6 Gravel Racing Tips For Beginners + Mistakes To Avoid!

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  • čas přidán 11. 07. 2024
  • 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.
    Don't forget to check out BikeRadar Gravel Diaries Season 1 👉 • BikeRadar Gravel Diaries
    Have you signed up for a gravel race or event this year? Make sure to tell us in the comments!
    BikeRadar Diaries full playlist
    → • BikeRadar Diaries
    Top 5 | Gravel Race Bikes Grinduro Wales 2021
    → • Top 5 | Gravel Race Bi...
    Felix’s Gear of The Year 2021
    → • Road Bike Gear of The ...
    Felix's 200km Icelandic Gravel Race | Poor Pacing, Hard Racing & Epic Scenery
    → • Felix's 200km Icelandi...
    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
    Listen to the BikeRadar Podcast
    → www.bikeradar.com/bikeradar-p...
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    BikeRadar is supported by Mountain Biking UK and Cycling Plus Magazine -For more information and to subscribe please visit
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    #GravelRace #BikeRadarDiaries #GravelCycling
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Komentáře • 31

  • @bikeradar
    @bikeradar  Před 2 lety +5

    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
    @Simte Před 2 lety +7

    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.

    • @bikeradar
      @bikeradar  Před 2 lety +1

      That's a great tip, and one which comes with experience. How about we go to Colombia for a gravel training camp?

  • @jonathanzappala
    @jonathanzappala Před 2 lety +1

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

  • @matcharlie2379
    @matcharlie2379 Před 2 lety +4

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

    • @bikeradar
      @bikeradar  Před 2 lety

      Brilliant! Something to look forward to 👏

  • @biscuitdelicious5410
    @biscuitdelicious5410 Před 2 lety +3

    Great tips!

  • @robbchastain3036
    @robbchastain3036 Před 2 lety +1

    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? :)

  • @parenthlete
    @parenthlete Před 2 lety +1

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

    • @bikeradar
      @bikeradar  Před 2 lety

      Thanks for watching! Keep your eye out for more gravel diaries episodes this year 👍

  • @jamiefarrell6496
    @jamiefarrell6496 Před 2 lety +2

    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 :-)

    • @bikeradar
      @bikeradar  Před 2 lety

      Those are some great tips! Thanks for sharing. We've all been there... Always check the essentials, wheels, tyres, axles for example are easily forgotten in a rush!

    • @jorgmischke5839
      @jorgmischke5839 Před 2 lety +1

      Especially: Be friendly!

  • @DaveCM
    @DaveCM Před 2 lety +1

    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.

  • @cb6866
    @cb6866 Před 2 lety +3

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

    • @bikeradar
      @bikeradar  Před 2 lety +2

      Very good 👏 Thanks for watching!

  • @jeffreydavis6177
    @jeffreydavis6177 Před 2 lety +3

    Fuel, fuel, fuel, fuel

  • @gladand
    @gladand Před 2 lety +1

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

    • @bikeradar
      @bikeradar  Před 2 lety +1

      We're jealous! Hope you found some of our tips useful ✌️

    • @gladand
      @gladand Před 2 lety

      I most certainly found all of them very useful! :)

  • @davidadamus177
    @davidadamus177 Před 6 měsíci

    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.

  • @DaveCM
    @DaveCM Před 2 lety

    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.)

  • @jonathanbenn2241
    @jonathanbenn2241 Před 2 lety +1

    D2R2, MA, USA.

  • @CareFreeCommuting
    @CareFreeCommuting Před 2 lety +2

    Figs are the best.

    • @bikeradar
      @bikeradar  Před 2 lety +1

      All gravel event organisers need to see this 👀

  • @ARGMTNT
    @ARGMTNT Před 2 lety

    Tummysticks !

  • @jempanuncialman9361
    @jempanuncialman9361 Před rokem

    2023

  • @dmv4554
    @dmv4554 Před 2 lety +3

    Oh and remember to pedal. These are pretty obvious tips

    • @bikeradar
      @bikeradar  Před 2 lety +2

      They could be obvious to some but we've made plenty of these mistakes at some point! Thanks for watching 👍