Archives des tips - Destinations Gravel

How to plan a winter gravel ride

Kim Gintrand — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 17:15:50 +0000

Most of the year, we tend to just grab our bike, pick any route and go without worrying about a thing. Winter rides are different, you have to be more careful especially with the many rainfalls and strong winds that can strongly deteriorate the trails. There are also many other things that come into play. I tell you here some tips to put all the chances on your side to avoid bad surprises and enjoy your winter gravel ride.

#1 Check the weather for the day and the tendencies the last two weeks

Going on the trails also means that they might not always be rideable, especially after the area has experienced bad weather. Make sure to check if there have been any severe storms that could have caused rivers to flood or trees to fall. If there are many rivers along the route I would recommend avoiding it and choosing a more inland itinerary. Check also the day of your ride, as the trail could overflow while you’re riding. I usually use meteociel.com, but you can also get a sense of the weather with multiple apps and news 🙂

#2 Always have charged lights with you

Daylight is shorter during winter, and sometimes even during the day, visibility tends to be low. Make sure to have a fully charged front lamp to guide you.

#3 Check the hunting season dates in the area

In France, the hunting season is open throughout winter and usually starts around September and finishes at the end of February. Make sure to be aware of this as it is not always, or even never, mentioned on the trails. To be extra careful, wear a visible jacket or bright colors.

#4 Avoid big climbs

Go for flatter routes, or hilly ones but no major climbs on the itinerary. As it will make you sweat and the descent won’t be any pleasure, especially if you still have a lot of kilometers to go. Even with a pair of changing clothes, sometimes temperatures are just too low for your body.

#5 Make yourself visible

Even if you will most likely be on the trails, make sure to have your rear light charged in case you need to hop on the road for a section. Even if it is not raining, consider wearing your rain or wind jacket, which often includes better high-visibility bands or brighter colors, for added visibility.

#6 Have the right tire set up

There are three things to take into consideration for your winter ride regarding your tires : the pressure, the section, and the grip.

Pressure : your tire pressure will depend a lot of your body weight and is proper to each and everyone of us. The manufacturer always state on the tire the pressure range needed for that specific tire. I would recommend to be closer to the lower number while riding on slippery trails, as it will allow a better grip and more control. You can always put more pressure once you are on road sections.

Sections : a larger section will allow a lower pressure and a better grip. A larger section is therefore more adapted for the winter. I usually switch my 40mm for 45mm or 50mm. Here are the two pairs I use the most through winter : Tundra in 45mm for most of my fall/winter rides, and the Tundra in 50mm for extreme conditions. I also use this model (50mm) when I ride during summer on really rocky terrains.

Treads : a larger section usually goes with a thicker tire and bigger treads. This will lead to more grip, more control and therefore more comfort on all terrain conditions and especially for winter season.

! Make sure to have the appropriate tire clearance to run bigger tires.

#7 Wear Goretex shoes

Winter is usually humid, and there are lots of equipments to keep from being wet. You also probably noticed that your body extremities usually get cold first and that’s when you’re then having your entire body freezing. Here are the top things to protect yourself the best.

Shoes : Fizik just came out with the Terra Ergolace GORE-TEX which will keep you from having your feet getting wet. Obviously, if you walk in a puddle with the water above your ankle, it won’t work… I love this model from Fizik as they are super comfortable for gravel riding and they are easy to walk with. For extreme weather conditions the Terra Artica GTX are the ultimate choice.
Other must have during winter : winter jacket – rain jacket – windbreaker – overshoes – winter gloves – neckwarmer – long sleeves sking layer – winter bib tights – winter head cap.

#8 Make sure to keep drinking and eating!

The cold tend to make you forget about getting that water and nutriments in. It is a big mistake, as you will use a lot of energy to keep your body temperatures up. Make sure to keep reminding yourself during your ride, or you will be exhausted on top of having your body fighting the cold.

I hope that those tips will help you prepare for your winter gravel rides. Don’t hesitate to share in the comments your best tips for winter rides! 🙂

L’article How to plan a winter gravel ride est apparu en premier sur Destinations Gravel.

How to fold your bibshorts

Kim Gintrand — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 16:10:04 +0000

It’s time to swap your summer kits for winter ones, and if you have a limited space here is how to fold your bibshorts to save as much space as you can 🙂

#1 turn inside out your bibshorts

#2 fold the shoulder straps around the shammy

#3 Fold on "short's leg (the one without logo) on the shammy and straps

#4 Turn inside out the other leg

Tada! Now it is ready to be put nicely in your closet and take very little space while still knowing which one is which 😉

Find the video right below 🙂

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Une publication partagée par 𝗞𝗶𝗺 𝗚𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 (@gravel_kim)

L’article How to fold your bibshorts est apparu en premier sur Destinations Gravel.

How to stay motivated during winter

Kim Gintrand — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 11:47:08 +0000

Winter is the season when motivation slowly starts to fade, excuses are easy to find, and you have to review your training schedule. Here are some tips that will help you get through this time of year.

#1 plan a route you really like

Ride a route that you’ve been wanting to explore and that motivates you. Consider planning a stop at your favorite coffee shop, a friend’s place, or a spot you’ve always wanted to visit! If you decide to do this, be sure to pack a change of clothes to avoid freezing after the stop.

#2 split your ride

If you prefer not to ride on a home trainer and want to ride outside, consider splitting your session into two parts, such as riding half in the morning and the remaining half in the afternoon. Also, consider shortening your rides. For instance, if you plan a 4-hour ride in 5-degree Celsius weather, there’s a chance you might not complete the entire ride, which could take your motivation away for future rides

#3 Find your riding buddy

Find a training buddy. Staying active with someone else helps keep you accountable. Plan to ride, run, hike, or even play tennis with your friend! It can make motivating yourself so much easier 🙂

#4 Try a new way of exercising

Consider trying out a new activity that complements cycling and can be beneficial for you. Pilates is an excellent example! Work on your core, mobility and strength. There are plenty of indoor sports that you could try such as : climbing, swimming, playing tennis, squash, badminton,…

#5 Never force it if you don't feel like it

If you’re really unmotivated, you don’t feel good, don’t push it. Sometimes you might even start your ride and just not feeling it, I highly recommend to just turn back and go home. I did this a lot when I started ridding as it was important for me to keep cycling as something that I want to do and is fun, without being something I do out of spite.

If you have some advices you’ve learned through the years to stay motivated during winter don’t hesitate to leave a comment below! 🙂

L’article How to stay motivated during winter est apparu en premier sur Destinations Gravel.

5 tips for winter rides

Kim Gintrand — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 11:03:31 +0000

This time of the year where the temperatures drop below 10 degrees celsius, where blue skies are becoming a rare thing and hot chocolate is the only thing we can think off. Welcome to winter!

It is hard to train during this season and sometimes it can be more appropriate to stay off the bike when it is snowing outside. I’ll give you my 5 tips for winter rides but also some alternatives to cycling that will help you stay active.

#1 Take a pair of changing clothes with you

The first error that you will do is to forget a pair of changing clothes! This is the key to a nice ride during winter, keeping you from freezing whenever you stop more than 2 minutes. If you are planning a ride this winter, I would advise to take an extra pair of base layer. It is similar when you climb a mountain path. I found it so much more comfortable to change at the top! It will avoid having wet layers on and therefore being extremely cold. If you are a woman, make sure to take an extra pair of bra with you, or even better, don’t wear one at all!

#2 Dress appropriately

Wearing the right clothes will limit yourself from being cold. Make sure that you have waterproof tights and overshoes. Accessories such as a headcap, winter gloves, neckwarmer, and sometimes face mask, are important to have or you won’t be able to make it more than 10 minutes out. The choice of your base layer is also important, make sure to choose a breathable one, but warm. Same thing for the winter jacket. If you have a good winter jacket, you won’t need many layers. For example, while I was in Iceland, I only had a base layer and a winter jacket to ride between 0 and 5°C.

The must have during winter : winter jacket – rain jacket – windbreaker – overshoes – winter gloves – neckwarmer – long sleeves sking layer – winter bib tights – winter head cap.

#3 Ride the routes you know

If you don’t want to have some bad surprises 50km from your house with a flooded trail for example, I’d recommend that you plan carefully your rides during this season. Shorter rides are also more appropriate as you never know how the weather can turn out an hour later. You will be able to get back home more easily if you have planned a ride that isn’t too far from your home. You can still plan a long one that pass by your house a couple of times 🙂

#4 Have the right bike set up

Make sure that you have the right type of tires and section. I tend to have a wider section up to 50’s. My go to are the Tundra from Hutchinson.

#5 Try other sports

The other option that sometimes can be the best, is to try another sport! There are many indoors sports such as climbing, tennis, badminton, squash that are great cardio exercises. If you really want to spend some time outdoor, then go trail running, hiking or skiing 🙂 It could be also a great time to work on your core, strength, and mobility. It will help you prepare your body for spring and prevent a lot of injuries.

The most important in all of this, is to not push when you don’t feel like it. Make sure to listen to your body as winter is also the time where a lot of people get sick and their immune system are weaker. On that note, stay healthy and active!

And if you have any advices you’d like to share, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below! 🙂

L’article 5 tips for winter rides est apparu en premier sur Destinations Gravel.