Gravel bike clothing guide

With gravel bikes filling the void between road riding and mountain biking, so must gravel bike clothing. It’s unsurprising that the kit used for gravel riding is heavily influenced by both disciplines. On one side of the spectrum, the sleek efficiency of road kit which adheres to a strict set of ‘rules’ regarding sock length and colour coordination. On the other side, the relaxed style and durability of mountain biking kit offers a more casual approach to technical clothing. 

In the same way that a mountain bike can happily trundle down a tarmac road but a road bike will do it faster, your road or mountain bike kit will likely suffice for a gravel ride. However, gravel bike clothing is designed for the task at hand and will invariably perform better.

Gravel routes often take riders further afield and away from civilisation which has created a need for versatile clothing that can handle a range of weather conditions and be comfortable for many hours. They also provide additional storage to help with packing those extra tools

The versatility of the niche opens up a broad range of requirements on gravel bike clothing. A day out on the gravel bike can range from forest tracks interspersed with singletrack to endurance epics like the DK200. With a leaning towards clothing that is both comfortable and practical, gravel welcomes all styles into its fold equally. Gravel riders have the freedom to pick from both sides to curate a perfect outfit for their own gravel adventure.