I’m a casual cyclist. I've logged plenty of long rides but I don't get all kitted out like a pro. I just like the wind against my face and the meditative exercise that comes with pumping my legs on two wheels. And apparently, I'm not alone. The New York Times reported in mid-May that the U.S. was facing a shortage of bicycles as anxiety over public transportation and a desire to avoid gyms sent the demand for bikes surging.

It seems like most entry-level city hybrid bikes are hard to come by these days. Couple that with the desire to get out into nature after so many months of being cooped up indoors, and it's no wonder we're hearing more about gravel biking. It's been around for over a decade, but I'll admit, I'd never heard of it until about now. The idea is simple and has a youthful rebel quality. It's essentially riding your bike off a paved surface—country lanes, fire and access roads and power-line trails—not unlike when we were kids. And during a summer of social-distancing, stringing together various trails far away from standard streets and busy thoroughfares seems like just what we need.

What's more, the biking industry is running with this trend and introducing all-terrain bikes built to tackle everything from cobblestone roads to rocky trails. These drop-bar machines usually have a slightly longer wheelbase than your standard road bike, are configured for a more upright position with lower bottom brackets for stability and clearance for wider tires. They're sometimes dubbed adventure bikes, all-road or all-terrain bikes, but most commonly and technically referred to as gravel bikes. So ... who's hitting the trails with me?