More adventure. More places to ride. More fun with friends.
There’s something special about getting on a bike and leaving the traffic behind. It's one of the reasons we love mountain biking, and it's also why we've become such big fans of gravel riding.
Gravel riding combines some of the best parts of road cycling and mountain biking. You get the freedom to cover serious distances, the adventure of exploring places you might otherwise never see, and the opportunity to enjoy the ride without constantly worrying about cars.
And thanks to the evolution of modern gravel bikes, there are fewer limits than ever to where you can go.
It's a More Social Way to Ride
One of our favorite things about gravel riding is how social it can be.
On the road, group rides often mean riding in a paceline, keeping your eyes on the wheel in front of you and concentrating on traffic. Mountain biking is different. Singletrack trails spread riders out, and differences in technical ability and fitness often dictate everyone's pace.
Gravel riding finds a happy medium.
Wide gravel roads, rail trails, and carriage paths allow riders to travel side by side, have conversations, and actually enjoy the company of the people they're riding with. There's less pressure to maintain a particular speed and more opportunity to take in the scenery, stop for a snack, or explore an unexpected turn.
It's a great way to ride with friends of different abilities without feeling like you're constantly chasing or waiting for someone.
Adventure Without Limits
Perhaps the biggest attraction of gravel riding is the freedom to explore.
A road bike generally keeps you on pavement. A mountain bike is happiest on trails. A modern gravel bike can comfortably handle pavement, dirt roads, crushed stone, carriage paths, and even some easier singletrack.
That versatility opens up an entirely different world of riding.
You can leave your house on pavement, connect to a gravel road, explore miles of dirt, and return home without ever thinking twice about the changing surfaces beneath your tires.
Gravel bikes make it possible to ride farther, explore more, and discover places you might never have considered accessible by bicycle.
Modern Gravel Bikes Have Changed Everything
Today's gravel bikes have evolved dramatically from the early days of simply putting wider tires on a road bike.
Manufacturers have developed bikes specifically designed for mixed terrain, balancing comfort, efficiency, stability, and handling. Many of the advancements have come directly from mountain bike technology.
Here are some of the innovations that make modern gravel bikes so capable:
Wider tires and more clearance. Many modern gravel bikes accommodate tires up to 50–55mm wide, with some offering even more clearance. Wider tires provide more traction, comfort, and confidence on loose and uneven surfaces, especially when running tubeless at appropriate pressures.
More stable geometry. Longer wheelbases and lower bottom brackets help create a stable, planted feel on loose surfaces and rough descents. Thoughtful frame geometry allows that added stability without sacrificing responsive handling.
Better handlebars. Wider handlebars, flared drops, and more compliant materials offer additional control and multiple comfortable hand positions. These features help reduce hand, arm, and shoulder fatigue on longer rides.
Built-in compliance. Modern frame designs, carbon layups, seatposts, and other components are engineered to absorb vibration and reduce the punishment your body takes over miles of rough surfaces. Your hands, back, and butt will appreciate the difference.
More versatile gearing. Modern 1x drivetrains offer wide gear ranges with simple operation and fewer components. With the right cassette and chainring combination, riders can tackle steep dirt climbs while maintaining enough gearing for fast paved sections. Traditional 2x setups remain a great option for riders who want closer gear spacing and a broad overall range.
Dropper seatposts. Borrowed from mountain biking, dropper posts let riders lower their saddle from a handlebar-mounted control, making steep descents and technical sections easier and more confidence-inspiring.
Suspension options. Short-travel suspension forks and suspension stems help absorb bumps and vibrations on rougher terrain, improving comfort and control without turning a gravel bike into a mountain bike.
The result is a category of bikes that is more capable, more comfortable, and more versatile than ever before.
Finding Great Gravel Routes Has Never Been Easier
One of the traditional challenges of gravel riding was figuring out where to go.
Unlike road cycling, where nearly every street is mapped, finding interconnected gravel roads and dirt routes used to require a fair amount of local knowledge and exploration.
Today, route-planning platforms like Ride with GPS and Gravelmap.com make discovering new rides much easier.
You can search routes created by other riders, review distances and elevation profiles, identify unpaved roads, and build your own adventures.
Of course, not every route labeled gravel is suitable for every rider or bike, so it's still important to research the terrain and confirm access before heading out.
But with so many tools available, there's never been a better time to explore.
Some of the Best Gravel Riding Is Right in Our Backyard
Living in northern New Jersey, we're fortunate to have access to an incredible variety of gravel riding, from local mixed-surface adventures to some of the best carriage-road networks in the Northeast.
The Gravel Factory to Haverstraw
One of our favorite local options is riding the gravel routes along the Hudson River corridor toward Haverstraw. It's a great example of how you can combine pavement, dirt, and gravel into a rewarding adventure without having to drive hours to get started. Link to route here.
Westchester, Putnam County, and Cold Spring, NY
Just across the Hudson, Westchester and Putnam counties offer a variety of mixed-surface riding opportunities. Head farther north toward Cold Spring and you'll discover beautiful scenery, challenging climbs, and plenty of opportunities to put together longer adventure rides.
Bedminster and New Jersey Horse Country
The Bedminster area and surrounding Somerset County countryside offer some fantastic gravel riding. Quiet country roads, rolling hills, horse farms, and agricultural landscapes make this one of our favorite regions for getting away from traffic and enjoying long miles in the saddle.
New Paltz and the Shawangunks, NY
About an hour and fifteen minutes from our area, the Shawangunk region is one of the true gems of Northeast gravel riding.
With more than 100 miles of interconnected carriage roads and unpaved routes across the broader region, riders can put together everything from a relaxed afternoon outing to an epic all-day adventure.
It's possible to create rides approaching 80 miles with little to no pavement, depending on the route and trail access.
The combination of spectacular scenery, challenging climbs, smooth carriage roads, and seemingly endless route options makes this one of our absolute favorite places to ride a gravel bike.
You Don't Have to Be a Racer to Love Gravel
Another thing we love about gravel riding is that it doesn't have to be competitive.
Sure, gravel racing has exploded in popularity, and there are plenty of events for riders looking to push their limits. But that's only one part of the experience.
Gravel riding can be a leisurely spin with friends, a fitness ride, an all-day exploration, or a bikepacking adventure.
You don't need to chase personal records or worry about average speed. Sometimes the best gravel rides are the ones where you take an unfamiliar turn, discover a great view, and stop for coffee along the way.
The Bottom Line: It's About Having More Places to Ride
At the Bicycle Workshop, our mission has always been simple: To get more people riding bikes and make more places for you to ride them.
Gravel riding fits perfectly into that philosophy.
It gets us away from traffic, brings people together, and opens up an incredible network of roads, trails, and destinations that might otherwise go unexplored.
And with today's gravel bikes, you no longer have to choose between comfort, efficiency, and capability. You can have a bike that does a little bit of everything and does it remarkably well.
Whether you're a road cyclist looking to escape traffic, a mountain biker interested in covering more ground, or someone simply looking for a new way to enjoy riding, gravel might be exactly what you're looking for.
Stop by the Bicycle Workshop and talk gravel with us. We can help you find the right bike, choose the right tires and equipment, and point you toward some of our favorite places to ride.
Because sometimes the best rides start where the pavement ends.
