Are you interested in getting started with gravel riding but don’t know where to begin? Gravel riding is a discipline that involves riding a drop-bar bike on unpaved roads and trails, fitting somewhere between road cycling and mountain biking. Gravel riding can encompass all types of terrain, from actual gravel to wooded singletrack and everything in between. From super-chilled social rides to remote and demanding endurance racing, mass-participation events to dirt touring, there’s something in gravel for everyone.

Many credit the US for the origin of gravel riding, where long, remote stretches of unpaved roads bridged the gap between road cycling, mountain biking, and cyclocross. Many gravel riders started out on modified cyclocross, mountain, or touring bikes, until the mainstream bike industry began creating gravel-specific models, helping gravel to gain a foothold as a new global discipline.

While it’s not essential that you use a gravel bike to ride off-road, they can make the ride much more comfortable and enjoyable. Gravel bikes tend to pair wide drop bars with short, mountain bike-like stems. The best gravel bikes offer much greater tyre clearance, more relaxed and stable geometry suitable for longer days in the saddle and rougher terrain, as well as more luggage-mounting options.

A suitable set of gravel tyres can make the difference between having a blast on your ride or a total nightmare. As the contact point between your bike and the terrain you’re tackling, you’ll need to match your tyre type, tread, volume, and pressure to the trails and conditions you anticipate encountering. Tyre widths vary from 32mm to over 50mm, or 2.1 inches, although the most common tyre width tends to be around 40mm.

When tackling loose-gravel ascents, it’s a good idea to stay seated rather than climb out of the saddle, just like riding uphill on a muddy cyclocross course. Cornering on gravel roads is also different to tarmac. You should look for the smoothest line, avoiding any chunkier, loose gravel if possible. Line choice becomes increasingly important, just as it does in mountain biking, when the terrain becomes more technical.

Make sure you carry all the tools and spares you might need, including a chain tool and quick link, tubeless repair kit, tyre boot and spare tubes, as well as a high-volume pump. A little planning before you ride, with a route loaded on a GPS bike computer, smartwatch or your phone can be invaluable. If you’re really heading out into the wild, taking a spare mech hanger, cable ties, tape, and even brake pads is a good idea.