In the search for the best gravel racing setup, I’ve also upgraded the tyres I’ll be racing on—switching from the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RC to the Cinturato Gravel H.

For the optimal aero gravel wheel setup, the Hunt 40s are specifically designed to pair with tyres between 40–45mm wide. Personally, I love running a 45mm gravel tyre for racing—they strike the perfect balance between comfort, grip, and rolling speed, especially on the demanding terrain UK gravel races are held on.

The main reason for this switch isn’t just the faster, lower-profile tread of the Gravel H, but also the construction and compound. The Gravel RC uses a dual-layer 60 TPI casing (for a total of 120 TPI), which offers great puncture resistance but at the cost of suppleness and rolling efficiency. In contrast, the Gravel H uses a single 60 TPI layer, making it lighter, more supple, and significantly more efficient when it comes to rolling efficiency.

As part of my gravel race preparation in search of the best gravel cycling setup, I’ve been testing this new wheel and tyre combo, and I’ve been loving how it rides. It feels fast, composed, and ready for the demands of racing so I’m really looking forward to putting it to the test where every second counts.

 

I’ve made a few additional tweaks to fine-tune my gravel cycling setup. First up: a fresh set of tubeless valves, specifically the Tru-Tension FILLFAST Tubeless Valves. Not only do they come in a range of colours to match your bike, but they also feature an anti-clog design and boast nearly 4x the flow rate of a standard Presta valve.

The best gravel wheels for racing for me personally are set up tubeless and therefore these have been a game changer. Many people don’t realise your sealant needs topping up every few weeks and these valves help effortlessly do that and have anti clog technology for reliable, hassle free sealant top ups.

Another small but significant change I’ve made to my gravel cycling setup is to my cockpit. This year, I’ve gone for narrower 380mm handlebars, and I’ve also moved the shifters inward to help me hold a more aerodynamic position. It might seem like a minor tweak, but when one of the timed sectors at this year's race is 20 kilometres long, having the optimal balance between comfort and aero is going to be key.

And finally a hydration pack should be on any gravel race gear checklist but for me this will be my only hydration source for the race. Depending on the weather conditions I am planning to remove my bottle cages from my bike and only rely on my Restrap Race Hydration Vest for water throughout the race. The reason for this is it gives me a lighter gravel bike setup and with some of the sectors having some serious amounts of elevation a lighter bike translates to better climbing ability.

The perfect gravel racing setup is all about finding the perfect balance between speed, durability, and comfort—and that’s exactly what I’ve focused on in my gravel bike setup for Gritfest, one of the UKs most popular gravel races. From upgrading to the best gravel wheels for racing, optimising my gravel tyre choice, fine-tuning my cockpit and refining the finer details like tubeless valves and hydration strategies, every change is aimed at delivering performance when it counts most for race day..

If you’re preparing for your next gravel event and looking to dial in your own race setup, hopefully this gives you some insight into the upgrades that can truly make a difference. Whether you're racing or just taking part in your first ever gravel sportives, investing in the right gear—and knowing how to set it up—is key to performing at your best.

Now, with the race just around the corner, it’s time to continue putting this setup to the test to see if these tweaks can help me defend the title for a third year running.