I learned this all too well in 2021 when I had two crashes within a few weeks in my first few months of riding my gravel bike. Although I had fitness to ride my bike, I lacked the skills needed to take my bike off road. Riding a gravel bike off road requires a very different skill set than riding on the road. I'm happy to report that with a lot of help from Karel, not only have I become more confident on my gravel bike (and no more crashes!) but I've also learned how to ride a mountain bike on very technical terrain - and haven't had any major crashes or accidents.
And not all "gravel" is created equal - neither is tire pressure. There are silky smooth dirt roads and then there are washboard-like roads which will have you bouncing uncomfortably on and off your saddle. Add in climbing and descending, tight turns on loose rocks, deep sand, and peanut-butter clay, you may find that gravel riding is much harder than it looks on social media. Oh and don't forget to add in riding over puddles and water crossings. You never know what you will get when riding off road. Additionally, risk of heat stress, fatigue and bonking is also greater than on the road due to the lack of "convenient" stops to refill bottles and to restock edible fuel.
The purpose of this gravel skills camp is to help you become a safer, more skilled and confident cyclist. The truth is that riding a gravel bike is very different than riding on the road. On gravel, you can't just sit on your bike and pedal, especially when you are riding on sand, mud, loose gravel and roots. Weight distribution and surveying the ground in front of you are very important on technical terrain. Whereas you may be able to get away zoning out and sitting on your road or tri bike while being stiff and rigid, gravel riding requires you to stay relaxed and to react dynamically to the ground under you, so your bike can float freely under you. When you watch experienced gravel riders, you'll notice that they are rarely sitting - there's a lot of standing, hovering, moving the hands into different positions on the handlebars/drops and weight shifting. The key is making small adjustments to stay stable, safe and in control.
This camp will be divided into two distinct sections - developing skills and then applying the skills. You will have the opportunity to work on specific bike handling skills - like body position, descending, navigating curves and turns, riding through water and on single track, climbing, braking and pedaling mechanics. You will also learn about the inner workings of your bike like tire pressure, tire choice and cleaning/maintenance.
By attending this camp, you can expect to learn a lot. By mastering fundamental gravel cycling skills you will be able to feel confident and safe on any type of terrain, while keeping a smile on your face because you are having fun.
Quick Camp Facts
Location: Zirconia, NC and Dupont State Forest
Dates: February 17th - 19th, 2023