Start with your usual rides, then consider elevation, terrain and your self-supported experience. The same distance can demand very different effort from one event to another.
A shorter distance in the series, still ridden self-supported. Elevation and terrain matter as much as kilometres.
Have experience riding for several hours on similar terrain. Plan navigation, food and repairs.
An endurance day that requires managing your effort and stops. The time limit depends on the event.
Test your equipment on a long ride and identify resupply opportunities.
Accumulated fatigue changes the experience. Depending on your pace and start time, you may ride at night.
Plan lighting, food, batteries and options if you become tired or have a mechanical problem.
A long distance requiring a personal strategy for pacing, breaks and recovery.
Build on experience of long self-supported rides and prepare your rest strategy.
A demanding adventure where effort, sleep, weather and logistics need to be planned together.
Draw on previous ultradistance experience and test all your equipment in realistic conditions.
Gravel combines trails and road sections; the road option follows paved roads. Check bike requirements, elevation and time limits on the event page. Some events offer other distances, including 80 and 600 km.
Understand self-support and prepare your equipment