8 things you should consider when signing up for a Gravel race

• The first thing we should do before registering for a race is read the rules (generally they are on the website of each event) and find out about distances, altimetry, cut-off times, etc. In this way, we can know if we are prepared to participate.

• How to choose the distance? In our opinion, this election should be based on what we have been preparing. Many times these challenges are taken as an opportunity to try new things, which is fine, since we are in a "safe" context, with support, supply, etc. However, if I want to try a distance or altimetry that I have never done before, I need to prepare it in advance. It's not just about motivation; It is necessary to consider both physical and mental preparation for a greater challenge. The reasons could be having a good or bad experience, injuries, frustrations or even something more serious. Our advice is to go from less to more, start with the shortest distance and understand what the location, terrain and format entail.

• Having the bicycle in good condition is key. This is something we need to take care of as it can make the experience free of issues we could have fixed. Maintenance before running is basic.

• Nutrition and hydration, it seems like a cliché but it is not. It is necessary to calculate the hours that we will be on the bike, to determine the amount of hydration that we will need to complete the route and the calories that we must replace. Although the races have supplies, this is a support for what we must bring. We cannot depend solely on water and fruit from supplies; We must take care of our own. Carrying cash can always save us in a gravel race; a small town and a kiosk can be true oases.

• Study the route in detail, not just the kilometers and altimetry. We must understand where we will be, the nearby towns, strategic places. Even with Google Maps we can see images of places to be aware of certain details. Know the longest climbs, the steepest descents, places without water supplies, water crossings, etc. There are many details that can be known by studying the route well.

• Prepare your things in advance, arrive at the starting point in advance, position yourself at a good time, go to the bathroom, etc. These are things that must be taken in time, let's not leave random details that we can control.

• Understand that it is a career. The races have regulations that must be followed and respected. They have both departure and cut-off times, and if they are not met, there may be disqualifications. In a race there is a competitive context that sometimes will not be the friendliest, because in theory, people are going to compete. There are services that are delivered and others that are not, for example, the supply is, but the mechanics or rescue from somewhere in the race because I can't continue, not necessarily. And so, several more things I need to consider within the context of a career. You can go and not compete, of course, but I must understand the context in which I am.

• Lastly, the result of a race is always personal. Regardless of whether there are place awards, there are many factors involved in achieving those "podium" places. Our advice is that you focus on yourself, that you set personal goals, something that is under your control and that at the end of the day you can evaluate whether you achieved it or not. Whether someone is faster or not, the truth is that we cannot control it. But giving it your all, having the bike in good condition, eating and hydrating well, studying the route, arriving on time and enjoying a day on the bike depend on you.

📷 Claudio Olguin

📷 Gio Mejía

📷 Andrés Figueroa