First year GRAVEL RACING - What I learned.

[@susanmaclaren7189]

Great video! I’m pretty new to gravel riding and racing. I REALLY understand what you meant at the end of the video about having to train for the really hard/high-intensity parts of gravel rides.

[@stevevarga8621]

I’m impressed with this video. You have learned some important lessons. For this reason I have subscribed. I’m amused by roadies who come to gravel races with the assumption that road equipment is the best solution. Road positions, narrow tires and road pedals/ shoes do not work every where. Modern gravel racing is not just a dusty road race. It’s a “Let’s throw everything at them” ride. You can have mud, sand, rocks, 20% climbs etc. You need to have a bike and more importantly the tires to cope with all that. No doubt you’ve learned that tires that allow you to keep pedalling save you minutes over narrow tires that get bogged down and force you to walk. While those bigger tires maybe slower on the pavement, they only cost you seconds not minutes. Best of luck next season.

[@gravelracingwithmadsbang]

Thanks a lot! Sure did learn a lot and I'm sure I'll learn even more this year😅 Exactly, and that one of the things that so fun about it - if you ask me. Two racer are never the same. How wide tires do you ride?

[@stevevarga8621]

@@gravelracingwithmadsbang I have 2 set ups, one for off road and wet conditions ie single track and one for dry mostly road conditions. For the off road I use Pirelli Cinturato M in 50 mm. It’s an excellent compromise tire. It goes well enough on pavement that it’s not annoying to live with but really grips well on single track. I use this tire for all my single track riding. For completely dry more road like conditions I use Specialized Pathfinder’s in 47mm. What’s unique about the Pathfinder is its almost pointed carcass allows the solid central tread to offer a totally smooth surface for pavement riding but when you bank the tire in a turn or immerse it in softer gravel it has a nice coarse tread for extra grip. I use the Pathfinder on courses with lots of pavement but it’s a nightmare in the wet. There are so many elements to a tire ie width, pressure, tread and carcasses/tpi to talk about. Perhaps you could do a video on that? Mtbers are 15 years ahead on this subject. If you need help for a video I’m there for you.

[@thj1969]

Good to see you/we are getting smarter...

[@gravelracingwithmadsbang]

It sure is🥳 Still LOTS to learn about gravel racing!

[@eric106071]

One thing I learned is to secure my cell phone in a bag. Keeping it in a jersey pocket was not sufficient.

[@gravelracingwithmadsbang]

I've learned that one the hard way too! 🤥

[@B4rbeCourte]

Hi ! Great lesson learn. For me wider is faster, this year I will test the tufo thundero in 44mm for the front and tufo speedero 44mm for the rear, my frame can only take up to 45mm. Next frame, I will love at least 50mm or 2.2". Also like you I ride with a hydrapack but with pockets on the front for soft bottles where I put carbs, so I can get 2.5l water+ 2x500ml carbs + 2x750ml carbs or water (frame). Lesson 5 : Yes, I know what you mean, you need to work your Vo2Max to keep up with the attack and punchy hills. What's/when your first event this years ? Keep up the good work

[@gravelracingwithmadsbang]

Have you tried them before? really can't make up my mind on what tires to test. Last year i tried the Challenge Strada Bianca and I really liked them. It's slicks but didn't feel like I lost grip. They felt super fast! Hydrationpack is great. Great idea with the carbs in soft bottles. At the moment I do mostly threshold work, but I do some 30 sec. by the end. To be able to push good power for a short duration on tired legs. So far I will like it works great for me. I'll do a series of shorter races starting in two weeks. About an hour long. I think they'll be great training for the longer events. The first bigger races will be in May and June. ICU Gravel races in Denmark and Germany. How about you? When will you kick off your season?🥳

[@B4rbeCourte]

​@@gravelracingwithmadsbang Not tried yet, but a friend of mine has them for 2 seasons already and speak highly of them (seems to have a low rolling resistance for 45/40mm), so why not. Like you, some small event late march, a bikepacking trip around april/may and my A event is the UCI Wish One Millau in France june 16 (cat. 35-39y) . I'm not that good enough to be in the front, so I just go to be as good as I can be on the day and come back with more experience. It will be my first years doing races. I'm coming from a rugby background so not use to that type of effort. I just started training august last years. Was 98kg - 194ftp -- now 88kg 240ftp (175cm) -- I'm far from you but I'm happy with my progress. I wish you a great season !

[@gravelracingwithmadsbang]

Nice, will at them too👍 Sounds like a nice start to the season for you. I'll also do some bikepacking this year. It's such a great way to get around Great season to you too. Let me know how the tires work 👍

[@Emililil]

had some 40c speedero, felt mega nice, will upgrade to 44c feels fast and grippy. and cheap @@gravelracingwithmadsbang

[@uknowbass]

I just upgraded from 38 mm to 45 mm wide tires with better traction and lower pressures. I’m not as strong as you but I def am having a better experience on gravel rides

[@gravelracingwithmadsbang]

Nice. What kinds of tires are you using now?

[@uknowbass]

@@gravelracingwithmadsbang Vittoria Terreno Mix I think. The key is having low enough pressure the tire is squishy at the bottom but you don’t rim strike. At 86 kg, I’m at 24 psi front and 28 psi rear (total bike, rider, clothes, water, etc weight around 220 pounds (100 kg)).

[@gravelracingwithmadsbang]

Very cool. Will have a look at them. I think you are right. Lower pressure is the road to better traction @@uknowbass

[@Tarmaccyclocross]

Get a mountain bike, I ride a cyclocross bike with 35 mm tyres no problem. So called gravel riders are delusional

[@gravelracingwithmadsbang]

@@Tarmaccyclocross great that works for you!

[@doriansebastian8065]

Any plans to go to the big US gravel races like unbound this year?

[@gravelracingwithmadsbang]

Not this year unfortunately.. But especially Unbound is a race I really want to do!🤩 But I want to get some more experience before doing something like the Unbound. It's a loooong event. How about you?

[@9090Glenn]

... you learned that you are not good enough to race road ? - gravel is a cope like mountain bike or cross for those who cannot cut it in the road racing circuits

[@gravelracingwithmadsbang]

Hi Glenn Thank you so much for you comment. You must have done lots of gravel and mountain biking since you can make a statement like that. Honestly, I don't find road racing as fun as gravel, but that's just my personal opinion. You are probably right, I'm not good enough for road racing. Good thing I can race gravel where the level of racing is low enough for me to be a part of it😂. Would love to hear all the things you have learned from racing gravel, mountain biking and cross?

[@saskhiker3935]

European gravel doesn't look like gravel at all. I see you have dirt, grass, sand, but no actual gravel roads. Come over the pond and try a gravel race in North America.

[@gravelracingwithmadsbang]

Would love to come across and try US gravel. I think gravel racing can be many things. And euro gravel is different than US gravel, but still gravel.