Last week, for Training Tuesday, we helped you start getting your body ready for a long gravel event, but what about your bike? Preparing a bike for a long gravel event takes some planning and preparations as well. For today's Mechanical Monday, we've got five top tips to get you ready for hours of gravel grinding.
5 Tips for Getting Your Bike Ready for a Gravel Race:
Hydration and Fuel Storage Wars
Many gravel events offer frequent aid stations that are well stocked and staffed, making adding water bottle cage or two the only items you need to add to your cyclocross bike.
Want some energy for the ride, but don’t like Japanese? Topeak has an alternative to the Bento Box with five different sizes of top tube bags, called the Fast Fuel, Fuel Tank, and three TriBag styles. Some even have a charging cable port for your phone. Interbike 2016 © Cyclocross Magazine
However, all too often we’ve arrived at an aid station that ran out of food or fluid due to some technical problem or oversight, and we’ve even hit some aid stations before the staff arrived. While a bit of shade in an empty tent might be welcomed, having some of your own favorite fuels, in solid and liquid form, along for the ride is always a smart choice.
A Camelbak or other hydration pack can do the trick, while the recent resurgence of handlebar and top tube bags also offers a convenient, calorie and fluid-carrying option. Some forks even offer “adventure mounts” that allow you to bring along a feast.
