6 Gravel Racing Tips For Beginners + Mistakes To Avoid!

Have you just signed up to your first gravel cycling event or even race? Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to try it out? We’re going to share our top 6 tips we wished we’d known the first time we crossed the start line.

Gravel racing is more popular than ever, with many races oversubscribed, and big names competing at pro level races like Outbound.

In 2021, BikeRadar joined the gravel gang, as Jack, Robyn & Felix competed in gravel events across the UK as part of our gravel diaries series.

Have you signed up for a gravel race or event this year? Make sure to tell us in the comments!

BikeRadar Diaries full playlist

Top 5 | Gravel Race Bikes Grinduro Wales 2021

Felix’s Gear of The Year 2021

Felix's 200km Icelandic Gravel Race | Poor Pacing, Hard Racing & Epic Scenery

Contents:
00:00 Introduction
00:52 Fuel Correctly
03:04 Embrace Gravel Culture
04:15 Pace Your Effort
05:42 Trust Your Gear
06:50 No Right Bike
08:04 Making Videos Will Destroy Your Time

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[bikeradar]

Have you recently signed up to a gravel event for 2022? Let us know in the comments and why not give us your tips too, we'd love to see them!

[Simte]

My best recommendations is to pick paths adequately, terrain makes the difference. I live in Colombian and training in some of these climbs give you perspective. But at the end of the day, having fun is what mostly matters in gravel.

[jonathanzappala]

You and me both on the pro stealth Jack. Other saddles before were fine, but it was a match made in heaven.

[parenthlete]

Like the BikeRadar team - interesting, smart and well put together videos

[DaveCM]

One piece of advice about looking at the elevation profile: On gravel it is usually always harder than the profile makes you believe. Early on, I learned that lesson the hard way. I'd see an 8 mile climb with what seems a reasonable grade average and under estimate it. First of all, climbing on gravel is harder. Secondly, the condition of the gravel makes a big difference. Lastly, gravel roads have much more steep pitches. An 8% average can have a lot of areas with 18%. So, I had to learn to not approach a climb as I would if I were on pavement. (Sorry for the 2nd post.)

[matcharlie]

Just signed my wife and I up for Gravel X Sherwood Pines.

[DaveCM]

I love gravel races. I get through them by just having fun and making new friends. I am 52 years old and a disabled veteran. I am in no threat to even podium for my age bracket. So, my goal is always to not finish last and to have fun. I have only one DNF and that is because I was having a bad day and pushed too hard on a long and very fast descent. I had an epic crash and messed up my front wheel. I only had 24 miles left to go. The only thing that makes me feel a little better is that other DNFs simply decided they didn't want to go any further or they turned back after the first real climb. So, I made it much farther than the other DNFs and only stopped because the badly warped front wheel was terrifying at speed.

[robbchastain]

Fun tips for absolute domination and it is definitely nice to snap some photos of the experience--scenery, people on bikes, whatever, if you can spare a moment or two. And what about a pizza reflector as mud guard? Maybe for the advanced tips vid? :)

[gladand]

Preparing to ride the Gravel, Grit 'n Grind in Sweden.
Three stages of swedish goodness!

[jamiefarrell]

If you have the time, I'd suggest getting to the race location a day or two ahead of time and recce'ing some of the route on your bike, always helpful. Plus it gives you time to find the LBS and pick up the crucial items you'd forgotten, in your excitement (in my case, tyres...truly)
You can also check out the trip between where you're staying and where the race is taking place, without having to panic about arriving on time (and not being sure where you're going)on the morning of the event.
I found a hydration pack (and all the pockets) super useful. YMMV.
Most importantly, be nice to the volunteers who are giving up their weekend so you can have an awesome experience :-)

[cb]

Thanks for this.. during my first gravel race, I learned that my bike had reverse....as everybody passed me ...Peace

[davidadamus]

Would it be good to use a suspension stem and seatpost for a gravel event? Was thinking about doing a 90 mile, 9000ft of climbing gravel race. Gravel in that area tends to be rough.

[gcsmowfo]

The guy at 1:32 looks like a young John Lyndon, aka Johnny Rottten, aka that bloke from the sex pistols. 😂

[dmv]

Oh and remember to pedal. These are pretty obvious tips