Gravel roads and road works

As always, don’t become fixated by the hazard - keep your head up and look where you want to go.

Gravel roads

Gravel roads present a number of challenges, so:

• Ride where there are wheel tracks (these offer a firmer surface)
• Avoid braking when you're banked over and slow early for corners
• Keep a generous following distance to avoid flying stones and dust
• Use more modest banking angles
• In deep gravel, use the rear brake more than the front
• Ride in a lower gear and move your weight to the rear
• If it gets really deep, stand on the footrests, ensuring you keep the weight off the front
• As a last resort, ride at walking pace or less with both feet down.

Road works

Techniques for negotiating road works are much the same as for gravel roads. If you pass over new chip-seal, check that stones covered in bitumen haven’t jammed your brakes, gear change linkage or final drive system.