Bike
Cycling
Gravel riding essentials: 10 bits of kit that should be on your wishlist
Just getting into the off-road drop-bar riding revolution but feeling overwhelmed with all the new kit possibilities? These are the components and clothing actually worth investing in.
When gravel bikes first began to emerge several years ago they were initially met with skepticism. To hardened cyclists who have seen their fair share of brands trying to sell them “The Next Big Thing” over the years, this new breed of steed bore all the trappings of a gimmick designed to slice the cycling market even more thinly. What next? A hardpack bike? A pavement bike? A slightly-bumpy-tarmac bike?
How wrong they were.
In the time that has elapsed since, gravel riding has grown and established itself as a legitimate (and very fun) subgenre of cycling. This, in turn, has opened up a whole new world of ways to spend money. But which gravel-specific components and accessories are just marketing ploys and which ones are legitimately going to improve your riding?
From cleverly designed groupsets to purpose-built dropper posts, here are 10 essential items for gravel grinding that’ll help take your off-roading up a gear.c components and accessories are just marketing ploys and which ones are legitimately going to improve your riding?
1. Time Cyclo 10 pedals
The top-specced Cyclo 10 pedal boasts a carbon body
© Time
Price: Approx. $190 CAD
Combining the performance of a road pedal with the functionality of a MTB pedal, this clever new design from Time has been built to meet the demands of gravel, cyclocross, and touring riders. The large platform provides optimal power transfer while the two-bolt cleat system means you’ll actually be able to walk if you have to dismount.
There are three slightly different models in the range but all feature the same basic design. The main differentiator is weight, with the top-specced Cyclo 10 pedal boasting a carbon body.
2. Fizik Terra bar tape
A mid-layer foam helps reduce vibrations when riding off-road
© Fizik
Price: $39.99 USD
Even with 40c gravel tires to cushion the ride, venturing off-road on rigid forks is always going to be a bone-rattling experience to some degree. One way to reduce the chatter is to invest in some specially designed bar tape.
Fizik's Terra tape is made for the road less travelled and features the brand's Bondcush foam. It's the company’s chunkiest bar tape option and is perfect for reducing road buzz, while a a tacky surface finish helps get your grip dialled in the rain or shine.
3. Farr Aero Gravel Bars
Built-in tri bars come in handy during long road sections
© Farr
Price: $99 USD
Sizes: 42cm, 44cm, 46cm
RideFarr specializes in products that are designed for, well, riding far. The South African brand’s bolt-on Aero attachment proved to be a huge hit with gravel and adventure cyclists looking to increase their hand position options and now it's available as a fully integrated handlebar.
It boasts a 25-degree flare – perfect for increased stability on mixed terrain – and comes in three widths to accommodate every rider.
4. Hunt 30 Carbon Gravel Disc wheelset
Hunt has become synonymous with bullet-proof hand-built wheels
© Hunt
Price: $1329 CAD
Although only started in 2015, a set of Hunt wheels has already rolled its way onto the upgrade list of many a discerning cyclist. Having made the jump from alloy-only to carbon a couple of years after launching, it didn't take long for Hunt to design a wheelset capable of standing up to a bit of off-piste punishment.
The 30 Carbon Gravel Disc wheels are aimed squarely at the gravel market and feature a hardy build and wide rims capable of fitting anything from a 25mm to a 50mm tire. Plus, weighing in at under 1,500g, they're likely to be a damn sight lighter than the stock wheelset that shipped with your bike.
5. Shimano GRX 600 gravel groupset
The gravel-specific groupset comes in 1x or 2x builds
© Shimano
Price: Approx. $1300 CAD
It would’ve been all too easy for a Shimano to throw a mish-mash of MTB and road components together, call it a gravel groupset, and be done with it. But that’s not what the iconic manufacturer has done.
Instead, Shimano did its homework and created a system that really fine-tunes the gravel-riding experience. From the brake hoods to the derailleurs, everything has been carefully redesigned to work intuitively when taking a drop-bar bike onto rough stuff. The GRX 600 is the mid-range option – roughly equivalent to Shimano 105 in terms of spec – and provides excellent shifting and braking in even the gnarliest of conditions.
6. Lauf Grit Fork
This funky fork offers up 30mm of travel – ideal for the rougher stuff
© Lauf
Price: $790 USD
If you love turning heads just as much as bombing down dirt paths on two wheels, then Lauf’s Grit Fork might just be the next thing on your upgrade wish list. Granted, its alien looks aren’t going to be for everyone, but if you’re serious about riding off-road for extended periods then having 30mm of travel up front is no bad thing.
Featuring a carbon body and unusual leaf spring design, it’s perfectly equipped to take the edge off particularly rough sections while remaining stiff and stable enough to keep your pedalling efficient on the flat, even when out of the saddle.
7. Mavic Allroad shorts
Multiple pockets give this cycling shorts a utility edge
© Mavic
Price: $132 USD
Everyone knows that (with the exception of XC) mountain bikers wear baggies and roadies wear Lycra. But what about gravel riders? Up until fairly recently, people have tended to simply wear their regular kit, but as gravel continues to grow as its own discipline, some brands have introduced specialist apparel to meet riders’ demands. One such manufacturer is Mavic, whose Allroad line of gravel kit bridges the gap between tight and baggy. Take these shorts for example. They’re snug without being overly fitted and the feature adjustable inseams with pre-shaped construction increase comfort on the bike.
8. Sportful Giara jersey
This jersey possesses a robustness lacking in racier tarmac-focused attire
© Sportful
Price: Approx. $78 CAD
A solid selection of jerseys is an absolute must for any cyclist and gravel is no different. Of course, you could just wear your road kit regardless of how fat your tires are, but Sportful’s Giara jersey possesses a reassuring robustness that’s often lacking in racier road-focused attire.
Made from breathable stretch fabric, it has four deep rear pockets including one with a zip and it offers a slightly more relaxed cut than the Italian brand’s road-specific kit. This all adds up to make a jersey that’s perfectly equipped to tackle big distances and take off-road adventures in its stride.
9. Pro Discover dropper post
With 70mm of travel, a whole new world of possibility is opened up
© PRO
Price: Approx. $383 CAD
You probably don't think a dropper post is essential for gravel riding and maybe you're right. One thing's for sure though, once you've ridden a sketchy descent with one you'll never want to go without.
This one from Shimano's PRO Bike Gear brand has less travel than its MTB counterparts at 70mm and is designed to integrate seamlessly with Shimano's GRX shifters. There's also a clever double-ended paddle design to the lever that enables the rider to operate the post from both the hood and the drop.
10. Rapha Explore shoes
You'll always be seen in these hi-vis numbers
© Rapha
Price: $410 CAD
This should go without saying but rigid carbon-sole road shoes with protruding three-bolt cleats are not built for walking. Particularly not on rough surfaces. So, unless you like the way bulky clipless Five Tens look with your form-hugging kit, it'd be wise to invest in some purpose-built gravel shoes.
The Explore shoe from notoriously stylish clothing brand Rapha is every bit as handsome as you'd expect. It features carbon footplate, recessed two-bolt cleat and a grippy rubber sole perfect for adventure rides when you're likely to be off the bike as well as on it.
