Gravel road tips for a road bike

[Henk]

Heres another idea for getting better at gravel.
Get a cheap trail bike and spend some time riding in 6 inch slop at winter trail rides, after that gravel is a breeze.
If you don't want to go full off road to learn, everything they said above.
If it's comfortable, try standing up, gives much more control in the realy loose stuff, Can feel odd if the bars and levers aren't set up to accommodate this style of riding though.

[NordieBoy]

Off-road didn't teach me about gravel at all

[Motu]

Don't get too involved with controling the rear wheel,it's the front wheel that most people have problems with (I'm the opposite,I don't even give the front wheel a thought,but I've been doing it for a while).When you throttle off (on a 4 stroke) the front loads up and next thing the front wheel starts going everywhere.....you need that throttle on.

Nordie's got it - weight forward,right up on the tank,dirt bikes actually don't have enough weight on the front wheel for gravel.You need to be a bit aggressive,gentle with the throttle is not for me - on corner exit get the gas on hard as soon as you can.I have a theory that only one wheel goes down at a time (I know it's not true,but shut up for now),so if that rear wheel is spinning,the front will track true and all you have to do is steer.Same on corner entry - get that rear wheel happy,if the rear wheel is fighting for traction under braking the front won't be.You don't really have to have wheelspin and brake slides....but direct the problems rearward and the scary front wheel will feel much more under your control.

[Oscar]

What I've recently learned...
Weight forward!
Don't worry about the back end.
Keep yourself upright and lean the bike a bit.
As you go into a corner and lean the bike the front will slip a bit and you will not like that but after the apex (to start with) wind the throttle on a bit (to start with) and the front will lighten up with the power/weight transfer and the bike will go where it's ment to - it will feel right.

I knew all the theory but my right wrist didn't want to have anything to do with it.
One day I decided to just do it no matter what my wrist thought and it fcukin works!

After 10 years of gravel corner panic I found out what fun it can be just after the Dusty Butt

I now look for gravel everywhere

Sounds good to me.

Perfect corner...
Sit forward, bike leaning over (but you sitting straight up) with yer weight up on the tank but also pushing down on the outside peg as you approach the corner, hard on the front brake to the apex. Tap the back brake at the apex, and gas it...


Of course you may need a little (25 years in my case) practice to perfect that. My tips for what they're worth:

* Do all yer braking in a straight line. As hard as you dare on the front, and then a little bit harder next time.
* Using the rear brake only will tend to make you slide (and will slow you down). Use both.
* Stick yer foot out. If it makes you feel more comfortable, stick yer inside foot out just like Josh Coppins - point it to the apex, leg bent slightly and boot sole parallel to the road. Who knows, as well as looking good, you might even save the odd front end wash out.
* Watch the road surface as far ahead as you can. Abrupt changes in traction can cause abrupt changes in your "on road" status.
*Gravel ain't just gravel. On the thick stuff, sit back like you're on sand, keep the front pointed with throttle control - use a lower gear and keep the back wheel driving. Finer stuff can tend toward muddy slippery corners.
*Be smoooth. It's amazing how often you'll speed up by not trying to go as fast.

[cooneyr]

What I've recently learned...
Weight forward!
Don't worry about the back end.
Keep yourself upright and lean the bike a bit.
As you go into a corner and lean the bike the front will slip a bit and you will not like that but after the apex (to start with) wind the throttle on a bit (to start with) and the front will lighten up with the power/weight transfer and the bike will go where it's ment to - it will feel right.

I knew all the theory but my right wrist didn't want to have anything to do with it.
One day I decided to just do it no matter what my wrist thought and it fcukin works!

After 10 years of gravel corner panic I found out what fun it can be just after the Dusty Butt

I now look for gravel everywhere

Awsome dude - glad you have found the groove. That technique definatly works (most of the time) for me. Just dont do what I did and go to fast/forget to watch the road i.e. focus to much on oncomming traffic etc etc (plus every other excuse).

Cheers R

[fishb8nz]

Very helpful advice, there. I'd love to get a trail bike but the overwhelming marital odds against more than one bike are beyond me. Not a battle that I'm prepared to fight. I know, no cojones, but a 35 year marriage.
However, I know mine isn't a great candidate for gravel, with the rubber belt. But if you're faced with it, you have to deal with it.
Good advice, cheers.

[KoroJ]

Aye, I'm with Nordie and Motu on this one.

If you get your weight as far forward as possible it tends to anchor the front wheel and it doesn't matter what the back is doing. This is helped by the design of the bike (ie especially the rake on the front forks, so no Cruiser/Chopper will ever handle loose stuff well and big tanks tend to make it difficult). A low centre of gravity helps.

I wouldn't normally stand or put much weight on the pegs as it's more fun to ride speedway style with the back hanging out and a boot down.

[NordieBoy]

The Buell Ulyssyssiesss has a belt and I thought it was designed for gravelly stuff?

BigDave?

[cooneyr]

The Buell Ulyssyssiesss has a belt and I thought it was designed for gravelly stuff?

BigDave?

A hardly engined bike on gravel OMG. Check this link out Some interesting vids.

Cheers R

[Edbear]

and try bias yer weight towards the rear...

Mmmmm! Unfortunately most of my weight is biased towards the front...

[warewolf]

I wouldn't normally stand or put much weight on the pegs as it's more fun to ride speedway style with the back hanging out and a boot down.

I disagree, it's more fun to slide speedway style with both feet still on the pegs, sitting or standing. It's just gets a bit more fun once you are banging the lock-stops through a long corner

[Ruralman]

What I've recently learned...
Weight forward!
Don't worry about the back end.
Keep yourself upright and lean the bike a bit.
As you go into a corner and lean the bike the front will slip a bit and you will not like that but after the apex (to start with) wind the throttle on a bit (to start with) and the front will lighten up with the power/weight transfer and the bike will go where it's ment to - it will feel right.

I knew all the theory but my right wrist didn't want to have anything to do with it.
One day I decided to just do it no matter what my wrist thought and it fcukin works!

After 10 years of gravel corner panic I found out what fun it can be just after the Dusty Butt

I now look for gravel everywhere

I agree with Nordie - spot on - I live on gravel and ride it all the time. The key thing as he says is to stay upright yourself and lean the bike - basically you go into dirt bike mode on the gravel and road bike on the seal. Look at photos of a GP racer going round a corner and a top motocross rider or enduro rider going round a corner on a dirt course - the road/track rider leans with the bike (or even further than the bike), the dirt rider leans the bike but stays upright themself.
Look at where you want to go, not at what you are trying to avoid, lean bike and then power on.
Don't be too afraid to use the front brake either - obviously you don't use it when leaning the bike on loose stuff in mid corner, but, if you realize you are coming into a corner too fast then keep it all upright and give a bloody good stab on both brakes to wipe off a serious amount of speed and then let of the front brake and gently use the back as you tip it in for the corner and start putting some power back on. As with sealed road riding you will get round a corner tighter with some power on than drifting round with no power. Point and shoot is an expression used which sums it up pretty well.
Keep your weight forward - its more important the front wheel goes where you want it and it needs the weight and the bite to do that - especially downhill tight turns.
I also agree you should keep your feet up on the pegs unless maybe your riding a genuine trail bike on really tight and loose stuff and even there you can do it feet up - you've got more control feet up as you are better able to move the whole bike from side to side, besides which feet up power slides are just so much more fun!

[Templar]

I am currently on the 2nd DVD of "Long Way Round" and believe IMO that is one of the best faking things I have ever viewed! I am now dissapointed that I never tried one of those BMW bikes before having my spinal cord injury...

Hey dude, I've just finished watching those as well, after buying the book at borders. Great dvd's eh, makes me want to ride around the world too!

[Ronnie]

Yes thats a good advice, just find a stretch of gravel thets not too busy and twist the throttle. Do the same with the brakes. Just squeeze front brake and c what happens. Start slowly and u cant go wrong, just keep at it.

[marks]

Hi

I covered about 80 km of gravel in the weekend and as a gravel virgin I tried to apply the great info in this thread. One situation that screwed me every time was an off camber blind right hand corner with thick gravel on the outside of the corner.

Twice I went off the road and once I went up along the bank at the edge. There seems to be a 'rabbit in headlights' point when both wheels start sliding and I'm a meter or less from the edge where I just don't know what to do other than mess my undies and run off the road.

I have to confess to lacking the courage to gas it under these conditions.

What can I try?

cheers


Mark