Conspiracy theory: Gravel bikes were invented to convert roadies into mountain bikers

The bike industry is finally coming around to the fact that mountain bikes have been the best choice all along.

By Jeff Barber
January 31, 2026

20 comments

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I’m not one to dabble in conspiracy theories, and as much as riders like to think the rich and powerful bike industry is out to get them, I don’t believe that’s true. That goes for the part about the industry being out to get us, and also about them being rich and powerful, for that matter.

This week, my eyes were finally opened to a grand conspiracy within the bike industry that’s apparently been brewing for quite some time now: the industry is working to convert road bikers into mountain bikers. Sure, you could argue that’s been happening ever since the first production mountain bike was put up for sale, but this is different.

When gravel bikes rolled onto the scene in the early 2010s, the idea was simple: give road riders something that’s better suited to riding unpaved, gravel roads. The bikes looked like road bikes, with rigid forks and curly bars, but slightly wider, knobbier tires that wouldn’t slip — or worse, explode — at the sight of a jagged pebble.

Like a frog in a pot that’s slowly heated to boiling, tires started getting wider and knobbier. Then came suspension, a little bit at first and only in the front, until eventually, many gravel bikers were saying, “Yeah, rear suspension could smooth things out even more.” Now, it’s only a matter of time until a critical mass of these fresh dirt disciples discover what a game-changer dropper posts are.

Of course, as mountain bikers, we knew all of this was coming. No one needs a special bike for riding on gravel — “Just ride a mountain bike!” we cried. After all, we’ve been slogging up fire roads literally since the beginning, mixing surfaces and having the times of our lives in the woods, far away from the din and danger of traffic.

I get that the goal of any industry is to sell products and to make money. The bike industry has done its job over the years by introducing new categories, and cyclists have responded dutifully by filling up their quivers with arrows they didn’t even know they needed.

This time, however, the industry may be shooting itself in the foot. What happens when riders come to the conclusion that the mountain bike — be it with drop bars or flat, suspended or rigid — really is the one true bike, and always has been?

I said goodbye to my road bike many years ago, and though I do own a gravel bike, it’s likely the next one to go. Late last year, I had dreams of adding drop bars to my hardtail, but now I’m not so sure. Maybe all I need is a regular mountain bike after all.

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20 Comments

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thebadpixel Delaware // 2022
2 weeks ago

That's funny because my gravel bike kind of turned me on to road biking and now I do a few century charity rides a year. This is after 30 years of exclusively mountain biking.

3 reply

leftcoast21 California // 2015
2 weeks ago

My experience too. Exclusive MTB since early 90's and got a gravel bike a few years ago. Great for riding a mix of pavement, fire road, and smooth singletrack. Riding a sub 20 lb bike on smooth dirt is just a better experience than a 30 lb FS MTB.

1 reply

SkiBikeHike Alberta // 2025
2 weeks ago

Same same. Ordered a Topstone on a lark in April 2020 before bike shortages went crazy, and have found I really enjoy doing 50-100km rides on mixed surfaces that would be a huge pain on even an XC MTB. They're crazy versatile and I recommend them to anyone who's considering a first bike for that reason.

GO BOLTS 2026
2 weeks ago

I disagree… I’m now more prone to ride my gravel bike on the XC terrain I used to ride my XC bike on. And now I have a road wheel set up that allows me to ride the same bike on road century’s, gravel races and most of my local single track in western NC. In fact, I’d say the plan backfired if it was a plan… now I only NEED one bike

2 reply

Vermountain_Biker Vermont // 2025
2 weeks ago

My approach is becoming "Fewer frames, more wheelsets".

I think a single frame with well-rounded geo can cover a huge swath of riding zones *especially* if you have the ability to swap tires and wheels to suit the purpose. Right now my hardtail is an all-season, all-conditions Trail bike because I have a 27+ wheelset and a 29er wheelset for it.

I think in the future I will have a hardtail that covers gravel, bike packing, and winter riding.

A long travel MTB covers all my full suspension needs, but if budget allowed I would slot a short travel in the middle.

I don't see myself ever owning fully rigid or drop bars again.

Mark Obsniuk 2018
1 week ago

I do like my Revolt with two sets of wheels, one with 2.2 RaceKings and 32 mm GP 5000. Now I need the same for my trail bike. I'd ride it more if I didn't have my grippy and expensive 2.4 DHR's. I'd certainly ride my trail bike more if I had something like the Forekasters. Might even do the ride from Kits to Fromme. Thanks for the suggestion.

0 reply

sscottt Vermont // 2024
2 weeks ago

I have three sets of wheels for my gravel bike but have settled on the widest (27.5x2.0). However, my 26er could use a second set to make it more "gravel". The thing stopping me is I also want 4 more teeth on the chainring.

LPtech 2026
2 weeks ago

Real bikers do it all the mtb vs road division is stupid if you take a side your an amateur

Bontrager fan 1972 New South Wales // 2023
2 weeks ago

"Meeting in the middle" is the motto for this .

Here is my wild theory. The original mountain bikes were used on jeep trails because that is what existed. As people wanted more, they discovered single track and the bike evolved. Single track wasn't enough and trail, and enduro was created and the modern mountain bike was created. Jeep tracks were forever abandoned by mountain bikers. In a slightly parallel universe, roadies discovered all the gravel roads were pretty cool and CX and touring bikes became the first gravel bike. But the roadies, now gravel bikers, wanted more and jeep trails were discovered by a completely new group of people. We are currently finding out that the old mountain bikes originally made to ride jeep track work really well and slowly discovering that short travel xc bikes work better, just like the primitive mountain bikers discovered many decades ago. "The Industry" hasn't discovered anything themselves. They are simply selling us what we are learning works better.

confirmshop Utah // 2019
2 weeks ago

I have never understood the gravel bike concept. It's is a great example of "Jack of All Trades, Master of None". Get a road bike for pavement and a Mtn bike for everything else. And skip the hardtail. Hard to imagine they still make them, other than to hit a price point.

z 2026
1 week ago

Honestly road bikes impose so many compromises on durability, comfort, and terrain accessibility that they are pushing up onto edge uses of "great at one very specific thing, crap at everything else"

The gravel bike does a good job at delivering much better general usability, at the cost of relatively little road performance. I can absolutely see why they work.

Peter Tobey Vermont // 2026
2 weeks ago

I live in Vermont where there's lots of gravel/dirt roads. Mountain biking is amazing. I ride mountain bikes. I have a couple of mtn bikes that I ride gravel/dirt roads. Always felt that's the best choice. Especially when you are going down hill. Going over the speed limit (LOL). So much fun when you do.

Matt Miller Colorado // 2012
2 weeks ago

One take I heard recently on e-bikes, is that the industry isn't shoving them down consumer's throats, it's going all-in on what is actually selling, and trying to make up for a lack of sales on non-motorized bikes. I think that could be true of gravel bikes too.

The experience of gravel biking is so different from that of mountain biking also. Climbing for two hours to bomb down a ten-mile canyon gravel road is just as exciting and totally different from a backcountry singletrack ride, and it's ok to want both.

bpmaiden 2021
2 weeks ago

Fun article!

Namdoog Maine // 2025
2 weeks ago

Like many people I started out on a "10 speed" in the early 70's and discovered adventure on 2 wheels. After riding Huffys and stingrays with banana seats, this bike gave me something new...independence! When mountain bikes came on the scene it was a natural progression and it was exciting to get in the woods and ride and carry our bikes up & down mountains. I still think road riding increases my endurance on the mtn bike and the two complement each other.
I do know some roadies who dabble in mountain biking but for some reason feel they lack the bike handling skills
to ride challenging terrain.
I'd love to own a gravel bike but one can only have so many toys.

Laszlo Zoltan 2026
2 weeks ago

I absolutely hate this "gravel bike" nonsense.
We begin cycling as a means of transportation: commuting to school, to meet with friends and explore the towns and neighbourhoods we live in. Roads and sidewalks. But it has become more dangerous as poor driving habits have become increasingly excused lessening the responsibility of the driver due to the physics of the speeds involved.
"But your Honour, I wasnt going over the posted maximum speed. I couldnt stop in time...."

Faster speeds means bigger crashes. More traffic delays leading to simple minded solution of more and bigger roads suitable for roads capable of the faster speeds Mass transportation is subsidized by taxes; ergo reducing the tax burden becomes popularized solution leads to poorer transit; and more folk become resigned to auto ownership increasing consumption. Urban sprawl increases, property developers profit and promote this vicious cycle - Our environment sufferers. Our overall health suffers, mentally as well as physically. Our food supply becomes threatened with the disappearing local farm
"Get the bicycles off the road" and "it's too dangerous".
Gravel bikes help feed this direction by promoting the idea of off-road cycling; enabling corporate execs to buy and drive their Audi's with impunity.
It's not evolution, it's devolution. And it's horrible.

-1 reply

LinusP Arizona // 2026
2 weeks ago

While it's quite amazing how capable mountain bikes have become, "my truth" is that off-road riding is the most fun when slightly under-biked. Early mountain bike development meant that more hiking trails could be ridden on bikes, which expanded the use case and really made mountain biking a thing. Purpose-built MTB trails are great, but as bikes get better, trails either get boring or more dangerous.

Modern MTBs are no fun to ride on smooth gravel, let alone on roads (because you're way over-biked) - to me, that makes them categorically ineligible to be "the one true bike." Gravel bikes can be 90% as capable as road bikes with a wheel/tire swap, and can be fun from smooth gravel up through green singletrack (the latter, if you're willing to slow down some). That makes them my pick for the best all-round bike - and yes, similar to 90's MTBs, but even more "fit for purpose."

As gravel bikes get ever more capable, just like MTBs have, my reaction turns to "meh" - the arms race towards ever-more capability will make some of my favorite paths & trails boring on those bikes!

Not trying to be a luddite here, just shine a light on what I find to actually be fun on bikes - and it's not pointing an ultra-capable full-suss MTB down a rough trail that's well within the bike's limits - and doesn't require much skill on my part to stay wheels-down.

It sounds like your skill level might be above that of the majority of people out there. If someone wants to ride a slacked out downhill style bike on green circle trails, more power to them. Personally I enjoy my highly capable short travel XC bike for my style of riding.

Definitely not trying to put down anyone's choice of bike - if it works for you, go for it!

I also wouldn't say my skills are particularly good. In my middle age, I've become much more aware of the potential for crashes to have long-term consequences. The better bikes get, the faster we ride over gnarlier terrain...the more chance there is for injury if something goes wrong. I definitely have some sketchy moments on gravel bikes, but I suspect I'm significantly less likely to have a truly nasty crash, despite the generally-faster speeds, given the smoother terrain.

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