Learning to ride on gravel/dirt

[dino3310]

standing sitting outside weight sitting standing aaaargh fuck it mate just ride like a nana it won't matter how you position yourself, theres enough speed freaks on here.

[clint640]

What gets me and most is the off camber at corners....Nowt you can do about that!

Yeah, I still wobble around some loose off camber corners like a kid that's just graduated from the tricycle to a 2 wheeler One thing I found that helps is looking right around the corner, everybody knows you're supposed to look where you want to go, but try & look a long way ahead, works for me anyway.

Cheers
Clint

[R650R]

Nothing beats time in the hot seat. Just go ride, preferably alone and slowly.
You don't need the distraction and the dust clouds from group riding when getting used to gravel.
Get any braking done early and get on the gas early. If in doubt more throttle fixes just about anything, especially if your about to crash anyway, it often picks back up those front end tucks/sledges.

[tri boy]

Lets talk about tyre selection, then engine oil

[bart]

Nothing beats time in the hot seat. Just go ride, preferably alone and slowly.
You don't need the distraction and the dust clouds from group riding when getting used to gravel.
Get any braking done early and get on the gas early. If in doubt more throttle fixes just about anything, especially if your about to crash anyway, it often picks back up those front end tucks/sledges.

Good advice here.

Every road surface is different, so don’t over think it, just do it.

[Night Falcon]

Good advice here.

Every road surface is different, so don’t over think it, just do it.

I know I don't do a lot of thinking when I ride....I have a more take it as it comes approach

[Oscar]

Yeah, I still wobble around some loose off camber corners like a kid that's just graduated from the tricycle to a 2 wheeler One thing I found that helps is looking right around the corner, everybody knows you're supposed to look where you want to go, but try & look a long way ahead, works for me anyway.

Cheers
Clint

Looking ahead was the lesson that added the most speed back in the day riding enduro's.
It still works for any type of riding.

The most dangerous things are 1) target fixation -"oh, I'd better watch out for that drain by concentrating on it...ouch" and 2) trying to keep up - arriving at the next corner and having the other guys wait 30 seconds is way better than the other guys having to call a rescue helicopter.

I'm also a bit concerned with all this talk of standing up.
Standing up is a great way to go really fast on rough terrain, but I'm not sure it adds much on gravel.
Moving around on the bike, like getting your weight forward on the corners is much more important.
Finally a lot of what we refer to as "gravel" is actually a couple of hard packed dirt tracks with gravel in the middle.
Most of the time (esp. in the dry), this provides almost as much traction as a sealed road.

[eldog]

OK, I have always been interested in trying this.
What sort of fitness required for a starter.
Should I get some initial training?
Thinking along the lines of gravel riding rather than hardcore offroad at present.
Anything a NOOB (and a road rider Noob) should be aware of (except the addiction)
I still have to protect 2 recent injuries so will be taking it slow.

I find putting some weight on the pegs even while sitting down helps enormously to steady the bike.
tones the legs which is a nice benefit

[george formby]

Fitness? What is this you speak of?
For us, the greater physical, and consequently mental input riding gravel, causes over heating rather than anything else. I've had jelly legs after riding the TDM through a few k's of deep gravel but I'm unsure if that was exertion or fear.
I think this thread covers the basics to get out their. Take it easy, look were you want to go and a bit of throttle is your friend. Do not look at the scenery on down hill hairpins.
Oh, gravel roads are public roads so expect the odd campervan or sideways ute.

[MD]

I'm surprised no nerds have come on hear with recommended tyre pressures specific to each size of gravel stones by diameters, which seems to be the pancea for all biking matters.

I am surprised how well some modern road bikes cope with gravel these days. My Daytona 675 was amazing blasting along rough gravel. Took me up the hill climb to Waiuta twice at a good pace considering it had sports tyres.

[McWild]

I'm surprised no nerds have come on hear with recommended tyre pressures specific to each size of gravel stones by diameters, which seems to be the pancea for all biking matters.

I am surprised how well some modern road bikes cope with gravel these days. My Daytona 675 was amazing blasting along rough gravel. Took me up the hill climb to Waiuta twice at a good pace considering it had sports tyres.

Man, big fat sticky sports tyres are amazing for gravel. But they get ripped to shreds.

Source: EXC450 motard on GPR A-12s.

[Tazz]

I'm surprised no nerds have come on hear with recommended tyre pressures specific to each size of gravel stones by diameters, which seems to be the pancea for all biking matters.

I am surprised how well some modern road bikes cope with gravel these days. My Daytona 675 was amazing blasting along rough gravel. Took me up the hill climb to Waiuta twice at a good pace considering it had sports tyres.

I air the front down from 30 something odd to mid 20's or lower on my little DR to make it less skittery and enjoy/usemuchlesseffort easy gravel riding way more since I started doing it.
For just gravel on a heavier bike I can see how it might be seen as a waste of time but on a wee one it's great.

Not quite as nerdy as you'd probably hope

[george formby]

I air the front down from 30 something odd to mid 20's or lower on my little DR to make it less skittery and enjoy/usemuchlesseffort easy gravel riding way more since I started doing it.
For just gravel on a heavier bike I can see how it might be seen as a waste of time but on a wee one it's great.

Not quite as nerdy as you'd probably hope

Wee ones are just great on gravel. Skinny tires, light, responsive. You make little bikes move and stop big bikes moving IMHO. I get a bit lurid on the DT but the TDM is all about being smooth & looking ahead. If I get it wrong on the DT I can keep a handle on it but if the TDM goes wrong it stays wrong so I take my time. Either way, I love riding both bikes on the roads less traveled.. Always a buzz.

[tri boy]

OK, I have always been interested in trying this.
What sort of fitness required for a starter.
Should I get some initial training?

Intense training is offered by Oscar and tri boy at the most convenient ale house to all.
You will have to pick up the tab, as I'm broke, and Oscar is is tighter than a nun's nasty.

[eldog]

Fitness? What is this you speak of?
For us, the greater physical, and consequently mental input riding gravel, causes over heating rather than anything else. I've had jelly legs after riding the TDM through a few k's of deep gravel but I'm unsure if that was exertion or fear.
I think this thread covers the basics to get out their. Take it easy, look were you want to go and a bit of throttle is your friend. Do not look at the scenery on down hill hairpins.
Oh, gravel roads are public roads so expect the odd campervan or sideways ute.

Rhetorical question, I already knew the answer, but am too dumb to realise it.
Got a bit to do on physical fitness, yes it was mental fitness I will have to work on, mostly confidence and knowing what to do (eg flat tyre). I ant stupid just no confidence part of why I want to try this stuff.
Understand what you say, sounds good, just need to get bike to suit.
going to get some training and instruction and will see if it's what I want to try further.
i already think it's the go, I am doing it for me, the experience and enjoying doing something I have never done before. Not really a outgoing person, but want to try, before I cant standup.
thanks for the instruction, I can be determined and carry thru to complete stuff no matter what the problems. Just lacking knowledge and experience. See you out there....
that sideways ute might have been me it's been me on a few sealed public roads.

Sorry Tri Boy haven't had a beer for ages...... Training