Gravel bikes vs road bikes: Where they shine and where they differ

It’s never been a better time to be a bicyclist. There’s a huge array of bikes for virtually every kind of terrain from pavement to gravel to dirt. But what if you’re trying to decide between two of them, particularly a road and a gravel bike? 

Think of the Aeroad and the Ultimate as sportscars. They’re designed to be super fast, very nimble, and incredibly responsive. These road bikes are lightweight aero machines engineered for optimal performance on smooth asphalt. But that specialization comes at a price; if you go from the pavement to dirt or gravel, they’ll challenge even the best bike handlers. 

The Endurace is like a sporty crossover vehicle. It’s fast – just not as fast as its race-inspired brethren – and can get you from A to B in a more comfortable fashion than the alternatives. The Endurace’s wide 35mm tire clearance also means that you can go over rougher terrain, although not to the extent of its gravel-focused cousins. 

Gravel bikes, like the Grail and the Grizl, are essentially Jeeps, designed to tackle the roughest terrain and motor up steep inclines. The Grail is considered the more gravel race-oriented bike, while the Grizl is geared for bikepacking and adventure riding, but they share many similarities. They both perform admirably on pavement, but where they really excel are gritty, rocky or sandy trails. Gravel bikes offer comfort, adaptability, versatility, and ruggedness, but don’t offer the absolutely dialed feel on smooth surfaces that a road bike does. 

These categories represent different types of bikes, each with its own unique purpose. Which one you choose depends on the style of riding you enjoy and do most. 

The geometry of a gravel bike is longer and more relaxed than that of a road bike. The taller head tubes that enable a more relaxed position on gravel bikes often result in a sloping top tube that differs from the flatter design commonly found on road bikes. This allows for more relaxed steering, and although slightly less sharp on the road, it’s a huge help on off-road sections.  

Gravel bikes typically ride higher than road bikes, providing extra stability and increased comfort. With an elevated bottom bracket, they have more clearance for uneven surfaces, and generally have longer wheelbases for improved stability over rough terrain. 

Comparing the closest road-bike equivalent, the Endurace, to the Grail and Grizl, the Endurace has a significantly shorter wheelbase and chainstay, 990mm and 415mm in a size medium, respectively, versus the Grizl’s 1,037 mm and 425mm and Grail’s 1,057mm and 435mm.  

This means the Endurace boasts quicker, more agile handling while the Grizl and Grail are more stable, which is sorely needed on unstable gravel surfaces. 

Skinny 23 mm tires were once all the rage on the road, but modern science on rolling resistance shows slightly wider tires to be more optimal. Over the years, road bike tires have gotten wider, with 25 mm to 28 mm being the most common widths, and some riders opting up to 32mm, depending on the surface and conditions. 

Gravel bikes’ wider rims allow for wider tires, with 40 mm being the most common width. Many gravel riders find this the sweet spot between road efficiency and off-road grip. With ample tire clearance, many gravel bikes let you fit far wider tires if you choose. 

The Endurace comes standard with 32 mm tires, ideal for pavement, and the capacity to go as wide as 35 mm. Meanwhile the Grail comes with 40 mm tires standard, with clearance for 45 mm tires. The more rugged Grizl rolls out of the factory with 45 mm tires, but allows up to 50mm, allowing you to go nearly anywhere. 

Check out our guide on how to change wheels and tires with step-by-step instructions. 

Disc brakes are found on most road and gravel bikes offered today. On gravel bikes, hydraulic disc brakes are essential in that they provide that confidence-inspiring control and stopping power in less-than-ideal off-road conditions. And when it comes to tailoring the setup for different terrain, disc brakes are an essential aspect of gravel bikes’ versatility, making changing out wheel and tire combos effortless. 

If you’re looking for tips on how to brake more efficiently, our experts have it covered. 

Gearing configurations on road bikes fall within a fairly narrow range, usually a double chainring consisting of 39 or 42 teeth on the inner ring and 52 or 53 on the outer, although smaller compact options are also available. Standard cassettes fall in the range of 28-11 to 32-11 (and often come as big as 36-11, as on the Endurace), providing robust gearing for both flat courses and steep uphill riding. 

On gravel, buyers have more options, depending on their preferences. Two main options exist – single-chainring and double-chainring setups. Shimano’s gravel-specific GRX groupset offers both 1x and 2x setups. Depending on how tight you want the range, 1x configurations will likely have an 11-42 or 11-40 cassette paired with a 40 or 42-tooth chainring. On 2x setups, 48 and 31 tooth chainrings with an 11-34 cassette (standard on many Grail and Grizl models) are most common (Discover everything you need to know about gravel groupsets here.) 

For more information on how to find the right gear ratio for your bike check out this guide.  

While both road and gravel bikes utilize a drop bar design, there are subtle differences. The drops on gravel bikes tend to curve outward for a wider grip that gives you more control on rough surfaces, while the drops on road bikes tend to be a bit more streamlined for aerodynamics. 

Carbon fiber dominates handlebar design on road bikes. While carbon offers better damping, it can also reduce control due to flex. Aluminum is less susceptible to flex, and although it doesn’t provide the same damping, it’s common on gravel bikes. Most Grail models are the exception to this rule, coming standard with Canyon’s gravel-specific carbon cockpit. 

Because most, if not all of their lives are spent on pavement, road bikes have little need for suspension. Even most gravel bikes typically rely on a carbon fork, wider tires, and lower pressure to smooth out rougher terrain. But beefy adventurous models like the Grizl Trail and electric Grizl:ONfly are truly meant for off road, so Canyon engineers included a RockShox Rudy front-suspension fork with 30mm of travel to tame the trails. There’s virtually no limit to where these bikes can take you. 

Road bikes are designed to be fast and nimble; they’re not the ideal platform for bikepacking. Most road bikes have mounting points for two water bottle cages – a few allow you to mount a top-tube bag as well – but gravel bikes are designed to be carbon and aluminum pack mules.  

In addition to the typical mounting spots, models like the Grizl CF SLX 8 Di2 have mounting points on the front fork, allowing you to attach more gear. The Grail CF SLX 8 ATR adds to its versatility by adding mounting points both above and under the top tube.  

Due to the similar geometry and the versatility of gravel bikes, many riders wonder if they can upgrade theirs to perform as a road bike. The answer is: yes … and no. 

Perhaps the most limiting factor on road performance for a gravel bike is tire design and the associated drag. Many gravel tires are both wider and knobbier than standard road slicks. That’s easily solved by switching wheelsets or changing the knobby tires to slick ones, making a tremendous difference to speed on both paved flats and inclines. For most riders, this is enough to make their gravel bike into a fun road machine. 

If you’re looking to partake in faster-paced rides, the differences between a gravel and road bike become quickly apparent. Even with slick tires, a gravel bike’s gearing may make reaching and maintaining higher speeds more difficult.  

In short, gravel bikes can get close to emulating the performance of a road bike, but will never be a true substitute for raw speed on the road. 

So how should you choose between a gravel or a road bike? That depends very much on your needs and how much time you intend to spend off-road. A gravel bike can go anywhere a road bike can, but a road bike can’t go everywhere a gravel bike can. 



If you spend significant time bike packing or exploring unpaved roads and trails and prefer comfort over speed on asphalt, then a gravel bike is for you. But if you rarely venture off onto rougher terrain and keeping up with your roadie friends is important to you, you’re better off choosing a road model like the Endurace that will help you navigate mild gravel.  

Luckily, you don’t have to choose just one; why not get both? 

Alongside the ever-expanding calendar of gravel events, we also have a range of gravel bikes to quench your thirst for adventure no matter the terrain. Whether you're racing, training or just getting out the door and having a great time with mates, our Grail and Grizl gravel bikes are the tools for the job. 

Our extensive Grail range will have you covered from smooth asphalt to gravel tracks. 

Many models come equipped with Shimano’s gravel-specific GRX groupset, all in a confidence-inspiring ergonomic design. With a geometry engineered for all-important tire clearance in both carbon and aluminum designs, these bikes are designed to cover big distance off-road, fast. 

The Grizl bike that's ready to hit the trails when you are. While the Grail is the perfect bridge between rough and smooth, the Grizl prefers to be out in the wilderness away from civilization. Like the Grail, most Grizl models come equipped with Shimano GRX. 

Trying to decide between the Grizl and Grail? We break down the pros and cons of each. 

At Canyon, our road options are extensive, with models boasting Kona Ironman and Grand Tour winning designs. 

Our Endurace range provides that ‘all-day’ ride. With our less aggressive sport geometry, it ensures maximum rider comfort for those long days in the saddle and relieves pressure on your lower back and arms. 

The Canyon Ultimate range is our classic race bike and combines stiffness in a lightweight design in our more aggressive Sport Pro geometry. As at home on a race start line as it is on a long sportive, the Ultimate range provides the best of both worlds. 

Our wind tunnel-tested Aeroad range is precision-engineered to cut through the air with optimal efficiency and deliver optimal aero performance on the road. 

Choosing between the Aeroad, Ultimate, and Endurace is nearly an impossible task, but this artile weighs in on the dilemma. 

The Speedmax range represents our time-trial and triathlon bike range. Optimised for supreme aerodynamic performance and streamlined precision, the Speedmax offers long-distance comfort and comes complete with smart solutions for nutrition and hydration. 

The Inflite line of cyclocross bikes has dominated courses across the globe, including the world championships six times ridden by Mathieu van der Poel. Designed to rocket through the straights, be nimble in the corners, and rugged enough to handle both the outside elements and whatever the course designers can dream up.