Introduction to Gravel Cycling with Matt Stephens | Sigma Sports

Matt Stephens joined experienced gravel cyclist Phoebe Sneddon for an off-road ride and to pick up some useful tips when it comes to riding on the rough stuff.
From learning how best to corner on a gravel bike to advice when it comes to descending on steep and challenging terrain, this video is intended to help you get the most out of your time on the trails.
Shop gravel bikes at Sigma Sports: www.sigmasports.com/bikes/gravel
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[@atopdesigner]

Brilliant - some comedy gold Matt moments and Phoebe is a great foil for him. More of this duo please.

[@sigmasports]

Thanks Tim for your feedback. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@OriginalTrev]

LOL "You can ride side by side on gravel and not worry about cars" ...as people scamper off the path in front of them.

[@gonzalezgaraypablo]

Matt's laugh is enough to put me in a good mood for the rest of the day ;)

[@sigmasports]

Good for the soul, eh!

[@TheSamwhyte]

Matt’s brilliance is best seen in the fact that if you were a new viewer and didn’t know him/his past then you’d genuinely think he was a total noob 😂😂

[@Metal-Possum]

And if you did know who he was, you're still sometimes left wondering how he made it this far.

[@attybong]

that's true ... in fact, during his prime, matt won the british nationals twice ..

[@AzhanJihadi]

More Matts laughing please... Can't have enough of it

[@bikenbeers]

This is the best intro to gravel cycling I have seen on YT. Very well explained with lots of funny moments to keep it entertaining. And it was great to see the difference between someone who know how to ride gravel (Dr Phoebe) and someone who knows how to ride a road bike but is starting out on gravel (Matt). Well done.

[@neilmason158]

Glad I found this channel. What’s going to give cycling at 65 due to not being able to keep up on club runs and younger members making obvious that I’m not wanted. But living in the dales I have started to gravel ride and it’s reignited my love for cycling

[@trevejenkyn9888]

Phoebie is very kind to Matt, another great video

[@danandkiko]

Beer, chocolate, grassy knoll... These two are hilarious! Very informative too.

[@ColonelBummleigh]

I like the Jammy Dodgers upgrade.Matt is priceless. Fig rolls could work at a push also,but that's for more advanced snacking.

[@lisapet160]

13:39 And you don't have to cover your beer can like you'd do on heavily used roads :) Nice video. The only thing I'd add is to keep in mind that if you have to put a tube into tubeless tire, don't forget to check for sticking-out-inside sharp items that were handled by sealant. They can puncture the tube before you pump it up. So, for "take all what you need" we might add either small first aid patches for fingers or those anti-puncture belt that goes between tire and tube. Personally, my gravel wheelsets are with tubes and those belts: no punctures after adoption of this, may be decremental for performance, setup.

[@Countrystock]

Brilliant as per and great to see Matts clipping in has improved!!!!

[@attybong]

the best part probably is that where matt intentionally slides off his bike (without crashing) just to emphasize the importance of correct line choice in gravel biking .. good job matt !! you're the reason (along with sy and dan) why i watched gcn clips before (not much anymore now) lol !!

[@shmoogoblin8529]

Matt always puts a smile on your face

[@vman6702]

I haven't seen Matt since his GCN days. It was good to see his humor again - one of my favorite Brits as a Yank myself. But in this video, Phoebe is a welcome respite from Matt's face. Ha! Cheers, Matt and Phoebe.

[@sigmasports]

Thanks for watching!

[@bamber894]

The 'Legend' that is Matt! Great double act, information and entertainment all in one🥇

[@simonguard5087]

‘We did a bit of grass back then’ Matt living the dreams….

[@willowwatts]

World's best KZbin presenter.👍🏻

[@sigmasports]

Matt isn't bad either eh 😉

[@willowwatts]

@@sigmasports Matt is a legend..Love his sense of humour..

[@jonbello4573]

Probably the best intro to gravel riding I have watched on YT. Awesome!

[@LuckyJack99]

Brilliant as always !!!! Cheers !

[@pingpongballz5998]

Thank you for talking about walking when you need to. I encountered a big steep climb yesterday and the downhill was equally steep and rocky and loose. I thought about what would happen if I crash. So I just walked down the trail.

[@keithmccallum1054]

After viewing this video I have learned how to handle "the wonky bits"!!!Thanks Matt.

[@sigmasports]

Wonky bits for the win 🙌

[@stevesnailfish]

I've come from the MTB side and being in the ready position is just second nature....I've done a few rides with roadies on gravel and they've got different skills but they can be a bit "wooden" when riding because of not using their arms as an MTB'er....I started off on rigid MTB's 30 years ago and learnt all this. Good vid, nice teacher and Matt being himself.....Excellent

[@sigmasports]

Good advice on the 'being ready' front. We couldn't agree more, being fluid is incredibly important! Thanks for the feedback and glad you enjoyed the video 😀

[@karenringer5995]

I really had a good giggle . Brilliant.

[@wescheslak9408]

I love watching Matt and hearing his laugh.

[@HRHTim1]

Great!!! Phoebe was brilliant - Matt as hilarious as ever

[@juliandaddy3641]

Great as always! I was worried for Matt regarding clipping in but looks like SPD is the right level for Matt! Pheobe was great too!

[@jan2000nl]

Matt and I are on the same page SPD all the way!

[@better.better]

I gave Crank Brothers egg beaters a shot, and even with them sometimes I can't get one foot clipped in. advantage to them is that even when packed with snow or mud I can usually still clip in, and you don't have to worry about what orientation they're at because every side of them is clippable. They also allow your foot more play so you don't feel like you're locked to the pedals as much but that's also a disadvantage in that you don't feel like you have as much support. next I'll try their combo pedals that are flats with the egg beaters in the middle, and hopefully that'll give me a better feeling of support.

[@bludog4657]

The scenery is Absolute beauty.

[@JSC131]

Absolutely class matt laughed my nuts off cracking video!!.

[@teuast]

Phoebe and Matt have real comedy duo energy here. Phoebe is up front showing us all how it's done, and Matt's back there, well, being Matt. Love it.

[@sigmasports]

Thanks, Ian. Two great personalities with a passion for cycling!

[@teuast]

@@sigmasports The other funny part to me is that I went on a big gravel ride Sunday and definitely heard a lot of the same things coming out of Matt's mouth in this video as came out of mine on that one, #relatable

[@ann.leonard]

Great video! You rock Matt!

[@sigmasports]

Thanks Annet!

[@lawrencedavies4398]

Absolutely brilliant video - so much useful information. As others have said, the juxtaposition between an experienced gravel cyclist and an experienced road cyclist trying gravel for the first time really helps to illustrate the different techniques involved.

[@jimdolen225]

Thanks for the lesson, I just bought us both gravel bikes and we have been having a blast so far!

[@Star14trek]

Matt at his best :::: off road! ::::: Just need those GCN colours on to make my week! ... Even better Matt racing a cyclex course and doing the dieing fly!

[@TonyTurboRST]

I’ve watched this video several times now, very entertaining 😂 Please do another one together.

[@katrinamatthews5837]

This is excellent

[@tonymartino7892]

Matt’s belly laughs are the best medicine. Great vid, thx 👍😂

[@better.better]

only thing missing was a montage of Matt trying to clip in. Matt's videos are the only reason I come to this channel, miss his antics and infectious laughter with the crew at GCN

[@plumbgray]

That was excellent just about to get my Gravel bike some great advice in there! Thank You _/\_

[@jascollinscork]

Yesss classic Matt is back 😬😂 didn’t notice how well packed Matt’s teacher was to be self sufficient 🤔😀

[@darrengarvie8832]

Pure entertainment Matt boy I've miss that laugh, I have completed a 100km lakelands gravel grind last Saturday in Co Fermanagh had to walk half the hills but unfortunately I did it on my MTB with gravel tyres bike was a little to heavy. But I will be back in 2022 😁

[@sigmasports]

Great effort Darren, sounds like a cracking ride!

[@vlee3880]

These were fantastic tips for getting started; thank you so much! Some things I definitely hadn’t thought of. Also - it’s wonderful to see women riders represented, and as experts in the bike industry. Nicely done!

[@sigmasports]

Thanks for your comments and support! Keep us updated on your progress.

[@arcoulant87]

I am back on ha ha classic matt !

[@Muppetkeeper]

Awww, that looks beautiful, the cycling looks good too. Pushing a wall onto the trail to make it look tougher is not acceptable you beautiful man.

[@slatersolomon431]

What a great video, thanks! Just ordered my first bike (gravel)!

[@bikesf]

Great tips and very entertaining

[@sapiens7821]

Pure Gold of course there filming it. Looked a fun day out. I prefer a flat bar set up Gravel Machine with a hoop bar on the front to get aero or change up hand position. Love the Jammie Dodgers 👍

[@sportyitguy]

Love it, 25 years ago this kind of surface and route it would be mountain bikes and we called it cross country mountain biking … today we now ride adopted road bikes - the evolution of cycling is fascinating

[@AntonMuller]

Don't they say roadies switching to gravel are nothing but closet mountain bikers 😂

[@hdenjoy6783]

Where are you guys? Where is the ride? Great to get to know phoebe, Matt always good fun….keep’ em coming!

[@JackofNothingess]

Remember Matt: proper clipping in is a an important skill not to be forgotten!

[@FreshAyers]

Looks like up around Chatsworth? Great video, some excellent advice. Classic Matt Stephens hilarious as usual. That laugh ! 😂😉

[@jwill7378]

This was really good!

[@julianhawker7672]

Great, did make me think of the old GCN video when Matt did cyclocross.......... :-)

[@VRTrucker]

Excellent skid mark🤣

[@sigmasports]

he's been honing his skills for weeks!

[@gregvai88]

Matt is the man

[@mac9954]

great show i was out last weekend off road in parklands and two guys took my gravel bike and bag ,be careful.

[@richerathernotsay427]

Finally a bike riding video that's not about aero. Thank you. Question: Flat or drop bars? Flat or clipless?

[@michaelb9664]

Matt is awesome 😂

[@trevlyndeklerk6266]

Awesome video... great tips...I suddenly feel like riding. 😃 Greetings from South Africa 🇿🇦👊

[@sigmasports]

Thanks for watching! Enjoy the rides!

[@manfrednt]

Dzięki za napisy w języku polskim. Świetny materiał

[@leslatham7797]

Loved it 👌

[@sigmasports]

Thanks, Les! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@WheelersAtLarge]

Brilliant👍

[@mixflix2874]

Matt as allway entertaining great presenter he was also the best on GCN

[@nickblount2865]

Great video and a taster session for a fella who was involved in a road cycling accident with car driver resulting with 3 week coma and bleed on brain. 3 years later still not back on a bike, however this video helps and maybe the way forward. Smiley face!

[@sigmasports]

Hope you get back on two wheels soon! Our best wishes and thanks for watching.

[@jonpoon3896]

I think you need to bring back Cafe Rides

[@sigmasports]

Watch this space 👀

[@wilyamiyoo]

Great to see Matt pop into my KZbin recos post-GCN! Glad he didn't get dropped with his cleats in lol

[@sigmasports]

Thanks for watching, William!

[@nighthawk8764]

This video is not only very informative but also funny as heck. The best line was when Phoebe said to Matt, " I am disappointed that you didn't show up in some denim hotpants and a flannel shirt."

[@Omar411269]

I need Matt's laugh as a ringtone

[@darrenbarlow5759]

Great video. Funny with good tips too. I just got a gravel bike. I never thought to descend on the drops. I have been staying on the hoods with my arse off the saddle. I find climbing over the rougher stuff seems harder than on a road bike. I went up a 14% incline recently so slowly that my bloody wahoo kept pausing my ride. Cheeky git! 😂

[@sigmasports]

Glad to hear you are enjoying the new bike! Cheers for watching!

[@elhoover]

Thanks for saying there's no shame in walking and showing the walking part!

[@cameronclasper3824]

Whenever I come back from a ride and I've totally bonked I come back to these videos just for Matt's laugh and to know there is someone worse with clipless pedals haha

[@sigmasports]

Classic moments! Thanks for watching, Cameron.

[@ACTIVEPAIR]

If you’re ever in Southern tip of Argyll (Dunoon) I’ll show you some belting Gravel Rides Matt 👍🏽

[@doxielain2231]

I do wonder how these are filmed. I know the old gcn they had noisy gas-powered vehicles, but these are so smooth and silent.

[@peterhall728]

Great Vid. Matts climbing wobbles just go to prove how important line choice is. He picked the gutter and the loosest, rocky line resulting in him loosing rhythm and traction.

[@ianfranklin9482]

Holding the hoods instead of the tops would help with steering on a steep loose climb too.

[@peterhall728]

@@ianfranklin9482 yup, didn't notice that. Roadies eh!

[@glennoc8585]

Riding with friends or often people you hardly know is great but often hard to get. I do solo for 70% of the time because I don't race bikes and often people are unreliable or just aren't available when I have time to ride. If you ride solo offroad it's probably wise to get a personal emergency GPS device. Phoebe is a cutie.

[@lgarcia67]

I’ve seen a few of these videos on gravel riding in the UK. It may be editing and we don’t see this part of asking for permission; but I find interesting that you guys open those gates and bike through those properties like it is your own. If we do that in Oklahoma or Texas we may get shot 😎

[@clipol]

Brilliant video. Also can I ask for this route?

[@Dr4g0nW00d]

Riding MTB since 2008 and just bought my 1 st gravel bike Grizl CF SL 8 Suspension 1by with dropper EU only thing for my concern is the brake levers as I always got my levers in front of me

[@siriosstar4789]

So, if i ride my e mtb or road bike or beach cruiser or city step through or cargo bike or recumbent , does that constitute "gravel riding" or do i need an eighties mtb with drop handlebars. 😎

[@tajulislam1522]

If Matt, with his beautiful charm, sway Si and Dan into this channel, we'll have the old boys back.

[@edgarr.deleon5865]

Hey this is a great introduction to gravel. I am a beginner on this one. Would you please let me know, tire pressure, pedals, shoes and cassette/speeds numbers? Thank you so much!!

[@sigmasports]

Hi Edgar, you'll be best off heading to our website and getting in touch with our Customer Care team who will be able to advise on the perfect setup for your riding, experience, body, budget etc. They will also be able to point you in the direction of the bikes and spec used in this video. Thanks

[@colinmcdonald2499]

I broke my rear mech off 2 weeks ago. Thankfully the derailier hanger broke at the very end of a very long and remote 15km fire road. Only 5.7 km from a regional bus terminal. Any videos how to shorten a chain to make an emergency 1 speed set up for crawling out of a more remote spot?

[@sigmasports]

Hi Colin Excellent suggestion, we will put it in our list for future videos. Thanks

[@colinmcdonald2499]

@@sigmasports thanks! It would be very useful !

[@CasperRc81]

I like gravel riding my 150mm 27.5x3.0 full squish bike. It pedals over all that. And after 20 miles your feeling it🤣. Man I want to Invest in one of the bikes just stuck on it. Some of the flatbar ones look good. But I’m sure drop bar is faster definitely more hand positions. I just prefer really tall stack bikes. Maybe a drop bar on a 60* rise stem😉. My hands hurt after a bit. Thanks for the knowledge.

[@sigmasports]

Thanks for the comment!

[@andreabodle3344]

I am thinking about getting a gravel bike. Is there a difference between women's and men's gravel bike? Sorry if that is a silly question! Also I can't afford an expensive bike. Is it worth looking for one on ebay and what should I look for? thanks x

[@michaelhill7045]

Quite expensive equipment considering what they actually need for this terrain. Luxury.

[@manabiker]

Gravel bikes are still evolving, in Michigan we have been riding gravel for many years, 1/3 of our roads are gravel, we have the biggest gravel race in the world, (Barry Roubaix) ridden on gravel roads/forest fire roads, in April with snow/ice/mud/sand/pot holes we have used MTBs, some CX bikes began showing up, but now they are getting rider suspension not bike, and flat bars, but changing all the time from the CX/MTB beginnings, even FAT bikes show up, I ride gravel roads all year, in winter with bar mitts, those finicky road brake/shifter combos don't work so well in the bar mitts, shifting is iffy, braking too, flat bars work much better, the road bike background of CX doesn't work so well on gravel, MTB full suspension doesn't work either, the bikes are changing for the better, gravel is not off road riding here, its miles of smiles, enjoying nature, people, and bikes. We not only race we have cross state rides, etc. Thousands of miles of gravel roads. Happy Trails Barry Roubaix.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHebpGaEpKisfrs

[@sigmasports]

Thanks for the insight Don! Keep smashing out the miles!

[@dajunchaohua]

I ride gravels too but always thinking what's the point for really riding a gravel instead of a comfy mountain bike in this type of terran

[@somethingreal5042]

Whats with the stache

[@goldenmath4091]

Pure comedy.. Matt , buy an mtb come round the woods of Somerset, you'll learn to love it I ride road, gravel and mtb and love em all for different reasons

[@jeffroberts6865]

Can you publish the route you travelled?

[@sigmasports]

Hi Jeff, you can find a lot of our top routes on our Strava and soon on our Komoot profile!

[@joshuasosa5168]

Lmfao 🤣 my guy went into the bush there.

[@alexandra4334]

Blacked out Diverge? Approved.👍

[@davidbenner6551]

Matt hasn’t gotten any better at clipping in :)

[@wbaareshit1981]

I've looked and looked there is no gravel long enough to warrant a gravel bike, Cyclo-cross mud ect plenty!

[@stihldavebergen3469]

I juat bought my first gravel bike.

[@jp93309]

Love this. Who needs an expensive mtb when you can underbike on sketchy mixed terrain?

[@antlister]

“I’m going to have to activate my full body suspension to protect my Jammie Dodgers!” - LOL

[@joshuasosa5168]

Matt please more laugher on your end. Lol 😆

[@lennart8996]

Matt please adopt me

[@bnzboy]

10:49🤣🤣🤣

[@annegrey-blackman5934]

Rough stuff fellowship are laughing at you!