What second bike would you buy for fitness? (gravel vs hardtail)

[Plyphon]

Hello,

My local riding is incredibly flat. It's a mixture of farm byways, some forest trails, fields, etc.

It's incredibly boring if you're looking for actual mountain biking in the local vicinity. Having an ebike makes it more fun/tolerable if your hammering it the whole way around in trail - but honestly having the Amflow here you're so overbiked its comical.

I've had this idea of getting a second bike more suited for this terrain, and approaching it from a 'fitness' perspective. I've tried riding around in Eco but you're then in the worst of all worlds - a heavy, lumbering ebike with lots of suspension and big grippy tyres. It's just not fun.

In my head, a lighter bike with faster rolling tyres, less suspension etc - and no motor - will be much more fun and help my fitness.

So, what would you buy?

A fun, nippy hardtail like this? Or perhaps a super light weight, fast gravel bike like this?

Or something else entirely?

 

[keton22]

I had this exact dilemma and settled on flat bar gravel complemented with 40mm front fork. Bosch SX, 14kg final weight with dropper post and fenders.

Mix of local fire roads and forest clearings makes me feel underbiked on occasion and this thing is zippy on gravel and pavement. Plus I have nostalgia for late 90's style of bikes where that would be considered a proper cross country setup.

 

[Plyphon]

I had this exact dilemma and settled on flat bar gravel complemented with 40mm front fork. Bosch SX, 14kg final weight with dropper post and fenders.

Mix of local fire roads and forest clearings makes me feel underbiked on occasion and this thing is zippy on gravel and pavement. Plus I have nostalgia for late 90's style of bikes where that would be considered a proper cross country setup.

Interesting - I’ve not seen many flat barred gravel bikes. Mind sharing what you purchased? Thanks!

 

[Dax]

Transition Spur. <12kg 120mm XC bike. Accelerates like an e-bike when you crank it, super nimble and descends like a much bigger bike.

I was going to buy a gravel bike for fitness, then demoed a Spur and there’s no contest.

 

[F4Flyer]

I dislike hardtails so definitely a gravel bike...faster, more aero, lighter...

 

[Oldmate]

I've done this a few times and always end up trying to turn it into a trail bike over time...
So for me, I'd go short travel trail, or full suspension XC.

 

[F4Flyer]

Agreed. A 100mm XC bike is going to be far better.

 

[HandsomeDanNZ]

I think fitness is highly overrated. Therefore I would choose none of the above.

 

[Astro66]

Don't see the point of a Gravel Bike unless you are racing. Light weight hardtail if you were not wanting to clock kms on your EMTB.

I've had this idea of getting a second bike more suited for this terrain, and approaching it from a 'fitness' perspective. I've tried riding around in Eco but you're then in the worst of all worlds - a heavy, lumbering ebike with lots of suspension and big grippy tyres. It's just not fun.

Fitness is not fun. Doing an activity that is fun, that happens to also get you fit, is lots of fun.

We have a handful of MTB riders in our Club, which these days is mostly EMTBs. The EMTB guys enjoy every trail.<Unless it's too technical for them> The MTB guys only seem to enjoy certain trails. Those with not too many hills.

So I don't understand how riding the EMTB is ever not fun. Even riding a firetrail, is taking you to a trail that is more fun. So you still enjoy the journey.

And lastly. What is really "NOT FUN", is finding yourself "under-biked" on a trail that needs more bike. At least if you are "Over-biked" you aren't going to end up in the hospital because the bike was not up to the trail.

 

[keton22]

Interesting - I’ve not seen many flat barred gravel bikes. Mind sharing what you purchased? Thanks!

Cube Nulane C62 Hybrid. This is Bosch SX 400Wh ebike built on analog Nuroad endurance gravel frame with suspension corrected front end targeting Rudy XPLR forks.

This class of bikes is sometimes called fitness, sometimes flat bar gravel, sometimes cross. In my head it's still just an MTB, but MTBs I know had 100mm front travel max and were hardtails.

Only frame, motor and battery remains. Rest is my own invention. I wanted Bosch SX lightweight bike that will be a build project.

Probably a more economical solution would be to find short travel cross bike. Gravel bikes still have tire clearance issues. In theory Nulane takes 55mm wide tires with fenders and 60mm without but won't accept my favorite Schwalbe Rick XC that are 55mm because they are too tall. And this is one of better ones. I almost pulled a trigger on Canyon fitness bike that had only 45mm compatibility.

 

[Mario Antony]

If yoi want something different, and have nice roads:

Road bike - endurance models.
Fast, light, reactive, once you get used to it, very addictive!

I do some gravel roads with my Road Bike (if it's real compact gravel, without any major roots or grooves, and with today's geometry and tire clearence, you're able to mount 32C, which is almost equal size of 1st gen Gravel bikes

Gravel bikes have more capable geo (slack head angles, long chainstays, etc...), which makes then less fun (more stable, less reactive).

The feeling of smashing distances pedalling, or the feel of speed, when pedalling on the drops on high gear, it is something that I can only feel on roadbikes.
Yes, MTB/Gravel all ride well on the road, and have the possibility to go off road. But it's so slugish compared to roadbikes!

When I go for a roadbike ride, always start with a smile (taking the bike out of the hook - so freeking light), and when I arrive ("man... I just rode 100km in 3 hours!).

Facts:
Light and maintenance free (compared to MTB) if you keep it clean and lubed, bike will last forever
Reactive & nimble, mile musher
Very confy Endurance geos
You ride on the road - need to take into account others, road rules, defence mindset (don't overtake on the left, don't expect cars will wait on junckions, don't be a preak and stay on your right, that kind of staff).

If roads are too busy, amd you don't have those secundary, less traffic roads, I would steer away from a roadbike.

 

[zr3rs]

I have been in that situation - choosing a bike for fitness on relatively flat terrain. In my experience it depends on the roughness of the surface.
I have tried gravel (have been riding road bikes before MTB even existed). But even over some potholes on regular roads has been too uncomfortable for me, and absolute speed is not my goal. So I have been coming back to an XC MTB (100-120 mm travel), also full suspension because paths can be quite uneven and rocky. With XC tires I am nearly as fast as on the gravel and enjoy it more.
I also have a full power and a light assist EMTB for increasing amounts of verticals.

 

[Plyphon]

Transition Spur. <12kg 120mm XC bike. Accelerates like an e-bike when you crank it, super nimble and descends like a much bigger bike.

I was going to buy a gravel bike for fitness, then demoed a Spur and there’s no contest.

Thank you - cool bike but cost is prohibitive. It’s enough having one multi-thousand pound bike without adding another

 

[MeatBike]

I have a gravel bike and it definitely makes tame MTB trails fun, but then a hardtail with the right tyres can also make a good gravel bike.

 

[Plyphon]

I've done this a few times and always end up trying to turn it into a trail bike over time...
So for me, I'd go short travel trail, or full suspension XC.

I also thinking I still want to be bunny hopping, popping off things, small drops etc which suits itself more to a hardtail …

 

[Plyphon]

Don't see the point of a Gravel Bike unless you are racing. Light weight hardtail if you were not wanting to clock kms on your EMTB.

Fitness is not fun. Doing an activity that is fun, that happens to also get you fit, is lots of fun.

We have a handful of MTB riders in our Club, which these days is mostly EMTBs. The EMTB guys enjoy every trail.<Unless it's too technical for them> The MTB guys only seem to enjoy certain trails. Those with not too many hills.

So I don't understand how riding the EMTB is ever not fun. Even riding a firetrail, is taking you to a trail that is more fun. So you still enjoy the journey.

And lastly. What is really "NOT FUN", is finding yourself "under-biked" on a trail that needs more bike. At least if you are "Over-biked" you aren't going to end up in the hospital because the bike was not up to the trail.

For clarity - not saying eMTB is not fun. I absolutely love it, even on flat, straight bridleways.

But I am wanting to work on my cardio, and whilst eMTB gets the heart rate up and gets the sweat going - I just don’t feel that ‘burn’ you get after a good strong analog ride.

But like - I can’t overstate how the local trails are barely trails at all. You see people on gravel bikes riding them already, for example.

Then there’s me with 150 front and back looking geared for BikePark Wales uplift day lol

 

[Ribinrobin]

I had a transition spur then it started to blur a bit to much into my 130mm travel bike. Ended up with an alluminium gravel bike with a fork, loads of fun.

 

[VWsurfbum]

What you need is a HT. (For sale if interested)

 

[Oxon]

Depends where you're riding but a short travel, 120mm, full-sus is far better than a gravel bike for me. Gravel bikes are fine for riding on our potholed roads but not much fun elsewhere.
I've got a lovely Pace RC429 hardtail for sale if that fits the bill for you? They run well with drop bars as well so best of both worlds!

 

[skizzian]

flat bar gravel Or XC hardtail I reckon
that way you'll be giving your upper body more of a workout
maybe summat like a Whyte 529 discounted or Secta...

 

[Ndanger]

I would ride my gravel bike more if it had flat bars.

 

[Rando_12345]

Just to add an out of the box suggestion:

If there are any pumptracks near you, consider a cheap DJ bike. I guess a short hardtail with slick tyres could work also.

If you have never tried a modern pumptrack (velosolution and the competitors), they are an unbelievable workout, litteraly doing 2 laps is a full body workout that requires a break, typically I'm ruined after less than an hour. It's effectively doing squats and pushups non-stop.

 

[Plummet]

Buy and try what ever your heart draws you to.... hell if you have the money, buy both.

Me personally. I would buy the hard tail out of that list. Id single speed it and get some slick tires for pump track riding and go do some pump track sessions and street/urban riding with a little trials thrown in.

But thats me, im about skill based riding not pedalling for fitness. So all of my decisions are based that.

 

[Gila Man]

1970's Harley Davidson. It will break down constantly which will allow you to get a great workout by pushing a 500 lb lump of iron back home each day. Within 2 months, you'll be laughing at the SAS members lack of physical conditioning.

 

[Plyphon]

We do have a pump track near us as it happens - and a little downhill jump line. Maybe that hardtail is calling me … !

 

[mikeredgrave]

I really like my gravel bike. Technically it's my first bike I guess as I've not yet bought my new MTB, but it's great for smashing some road miles out, and with 40mm tyres, good on fireroads, and a "fun" challenge on some gentler singletrack.

I'm not worried about being fast and wanted some mudguard/pannier ability so didn't go proper road bike.

 

[Stihldog]

My stable is a little smaller now. No more road or gravel bikes. Besides the eMTB’s for us I decided to also get a Fuel Exe with the TQ 50. (360wh and AXS T-Type derailer).

I have two sets of wheels for the Fuel EXE. One set for our mountain trails (2.5” Assigia) and another set for tame trails or pavement. When I want to go fast, or when I’m mainly on the flats, I don’t need an aggressive grip. I lock out the shock and become more efficient on the flats. At times, I completely turn off any assist.

I’ve ridden for 70+kms , with my wife sometimes, with little or no power assist, and I can barely keep up to her on her BoschCX full power 500wh hardtail.…but she needed a charge. (During a refreshment stop). I didn’t.

So a FS SL bike suits me. It’s really a multipurpose simply by changing the wheels. (Takes about 5-6 minutes).

 

[jonboy1066]

Second bike‽ What’s that all about‽

My Kado is number 6 in the fleet!

In all seriousness if I had to slim down the fleet to just 2 I would keep the Hardtail and the e-bike, especially in your circumstances

The Hardtail does the same job as my Fat bike, Gravel bike and Enduro bike, but would also serve as an interim for MTB fun when the e-bike is out of action.

The only thing it wouldn’t replace is my DH bike but that’s quite a niche toy.

 

[Halmond6]

Looking at a Sonder Camino GRX for exactly this purpose. I used to ride road but with the potholes and traffic I consider it too dangerous. I do miss the speed and ease of a lighter, narrower tyred bike. Also considering cycle touring/camping. Loads of easier routes here in Wiltshire that are ideal for gravel.

 

[Jurassic]

Looking at a Sonder Camino GRX for exactly this purpose. I used to ride road but with the potholes and traffic I consider it too dangerous. I do miss the speed and ease of a lighter, narrower tyred bike. Also considering cycle touring/camping. Loads of easier routes here in Wiltshire that are ideal for gravel.

Sonder Camino is a great bike. I'm on my second one. First was an aluminium version (which I sold on to a friend), brilliant bike but I treated myself to the titanium Camino. It's probably a bit nicer to ride than the ally version but there's not much in it (certainly not enough to justify the extra cost). If you've ridden road bikes you'll find the Camino super comfy and relaxing to ride but still quick enough (especially with slick gravel tyres on).