As cyclists, we’ve all heard of the classic N+1 conundrum, where N is the number of bikes you currently own – essentially implying that your arsenal of two-wheeled machines is never truly complete. There are just too many adventures to be had, road or trail, to warrant only having one bike, right?
Well, not anymore. With the dawn of adventure bikes, gravel grinders and all-rounders, we may have just found a solution to the N+1 conundrum. Not only will they save both your pocket and space in the garage, but they’ll also facilitate the adventure of a lifetime, one that can traverse any and all kinds of terrain that comes your way.
What is an"All Road" bike?
For riding far and fast, the road bike is the undisputed king. For ragging the trails at breakneck speeds, you can’t argue with a full-suspension mountain bike rig. But what if your planned adventure lies somewhere in the grey area in between? A ride that will take you along roads, surfaces and terrain unknown and untravelled.
That’s where an ‘all-road’ bike comes in, a bike that strikes a fine balance between road and mountain bike – a true all-rounder. Combining the looks of a road bike, the tyre clearance of a mountain bike (35mm plus), disc brakes and numerous eyelets in the frame for adventure-going additions, these bikes are perfect for touring, off-road adventuring or good ol’ simple weekend riding.
In summary, an all-road bike is a fast, comfortable and truly practical machine – the perfect companion for everyone from intrepid, seasoned adventurers to newbies stoking the early fires of wanderlust.
Why should you choose to go All Road?
As more and more manufacturers jump on the all-road bike trend, the choice of machine has increased tenfold. The days of bodging your old road bike to conquer off-road terrain are gone; there is now a wealth of optimised all-road bikes right at your fingertips.
But why, exactly, would one choose to subscribe to the one bike philosophy and go all-road? Well, first of all, it saves a large amount of money. With just one bike to purchase, maintain and ride, you’ll find yourself spending a whole lot less on extra gear for each of your specialist steeds.
They’re also super flexible and can be ridden almost anywhere, facilitating all kinds of adventure. With an all-road bike at your side – or between your legs – there are truly no limits to the journey ahead. Fancy heading down that dicey-looking bridle path? Go for it, your disc brakes and 35mm squishy tyres will lap it up.
Practicality is another benefit. With only one bike in your arsenal you’ll find yourself with a massive amount of space that was otherwise covered in bike bits. What you turn this space into is up to you. An indoor cycling pain cave? Perhaps a shrine for your new all-road bike?
Our top picks
At Bicycle Chain we offer a vast range of all-road bikes, from the speedy all-round roadsters to those more akin to city-faring hybrid bikes.
The Trek Checkpoint embodies the term ‘all-road’ in every fibre of its design. Boasting impressive tyre clearance, hydraulic discs and sleek, super comfy geometry, the Checkpoint is a beast on just about any terrain. Allied Cycle Works’ aptly named ‘Allroad’ is a very similar offering, boasting the same kind of multi-surface components. Where the Allroad stands out from the rest, however, is in its customisable build; Allied’s custom builds are the stuff of every cyclist’s dreams.
Specialized are experts when it comes to the all-road discipline, awash with gravel grinders and intrepid adventure bikes. The Roubaix and Diverge models are two of their standouts, taking the race-winning design of their road-specific cousins and applying it to a much more compliant and bump-absorbing design. The result is a bike that’s just at home on the road, as it is off-road.
When it comes to diversity, however, nothing can quite beat the all-road range from Giant. From their more hybrid-looking Fastroad and Toughroad models to their racy looking Defy, Contend and Toughroad GX models, each is adept at crushing just about any terrain you can possibly throw at them.
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Fancy jumping on the all-road bandwagon? Then make sure you pop into one of our stores to see which bikes is the most ideal for the kind of adventures you have in mind.
