Lachlan Morton gives his opinion on suspension vs wide tires in gravel: "There is not just one solution"

The massive use of the new suspension fork that Canyon has developed with DT Swiss by the cyclists sponsored by the German brand in The Traka, a race that took place last weekend, has renewed the debate about the need for this component in gravel bikes. A debate in which one of the gravel stars, Lachlan Morton, also joined.

The debate on the use of suspension in gravel is renewed and where the specialty is heading

Little by little, the use of suspension forks in gravel is becoming more normalized. The presence of routes with increasingly difficult sections and the long distances that are usually faced in this discipline have made the search for maximum comfort a priority, although, in competition, always seeking a balance with the ability to pedal fast.

In this aspect, two trends have been followed. On the one hand, the use of increasingly wider tires. An escalation in which there are even some who use mountain bike tires that have practically left any tire below 700x40c in oblivion.

RECOMENDADO

We tested the Favero Assioma PRO MX-2: the lightest power meter on the market is very versatile, durable, and boasts autonomy

Change wheels if you want to transform your bike's behavior

What watt/kilo ratio do you need to have to try to win a Tour?

What bike size do you need? Here's how to find out

How does age affect performance and recovery?

How long cyclists can be pushed when handed a sticky bottle?

On the other hand, there are those who opt for the use of suspension to absorb the irregularities of the terrain, which allows not having to resort to such large tires since, although theory says that wider tires reduce rolling resistance, the reality is that it also adds a good dose of weight to the bikes, reducing maneuverability and forcing manufacturers to build bikes adapted to those larger tires.

During The Traka, one of the leading gravel specialists, Lachlan Morton, did not hesitate to express his opinion on the matter, making it clear that both suspension forks and larger tires are seeking the same goal. However, he pointed out, "You don't necessarily get a great traction gain by using a larger tire. In a way, you lose something at really high speeds. I'm sure you could probably get away with fewer tires if you have suspension."

In any case, Morton also pointed out that it all depends on each specific route and the preferences of each cyclist, "There is no single solution. You could compete on four different circuits and there would be four different configurations that would be better," while adding that it is part of the essence of this discipline, "It's nice when you look at the route and make decisions based on what the route is doing, what your body is doing, and then what your plans are for the race.".

However, it is curious that for The Trak, Lachlan Morton did not choose either option, as his bike, a Cannondale SuperX Lab71, was equipped with 42mm tires in the front and 44mm in the rear, generous but contained measurements compared to what is becoming common.