The Pearson Journal

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Our view of the world, from the saddle.

gravel

50 articles
Gravel race vs adventure bike: how to choose
buyers-guide10 Jul 2026

On&On Race vs On&On Adventure: Which Gravel Bike?

Gravel race vs adventure bike: how to choose Gravel race vs adventure bike comes down to intent. A gravel race bike is built to go fast over rough...

Your Season of Gravel: Events, Giveaways & Good Times
blog16 Apr 2025

Your Season of Gravel: Events, Giveaways & Good Times

Glorious Gravel: off-road made easy. This season, we’re teaming up with Glorious Gravel to give you the chance to ride some of the UK’s best off-road events for...

The Best Carbon and Aluminium Wheels for Road and Gravel Bikes
Advice21 Nov 2024

The Best Carbon and Aluminium Wheels for Road and Gravel Bikes

Discover our opinion on the perfect wheels to complement your Pearson carbon fibre frame. Performance, precision, and reliability are at the core of every component we choose, so for...

Leith Hill-Brighton-Leith Hill
100km+15 Feb 2024

Leith Hill-Brighton-Leith Hill

A suitably epic gravel ride for the longest Saturday of the year. Ride from the base of Leith Hill down to the coast and back through the South...

Swinley forest gravel
0-50km9 Nov 2023

Swinley Forest Gravel

 Swinley forest is better known for its mountain biking rather than gravel, but nestled away in this forest west of London there is an expansive network of forest...

POCKETS OF GREEN
50-100km26 Aug 2023

POCKETS OF GREEN

Cycle through some of London's greenest spaces this summer. Laced with many an opportunity for a picnic in the park, this route sees you through the grandest, Richmond, Bushy, Hyde...

A guide to power measurement
gravel18 Aug 2023

A guide to power measurement

For many cyclists, a power meter is an essential piece of equipment to monitor and improve their performance. But even the least expensive power meters cost well over...

River Lea Gravel
0-50km10 Mar 2023

River Lea Gravel

The banks of the River Lea in East London are stoked in history. Paths that were once used by horses to pull supply barges in and out of...

Komoot Women's gravel series 2023
100km+9 Feb 2023

Komoot Women's gravel series 2023

Seeing this route laid out in front of you really gives you an appreciation of the mileage and terrain covered by the women taking part in the Komoot...

Chiltern Ridgeway
50-100km11 Nov 2022

CHILTERN AND RIDGEWAY LOOP

GRAVEL 58KM 700M Ride Type Distance Elevation Gain Starting and ending in Henley-on-Thames, this ride explores some of the highlights of the Chiltern Hills. Taking in the Judges...

Testing Testing - Marc Bolan memorial
0-50km17 Oct 2022

Testing Testing

GRAVEL 32.12KM 530M Ride Type Distance Elevation Gain The ideal test track for a gravel bike. A mix of on and off road sections to understand true capability....

A group of cyclist Riding through Richmond park
50-100km14 Oct 2022

INSIDE OUT AUTUMN ROUTE

GRAVEL 66 KM 112M Ride Type Distance Elevation Gain The Autumn Inside Out route promises to introduce even the most experienced navigators to a ride that spans lesser...

Elan Valley Reservoir
50-100km2 Sep 2022

Elan Valley Reservoirs

GRAVEL 80 KM 1200M Ride Type Distance Elevation Gain Starting and ending in the quaint Welsh town Rhayader this gravel loop explores sections of the Trans Cambrian Way...

Glasgow to Edinburgh off road
50-100km19 Aug 2022

Glasgow to Edinburgh off road

Starting in Glasgow head along the Forth and Clyde Canal path, before joining the Union Canal, and cycle over the impressive Avon aqueduct. Nearing Edinburgh you will come across...

SUNNY SURREY BEACH
0-50km22 Jul 2022

SUNNY SURREY BEACH

This gravel loop takes you along part of the King Alfred's Way, through the scenic Devil's Punchbowl, and finally to a 'beach' in the heart of Surrey. Be sure to take...

HEAR THEM RINGING
0-50km6 May 2022

HEAR THEM RINGING

This May route explores the blankets of Bluebells covering the Surrey Hills. Starting at Newlands corner, head out along the North Downs Way before dropping into Shere for a highly...

Paris - Roubaix race
100km+22 Apr 2022

LOOKING BACK ON PARIS ROUBAIX

The famous Paris - Roubaix race, known as 'The Hell of the North". Originally, the race was from Paris to Roubaix, in 1977 the start moved to Compiègne,...

To Brighton off road - To London on road
100km+15 Apr 2022

To Brighton off road - To London on road

Jack Buxton: "I decided to ride to Brighton in the sunshine and since it was so nice, decided to ride back. Starting from Pearson HQ I nipped through the...

SURREY HILLS GRAVEL
0-50km8 Apr 2022

SURREY HILLS GRAVEL

Taking in the best challenging gravel in the Surrey Hills, this route by Mark James is one for the list. Although quite muddy in the winter this route...

RIDE THE NEW FOREST
50-100km1 Apr 2022

RIDE THE NEW FOREST

Starting and ending in Lydnthurst, in the New Forest National Park, this route takes you through constantly changing landscapes. You will follow a section of the Fritham off-road...

STRADE BIANCHE GRAN FONDO
100km+11 Mar 2022

STRADE BIANCHE GRAN FONDO

The Strade Bianche Grand Fondo route is 142.5km of undulating and twisting roads with punchy hills and breathtaking Italian landscapes. There is roughly 55 km of gravel roads...

HIGH ROADS AND LOW ROADS
0-50km24 Feb 2022

HIGH ROADS AND LOW ROADS

GRAVEL 30KM 260M Ride Type Distance Elevation Gain Starting and ending in Princess Street, beneath the gaze of Edinburgh Castle, this loop promises to reveal the city's magnificence,...

CANTERBURY COASTAL Loop
50-100km16 Feb 2022

CANTERBURY COASTAL CANTER

Escape the city for the perfect day out along the coast of Kent. Starting in Canterbury you make your way to Whitstable along the Crab and Wrinkle Way....

What’s the difference between a gravel groupset and a road groupset?
Advice16 Feb 2022

What’s the difference between a gravel groupset and a road groupset?

Gravel groupsets explained, with all the options from Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo

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