Tyre Choice and Pressures for UK Gravel
Tyres can make or break your gravel ride. This blog cuts through the guesswork on width, tread and pressure, showing you what actually works for UK conditions.
The Spirit of Gravel. The Pursuit of Adventure. The Ribble Outliers.
After a breakthrough debut season, the Ribble Outliers return for 2026 hungrier, sharper, and focused on bigger goals. This is a gravel racing team built on doing things their own way, because that's where real progress lives.
We don't do neutral territory. Gravel exists in the space between adventure and performance, and that's exactly where we're at home. It's unpredictable, demanding, and unforgiving, but that's the point. That's where character shows up and where stories are earned, not given.
We're not here just to chase podiums. We're here to chase progress. To push boundaries, test limits, and keep asking what's possible. Every race is a lesson. Every setback fuels the next step forward.
This season is about evolution.
Meet The Outliers
Harry Tanfield - UK
Harry turned professional on the road in 2018 after graduating in civil engineering. He raced at WorldTour level, represented Great Britain and won a stage of the Tour of Yorkshire. After moving into gravel racing in 2025, he finished second at the British Gravel TT and placed in the top-five at Gravel Earth.
Sophie Wright - UK
Starting out in mountain biking, Sophie progressed through the GB Olympic Development pathway and went on to win European titles, World Cups and national championships. After six years racing on the road WorldTour, she returned off-road in 2025 and claimed five wins. In 2026, her focus is the Nationals, Europeans and Worlds.
Jenson Young - UK
Originally a cyclocross and road racer, Jenson moved into professional gravel racing in 2025 with the Ribble Outliers. He hit the ground running, winning UCI Gravel Wales and the National Gravel TT. Now he’s using that experience to push harder and raise the bar for 2026.
Metheven Bond - UK
Known for his strength over long distances, Metheven has delivered major results across UK gravel events. After balancing racing with full-time work, 2026 marks his move to competing full-time. With more focus and consistency, he’s aiming to turn strong performances into regular podium finishes this season.
Ben Thomas - UK
After winning four National Elite MTB titles and finishing seventh at the UCI World Marathon Championships, Ben switched to gravel racing in 2024. He joined the Ribble Outliers in 2025 and quickly made his mark at major races. For 2026, the goal is simple: fight for podiums across UCI and Gravel Earth events.
Josie Millard - UK
Once a professional skateboarder, Josie has swapped four wheels for two and gone all in on gravel racing. A former European Skateboarder of the Year, she brings serious power and energy to the bike. 2026 marks her first season as a full-time professional cyclist with the Ribble Outliers.
The Bike: ULTRA-GRIT Team Edition
For 2026, the Outliers continue to race on the ULTRA-GRIT. Same proven platform, now finished in a brand new colourway for the season.
ULTRA-GRIT is our dedicated gravel race bike. It’s built for speed on rough terrain, with a lightweight carbon frame and geometry tuned for aggressive riding. The aero shaping helps maintain speed on fast sections, while the generous tyre clearance gives riders the confidence to push harder when the surface gets loose.
This isn’t a bike built for comfort cruising. It’s designed for racing. For high intensity efforts, long days in the saddle and courses that don’t play nice.
Team Kit
For 2026, we’re pleased to welcome KALAS as the official kit partner of the Ribble Outliers.
KALAS brings decades of experience in performance cycling apparel, supplying pro teams and elite riders across road, gravel and MTB. Their kit is built for long days, hard efforts and unpredictable conditions, exactly what gravel racing demands.
Throughout the season, the team will race and train in custom KALAS kit, designed specifically for the Outliers. Aerodynamic fits and practical details that actually matter when you’re hours deep into a race.
2026 Race Calendar: Where To Find Us
From early-season training camps to headline gravel races across Europe and the UK, the Outliers are lining up for a busy year of racing. This calendar covers our key events for the season, including team camps, major targets and the long days that define gravel racing.
February
- 8 Feb – Team Camp 1 (Girona Launch)
- 14 Feb – Santa Vall (ESP)
- 22 Feb – Castellon Gravel (ESP)
March
- 22 Mar – Turnhout Gravel (BEL)
- 28 Mar – Elvas 114 (POR)
April
- 11 Apr – Gravel Desert (ESP)
- 12 Apr – Wörthersee Gravel (AUT)
- 19 Apr – Gravel Monaco (FRA)
- 25 Apr – Dirty Reiver (GBR)
- 25 Apr – Gravel 150 (NED)
May
- 1 May – Traka (ESP)
- 16 May – The Gralloch (GBR)
- 20 May – Team Camp 2 (Southwest)
June
- 6 Jun – Gravel Adventure (POL)
- 7 Jun – Ranxo Gravel (ESP)
- 14 Jun – Wish One Gravel (FRA)
- 21 Jun – Eislek Gravel (LUX)
July
- 5 Jul – Singen Hegau Gravel (GER)
- 11 Jul – The Majestics (SUI)
August
- 1 Aug – Hlinsko (CZE)
- 1 Aug – Megre Gravel (LIT)
- 9 Aug – Gravel Weekend (LAT)
- 14 Aug – Gravel, Grit & Grind (SWE)
- 27 Aug – Badlands Spain
- 30 Aug – Houffalize Euros (BEL)
September
- 5 Sep – Graean Gravel (GBR)
- 6 Sep – The River (GES Final) (BEL)
- 21 Sep – Team Camp 3 (Ribble Valley)
October
- 10–11 Oct – Nannup World Champs
TBC
- Dalby National Champs (GBR) – Date to be confirmed
Our Sponsors
Racing at this level doesn’t happen in isolation. The Ribble Outliers are backed by partners who share the same focus on performance, reliability and doing things properly. From equipment to apparel, each brand plays a role in keeping the team prepared for long days, tough conditions and everything gravel throws at us.
- KALAS
- MUC-OFF
- PRECISION FUEL & HYDRATION
- SCHWALBE
- TRAININGPEAKS
- RESTRAP
- POC
- SRAM
- ZIPP
- SELLE ITALIA
Follow The Outliers
Stay up to date with the team’s journey, race results, and behind-the-scenes content:
🔗 Instagram – @ribble_cycles/ribbleoutliers 🔗 YouTube – Ribble Cycles 🔗 Facebook – Ribble Cycles
Join us as we celebrate the adventure, the challenge, and the community that defines gravel riding. This is The Ribble Outliers.
Getting the right set up is half the battle
Getting your gravel bike set up right is the difference between enjoying the ride and counting down the miles. This blog breaks down the key adjustments that actually matter, from saddle height to bar position and tyre pressure, without drowning you in jargon.
Just because it’s wet and cold, doesn’t mean we’re not having fun
February gravel isn’t about hero rides. It’s about quiet trails, mixed surfaces and riding for the sake of it. This blog dives into why Ribble staff and the Outliers keep choosing gravel when winter drags on, from traffic-free routes to bikes built to handle proper UK conditions.
Post Ride Checks That Keep Your Gravel Bike Running
Winter wrecks bikes. This blog shows you how to fight back in five minutes flat. No tools, no faff. Just the simple checks that stop small issues turning into expensive problems. From wiping down grit to spotting tyre cuts and keeping your chain alive, it’s the bare minimum that makes a massive difference. Ride more. Fix less. Your future self will thank you.
Winter Gravel Essentials: What Actually Works in UK Conditions
Winter gravel isn’t about suffering. It’s about turning up and staying comfortable. This guide shares no-nonsense kit advice from Ribble staff and the Outliers on what actually works in a UK February.
Best Road Bikes for Beginners: A Complete Guide to Getting Started
New to road cycling and drowning in jargon? This guide cuts through the noise. We break down what actually matters on your first road bike, from comfort to gearing, and show you which options suit real UK riding. No hard sell. No tech waffle. Just straight-talking advice to help you choose a bike you will actually enjoy riding.
When To Service Your Bike? A Practical Guide for Every Rider
Looking after your bike doesn’t start and end with a clean after riding. Regular servicing keeps it working at its best, no matter how often you ride. The tricky part is knowing when a service is needed. Too early feels unnecessary. Too late and the problems have already crept in. This guide breaks it down simply so you can ride more and worry less.
Staying Motivated: Winter Wisdom From The Ribble Family
When winter kills your motivation, even the pros feel it. The difference is they’ve built strategies that keep them riding when willpower runs out. Here’s how they stay consistent, break through the slump, and keep the pedals turning through the toughest months.
10 weeks down and far from decided: here’s why to join now
Ten weeks in and building momentum. Join the Ribble Winter Racing Series now - your best 10 results count. Race hard, miss weeks, progress.
Podiums, Progress and Proper Riding
2025 was a year of real momentum at Ribble. From podium finishes across the global gravel scene to the launch of 22 new bikes, progress showed up where it matters most. Here are the moments and machines that defined our 2025.