Why I love gravel riding

Words by ashmei ambassador Marcus Leach: @marcusleachglobal

It takes me a while to realise that the road has ended, to be replaced by a dusty, dirt track riddled with yawning potholes. My mind drifts in the hazy evening air, fatigued by the effort of riding three hundred and twenty kilometres in thirty degree heat, struggling to maintain a grasp on reality. That is until a sudden, sobering thought brings me back to the present.

‘You’re lost.’ 

Panic sets in. More so than any other moment in the race — I feel alone, isolated, scared. The last remnants of the day are slowly being engulfed by a veil of darkness, the craggy peaks of Oman’s Al Hajar Mountains taking on a sinister edge. I take a deep breath in a bid to calm myself, surveying the facts to stop myself feeling out of control. I double-check my map and GPS, both of which confirm I am on the right (and only) road. It’s a road that will eventually lead to the summit of the mountain and the first check-point of the 1,150km race. It’s another ten kilometres away, but at least I am heading in the right direction, albeit now without a recognised road to ride on.  

With little more than the beam of my light to lead the way I continue to wrestle my bike upwards, fearful that even a momentary lapse in concentration would see my front wheel swallowed by any one of the potholes lurking in the shadows. I kid myself that any moment the tarmac will return. Instead, thick ridges of dirt and sand make it impossible to gain any momentum, sapping the last strands of energy from my weary legs until eventually I simply climb off and walk the final few kilometres. 

Had you told me, as I collapsed into an exhausted, salt-crusted heap at the summit of Jebel Shams, that the past ten kilometres of riding and walking would be the catalyst for what can now only be described as an addiction to gravel and off-road adventure cycling, I would have laughed at you. That is if I’d had the energy to. And yet here I am, three years, countless off-road rides, and even more memories, down the line and I couldn’t imagine a life without gravel. 

It’s the joy of discovery, of being able to explore the world at a more sedate pace away from the crowds and with freedom to go almost anywhere that takes your fancy. It’s seeing familiar lands from a different perspective. It’s taking the road less travelled. It’s a state of mind. It’s the thrill of adventure. 

Regardless of what you want from gravel riding, there is an experience for everyone, from those wanting to ride 20km over three hours through to the growing number wanting to race full gas for hundreds of kilometres, and everything in between. Ultimately it’s whatever makes you happy. 

What started as a niche subcultural in the world of cycling has become a major part of the sport we love, and with good reason. So if, like many others, you’re looking to dip your toe in the water, here’s my advice on getting started.

1. Getting Started: If you’ve never ridden on gravel before, start small and build up to longer distances and more challenging terrains once you feel comfortable doing so. You will quickly notice that riding on gravel uses muscles in a different way than your body might be used to on tarmac, so don’t be alarmed if you feel unusually sore or drained after your ride. 
2. The Bike: While few of us need little encouragement to buy a new bike, the reality is it’s not essential to get started on gravel. In the first instance you can simply swap over tyres for something a bit more knobbly to see if gravel is for you or not. Assuming you get to the stage of wanting a gravel bike, you don’t need to break the bank, with a wide variety of very well-priced bikes more than suitable for most people’s needs. My one big piece of advice here is to go tubeless, it will make your life so much easier and more enjoyable out on the trail. 
3. The Ride: Gravel is a cover-all term for anything that’s not tarmac, from fire roads and smooth bridleways through to grassy single track and old cobbled roads — all of which provide their own challenges and rewards. My advice is to forget about speed and instead just focus on the enjoyment of the ride, taking in the beauty of the area that the trail takes you through and living in the moment. It’s not about how far you go, but where you go and who you share it with.
4. The Kit: Unlike with road cycling, which can feel like a fashion show on bikes at times, the gravel community is a lot more laid back. The general rule of thumb is that as long as you’re comfortable, anything goes (within reason — nobody wants to see you riding in speedos). My personal favourite combo, when the sun’s shining, is a pair of signature bib shorts and a trail merino t-shirt with a sleeveless mesh base layer underneath. 
5. The Community: A few races aside, gravel events are much more than just riding bikes, with a big emphasis on community and the shared experience over race results and Strava times. There’s a genuine sense that everyone is in this together, and with that comes a greater degree of friendliness and willingness to help each other. What’s not to love about riding all day in cool locations with people you get on with and then coming back and reliving it all with cold beers around a campfire?