In recent years gravel bikes have become increasingly popular, it's a new and versatile style of riding packed full of multi-terrain adventure.

But what exactly are gravel bikes, and what does gravel riding entail? To keep it really simple, gravel bikes are drop bar bikes (like many road bikes) however they have lower gearing and thicker tyres so they can ride over a variety of surfaces.

You could say it depicts a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike. This means you can combine routes containing trails, single track, forest roads, bridleways, and byways. The key here is that a gravel bike is capable of riding on these types of terrain much faster than a road or mountain bike.

BikeRadar's video "What even is a gravel bike" provides an in-depth overview of what gravel riding in the UK actually is.

The video includes: Gravel bike frame materials, Geometry, Comfort (seatpost, tyres, handlebars, frame features), Wheels, Tyres, Gearing options and Accessory mounts.

An overview of gravel riding when compared to road bikes, mountain bikes and cyclocross bikes Watch the full video below on BikeRadar's YouTube channel.