Steven Rindner Provides a Few Valuable Gravel Biking Tips for Beginners

Gravel biking, also known as gravel riding or gravel grinding, is a form of cycling that has been steadily gaining popularity over the last two decades. It combines elements of mountain and road cycling, and largely involves distance riding over unpaved roads. As Steven Rindner says, no matter whether one is riding on gravel roads or dirt roads, trails should comprise of non-technical and unsurfaced roads to qualify as gravel biking. As cities typically have paved roads for commuters, the best gravel biking trails can be found in rural areas. 

Steven Rindner lists gravel biking tips for beginners

Gravel biking is a dynamic cycling discipline has gained significant popularity in the recent years. This form of biking merges elements of road cycling and mountain biking. As gravel biking focuses on unpaved roads, it provides cyclists with the opportunity to push their limits, soak in the beauty of nature and explore new routes. Gravel cyclists get the chance to discover scenic sites that one can only witness during an adventure off the beaten path. 

Here are a few gravel biking tips that can be advantageous for beginners: 

• Remaining seated should be a priority when riding gravel. Cyclists must see to it that their body weight is centred while tackling bumpy terrain. Even when the going gets tougher, cyclists should not get out of the saddle to power through. Rather, they must stay seated and gear down, to make sure that they are in control over loose terrain by creating higher cadence. However, it can be a bit difficult to stay seated when riding over the terrain found on gravel trails. Hence, people just starting out with gravel biking must consider outfitting their gravel bike with a suspension seat-post. This would effectively allow them to stay seated while powering over the bumps and ruts without causing the discomfort of a hard saddle.
• Abrupt and sharp turns are not good in any form of cycling. However, cyclists especially have to be sure of stable turning when trying to conquer gravel biking terrain. Turning the handlebars sharply on a turn would make the front wheel more prone to sliding on the gravel. A good way to ensure a smooth turn each time is to shift one’s weight gradually and direct the hips in the appropriate direction. Smooth transitions and gentle leans must be the priority of the cyclists. There are specially designed gravel handlebars available that feature flared grip sections, allowing cyclists to drop down into a wider position in rough terrain and providing them with a greater degree of control and stability.

As Steven Rindner mentions, cyclists should try their best to relax and float over rough terrain. They need to keep their elbows a bit bent and relaxed, and avoid braking instinctively or clamping down on the handlebars. Corrugated, rough roads might make the cyclists feel like they need to hit the brakes, particularly on a descent. However, braking can actually cause the tires to lose contact with the ground, rather than gliding over the rough patches unimpeded.