There is a direct line that starts with the early mountain bikes pioneered in the ’70s and runs through the rigid XC rigs of the 80s straight to today’s gravel bikes. Many of the same geometry principles still hold, but now we benefit from better tyres, bigger wheels and disc brakes. Flat-bar gravel bikes, in particular, carry forward the distinctly American cycling tradition—though they can be polarising.
Why not just ride a mountain bike? Won’t your hands hurt on long rides? Isn’t it less aero? Why are you riding a hybrid? Fair enough, maybe, probably, because it’s fun. Flat bar gravel bikes occupy a niche within a niche, which is quite a lot of niches. But, they really are fun to ride. Will a flat bar gravel bike replace your drop bar bike? Perhaps, perhaps not. It depends where you ride.
