What Should You Wear for Gravel Riding? Kit, Layers, Pockets and Mud
For gravel riding, wear the same kit you would wear on the road: padded bib shorts, a moisture-wicking cycling jersey with back pockets, and layers you can peel off as the day warms up. Gravel-specific clothing is optional. In late fall, add arm warmers or a long sleeve jersey, and pick darker prints that hide mud.
In short
- Road kit works on gravel. You do not need a special gravel line.
- Bib shorts with a gel pad and wide leg grippers suit long rough days.
- Three back pockets carry food, and layers you can take off beat one thick jacket.
- Dark and busy prints hide dust and mud between washes.
Do you need special clothing for gravel riding?
No. Gravel cycling means riding on gravel roads and other unpaved surfaces, usually on a bike that looks like a road bike with wider tires. The body position is close to road riding, so road kit fits the job. Brands do sell "gravel" lines, and they can be nice to have, but a good pair of bibs and a jersey you trust will get you round a 60-mile dirt loop just as well.
We do not have a dedicated gravel collection at Online Cycling Gear, and we would rather say so than relabel road kit. What we have is the stuff gravel riders end up wearing anyway: gel padded bib shorts, short and long sleeve jerseys with three back pockets, and arm warmers.
The real differences on gravel are time and dirt. Rides are slower per mile, stops are farther apart, and everything you wear comes home dusty or muddy. So the kit questions are about comfort for hours, carrying food, layering, and washing.
Bib shorts or baggy shorts for gravel?
Plenty of gravel riders wear baggy mountain bike shorts over a liner, and that is a matter of taste. Many of our customers ride in their favorite baggy shorts with our padded cycling underwear underneath. They get the comfort of a gel pad and shorts that still look normal at the café stop. We do not sell baggy shorts, so our answer is road bib shorts or padded cycling shorts, and we think bibs are the better pick for long gravel days.
Rough surfaces mean more time shifting on the saddle, and a pad that stays put matters more than on smooth tarmac. The Men's Camouflage Gel Padded Cycling Bib is 80% polyester and 20% Lycra, with a 9D contoured silicone gel chamois and wide 45 mm silicone leg grippers. Straps hold the shorts up without a waistband pressing on your stomach when you sit low on the drops. For women, the Women's Pro-Band Classic Plain Color Gel Padded Cycling Bib is our plain option.
Prefer shorts? The Men's Camouflage Gel Padded Cycling Shorts come in the same print as the bib. Either way, wear them without underwear, and read our guide to saddle sores and chafing before your first long day out.
How do you carry food and gear on a long gravel ride?
In your jersey pockets, plus a bag or two on the bike. Our short and long sleeve jerseys have three reinforced stitched back pockets. On a gravel ride we would split them like this: food in the left one, a phone in the middle, and a packed layer or arm warmers on the right.
Keys and cards are the worry on bumpy ground. Our jersey pages offer a zippered back pocket as a customization, which keeps small things in place when the road shakes. Customized orders are final, so they are not covered by our 60-day store-credit returns on non-customized items. Many gravel riders also add a top tube or handlebar bag, like the one in these photos, for snacks they can reach without stopping.
Fit helps the pockets work. A loose jersey lets full pockets swing and bounce. Ours have a club fit cut and run small, so take your chest, waist and hip measurements, check them against the size chart, and size up if you fall between sizes.
What should you wear for gravel riding in late fall?
Layers you can take off and carry. A November gravel ride can start with frost on the fields and end in the low 50s °F, and you warm up fast on a loose climb. One thick jacket leaves you either cold at the start or soaked by the first hill.
Arm warmers are the most flexible piece. The Unisex Neon Hexagon Cycling Arm Warmers have a silicone gripper to stop them sliding down, and they roll small enough for a back pocket. For colder starts, a long sleeve cycling jersey does more. The Men's Camouflage Long Sleeve Cycling Jersey comes with or without a thermal fleece lining. For the legs, leg warmers under your bibs come off at the first stop. Our article on a long sleeve jersey or arm warmers goes deeper on that choice.
| Morning temperature | Top | Bottom | Carry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above 65°F (18°C) | Short sleeve jersey | Bib shorts | Food, phone |
| 55-65°F (13-18°C) | Short sleeve jersey plus arm warmers | Bib shorts | Arm warmers once off |
| 45-55°F (7-13°C) | Long sleeve jersey | Bib shorts plus leg warmers | Leg warmers, a light layer |
| Below 45°F (7°C) | Long sleeve jersey with fleece | Bib tights | A dry layer for the stops |
These bands are our rule of thumb for gravel, where you ride slower and stop more than on the road. For more detail by temperature, see our what to wear by temperature guide.
What colors hide dust and mud on a gravel ride?
Dark colors and busy prints. A plain white or pale jersey shows every splash from the front wheel, and a gravel road in November is mostly wet grit. Black bibs hide road spray best, and a camouflage or patterned jersey breaks up the marks so you still look presentable at the coffee stop.
Our picks for dirty days: the Men's Camouflage Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey in gray camo, the Women's Meteorite Trail Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey with its dark purple pattern, and the Men's Mountain Top Black Gel Padded Cycling Bib. On short fall days, keep one bright piece or good lights for the road sections at dusk.
Gravel kit in colors that hide the dirt
Men's Camouflage Gel Padded Cycling Bib
$63.99$74.99
Women's Meteorite Trail Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey
$54.99$69.99
Unisex Neon Hexagon Cycling Arm Warmers
$23.99$25.99
Men's Camouflage Gel Padded Cycling Shorts
$52.99$74.99
How do you wash muddy cycling kit?
Get the mud off first, then wash it like any other kit. Our advice is to let thick mud dry and brush it off outside, or rinse the kit under cold water, before it goes in the machine. Grit in the drum rubs at the fabric of everything else in the load.
Then follow the routine from our beginner kit and washing guide. Close the zips, turn everything inside out, and wash cold on a gentle cycle. The care label on our jerseys and bibs says machine wash at 86°F (30°C). Skip the fabric softener and hang everything to dry. Keep it out of the dryer, for the reasons in our article on whether cycling kit can go in the dryer. Bibs get washed after every ride, muddy or not.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wear road cycling kit for gravel?
Yes. Road bib shorts and a road jersey with back pockets work well on gravel. Gravel clothing lines exist, but you do not need one to start.
What are the best bib shorts for gravel riding?
Look for a gel pad and wide leg grippers that keep the shorts in place on rough ground. Our Men's Camouflage Gel Padded Cycling Bib has both, in a dark print that hides dirt.
Do you sell gravel-specific jerseys?
No. We do not have a gravel line. Our standard jerseys have three back pockets, and a zippered back pocket can be added as a customization.
What should I wear for a cold gravel ride?
A long sleeve jersey or a short sleeve jersey with arm warmers, bib shorts with leg warmers or bib tights, and a layer to put on at the stops.
How do I get mud out of cycling clothes?
Let the mud dry and brush it off, or rinse it in cold water. Then wash at 86°F (30°C), inside out, with no softener, and hang it to dry.
