Gear, in order of priority · Branton & Andette

Level 1

Safety

Helmet Protects your head; replace it after any crash. 30–120 € CityGravelMountain Front and rear lights See and be seen, at night and on grey days. 30–150 € CityGravelMountain Lock A solid D-lock or chain for stops in town. 30–100 € CityGravel Bell Warns walkers and riders. 5–15 € CityGravelMountain Reflective gear Vest, bands or stickers for night riding. 5–30 € CityGravel

Level 2

Roadside repairs

Mini pump Re-inflate on the road. 20–50 € CityGravelMountain Tyre levers Get a tyre off without damaging the tube. 3–8 € CityGravelMountain Spare tube or patches Fix a flat. 5–15 € CityGravelMountain Multi-tool Hex keys and screwdrivers to tighten things on the go. 15–40 € CityGravelMountain Quick link Fix a broken chain. 5–10 € GravelMountain

Level 3

Home maintenance

Chain lube Dry lube in summer, wet lube in winter. 8–15 € CityGravelMountain Degreaser and rags Clean the chain and sprockets. 10–20 € CityGravelMountain Floor pump with gauge The right pressure in seconds. 30–60 € CityGravelMountain Chain checker Know when to replace the chain. 8–20 € CityGravelMountain Torque wrench Tighten to the printed torque, essential on carbon parts. 30–120 € CityGravelMountain Shock pump Set fork and shock pressure. 25–50 € Mountain

Level 4

Comfort

Gloves Less numbness, and protection if you fall. 15–40 € CityGravelMountain Padded shorts Comfort on long rides. 30–80 € GravelMountain Rain jacket Ride in the rain without shivering. 50–150 € CityGravelMountain Glasses Against wind, bugs and spray. 20–80 € GravelMountain Bottle and cage Drink often. 10–25 € CityGravelMountain

Level 5

Travel and the outdoors

Frame, saddle and bar bags Carry your kit without a backpack. 60–250 € GravelMountain Power bank Charge your phone, GPS and lights. 20–50 € GravelMountain First aid kit Patch up a graze far from help. 15–30 € GravelMountain Powerful light Ride trails at night. 80–200 € GravelMountain

Plan your rides

Apps to plot your routes

Find a safe way across town, plan a gravel loop or scout out trails.

Géovélo

City bike routing that favours cycle lanes and quiet streets.

Free City

Komoot

Plans loops for your type of bike, with offline maps.

Free + paid CityGravelMountain

France Vélo Tourisme

France’s long-distance cycle routes and greenways, stage by stage.

Free CityGravel

Ride with GPS

Precise route planning for gravel and touring, with turn-by-turn guidance.

Free + paid Gravel

Strava

Records your rides; heatmaps show where other riders go.

Free + paid GravelMountain

Trailforks

The go-to map of mountain bike trails, with difficulty and conditions.

Free + paid Mountain

Cartes IGN

IGN topographic maps of France: tracks, terrain, footpaths.

Free + paid GravelMountain

OsmAnd

Offline navigation on OpenStreetMap, ideal for touring.

Free + paid CityGravelMountain