Five things to check before your first gravel race
Gravel forgives more than the road, but a few things are worth thinking through before the start. Here is a short pre-race list.
Your first gravel race differs from a road one mainly in that more depends on you and less on the bunch. There is no point winging it when a simple list avoids the basic mistakes.
Tyres, pressure, food
Match the tyres to the surface the organiser announces, and drop your pressure lower than on the road. Plan food every 40-50 minutes, because on loose ground it is easy to miss hunger until it is too late.
Pace from the gun
At the start most riders go out too hard. Hold a steady, repeatable pace through the first hour and you will pass plenty of people who fade in the second half.