We often hear that gravel bikes are just '90s mountain bikes, and just like back in the day, front suspension is starting to be seen on some of the more adventure/trail-orientated gravel bikes. But, just as back then, plenty of riders claim that the added weight and complexity are unnecessary on drop bar bikes. Having tested the Ribble Gravel Pro Ti with and without suspension, it got me thinking – rigid vs suspension fork, which is actually faster, and does the added comfort from a short travel fork provide a tangible benefit on the trail?
You may be thinking that being faster doesn't really make any difference to you or that it's not in the spirit of gravel, but I like to think of it in another way. For me, it's about making the most of my limited power to get the most from each ride. So a small gain in efficiency for an hour ride might not matter much, but it could mean on a long ride or multi-day bikepacking trip that you've more energy left to build a better shelter, or be able to ride further each day and get to see more on your trip.
