Team buycycle is pretty proud right now. A few weeks ago, four of us successfully completed their first ever gravel race. For some of them it was a piece of cake (maybe because a Vincent, for example, had already mastered the Ötztaler bike marathon...), for Nic on the other hand... well. He learned a lot. At least on the 70 kilometers he rode out of the 100 km race. But we wouldn't be buycycle and Nic wouldn't be Nic if we didn't share his experiences and lessons that he learned the hard way with you. For all those who love Gravel and who maybe have been thinking about doing a first race for a while... Here are the most important tips for your first Gravel race. So that you can not only finish it, but also really enjoy it.
Lesson 1: Set your own pace.
Nic quickly realized how important it is to set your own pace wisely. Of course, you feel the need to keep up with other riders and groups. But then it's also easy to overdo it too soon and go faster than is good for your own ability and condition. Graveling is about endurance so take it easy at the beginning and enjoy the views that most gravel races offer you along the way. That way you'll get to the finish line safely.
Lesson 2: Don't forget to navigate.
Unlike in road races, it is not always clear where the route will take you in gravel races. In Nic's case, for example, there were no signposts or markings and if he hadn't had his Garmin watch with him, on which he could download the map of the route, he could have gotten lost pretty quickly... To save yourself this stress, it is best to remember your bike computer or your GPS device and download the route on it before the race, so that you can concentrate on graveling instead of navigating.
Lesson 3: Roll on the right tires.
Tire selection and tire pressure play a particularly important role in gravel races. These two factors not only influence your comfort in the saddle but are also crucial for speed, handling, stability and traction. So check again what kind of terrain you will be crossing and what the weather is like on the day of the race is before you decide on a set of tires or adjust your tire pressure. It never hurts to ask the organizers for advice or watch videos of the race from previous years to get a first impression of the driving conditions.
Nic bravely tried to master coarse gravel, mud and sand with smooth tire treads, when tires with more profile would have definitely been smarter. For routes on compact gravel or even asphalt however, a slick-gravel tire is the right choice. As for the tire width, so you definitely safe with 38 to 45 mm, the wider the tire, the more grip, stability and control you get, which becomes important in technically demanding terrain. On road surfaces you are faster with narrower tires, here it is also worthwhile to ride with a higher tire pressure. This is best somewhere between 25 and 35 PSI - the rougher the terrain, the lower it should be.
Nic rode on 38 mm tires with 30 PSI and that worked just fine. So that was not the problem...
Lesson 4: Pack spare parts and tools.
We can never encourage you enough, but this is especially important for a Gravel race: Remember. To. Pack. Spare. Parts. At road races there are often several stations with mechanical support along the track, but with gravel races you do not get to enjoy this luxury and are therefore more or less on your own if something goes wrong. And this may happen quickly, the rough terrain, difficult descents and the high speed put a lot of stress on your bike and that can lead to various mechanical problems. Nic has easily whizzed past a dozen people who had to change their inner tube after a puncture. He even crashed himself after which his rear derailleur stopped working properly, and so on. Fortunately, he had a multitool and some mechanical skills in store, so most of the problems could be fixed quickly.
Which teaches us how important it is to always have a spare tube in your saddlebag as well as a repair kit, a decent multitool, tire levers, a mini pump or CO2 cartridge and spare quick releases. If you have disc brakes, you can also pack a pair of brake pads. And if you can be honest with yourself like Nic, it's best to take some antiseptic wipes and bandages. In gravel races, you're going to crash more often. And that's okay, because the others do so too. So it's better to be prepared from the beginning.
Lesson 5: The right power food.
May it be gravel, MTB or road bike - on every long ride and on every race, it is important to pay attention to the right nutrition. This helps you keep your energy level and your performance stable throughout the race and you remain in top shape. Now, of course, you've already done everything right if you've packed all the right iso drinks and power gels, bananas and snacks with just the right amount of carbohydrates (pro tip: 60-80 grams/hour). But you're doing it even more right if, unlike Nic, you actually remember to eat and drink them.
You know yourself and your stomach best, so pack what you're used to, a sandwich will do. As long as you have enough food and nutrition packed, you're good to go. That goes for water too: At average temperatures you should drink about 500 ml per hour and take small sips every 15-20 minutes.
Lesson 6: Be equipped appropriately.
There is no such thing as the wrong bike! This to be said in advance. As long as you can fit tires on it that are wide enough and you feel comfortable on your bike, you're good to go. Don't do it like Nic and switch your own Canyon Inflite for the Specialized Diverge, just because you want to try out the new shock technology and then ride 70 km on a bike, which you do not know and with which you do not yet feel a 100% safe.
Always check your tires, brakes and the drive for wear and also fall use those pedals and shoes, with which you feel comfortable. Nic was using clipless pedals, which was good because he knows how to use them but bad because you can't easily get off in tricky situations and because double-sided clipless pedals are quickly clogged with sand or mud and make it difficult to click in.
So much for the equipment, now to the right clothes. Layering is worth it in order to be prepared for changing weather conditions: So, pack a light rain jacket and maybe a dry t-shirt as well, especially if there's no chance to change afterwards. Nic was soaking wet and would have loved to put on something dry to enjoy the time after the race.
With these tips you are already well on your way, but the most important advice we have for you is: Have fun. And enjoy it. It's your first race, so time, average speed, none of that matters for now! It's all about the first experience and arriving safely and happily at the finish line. So, gravel away and if you are still in need of the right bike you will find it on buycycle.com. If you have any questions about graveling or bike racing, our team is always there for you and on the blog you will find many more exciting articles about cycling. We wish you now, as always: Happy browsing, happy cycling!