It’s not just the dirt, it’s how you choose to ride it.
In a few short years, riding drop bars with big tires on surfaces other than asphalt has gone from a fringe cycling discipline to the main event. Whether you’re scrolling through race results, bikepacking blogs, or your Strava feed, gravel is what’s happening. This has brought a dizzying array of gravel bikes, all-road bikes, tire choices and options. For anyone considering a new bike it can be a lot to sort through. Let’s break it down.
The Rise of Mixed-Surface Riding
Gravel roads aren’t new. They’ve always been there, quietly threading through national forests, farmlands, and forgotten backroads. What is new is the surge of bikes purpose-built to tackle them. Sure, you could ride dirt on 25mm tires with rim brakes—people still do—but modern gravel bikes make it a lot more fun. Think high-volume tubeless tires, disc brakes, wider gear ranges, and geometry tweaks that keep you comfortable for hours, even on routes that were mountain bikes only just a few years ago.
And that brings us to all-road bikes.
While gravel bikes thrive when things get rough, allroad bikes are the bridge between fast road rides and light dirt adventures. They’re perfect for linking epic pavement stretches with a few smooth dirt trials. That’s all-road territory. It’s not about gnarly singletrack; it’s about versatility without sacrificing speed.
Defining the Mosaic Line
G-Series GT-1 45
Designed for events like Unbound Gravel and Mid South, the GT-1 45 is built for long days and rough routes. Think massive tire clearance up to 45c (even 48c on the integrated GT-1 i45), longer wheelbases, and geometry optimized for stability over chunky surfaces. It’s the bike you want when “gravel” means sharp flint, loose sand, or forgotten forest roads. It’s an exceedingly versatile, do-anything bike, but to fit those big tires it trades roadie handling and responsiveness for the comfort, grip and confidence to handle demanding off-road conditions.
G-Series All Road:GT-1 AR and GT-1 iAR
If your rides split roughly 50/50 between tarmac and tame dirt, then All Road is your jam. The GT-1 iAR feels road bike quick but with room for up to 35-40c tires. The geometry leans towards the quick and nimble end of the spectrum, with steeper angles and a shorter wheelbase, making perfect for riders who want that zippy road feel without worrying about the occasional gravel connector.
The Lines Can Get Blurry
A 700x45c tire is mighty capable, but some riders—and some rides—can warrant going even bigger. In the past few years we’ve seen pro racers running straight-up MTB tires in some especially demanding gravel events, and if your ideal gravel adventure involves bike packing say, the Denali Highway in Alaska (which we’ve done), you’ll want all the tire you can fit. For that, we offer the Mosaic GT-1X, designed with mounts for bags and clearance to fit up to 29.2.25 tires.
On the other end of the spectrum, there’s ‘fast gravel’. In 2024, Mosaic Team Rider Brennan Wertz chose to run his all-road GT-1 iAR with (admittedly fat) slicks for his Gravel National Championships win in Gering, Nebraska.
“…it [the GT-1 iAR] shines in a very special set of circumstances: traditional fast gravel courses, dry conditions or at least no peanut butter mud. Normally my go-to setup would be the GT-1 i45, with a larger knobby tire and a 1x drivetrain, but this iAR setup is one I really love racing…I rode it last year at the old SBT GRVL course, last year’s Gravel Worlds Nebraska, U.S. National Championships, and a Grasshopper Race called the Huffmaster Hopper. It’s just super versatile, with quicker handling, a tighter wheelbase, 2x groupset and gearing, it just rides like a big tire road bike.
The Real Question: What Do You Want to Ride?
Is your idea of a perfect ride a six-hour epic across rugged backcountry roads? Would you rather have more cush and grip than outright speed? Go with the GT-1 45. Do you love fast group rides and twisty road descents, but want the freedom to hit a few trails and buffed singletrack on the way home? All Road.
Of course, bikes aren’t limited by labels. The best bike is the one that matches your local terrain, your riding style, and yes, even your mood on any given day. It’s all about personal preferences and priorities.
Got questions about your next dream build? Reach out to your local Mosaic dealer or drop us a line. Let’s geek out over tire pressure, gear ratios, and all the good stuff that makes your next ride even better.
