Gravel road skills training?

[newbie2012]

I'm getting satisfaction from riding on gravel roads on my road bike (btw, we are not talking epic journeys here). Seems to open up a whole new range of roads to ride. Does anyone know of any courses etc on developing skills/knowledge further or are there some similarly misguided people out there (on road bikes) who wouldn't mind another rider joining them to learn stuff from them ?

[Akzle]

fuck cuz, come up for a skid with me. I wont tell you fuckall but ill pull you out of the ditch if your bleeding too much to do it yourself.

[strandedinnz]

ProRider do a gravel riding course, really good I've not crashed since going on it ;-)

Lessons came in handy on the Lake Waikaremoana tracks (65km of gravel/dirt to get to the lake, 45km to get out)

[Grashopper]

ProRider do a gravel riding course, really good I've not crashed since going on it ;-)

Lessons came in handy on the Lake Waikaremoana tracks (65km of gravel/dirt to get to the lake, 45km to get out)

I'm quite keen on doing one of those. Especially after our little gravel trip on Waitangi Day.

[nerrrd]

Me too - did a silver porider course today, mentioned this to Neil the instructor and he said it's worth registering an interest with them as they wait until they've got an indication of numbers before scheduling another course. Thought I might email them an enquiry...since there doesn't seem any other way of doing it.

[newbie2012]

Yep, seems Pro rider are the only place.

Happened to call them today, nothing planned. If we all email them, they might be motivated to arrange a day. I'm up for sending a note to ask.

Also like Akzle's angle, but maybe the Pro Rider option would mean less bike damage but the café break conversations would not be as interesting.

PS did the Silver last weekend with Neil, pretty thorough dude.

[newbie2012]

FYI - Prorider advises they are looking at doing a gravel course over winter

[nerrrd]

FYI - Prorider advises they are looking at doing a gravel course over winter

Awesome, slippery wet gravel, even better! Sent them an enquiry anyway.

[Akzle]

Awesome, slippery wet gravel, even better! Sent them an enquiry anyway.

gravel is just as good wet as dry. and wet keeps the dust down.
Its mud that will fuckya.

[Crisis management]

Good to see people enjoying the roads less travelled, probably not a lot of use for road bikes but Northern adventure riders? (facebook) run a lot of entry level training for gravel and the like, auckland based and good people.
If you want to learn to ride in those slippery conditions you do run the risk of stuffing the bike in a ditch so be aware, alternatively contact endless dirt biking (woodhill) for a couple of hours of off road training, that will get all the basics you need.
I'll look out for you out there (trashy old BMW usually sliding around)

[Motu]

They don't water a speedway track just to keep the dust down, it increases traction. Same with a gravel road, more traction and less sliding around when it's wet - I (used too) crank it up a notch in the wet.

[nerrrd]

Good to see people enjoying the roads less travelled, probably not a lot of use for road bikes but Northern adventure riders? (facebook) run a lot of entry level training for gravel and the like, auckland based and good people.

Thanks for the tip, turns out they're running a Level 1 training course on April 12 if anyone is interested: http://www.northerngraveladventureri...-training.html

[george formby]

Thanks for the tip, turns out they're running a Level 1 training course on April 12 if anyone is interested: http://www.northerngraveladventureri...-training.html

Where? I'm guessing round Auks somewhere. My G/F wants to do some gravel training.

Wet gravel roads? Oh, yeah. All good unless they are clay based. "As slick as an eel" as the Marquis de Sade said of his mistress when she was tickled with a peacock feather.
Last time I rode the TDM on the Waikare & Old Russell roads in heavy rain the back tire just spun along the camber rather than drove through the corners. Oh, such fun! The front just kinda skittered & wobbled & slid & tucked. That reminds me. I need proper grippy foot pegs.

[Grashopper]

Thanks for the tip, turns out they're running a Level 1 training course on April 12 if anyone is interested: http://www.northerngraveladventureri...-training.html

Definitely interested. Where does the course take place and how much is it?

[nerrrd]

Definitely interested. Where does the course take place and how much is it?

It's in Auckland, specifically they use private roads in Riverhead forest. $150 for the day.