Gravel Cycling 2022

Gravel riding continues to grow in the UK and abroad. The thrill of heading off the beaten track and seeking lifelong adventures is attracting many newcomers to gravel, whether it’s as a standalone passion, to complement their road riding or as a way for mountain bikers to mix up their off-road efforts. It’s also inspired us at Cycling Plus to bring you this second special-edition of Gravel Cycling. Inside you’ll find everything you need to maximise your enjoyment of cycling’s fastest-growing genre. As a snapshot, you’ll be inspired by memorable images from the world’s greatest gravel-cycling photographers; discover everything you need to maximise your maiden bikepacking voyage; find your next (or first) gravel bike, which might even include your debut electric model; and learn the skills and techniques to navigate…

Galloway, Scotland ● There’s a mix of terrain to spruce up your gravel lives whether it’s alongside the coast or exploring the Galloway Forest Park. You can either go solo, with mates or via an organised outfit like Galloway Cycling Holidays. The Selkirk Arms Hotel in Kirkcudbright is a great place to base yourselves. Yorkshire Dales ● The Yorkshire Dales is a Mecca for gravel enthusiasts with an intricate and extensive network of gravel track and gnarly roads to navigate. If you fancy an organised sojourn, there’s also the Yorkshire Moors Gravel X in July, which features 85km and 65km routes with 1,700m and 1,350m climbing, respectively. Komoot Women’s Torino-Nice Rally ● A group of over 20 female riders from seven different countries set off from Turin in September 2021…

“It’s about freedom – that sense of adventure that comes with being able to go anywhere”Max Burgess Q_What is gravel riding and where did it begin? ● The current boom started in the United States, where long, remote stretches of fire road offered a new middle ground between the worlds of road, mountain biking and cyclocross. With terrain that’s more technical – and often more remote – than your average stretch of tarmac, it allows riders to explore their passion for racing, exploration and adventure. It’s a change-up, for some, from the focus on speed and the science of hardcore road riding, and a respite for others who find increasing tyranny in riding on roads among speeding tons of metal. The bike industry twigged and created specific models to replace the…

Gravel bikes are essentially road bikes on steroids but without the testicular-shrinking effect. They’re designed to cope with the rough and tumble of off-road, but remain light enough for stretches of road… 01 Wheels Most gravel bikes can accept 700c wheels or a smaller 650b wheel size borrowed from mountain biking. Its advantage is that you can fit a bigger tyre into the frame for better comfort and grip, but at the expense of speed. 02 Rear mech If you’re going off-road then you need a clutch-equipped rear mech. The ‘clutch’ retains the tension in the derailleur at all times, which keeps the chain tight and stops it bouncing off the chainring. Shimano have a family of clutch mechs in the GRX range and a special version of Ultegra –…

Fact: many of the road skills that have been drilled into you and become ingrained need to be unlearned – or at least tailored – for gravel. That’s where Nick Craig comes in. Craig’s a former British cyclocross champion who’s been tearing up the trails above his Peak District home of Hayfield for years. So who better to teach gravel novice Mark Bailey on conquering the gnarly terrain… 01_Smooth Operator ● With sharp turns on loose stone, your road technique – go in wide, clip the apex and exit wide – won’t always work, as the outer edges can be the roughest bits. “It’s better to choose the smoothest line and keep a nice flowing motion around the bend,” says Craig. Trim your speed before you reach the corner and…

We’re standing on a Welsh mountainside in the claggy mizzle, skin shimmering from the day in the sun combined with sweat from the humid air. We’ve just hiked up a steep, green zigzag hill with our loaded bikes and emerge, breathing heavily, above the climb. Despite the glorious sunshine for most of the day, the mountains have turned this trip into a proper adventure and we’re ascending into thick white cloud. The swirling murk is being cheerfully described as ‘atmospheric’ and it feels wild and remote up here. My riding companion, Alex, reflects, “It’s mad to think that this morning we were in Bristol!” And it is mad; the city couldn’t feel further away. I’ve been joined by Alex, a fellow physio; El, a seasoned Welsh bikepacker; and Hannah, who…