>>2016602>What is the real difference between gravel bikes and CX shit?CX tires have more aggressive tread because courses include sand and mud.
The tires are much narrower, 33mm, compared to gravel which is usually 42-55mm.
CX bikes have a higher bottom bracket for popping over obstacles. Touring and now gravel bikes traditionally have a low bottom bracket for stability.
CX cranks traditionally are 46-36 which are quite close gears and allow fast shifts under difficult rolling muddy hills. They also don't use particularly wide cassettes because the riders are punchier.
CX bikes are more commonly pure race bikes, only used by athletes in the sport, much like time trial bikes, as opposed to gravel bikes which tend to be marketed as all rounders for casuals.
Although, many CX models like Kona's Jake the Snake and Gunnar Crosshairs were designed and marketed as being good for light touring and commuting etc, much like gravel bikes are.
