Gravel cycling has exploded. What started as a niche discipline for roadies looking for adventure has become a legitimate category with its own World Championship, professional teams, and dedicated equipment. If you're thinking about getting into gravel — or you've already got a gravel bike and want to make the most of it — here's everything you need to know.
Why Gravel?
The appeal is simple: freedom. No cars, no traffic lights, no obligation to hold a wheel or follow race etiquette. Just you, the bike, and whatever surface is under your tyres. Gravel unlocks roads and trails that road cycling can't access, and it does so with a bike that's fast enough on tarmac to get you there.
For the Roadman audience — serious cyclists who are also professionals with families — gravel offers something else: adventure without the overhead. You don't need a full race calendar. You don't need a team. You can ride from your front door and within 10 minutes be on surfaces that feel like a different country.
Bike Setup Basics
Tyre width: This is the single most important decision. For mixed surfaces, 40mm is the sweet spot — fast enough on roads, capable enough on rough gravel. If you're mostly on smoother gravel, 35mm. If you're doing gnarly stuff with rocks and mud, 42-45mm.
Tyre pressure: Lower than you think. Use our Tyre Pressure Calculator with your weight and tyre width. Our tyre pressure guide explains the science. A typical 75kg rider on 40mm tyres should be around 30-35 PSI — dramatically lower than road tyres. Lower pressure = more grip, more comfort, faster on rough surfaces.
Gearing: You need lower gears than road. A 1x drivetrain with a 40T chainring and 10-44T cassette gives you enough range for steep gravel climbs while keeping things simple (no front derailleur to clog with mud).
Handlebars: Flared drop bars are the standard for gravel. The wider position in the drops gives more control on descents and rough surfaces.
Training for Gravel
Gravel fitness is different from road fitness. The sustained power demands are similar — you still need a strong aerobic base and a good FTP. But gravel adds:
Upper body endurance. You're constantly absorbing vibration and controlling the bike. Core strength and upper body conditioning matter more than on the road.
Variable power. Gravel surfaces change constantly. You're surging over loose sections, grinding up steep pitches, and recovering on smooth stretches. Training should include more on/off efforts than pure steady-state.
Low-cadence strength. Loose surfaces reduce traction, which means you often can't stand and power over climbs. Seated low-cadence efforts are essential — exactly the torque training we covered in the low-cadence blog post.
When Rosa Kloser — European gravel champion — was on the podcast, she emphasised that her training plan for winning Unbound was surprisingly simple. The foundation was aerobic base work, supplemented with specific efforts that mimicked the demands of the event. No secret sauce. Just disciplined, event-specific preparation.
Nutrition on Gravel
Fuelling is harder on gravel because the terrain makes it difficult to eat. You can't always reach into a jersey pocket when you're bouncing over rocks. Solutions:
- Top tube bags for easy-access gels and bars
- High-carb drinks in bottles — the simplest way to fuel when eating is difficult
- Practise eating on rough surfaces — it's a skill, like everything else
- Front-load fuelling — eat more in the first 90 minutes when the course is smoother
Your First Gravel Event
Start with something local and manageable — 60-80km on mixed surfaces. Don't go straight to a 200km ultra-distance event. Build your confidence, test your equipment, and learn how your body responds to the different demands.
The gravel community is notably welcoming. There's less of the racing ego you sometimes find in road cycling. People help each other, share food, and the finish line atmosphere is more like a festival than a race.
Key Takeaways
- Gravel cycling offers freedom, adventure, and accessibility that road cycling can't match
- 40mm tyres at 30-35 PSI is the sweet spot for most riders on mixed surfaces
- 1x drivetrain with low gearing keeps things simple and reliable
- Train your core and upper body — gravel demands more than just leg fitness
- Practise eating on rough surfaces and use top tube bags for easy fuelling
- Start with a local 60-80km event before tackling ultra-distance
- Use the Tyre Pressure Calculator to dial in your setup
- In-ride nutrition is even more critical on gravel — front-load your fuelling
- Strength training for core and upper body transfers directly to gravel performance
- Listen to the Lachlan Morton episode for the adventure cycling mindset
- If you want to go further off-road, check our guide to the best MTB trails in Ireland
