Top 5 Things to Bring to a Gravel Race

Regarding the otherwise perfectly sound reasoning of bringing a sense of humour to the race to avoid a temper tantrum, using modern logic, this only self-serves and, well, how very dare you. Having a meltdown by comparison has many benefits; gives others tiktok content for millions of LOLs, gives a shrink a job in numerous sessions to help you get over the millions lolling at you on tiktok and gives you a funny story at the pub. And that's just for starters. Imagine the possibilities... <COUGHgofundmeCOUGH>

A moustache, jorts, wide tires, n/a beer and a good attitude. Just guessing…

Love #1 of 5 things to bring. Bring a smile, cold beers, and fitness. Ride on!

I love #1. Outside of a few lucky souls, we are all doing this for fun. If you are not having fun, you are doing it wrong.

Co2 cardridge in tubeless tyres ??

Used tip number 1 on my first gravel race! My ' support crew' didn't arrive a half way point with my fuel for the second half of race. Apparently the coffee shop stop in town was more important.. Thought of the 'sense of humour rule' and rode on with a smile. Great tip!

personal experience: an extra pair of cycling shorts and an extra pair of shoes. You WILL eventually need both. If you don't, someone will.

Money. Depending on the course, you may be stuck between aid stations and be bonking.

#1 tip is the most important. Whether racing, training ride or general ride, just enjoy and not take it too serious, if you can't laugh at yourself, somebody else will. This is one of the most endearing things about cycling, the ability to be consumed with cycling, but see the funny side too.

Is that Jamie Bestwick at the end haha

#1 seems so obvious but is such an important reminder. Thanks. 😉✌️

store the bladder in the freezer

I commute with an electric inflation tool. Probably weighs 4x co2 cartridges, takes up about 3x space as a cartridge. I don’t have an exact equivalent in terms of how many tires it can inflate but I like being able to do partial inflations without opening a new cartridge

I never tried the other tubes but those orange Tubolitos gave me a very bad time bringing them on gravel almost immediately. They ride fine for me on road but could not handle forest potholes, luckily had a butyl tube on me.

Great context, Ben. I would flip #5 up to the top of the heap. :)

Excellent I’m new haven’t even got the bike yet but doing plenty of research cheers

Honorable mention to a quick link!?

Does the clasp for that Uswe bag get in the way of your heart rate monitor?

Next time I’m putting 3 ounces of sealant in each tire. I wanna hear it slosh around!

Try Sahmurai Sword 2.0 for tubeless. You can put in your bar ends. In my opinion the best solution for Gravel and MTB.

Love the idea of a tubolito but in my experience they have not worked for me. I've tried to use two and both failed immediately.

A+ content, brother justin

The Osprey hydropacks are fantastic and open up for easy cleaning. I hate bite valves so have retrofitted with the Ultraspire valves. It is a high flow that lets you get a lot of water in a short amount of time.
If you use your phone for navigation, an extra battery is a good idea.

#1. for cleaning Camelbac/bottles,, Efferdent, Polident denture tablets, they clean ever nook an cranny, even the hose.. #5 Joke, when was the first bicycle race,, drum roll please, when the second one was built !!!!!

Good info, just not a fan of wearing the hydro pack, usually have a couple extra bottles attached to my seat

Why most amateur racers/riders don’t use a hydration pack is beyond me, to think that you can stay fully hydrated and fueled when going at your limit without one is folly. Try reaching for that bottle in a tight group on a fast descent.

I would love to see a companion video on your non-gravel race list--for when you just want to enjoy a ride.

My problem with bladders/hydration packs is they always give the water a plasticy taste in my experience.

I would add some neck thingie or other by which you can prevent yourself from inhaling a truckload of dust. 😝

What ENVE wheels you riding on that Giant Revolt?

Good tips and really good production quality of this video.

All great tips — number one is the top! Tip 6 — depending on weather, have a very light rain jacket (I use wind jacket) at car. Sometimes those heavy downpours can drop temps quite a bit.

Gravel Racing ???...I'm just here for the bouncy Jazz 'Outro' ...
((From my Top Cycling Journo of course = keep it Up Ben !!))

Ben - Curious, what seat post are you using there in the Revolt? How do you like a round 30.9 vs. the stock D-Fuse?

Great tips!!
What size of tire ya using in this vid?

Buy a pack of 20 RideNow TPU 60mm tubes and they come out to about $7 each.

Great tips Ben. Here's one tactic I've used that accommodates cool early am starts and blazing afternoon temps, when I'm still far from the finish. I use an arm warmer as an ice sock around my neck. Aid station ice chests are usually well stocked:4-6 cubes provide welcome relief for an hour or so...

TP for those unplanned pit stops!

PSA - Hydro bladder storage. After washing and drying I store mine in the freezer to inhibit mold growth. Been doing it for years and never have I pulled out a bladder from the freezer and found mold.

I've been using Stan's sealant for years, but CO2 makes it congeal. What works with CO2?

Again, great advice!

Photo sensitive glasses for changing light conditions. Battery bank e mek (emergency medical kit) for you or someone else.. definitely a chase vest with pockets (how else are you going carry Xtra CO2 cartridges and med kit bacon strip) and last but not least a picture of Ben Delaney smiling (for when all your plans go sideways) 👍😁

Great info! Did the Standard Deluxe this past weekend, perfect perfect in the whole event. Your channel is a fantastic asset!!

Great video, I really enjoy them and always look forward to the next one. Thank you for the tips, I am a noob to the gravel racing scene and really appreciate the info. Keep up the great work!! 🤙

Good vid man, I like all your great vids, great advice and I follow them

Listen up, sweaty dads, gravel racing is SERIOUS business.

Love #5! Probably the most important as this thing is supposed to be fun!! I would add that in conjunction with laughing off the set backs, that you attempt to serve in some way, your fellow cyclist. There is no better feeling than helping others and who better to help than a fellow member of our tribe in need?

Source Bladders are great to use and easy to clean

Great video.
Thank you.

Inner tube vs. Cush Core??? Plan on changing to tube or plan on riding a flat with Cush Core for support?

Nice one! To add: top up sealant before the race. And, don't try new water supplement at the event's beginning. You might be stuck with having to drink plain awful stuff all day.