How to convert a gravel bike into a road bike

What is the difference between a gravel bike and a road bike?

The difference between a gravel bike and a road bike is “geometry” and “wheels/tires”. There will also be differences in shifting and cranks, as some models have a single front gear shift.

Since the geometry cannot be changed, it is possible to convert a gravel bike into a road bike by customizing the wheels, tires, and gears to make it more like a road bike.

The wheels and tires are particularly effective, and by simply changing between “road set” and “gravel set” depending on the road to be ridden, a gravel bike can be upgraded to a versatile bike that can be used for both gravel and road riding.

Customize to make it a road bike

Changing to road wheels

Gravel wheels and road wheels are made differently because they are intended for different riding purposes. Road wheels are designed to be “light and aerodynamic,” while gravel wheels are designed to be "fitted with thick tires that won’t break down on rough roads.

Since the standard wheels on gravel bikes are “wide-rimmed and sturdy (heavier)” with gravel in mind, it is recommended that wheels be replaced if you want to convert your bike to a road bike. You can save several hundred grams of weight just by replacing the wheels.

Many modern disc brake wheels are designed for both road and gravel use, so if you replace the wheels with road wheels that have a rim inner width of about 20 mm, you can upgrade to a gravel bike that can be used on both road and gravel by simply changing the tires. This is a great way to upgrade to a more versatile gravel bike.

If you replace the wheels with deep-rimmed disc wheels, they will be more racy and more similar to road bikes.

Replacing Road Tires

On a bicycle, tires have a major impact on the ride. Gravel bikes are often fitted with thicker tires of around 37-40C, while 25C for clinchers and 28C for tubeless are the major tires for road bikes.

Although it is possible to change tires without changing gravel wheels, gravel bikes have a wide tire clearance to allow for the installation of larger tires, so if a thinner tire such as 25C is used, the clearance with the frame will be unnaturally open, making the bike look a little less like a road bike. It will not look like a road bike at all.

For example, on a gravel bike with a maximum clearance of 700-45C, a tire as thick as 32C or 35C will fit better visually.

Modern tubeless tires are available in lightweight 30C and 32C models, so you can convert your bike to a road bike without sacrificing ride or appearance.

If it’s a front single, I’d like to make it a front double if possible.

Some gravel bikes may come as a single front single on the finished bike. A front single is fine, but a front double will allow for finer gear changes on paved roads.

However, to convert a front single to a front double, you must

1. left lever (replaced for double)
2. front derailleur
3. crankset for front double
4. wire set for front derailleur

The disadvantage is that the cost is quite high, since it is necessary to additionally prepare a 1. front derailleur 2. In addition, the weight will also increase by using a front double.

In this sense, when converting a single-front gravel bike to a road bike, it is acceptable to just "make it a double-front bike if there is room in the budget.