Are you thinking about diving into the incredibly addictive world of gravel racing? If so, this guide from CycleHub's Andrea and Dave will get you ready for your first big ride.

Gravel racing is the fastest-growing discipline in Australian cycling, and fast sales of gravel bikes have helped keep the cycling industry afloat. When I bought my first bike, it was a gravel bike because it gave me a less intimidating way of riding than competing with traffic on the tarmac.

Most gravel bikes are outfitted to make it easy to attach specialized adventure gear, bikepacking bags, and accessories, which also makes them perfect for bikepacking trips like the Snowy Mountains' infamous NAT900.

There's one more reason you might want to buy a gravel bike. You can tell your spouse that you're economising because owning a single gravel bike means you don't (necessarily) need separate road, cyclocross, and mountain bikes.

For a beginner, it may seem impossible to imagine getting fit enough to complete a 100-kilometre gravel grinder, or even a shorter distance of 40 or 50 kilometres. But you can do it. This guide is designed to be your roadmap, taking you from gravel curious to crossing your first finish line with a smile (and possibly an abundance of mud) on your face.

What's the gravel vibe?

Before we talk about carbon fiber or training zones, we have to talk about the vibe. The Spirit of Gravel is a phrase you will hear often, and it refers to a culture that is inherently non-judgmental and inclusive.

When you show up to a gravel race in Australia, you will see an eclectic mix of equipment. You might see a $15,000 custom-built rig parked next to a 1994 steel mountain bike with a basket on the front. At the most recent gravel ride that CycleHub's Dave rode in, one rider was on a mountain bike that looked like it had just been pulled off the Council clean-up pile. Looking at it, I honestly didn't believe he would be able to finish the course, but he did, and in good style.

All that is to say that, in the gravel world, nobody cares what you're riding. They only care THAT you're riding. Gravel is a space where the post-race beer and burger matter just as much as the podium results.

How are gravel bikes different?

If you are coming from a different cycling background, you might be wondering why you need a specific guide for gravel at all. Isn't it just a bike on some dirt? To understand the nuance, it helps to look at how gravel bikes and biking are different from their more established cousins.

Gravel vs. Road

Road cycling is often a game of pure efficiency and aerodynamics. Road bikes have narrow tyres inflated to high pressures, and these struggle on loose surfaces. They tend to skate over the top of gravel, making cornering and descending feel like you're on ice.

Gravel bikes use much wider tyres (usually 38mm to 45mm), which act like a cushion, providing grip and confidence when the road turns to marbles. Furthermore, gravel racing takes you away from the stress of high-speed traffic, trading exhaust fumes for fresh air.

Another difference is that it's less common on gravel trails to ride in bunches than it is on the road. When the surface under your tyres is loose and unpredictable, following another cyclist too closely is dangerous.

The maths doesn't reward bunching up either: fat tyres, slower speeds and all that rolling resistance mean the draft that powers road racing is not nearly as useful on dirt. Throw in punchy climbs and rough descents that string everyone out anyway, and you get gravel's signature vibe: spread out, chatty and gloriously unbothered.

Gravel vs. Mountain Biking (MTB)

While a mountain bike is the king of technical terrain, it can feel sluggish on the long, rolling fire roads that make up the bulk of a gravel race.

A mountain bike is built to survive drops, rocks, and roots, but its heavy suspension and wide handlebars create a lot of drag. A gravel bike is effectively a strengthened road bike. Compared to a mountain bike, it is faster on the flats and more efficient on the climbs, but it requires more skill to navigate technical descents because you don't have front suspension to soak up the hits.

In short, gravel is the Goldilocks of cycling. It's faster than a mountain bike on the easy stuff and more capable than a road bike on the rough stuff. It's the perfect tool for exploring the vast network of unpaved roads that crisscross regional Australia.

Understanding your gravel bike

You don't need to be an expert on bike design to get started, but understanding a few basic concepts will make your first purchase or setup much easier. When we talk about gravel bikes, we usually focus on two things: stability and gearing.

Geometry

In the bike world, geometry is just a fancy word for the shape of your bike's frame.

A gravel bike is designed to be stable. Think of it like the difference between a sports car and a high-end SUV. The road bike is the sports car and is twitchy, reacting to the slightest touch.

The gravel bike is the SUV, with its longer wheelbase and a different fork angle that allows it to track straight even when the ground beneath you is shifting. This is a huge benefit for beginners because it makes patches of loose sand or corrugated road feel less scary.

Gearing

Gears are simply tools to help you manage your effort. Because gravel roads are often steeper and the loose surface makes it harder to maintain momentum, gravel bikes come with lower or easier gears.

This means you usually have a granny gear that allows you to keep your legs spinning even on the most brutal climbs. Many new gravel bikes use a 1x system, which means there is only one ring at the front where your pedals are. This makes shifting simpler, reduces weight, and there's no need to worry about complex combinations. It's also less likely your chain will fall off.

Tyres

If you change only one thing on your bike, make it the tyres. Running tubeless (tyres with liquid sealant inside instead of a rubber tube) is the gold standard for gravel. Not everyone agrees with us on this, but at CycleHub we believe it's true.

Going tubeless also allows you to run lower tyre pressures, which increases your ground contact. This gives you more grip and comfort. For a beginner, a tyre width of around 40mm to 42mm is the sweet spot for most Australian conditions.

How to train for a gravel event in eight weeks

You don't need a coach or a power meter to train for your first gravel race. You just need a bit of consistency and a willingness to get a little bit dusty. Here is how your journey should look:

The first fortnight: Building the habit

Start by riding three times a week. These don't need to be long; 30 to 45 minutes is plenty. At this stage, you are just teaching your body to be comfortable in the saddle. Stay on flat, familiar paths. The goal is simply to make cycling a part of your weekly routine.

These first two weeks are when you realise that it would be a good idea to buy a pair of padded bike shorts.

Weeks three and four: Finding the dirt

Now it's time to take one of those rides off-road. Find a local rail trail or a well-maintained fire road. Notice how the bike moves differently. It might slide a little bit under you in corners. This is normal!

Practice keeping your weight centred, and your grip on the handlebars relaxed. And if the trail gets too difficult, don't be afraid to walk your bike for short stretches to get past the worst of the terrain.

Weeks five and six: The volume phase

During these weeks, start increasing the length of your Long Sunday Ride. Aim to reach about 75% of your target race distance.

This is also the time to practice your on-bike skills. Can you reach for your water bottle without looking? Can you eat a small muesli bar while moving? Staying hydrated and fueled is the difference between finishing strong and bonking (running out of energy) 10 kilometres from the end.

Week seven: The dress rehearsal

This is your biggest week. Try to ride close to your full race distance at a comfortable, steady pace. Don't worry about speed; focus on how you feel. If you are doing a 50km race, try a 40km or 45km ride. This builds the mental confidence that you can go the distance.

Week eight: The taper

The week before the race is for resting. Ride twice for 20 minutes just to keep your legs moving, but avoid anything strenuous. You want to arrive at the start line feeling fresh and excited.

When you sign up for a race, look for a recreational or social category. These are filled with people who are there for the experience rather than the trophy.

Exploring the Australian gravel scene

Australia has some of the most iconic gravel events in the world. From the grueling climbs of the Victorian Alps to the red dust of the Northern Territory, there is an event for every level of fitness.

Some highlights include Clarkes Gambit near Batemans Bay, RADL GRVL in Adelaide, and the Devil's Cardigan in Tasmania. However, these are just the tip of the iceberg.

There are dozens of other events that offer a great experience. To find the full, updated list of every gravel event taking place across the country, make sure to visit the primary resource for Aussie riders:

Full List of Australian Gravel Events on CycleHub

Finding your crew: Gravel is better together

One of the best ways to improve your skills and stay motivated is to find other riders. Gravel riders are social, and there are several ways to find your tribe:

• Local Bike Shops (LBS): Almost every town in Australia has a bike shop that hosts No Drop rides. These are social outings where the faster riders wait for the slower ones at every intersection. It's a great way to learn local routes.
• Strava and Facebook: Search for local gravel groups. Groups like Gravel Cyclists Australia or regional-specific pages are goldmines for advice and organised social rides. Or just look at Strava's heat map and find riders and popular routes where you can meet them.
• Use route apps like Komoot and RideWithGPS. Komoot is known for its community routes, and many clubs publish their planned rides there, so you can see exactly who is heading out and where. RideWithGPS includes club and event tools that make group rides easy to organise, which means plenty of clubs use it as their ride noticeboard.
• Ask around: It sounds obvious, but the best way to find a group ride is simply to start talking with people. You might be surprised by how many people you know who already like to ride gravel.

Your first gravel event

Your first gravel race probably won't be about the time on the clock or your place in the standings. You'll enjoy instead the wind on your face, the sound of tyres on stone, and the sense of achievement that comes from doing something new.

Don't be intimidated. At its heart, gravel riding is just being a kid on a bike again, exploring the woods and seeing where that dirt track leads. So, pump up your tyres, grab a friend, and we'll see you out on the trails.