🪨 Gravel ain’t your friend… but you can ride it

🚦 The time I kissed gravel with my teeth

It was a backroad outside Durango. Mid-July. Scorching. I’d just topped a hill and was feeling all kinds of invincible when I hit it—a patch of gravel right at the bottom of a downhill curve. Next thing I knew, I was dancing the death waltz, fishtailing like a cat on a frozen lake. My front tire said, “Hell no,” and my ass nearly overtook my handlebars. I stayed up—barely. But I earned a rock chip in the paint, a skid mark in my shorts, and a healthy respect for the road gods.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: gravel wants you on the ground. But I’ve been riding this wild world long enough to give you the street-savvy secrets to make sure you don't become roadkill confetti when that loose stuff shows up.

🧠 Know what you’re rolling into

Gravel isn't just “a little slippery.” It’s a silent assassin that shows up in blind corners, driveways, and country roads pretending to be asphalt. The key to surviving it? Anticipation.

• Look way ahead, not just at the patch right in front of you.

• Shadowy spots? Expect gravel.

• Farm roads? Full of surprises—and most of 'em suck.

Your first tool is your damn eyes. Use ’em.

🕹️ Light grip, heavy focus

White-knuckling your bars like they owe you money? That’s how you get tossed.

• Loosen up. Let the bike move beneath you—like dancing with a drunk.

• Don’t panic brake. Feather the rear, and ease into that slowdown.

• Throttle control is everything. Stay smooth. Jerky inputs = dirt nap.

Gravel doesn’t kill speed. Your own panic does.

🛞 Tire pressure ain't just for racetracks

You don’t need MotoGP-level prep, but if you're riding into gravel-prone country…

• Drop your pressure by 2–4 PSI. Gives your tires more bite.

• Check your treads. Bald tires on gravel = flirting with the ER.

• Dual-compound tires? Worth every damn penny if you're mixing paved & rough.

Tire talk ain't sexy, but it keeps your bones inside your skin. Worth it, huh?

🔧 The gravel riding cheat code most rookies ignore

Stand the hell up. Shift your weight slightly back, keep your knees bent, and ride like you’re ready to dance.

When it gets deep and sketchy:

• Stay neutral—not stiff.

• Eyes up, throttle steady.

• Let the bike find its path—you're just the drunk cowboy riding the bull.

You are not here to dominate the gravel. You’re here to flow with it like water over rocks. It’s Zen... except with more profanity and flying stones.

🧨 Pro Tip (with a side of grit)

If you hit gravel mid-turn, DO NOT chop the throttle or grab a handful of brake like you’re trying to stop a bar fight. Keep your head up, trust the lean, and ride that sketchy bastard through. You might pucker so hard you whistle—but you’ll stay up.

🛠️ Gravel’s not where you practice panic. It’s where you prove control.

🤔 So, you still wanna ride gravel?

Good. You should. Because once you get the hang of it, you’ll feel like a damn road warrior—untouchable, floating over chaos. But only if you’ve trained your brain and calmed your nerves.

Got a story about a time gravel tried to eat you alive? Hit reply and tell me the gory details—bonus points for road rash pics and bikes that survived the slide.

Ride fast, ride focused,
Blake “Iron Sage” Rivers

P.S. If gravel’s ever kissed you harder than your ex on tequila, you’ve already learned the lesson. This post? It's to help you ride through it next time with swagger instead of a limp.