What is Off-Road Cycling? 

Off-Road cycling encompasses several different disciplines that are, well, not on paved roads. It can be done year-round and is often a better option in the ice and snow than road cycling, as the terrain and wider tyres are grippier.

Off-Road is becoming increasingly popular as a way to get your cycling kicks without having to deal with motor traffic. It can be as smooth or as technical as you want it, depending on where you go, and what type of bike you choose.

OK, so what are the different off-road disciplines that velociposse do?

We have members that do Cyclocross, Gravel, and Mountain Biking.

Gravel is rapidly becoming the club’s go-to off-road activity as the terrain that is easily accessible from London lends itself to the discipline. It really encompasses riding in a mixture of terrain: everything from forest paths, muddy field margins, sand, bogs, cobbles, potholed roads, singletrack trails, canal towpaths and, yes, some gravel! There are a lot of specific gravel bikes on the market which are great if you’re serious about it, but it is a perfect beginner off-road activity as it can be done on almost any bike as long as you pick the weather and terrain carefully. Tyre width can range between 32-50mm depending on rider preference and frame clearance, and 650b wheels are popular due to being able to fit bigger tyres on. Gravel can also lend itself well to bike-packing and adventuring if you’re into that sort of thing – more on that later.

In Summer 2020 a few members started the School Night Gravel Club – an off-road weekday adventure on Monday evenings beginning in Leytonstone, cycling through the Wanstead flats and Epping Forest to High Beech where we stop for a quick drink and snack before cycling back through the forest (or the road if it’s particularly dark or we are tired!). It is usually somewhere between 30-50km and we always go at the pace of the slowest rider. Powerful front lights are needed as we often end up cycling back in the dark!

Cyclocross (CX) is an official sporting discipline and is mainly done in the context of racing. It’s usually a winter activity (so think mud and cold), and involves a huge range of skills and movement including dismounting your bike to run with it up a steep hill, steps or over hurdles (the best riders can ride up them! we stan), or cycling through deep mud, sand or other rough ground. It’s fun, promise. It’s also amazing for fitness because it’s so intense. Cyclocross bikes are what we call ‘aggressive’ frame geometry, as they’re for racing, with maximum 33mm tyre width. They tend to be a little pricey as they have to be lightweight and robust so a rider can shoulder their bike to get over obstacles. We wouldn’t recommend getting a CX bike unless you’re absolutely in love with it, as you can race CX on a mountain bike or gravel bike for most beginner categories.

Mountain biking (MTB) can be a wide range of things. Obviously there aren’t any mountains within easy reach of London, but you can head to trail centres, rent a MTB and get shredding. MTBs have wide tyres and some form of suspension, and are designed for very rough terrain. It involves more tricks, jumps, challenging turns and downhills than the other disciplines – it can get quite extreme but it doesn’t have to be. Trail centres will have graded routes so that you don’t bite off more than you can chew. It’s fun if you are more interested in skill and technique than speed or distance covered.

What’s the deal with Bikepacking?

Bikepacking is backpacking on bikes. It involves cycling out somewhere and camping (or staying in b&b’s/youth hostels), and can be an amazing way to have a mini-break over a long weekend, but can also turn into longer adventures or ultra-distance cycling. We’ve included it here even though it can also be done on the road, as we think it’s more fun to take the off-road option as it allows for more chill and adventure-y vibes. It does require a bit more kit and forward-planning but is well worth it. There’s quite a bit of knowledge about this in the club now so we’re always happy to advise new members on how to get started!

Why is off-road fun?

The adrenaline kick you get when on gnarly terrain is really fun and you feel powerful on a bike that can just blast over stones, glide through mud and bounce happily over tree roots without worrying about hurting yourself or damaging the bike. Also being off road means no worries of traffic and beautiful scenery being right in the middle of nature, going places you wouldn’t see on a road bike. 

What kit will i need?

As with all cycling, you can get quite technical with kit, especially if you’re bikepacking, and there’s simply too many variables to talk about here. Ultimately you need to be dressed appropriately for the weather, and have a bike that is suitable for the terrain you want to ride. It can be done on the cheap as you don’t need to wear lycra to do MTB, and you can hire a bike for a day rather than buying one. We have had members borrow bikes from each other to give it a go.

Having water and snacks with you is a must, no matter the weather, and a thermos of tea never goes amiss in the winter. You probably want to have some puncture repair know-how too!

What should I wear?

You can wear whatever you like to ride in but lots of road cyclists will wear their full tight Lycra and mountain bikers will wear their baggies! Somewhere in between lies our preferred summer gravel outfit: bib shorts and a Velociposse t-shirt. There are no strict rules but it can be a good idea to cover your arms to avoid being covered in scratches from the bush you’ll undoubtedly end up riding through. Helmets are a must, and gloves also recommended.

What shoes and pedals should I use?

If you have flat pedals then easy, just put on a pair of trainers you don’t mind getting a little mucky and pedal away! There are specialist trainers with grip designed for mtb pedals but to start with any pair will do – just make sure the laces aren’t so long they tangle in the drive chain.

If you’re used to riding clipless on your road bike, you probably have a 3 bolt system like Look Keo or SPD-SL. They are great systems on the road but they aren’t good friends with mud, and your shoes won’t take kindly to the uneven surfaces.

The solution to this is using a 2 bolt system like SPD which is a small metal cleat that fits into a shoe with grip - the cleat is usually recessed a little so that you can walk your bike if needed up steep slopes or tricky sections.