![]() ![]() Pay attention to your gearing setup to give yourself options both on climbs and the flat. Make sure you practise with your chosen setup before the event, whether that’s different components or a more aggressive bike fit.įor longer endurance races, consider using clip-on aero bars (if permitted) for additional hand-position options and to reduce drag. Whether it’s a relatively short race or multiple days on the bike, you’ll need to be happy with your bike position in order to get the most out of your ride and stay comfortable. Investing in a tubeless setup can give you increased puncture protection and will also allow you to run lower tyre pressures for better grip. If you haven’t yet ditched your inner tubes, consider switching to tubeless tyres. There’s plenty of choice when it comes to gravel rubber, including different wheel sizes and a broad range of tyre widths, so take a look at our guide to the best gravel tyres to narrow down your options. Think about how suited your tyres are to the course: is it likely to be wet or dry, rough or smooth, and how much is off-road vs road? ![]() Wilderness Trail BikesĪs your main contact with the ground, your tyres are the single component that can make the biggest difference to your ride. Consider the terrain you’re likely to encounter and choose your tyres accordingly. There are three popular formats when it comes to gravel racing, each taking elements from other disciplines. ![]() You’re unlikely to find cash pay-outs for podium places at gravel races, but many do have quirky trophies. Unlike road racing or cross-country racing, gravel races don’t tend to be categorised by ability, so you’re much more likely to see a mass start rather than separate races for ages, genders and bike types. Although the racing is very competitive at the pointy end (especially with the recent influx of current and ex-pro road cyclists at many popular races), there’s still a keen emphasis on participation, regardless of speed. From day-long races over relatively smooth gravel roads to enduro courses peppered with short and spicy singletrack, there’s something to suit everyone.Īs a relatively new racing discipline, gravel racing has a strong ethos of inclusivity and fun. Gravel races are rapidly gaining popularity across the world with a variety of formats, each offering a different flavour and designed to suit a range of riding styles. However, gravel racing sits somewhere between road, cyclocross and mountain bike racing, and tends to take place on open gravel roads, dirt double tracks and snaking singletrack, often with some stretches of paved road to link off-road segments. Defining any part of gravel riding can be difficult and, with such varied formats, terrain and approaches, that’s the case for gravel racing, too. ![]()
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