Gravel racing doesn’t require much specialist kit, but these essential items will make your next race more enjoyable, efficient and safe.
From race-mandated safety equipment to a solid spares setup, you want these items stowed safely in your trendy bar bag at the start line.
If you’re looking for a race to test out all of this kit, check out our round-up of the UK’s best gravel races.
1. Lots of liquid
Racing is thirsty work and gravel races are, generally, self-supported.
This is why so many of the best gravel race bikes have provisions to carry more water than the typical two bottles seen on a road or mountain bike.
If you’re riding a long event, particularly in hot conditions, you’re unlikely to regret maximising the amount of water you take with you. The additional weight of another bottle and cage will have minimal impact on performance – certainly less than if you run out of water between feed stops.
On that point, if you want to ride competitively, minimising time at feed stops is also a great way to ride efficiently – you will save significant time if carrying extra water means you can skip even one crowded feed stop.
An additional bottle is a useful insurance policy against accidental ejection – a high possibility on rougher roads.
Some riders like to use hydration packs in addition to water bottles. It’s much easier to chow down on a hose of nourishing water amid a pothole-avoiding pack of riders than fumble for a mud-encrusted bottle.
2. An exhaustive spares and repairs kit
Gravel racing demands mechanical self-sufficiency.
While feed stops may have a few basic tools, few races provide comprehensive en-route neutral mechanical support.
How many tools and spares you bring will depend on the event – a far-flung multi-day whack demands a more extensive setup.
As a starting point for a longer gravel event, in addition to your usual trailside repair kit, we recommend you bring:
- Spare cleats and bolts – hike-a-bikes can easily dislodge cleats
- A length of chain links and quick links
- A handful of spare bolts – bottle cages can easily rattle loose on rough roads
- A tubeless puncture repair kit, including a tyre boot
3. Tasty snacks that work for you
How you fuel a long ride is, to a degree, personal – one person’s nourishing mini blocks of cheddar is another’s express train to Bonktown.
Still, there are some basic rules of nutrition you should follow in order to avoid bonking.
Whatever your preferred snack, aim to consume around 30 to 60g of carbohydrates per hour. Although it will take a bit of gastric training to achieve, up to 90g an hour can be beneficial on longer rides.
Drink regularly and never start a ride dehydrated. Consider using electrolytes if you sweat a lot or are riding in hot weather.
Again, don’t rely on feed stops to have everything you need, particularly if you have specific dietary requirements – a plate of devilled eggs glistening in the sun is the last thing a vegan cyclist wants to see 150 miles into a gravel epic.
4. Emergency kit and spare layers (obey the rules!)
Most gravel races require entrants to bring emergency equipment, and with good reason.
A foil blanket might seem excessive in mid-summer but could make a huge difference if you come across an injured rider in shock.
Likewise, with hyper-focused racers whizzing by and unlikely to pay much attention to their surroundings, a whistle could attract vital attention as you lie in an injured heap by the side of the road.
Even if the forecast is favourable, packing additional layers is a good idea – you’ll be thankful for that waterproof jacket if you’re involved in an accident or stranded due to a mechanical.
Rules will differ between events, but respect the requirement to bring any other essential equipment, such as lights, outlined in your race handbook. Skirting these rules is foolish and a surefire route to disqualification if you’re subject to a pre-race check.
5. Top tube, frame or bar bags
You’ll now need some way to carry your carefully curated spares.
Jersey pockets will suffice for a shorter ride, but you’ll quickly run out of space if you’re also carrying lots of food. Rucksacks are best avoided because they’re hot and uncomfortable.
Most gravel riders supplement their racing setup with a bag or two strapped to their bike.
Top tube bags are the preferred solution for most gravel racers because they provide quick and easy access. Frame bags are another good option if you require more stowage.
Bar bags work well but can interfere with number plates and are harder to access on the trot.
Finally, saddle bags are fine if you don’t require frequent access.
6. A trusty bike computer
A GPS-equipped bike computer is, by no means, essential for gravel racing – pro racers survived the better part of 100 years without them, after all.
However, for riders not perfectly in tune with their bodies or without homing-pigeon like navigation skills, they are a worthwhile investment.
Some riders will benefit from what others would consider a data overload.
If you so wish, a modern bike computer will enable you to plan your pacing strategy for every climb to the nth degree and even set eating or drinking reminders.
Others will only utilise simpler metrics, using GPS data to keep their average pace in check and an eye on remaining distance.
Serious racers will use heart rate monitors and power meters to track performance, but these require significant financial investment and time to make the most of interpreting the data.
Whatever your approach, make sure you post your ride to Strava – showing off your epic ride stats is, after all, why we all suffer through the trials of gravel racing.
Bonus: Test, test, test!
As with any event, preparation and testing is key.
The most comprehensive repair kit on the planet won’t matter if your valves are too short for your rims. Equally, a super-expensive waterproof jacket won’t boost your chances of success if you haven’t followed a solid training plan before your event.
