Autumn is that magical time of year when the roads are covered in soggy leaves, drivers seem to forget how to use their windscreen wipers, and your road bike suddenly feels about as stable as Bambi on ice. Which is why, instead of white-knuckling it down greasy tarmac, autumn is the perfect time to discover gravel riding. Think crunchy leaves, empty bridleways, and the smug satisfaction of dodging traffic while still getting your miles in.
Gravel riding is all about freedom and autumn is the season to lean into it. Roads? Busy and slick. Trails? Gloriously empty. Even better, the crunch of tyres on gravel somehow makes your Instagram ride pics look more “epic adventure” than “Sunday slog.”
And, yes, the right bike makes a difference. The Cube Nuroad is a cracking entry into the gravel world… It’s lightweight, stable, and with tyre clearance for those chunkier autumn setups. Pair it with something like the Schwalbe G-One tyres or Panaracer GravelKings that we stock and you’ll go from skidding on wet leaves to floating over them. Easy.
If you’re already converted and want a little more firepower, then meet the Trek Checkpoint+ SL 5 E-Gravel Bike. It looks like a sleek carbon gravel bike (because it is) but quietly hides Trek’s TQ motor system. Translation: you still feel like a gravel hero, but when the trail tilts skyward or your mates suggest “just one more loop,” you’ve got 60Nm of torque and up to 300 watts of hush-hush backup. Add the optional range extender and suddenly “epic gravel day out” doesn’t sound like code for “call for a lift halfway.”……oh, and you can try it out at our Kielder Forest Shop, now available to hire!
Of course, not everyone wants motors involved and that’s fine. Bikes like the Cube Nuroad or even the versatile Cube Nature Pro are brilliant choices for riders who want adventure-ready versatility without going full e-bike. Wide tyres, mounts for bags, clearance for mudguards: all the stuff autumn demands.
But here’s the thing: gravel isn’t just about bikes, it’s about kit too. A few autumn tips:
- Tyres matter. Go wider, go grippier, and thank yourself later.
- Layers are your best friend. Gravel rides can start misty, turn sweaty, and end chilly.
- Mudguards aren’t uncool. Unless, of course, you enjoy riding with a permanent brown stripe up your back.
- Servicing saves bikes. Autumn = salt + mud = component graveyard if you ignore it.
And if you’re thinking, “This all sounds great, but my size isn’t in stock,” we’ve got you. Contact [email protected] or give us a ring on 0191 300 1590 — we can usually order it in and get you sorted.
So yes, autumn is messy, damp, and darker than you’d like. But it’s also the best season to leave the road behind, grab a gravel bike, and ride into that golden leafy glow. Bonus points if you arrive at the café looking like you’ve just survived a cyclocross race… It’s all part of the charm.
