Can a Gravel Bike Keep Up with a Road Bike? I Tried It

Can a gravel bike actually keep up with a road bike? I took the Colnago G4-X out to Panda’s Ponies — one of LA’s best group rides — to find out. The last time I was there, Mathieu van der Poel was in the group. This time… I showed up on a gravel bike. From smooth climbs to broken pavement, steep streets like Baxter, and everything in between — this ride turned into the perfect real-world test. And the results? Closer than I expected. In this video: Gravel bike vs road bike performance (real ride data) Strava segment comparison (Panda’s Ponies climb) Riding steep LA streets (Baxter Street 24%) What works (and what doesn’t) on a gravel setup Why the Colnago G4-X might make more sense than you think If your rides look anything like this — fast group rides, rough roads, steep climbs — this might change how you think about gravel bikes. Bike Setup: Bike: Colnago G4-X Drivetrain: SRAM mullet (48t / 10-52) Wheels: ENVE AR40 Tires: Continental TerraCompetition 45mm Huge thanks to Mitch Boyer and Dilan for the ride 🤝 Mitch: https://www.instagram.com/mitchwayneboyer/ Dilan: https://www.instagram.com/brutal_dilan/ 📩 Get in touch: https://outdoorbros.com 00:00 Where is MVDP? 00:17 What is Panda’s Ponies? 00:30 Riding in LA is Different 00:53 Plan for the Day 01:08 Who is Mitch Boyer? 01:40 The G4-X Build Setup 02:02 First Road Climb on a Gravel Bike 02:57 When a Fast Gravel Bike Starts to Make Sense 03:17 Baxter Street (24% Climb) 03:56 The Views 04:29 Strava Data: Gravel vs Road 04:55 What Works (and What Doesn’t) 05:51 Can a Gravel Bike Actually Keep Up? #gravelbike #roadcycling #cycling #colnago #cyclinglife