road sections, which helps to keep things interesting by providing a refreshing change in scenery. 

The adaptability of a gravel bike also means that you can change your plans mid-ride to adjust to the changing weather or light conditions.

5. It has mudguard mounts 

> 6 reasons to get mudguards this winter

With simple adjustments, you can make a gravel bike the perfect winter bike. For example, my Specialized Diverge, like many gravel bikes, has mudguard mounts, which are very useful for protecting you and your bike from the inevitable slush and road spray that accompany the colder months. 

Some gravel bikes can also be fitted with panniers, making them handy for multi-day adventures too.  

6. Gravel components are designed to be robust and durable

Gravel components are made with an emphasis on robustness and durability, distinguishing them from their road counterparts as they need to survive the realities of off-road riding.

Gravel bike frames are designed to withstand vibrations and impacts from varied terrain encountered in gravel riding. Usually, a gravel bike will have a bit more frame material to ward off any lively rocks and particularly bumpy terrain. Wheelsets often have sturdier rims and additional spoke counts to their equivalent road wheels to better cope with uneven road surfaces. 

However, the trade-off for this durability is a slight increase in weight compared to components designed for road cycling. 

7. Winter rides are slower anyway 

> Can you get fit by cramming all of your riding into the weekend?

Winter riding tends to be at a slower pace, so long, steady rides on the gravel bike can still be good training sessions to boost your cardiovascular fitness. The geometry of gravel bikes also leans towards a more relaxed riding position, which is advantageous for remaining comfortable on longer rides. 

Rides aren't as much about intervals in the winter, and there's less expectation on performance. This means you can go out and enjoy riding your bike, which is what cycling is all about after all. 

8. They have disc brakes 

> Here's why the British National Hill Climb champion has switched to disc brakes

There are numerous positives to disc brakes, and winter is the time of year when they are particularly useful. The vast, vast majority of gravel bikes have disc brakes nowadays, which provide better stopping power in wet and muddy conditions. They also won't wear out your wheel rims, because there's no brake calliper biting against the rim. 

Another major reason why gravel bikes are equipped with disc brakes is because they don't limit tyre size, allowing you to tailor your setup to different terrains. 

9. Gravel rides can even be warmer 

> How should you dress for winter cycling? 

Motivating yourself to brave the cold and wind to ride outdoors can be difficult in the winter, so gravel riding can be a warmer and more inviting alternative. 

Despite the temperature being the same whether you head out on the road or on a gravel ride, riding off-road is often more sheltered, minimising wind exposure and reducing wind chill as a result. 

10. Gravel bikes don't need to cost a fortune

> Budget gravel bike vs premium gravel bike vs mountain bike: Does the bike make any difference?

Gravel bikes don't need to be expensive. You can find some pretty good deals on second-hand gravel bikes like I did with the Diverge. Alternatively, you can check out some of the best gravel bikes under £1,000 if you can budget for buying new. 

Cheap road bikes are often limited in both tyre clearance and modern tech, and because wide tyres and tubeless technology have been much more widely accepted for longer in the world of gravel, you can generally pick up this tech for less than it would set you back on its road counterparts. For example, my second hand Diverge is almost six years old, yet the standard wheels came tubeless-ready. Just add sealant, pump the tyres up and you're away, with some extra puncture protection compared to most inner-tubed tyre options. 

If you're looking to buy a new bike to ride on gravel, it's worth buying one with a frame that you can upgrade over time, as it's far easier to upgrade components than it is a frame. Tyre choice is also more important than bike choice. Getting the right tread pattern and volume for the type of riding you'll be doing will make a huge difference to your speed, handling and riding enjoyment. 

What's your perfect winter bike set-up? Let us know in the comments section below.