How to Start Gravel Cycling

Gravel riding has become the fastest-growing part of cycling in Europe. It is easy to see why: quiet roads, wild landscapes, no cars and a relaxed culture. You can ride for the views or race for the podium – both are gravel.

But loose ground behaves very differently from tarmac. Riders who are strong on the road often find their first gravel descent surprisingly scary. The good news: gravel is a skill sport, and skills can be learned.

How fast can it go? Our founder Darina Balabai got her first gravel bike in February 2026, after three years of road cycling. In March she rode her first gravel race, UCI Gravel Elvas–Badajoz – and qualified for the UCI Gravel World Championships with second place in her age group (Master B). "I don't know how many times I fell in the sand or how many times my chain came off. It was an unbelievable result." Skills can be learned fast. Starting with the right ones makes it a lot less painful.

Do you need a gravel bike?

Yes – and you don't need an expensive one to start. Our advice: rent a gravel bike for your first rides, or buy an affordable one – for example a Canyon Grizl or Grail from our partner Canyon – and see how you like it. A road bike is not built for loose ground: narrow tyres, little grip and no room for wider rubber make your first gravel rides harder and less safe than they need to be.

What makes a gravel bike the right tool:

• Tyre clearance for 38–50 mm tyres – the single most important difference. The wider the tyre, the more stable you are on gravel.
• Relaxed geometry – more stable on rough ground and long days.
• Lower gears – steep, loose climbs need them.
• Mounts for bottles and bags for longer rides.

Tyres and pressure: the cheapest upgrade

Tyres change your gravel experience more than any other part.

• Width: 40–45 mm is a good all-round start. Wider = more grip and comfort, a bit slower on tarmac.
• Tubeless: strongly recommended. You can run lower pressure without pinch flats, and sealant fixes most small punctures on its own.
• Pressure: much lower than on the road. Too hard and the bike bounces and slides; too soft and the rim hits stones. There is no single right number – it depends on the surface and on your weight.

"The wider the tyre, the better. Keep the pressure low so you get maximum grip. But it always depends on the surface – rocky or sandy roads each need different tyres – and of course on your weight." – Darina Balabai, founder of Portcycling

Tip: test different pressures on the same short loop. You will feel the difference in minutes.

5 skills to learn first

1. Look where you want to go

The bike follows your eyes. Look at the line you want, not at the rock you want to avoid.

2. Stay loose

A relaxed upper body lets the bike move under you. Bend your elbows and knees, keep a light grip on the bars and let the bike float over bumps.

3. Brake before the corner, not in it

On loose ground, braking in a corner is the fastest way to slide out. Do your braking in a straight line, release the brakes, then turn. Use both brakes, with more front on firm ground and smoother, gentler pressure on loose surfaces.

4. Weight back and low on descents

On steep descents, move your hips back and lower your chest. Pedals level, heels down, eyes far ahead.

5. Keep pedalling on loose climbs

Stay seated to keep weight on the rear wheel, spin a lower gear and pedal smoothly. Sudden power makes the rear wheel slip.

Planning your first gravel rides

• Start short: 1.5–2 hours on easy tracks. Gravel takes more energy and attention than tarmac at the same distance.
• Expect to be slower: your average speed will drop. That is normal and part of the fun.
• Carry more: spare tube (even with tubeless), plug kit, pump, multitool, more water and food. Shops and cafés are rarer off-road.
• Download the route: use a GPX on your bike computer or phone. Many gravel tracks are not on standard maps.
• Ride with others: you learn lines, braking and pacing much faster by following experienced riders.

Common beginner mistakes

• Too much tyre pressure.
• Gripping the bars too hard and staring at the front wheel.
• Braking in the middle of a corner.
• Going too far, too soon – and running out of water.
• Copying road pacing: on gravel, effort comes in bursts, so pace by feel and power, not speed.

Learn the skills properly: a gravel skills week

If you want to skip years of trial and error, learn with a coach. Our Gravel Skills Camp in Granada (May 9–15, 2027) is a 7-day camp built around exactly these skills: cornering, braking and descending on loose terrain. The technical sessions are led by Carlos Cobos Márquez, coach in the professional Movistar Gravel Squad.

You don't need off-road experience – if you have never ridden gravel, you start with the basics. You should be comfortable riding 2–4 hours at an easy-to-moderate pace, with two longer days of 4–5 hours. It is a skills camp, not a race.

Ready for more after that? Read how to prepare for your first gravel race.