Or perhaps a more apt title might be; Five things I learned from my first gravel race! Here’s one I’ll throw out there for free – gravel racing is hard! As you may know I recently completed the Beechworth edition of the Trek UCI Gravel World Series. My first gravel race. I certainly learned a thing or two along the way.

Here are my five #protips for your first gravel race or event…

1) Maintain your line of sight. I actually picked up this tip from the FasCat Podcast. Line of sight is important on the sealed road as well, but more so on gravel. If you’re riding on somebody’s wheel, always leave a little additional room or be off to the side slightly, maintaining your line of sight. It’s far harder for riders in front to point out obstacles, plus if for any reason they go down, you’ll have more time to react and adjust your line.

Coming into corners, ride within your skill limit and limit of vision. If you can’t clearly see what’s around that corner, scrub off some speed. You never know if there’s a super loose section, some huge rocks, a pothole, or a fallen rider around the bend. Maintain a good line of sight at all times, and wide within that.

2) Hydration is paramount. The importance of hydration cannot be overstated. I started the race with two full 700ml bottles plus 1 litre in my hydration pack. That’s a bit of weight to start with and potentially slowed me down a touch, but you know what’s even slower? Dehydration! Stopping at every feed station to get your bottles refilled can also be time sapping during a race.

Then of course, remember to actually drink! Little and often. If it’s hot and dusty you’re going to go through a lot more water than you might expect, and certainly more than you would during a road event. As well as all the water I was carrying, I had to refill one bottle at the final feed station. I finished all of that hydration by the finish line and it still probably wasn’t enough.

Photo credit: @shotbyleealexand3r & @gravelista.cc

3) Eating actual food is difficult. Following on from hydration, get your race nutrition nailed down. I’d spent many rides trying different nutrition strategies and thought I had it pretty spot on. I’d been relying mostly on having high amounts of carbs in my drinks, plus snake lollies and gels to hit my carbs per hour goal. That had worked pretty well in training, but what I hadn’t counted on was how much harder it would be to chew down lollies with a sky-high heart rate, while going full tilt on gravel. Luckily I packed a few spare gels to top my my carbs instead.

On a side note, about half way through Gravelista I was riding alongside somebody when they hit a pothole. Much of their food launched out of their top tube bag and scattered itself across the dirt. They did have spare food, and thankfully could top up at the next feed station. How you store your on-bike nutrition can make all the difference.

4) Get your sh-t together! By that I mean your bike, kit, and gear. Have your gravel bike dialled in, replace anything that is worn, and have your spares/repair kit sorted. You can prevent, or at least reduce the chances of a mechanical ruining your day by being prepared. I passed a couple of riders who asked for a spare CO2 or tube. I’d put in plenty of saddle time on my Trek Checkpoint and got my position on point. In hindsight, my only change would have been a bigger 38T rear cassette.

Tubeless is king on the gravel. Get yourself a Dynaplug repair tool for any punctures that won’t seal on their own – and know how to use it! If your tyres are getting on, buy a new set to race on! Seriously! You’ve probably spent a lot of money to be at the race, so spend a little more and reduce the chances of your tyres letting you down (literally).

5) Lastly, enjoy the experience! You’ve put in the hours training, you’ve prepared all of your gear, you have your race plan in order, you’ve made it to the start line. All you can do now is keep those pedals turning and see how your legs fare! It might be a race, but do remember to take in some of that epic gravel scenery from time to time. If you’re out the back say hi to any fellow racers who may be suffering. Stay safe, keep that bike upright, and enjoy your day in the saddle!

Brett here wasn’t out the back. In fact he won his age group!

BONUS TIP: Don’t eat the donut! At the feed station you may find yourself in front of a huge tray of iced donuts, pastries, and other baked goods. As delicious as they look, don’t be tempted! Okay maybe just a little bite. Certainly don’t scoff down a couple in quick succession! Well, not unless you fancy tasting them again half way up the next big climb…