vélo gravel

A gravel bike is designed to ride on all terrain types — tarmac, gravel, dirt tracks, white roads. Compared to a road bike, it has wider tyres (better grip and cushioning on varied terrain), a more stable and comfortable geometry, and in the Crosshill's case, hydraulic disc brakes that work in all weather conditions. It's slower than a pure road bike on tarmac, but it can go anywhere a road bike can't.

The Basque Country is well known for its rainfall — and the tracks and roads of the hinterland can be wet or muddy even in summer. Hydraulic disc brakes deliver consistent stopping power regardless of surface conditions, whereas standard rim brakes can lose 50–60% of their effectiveness on a wet rim.

In 4 hours from the Takamaka shop, some outstanding gravel itineraries are within reach: the Biarritz–Bidart–Guéthary loop via the inland country tracks (30–50km), the road toward Ainhoa and its sunken lanes through the Basque hinterland (60–80km depending on starting point), or the forest tracks toward Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle. The Takamaka team can build a custom itinerary based on your level and the day's conditions.

Shimano GRX is Shimano's component range specifically developed for gravel bikes — drivetrain, brakes, and derailleurs built for mixed terrain and wet conditions. GRX offers ergonomic levers for drop bars, derailleurs robust against mud and gravel, and gear ratios suited to steep gradients. It's the benchmark transmission on the gravel market — its presence on the Crosshill guarantees reliability and suitability for the Basque terrain.