Cycling club ADFC: Gravel bike trend growing in Bavaria

They roll on gravel, forest and field paths: Gravel bikes - translated as "gravel bikes" - are increasingly in demand in Saxony, according to the ADFC cycling club. The bikes are regarded as all-rounders between racing bikes and mountain bikes, fast on asphalt and robust on unpaved paths.

While the high number of bikes sold for all types during corona is over, "but in the sporty bike segment, especially for racing bikes and gravel bikes, a robust upswing has been observed for some time," said Konrad Krause, Managing Director of the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) in Saxony.

It is also noticeable that more and more women are discovering the trend for themselves. According to the ADFC, many tours that used to be done on trekking bikes are now being completed on gravel bikes with bikepacking bags.

The new 320-kilometre gravel route "Rockhead" had its first full season this year. According to the Oberlausitz marketing company, around 200 starter packs were sold and the GPS route was downloaded more than 7,000 times. The starter packs include map material, a logbook and extras such as a water bottle or cell phone holder.

More suitable for everyday use than racing bikes

According to the ADFC, the appeal lies in the versatility: "Gravel biking means cycling on rather unpaved, not too steep paths," said Krause. Gravel bikes are all-rounders for sport and leisure, but they can also be used on the way to work. The bikes are more suitable for everyday use than racing bikes or mountain bikes.

According to the ADFC, the typical user group is between 20 and 49 years old, with an average age of 37. Popular areas include Saxon Switzerland and the Ore Mountains, where varied routes are attractive.

Saxony above the national average

A study on cycle tourism in Saxony commissioned by the Saxon Ministry of Tourism showed that just under one in ten cyclists (9.4 percent) used a gravel bike last year, while the proportion of day visitors was 10.4 percent - higher than the national average of 6.8 percent.

According to the study, cycle tourism generates around 568 million euros in revenue for the state each year - including expenditure on hotels, restaurants and other tourist services. The study presented by the state government recommends, among other things, better marketing of existing routes, cross-border cooperation and new offers for mountain bikers and gravel bikers.

Strict rules apply in Saxon Switzerland, and there have hardly been any conflicts with gravel biking as there are with mountain biking on routes. "As the routes are exclusively on wide forest paths or asphalt roads, the impact of gravel bikers is rather low," said the national park administration. Problems are caused more by isolated downhill riders off the trails.

In the long term, experts do not see gravel biking as a fad, but rather as an addition to the diversity of cycling. "In addition to pedelecs, the gravel bike will probably be seen more and more often on leisure tours," predicted the ADFC.