On his Instagram account there are almost more photos and videos of cycling than of Formula 1. Between two races, during his vacation or even to reconnoitre the circuit the following Sunday, Valtteri Bottas rides a bicycle. The Finnish driver of the Stake F1 Team dedicates himself more specifically to “gravel”, often in the company of his partner, the Australian cyclist Tiffany Cromwell.
The fashion segment
Like Valtteri Bottas, 75,000 French people fell in love with this type of bicycle last year, which represents an increase in sales of 33% compared to 2022. If of the total of 2.23 million new bicycles sold in 2023, Gravel remains a niche segment, it is one of the few growing segments of the bicycle market, along with road bikes. This fairly recent success is due both to its sporty design and to the fact that it responds very precisely to the needs of a clientele that loves nature and freedom.
“This type of bicycle fits into this trend of returning to nature, a demand for simplicity, aimed at traveling, to ride with friends,” summarizes Robin Gauthby, co-founder of the Trojan brand Ellipse.
After launching electric bicycles, this startup founded in 2020 launched the M1, a mechanical gravel bicycle. The latter today represents around 30% of Ellipse’s turnover.
“The Gravel is very popular because it is a bike to do everything. Whether it’s road trips, trails or cycling,” says Michel Whaff, development director at Intersport.
Under its Nakamura brand, the French sports group markets the Allroad 250, an aluminum gravel bicycle. Most giants in the sector also have them in their ranges, not counting specialized brands such as Trek, Origine or sports brands such as Look or Lapierre. This Dijon brand offers the Crosshill 2.0, also with an aluminum frame. Although they are slightly heavier than racing models, the relatively low weight of these bikes (around 12 kg) also attracts enthusiasts.
Strong on the trails
Aluminum, but even more so steel, absorbs impacts much better than the carbon of the most efficient racing bikes. It is no coincidence: “gravel” means gravel in English, a symbol of the stones that this type of bicycle finds on trails and roads.
Starting with American dirt and gravel roads. It is in the United States, where cyclists are very inclined to nature cycling, where gravel was born about fifteen years ago, a sportier version of VTC, all-terrain bicycles, without being a mountain bike with front suspension. The practice is now exported around the world.
Accessories and customization
One of the peculiarities of gravel is its customization. Naked or almost when purchased, it is possible to equip it for more comfortable daily use – with fenders or basket – or for cycle touring with saddlebags, front and rear. A customization praised by all fans, as a great plus of the gravel bike, in addition to its comfort.
“It came to fill a gap,” explains Olivier Moucheboeuf of Union Sport&Cycle, “by offering versatile bikes that allow you to do things, transport things.”
“They also attract a clientele who no longer want to ride a road bike because they no longer feel safe on the road,” laments Olivier Moucheboeuf. “They want to ride a road bike, but on natural trails, not too technical.” “We’re not invading mountain biking, but the level of reach is much greater.”
A marketing concept
“They are a bit like hikers 4.0,” laughs Olivier Moucheboeuf, remembering the touring bikes of the 70s or 80s.
Behind this “4.0”, we must also understand an entire marketing process, which leads to high prices. If it does not reach the price of a road bike (about 2,000 euros on average), the gravel bike is destined to be high-end.
Its average price is around 1,400 euros without accessories. This is the same as for a basic electric bicycle (the average price of the latter was 1,967 euros last year). However, with a price of 1,400 euros, the gravel is still more expensive than the bike purchased last year by the French, with an average price of 978 euros (mechanical and electrical combined).
Source: BFM TV
