By Alex Roberts

Before we start talking about gravel routes and destinations, I thought I’d go over some of my must-have and should-have items for going off pavement. From mapping software to accessories, these items can help make the ride even more fun and also make sure you can get yourself out of a jam should one arise.

Route Planning

My favorite route planning software is Ride With GPS. I have found that it is very accurate, gives a good estimate of the elevation, easily exports and transfers to Garmin devices, and even offers route downloads to and GPS based navigation on a smartphone through the app. But it is not all perfect. Take care to review the route with the satellite view after you create it. I have had a few instances where a “road” on the map has taken me to impassable river crossings or someone’s private driveway.

With a premium subscription which is currently $80/year, you get more advanced route planning and you can also create cue sheets as back-up to or instead of relying on a computer. For taking those cue sheets along, I like laminating them, punching a hole in the top, and securing them to the bars with a zip-tie.

As a note about routing and use with the Garmin 810 and 1000, I have found the 810 routes better when using the standard map for planning, but the 1000 has off-course issues unless you use the RWGPS map option.

As you plan routes and venture out farther and farther, I highly recommend either a GPS tracker such as SPOT or position sharing from your phone with a close friend or your significant other.

Bags

The gravel roads of Northwest Arkansas can take you to some of the most remote parts of the state, and exploring these areas requires a bit more preparation and self-sufficiency. Convenience stores are fewer and farther between, and there are many places where cell service is spotty at best. Frame bags are my favorite way to both carry extra food and water as well as extra tools and supplies. I personally use and like the bags from Revelate Designs, Apidura, Oveja Negra, and J.Paks. Each of these companies offers a variety of bags and sizes. The photograph below shows the Revelate Tangle Bag (half-frame bag), the Revelate Gas Tank (behind the stem), and the Revelate Jerry Can (in front of the post) which carried everything I needed for the 336 mile self-supported Trans Iowa gravel race. Also seen below is my use of Nite Ize Gear Ties to secure my spare tubes to my saddle rails so they don’t take up space in the bags. These can be ordered online or bought locally at Tractor Supply.

Gravel bikes look the best with dirt on them, but if you have a frame-finish you really want to protect from scuffs and scratches from the frame bags, pipe insulation from Lowe’s is great for placing between the bag and top tube. In addition, it gives nice padded grip for any items you might want to wedge between the bag attachment straps and the frame such as a frame-pump as shown on my Niner below.

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Tires

I have a tendency to find a tire I like and stick with it. My favorite tire for my skinnier gravel bike is the WTB Nano 40c. It’s a perfect width for gravel in my opinion, and even with tubes, its volume lets me get away with pressures around 40-42 psi. I have only flatted three times over about 5000 miles on these tires and two of them were pinch flats when experimenting with lower pressures. I have also cut one sidewall which is a good reminder to stress the importance of carrying tire boots for gravel rides. The Nanos (pic below) offer great traction and corner well, but their biggest advantage over others I’ve tried is that they roll faster over hard-pack and pavement. The Nanos also shed mud well for the mudfests that spring events such as the Land Run and Dirty Kanza have been recently.

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Water

Riding far requires more water. The frame bags offer a great option for bringing a bladder without having to strap it to your back. In addition, you can easily put a small filter such as the Sawyer Mini in your bag for on-route water fill-ups at streams and creeks.

If you are running a bladder in your frame bag, Velcro cable straps work great for holding the tube to the stem or bars.

Many gravel bikes offer bosses for three bottle cages. Seeing as how many of our gravel roads pass by livestock and poultry farms, it’s highly recommended that you don’t drink directly from the bottle under the down-tube as it can catch a lot of the nastiness from the road. Instead, remove the lid from this bottle and pour into one of your empties from inside the frame.

Battery Packs

If you want to go long and rely on a variety of electronic devices, it’s good to have a small cache battery in your bags. This little Anker is cheap, small, and can provide up to two full charges to an iPhone and multiple charges to a Garmin. Just be sure to check a few things on the Garmin before relying on the Anker charge during the ride. Some Garmin’s will not let you charge them while they are running. Also, make sure your computer is mounted in a way that allows access to the charge port.

These are just a few of my suggestions, comments, and tips & tricks based on many a mile of gravel. I look forward to discussing more in future articles and also starting to share some of my favorite routes and places around Northwest Arkansas. Until then, feel free to find me on Facebook, and I’d be glad to answer any questions or help you with route suggestions. You can also friend me on Ride With GPS, and I’d be happy to share my routes with you on there.