What happens when a gravel newbie takes on their first ever proper race? BikeRadar Videographer Felix Smith is no stranger to long distance riding, having recently attempted the 2000km Trans Atlantic Way, but he’s always been on smooth roads. So, when Lauf invited him to compete in the 200km The Rift gravel race, he obviously jumped at the opportunity.
From untimely mechanicals to poor pacing, things didn’t go entirely to plan for young Felix, but we suspect he learned a thing or two along the way.
Felix’s Transatlantic Way video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX67H7wYvSI&t=1s
Do you have any advice for gravel racing? Let us know in the comments.
For the world’s best riding advice head to https://www.bikeradar.com/
Follow BikeRadar on our social media channels:
https://instagram.com/bikeradar
https://facebook.com/bikeradar
Tweets by bikeradar
32 Comments
What do you think about Felix's first gravel race? Would you be willing to take on The Rift? Let us know in the comments! 🏔🚴🏼♀️🌋
I'd put a handle shock absorbing stem in front and a oversized seat with suspension stem in the saddle for comfort.
My nuts are more valuable
Congratulations again on finishing! I was the marshal that told you that the "easy" bit was left after aid 3 and to be fair there were "only" 70 km left not 100 km 😉 Hope you come back next year and we can race together then and drink some more beer.
Felix: bad ass man!
were your shoe covers water proof? if so, did they work well?
if not, how the heck did you feet feel after being dipped in freezing water for 12 hours?
Brilliant more like this please and congratulations well done hats off
Fair play Felix lad. Some weights might be needed before next year.
drinking water right out of the river just like animal
Hi Felix, what is that hi viz jacket that you are wearing?
Looks like a (full-sus) xc mtb route, to be frank
love felix
Welcome done Felix, top man.
We share a lot in common doing the Icelandic Gravel Race.
05:10 I'm eating some Fig Biscuits as I watch this video 😉
5:20 Everyone in jackets while our Felix has his guns out. Hard as nails that lad.
6:16 Wookies!
7:54 Infidel! He's saying a gravel bike is not the king of all bikes, the ultimate do-it-all bike? Burn him on the electric stove! (campfires are so old fashioned) ;-p
Was Felix the only…….ginger person in Iceland at that time? trololololol
I'm going to do the Rift in 2020
Felix films are always good well done I enjoyed it !
I was there last week, swing the rift in Thingvellir was the highlight!
What an epic and awesome adventure! Nice work on getting it done. Every year I organize a 200+km road ride around my city and know how tiring that can be….can only imagine what 200kms of gravel would be like. Impressed!
That bartape … I know why I always carry tape …
Could I race this on Continental slicks?
Good Job Riding out in Iceland. Cheers!
Music from 2:43 ?
Well done Felix!
Love iceland 👍
I'd prefer to do it on my xc 29er
I miss the diaries with the other guys, like the hill climbs with Ruben
Did you beat Oli Bridgewood? Didn’t he ride in that race too?
Anyone else getting a Fantastic Beast vibes from Felix? No?… ok
Great video! Really shows just how hard it was. If you had asked me at the finish if I would ever do it again I would have said "No way!" But even by the next day I was starting to think about what I would do differently next year. #1 – bigger tires! #2 – lower gears!
How much training would you say you had to do for this race. How hard was it to meet the cut off times?
The bar tape unraveling at the end of the race XD. Is it paralleling the way you were feeling? Unraveled