Race guide · Texas
Gravel Locos: Training Guide
A long, hot, relentlessly rolling Texas gravel day that rewards patience over punch.
Gravel Locos is a big Central Texas gravel race based out of Hico, with a marquee route in the neighborhood of 150 miles plus shorter options. The terrain isn't mountainous, but it's almost never flat — you spend the day rolling over ranch-road risers and short power climbs on caliche and gravel, with the cumulative climbing adding up far more than the profile suggests.
The defining challenge usually isn't the course itself; it's the heat. A late-spring Texas race can deliver high temperatures, strong sun, exposed roads, and humidity, all of which compound over six-plus hours in the saddle. Riders who treat it as a heat-and-fueling problem first and a fitness problem second tend to finish strong. Confirm the exact distance, route options, and start time on the official site, since these can change year to year.
What makes it hard
- Heat and exposure. Late-spring Texas can be hot, humid, and shadeless. Core temperature, not your legs, is often what ends a good day, and the effect compounds over many hours.
- Duration. A 150-mile day is six-plus hours for many riders. Pacing mistakes and fueling gaps in the first half quietly set up the cramps and bonks of the second half.
- Relentless rolling terrain. There's no single big climb to train for, but the constant short risers add up to serious cumulative elevation and punish riders who surge over every bump.
- Surface and self-sufficiency. Caliche and chunky gravel can be rough, fast, and hard on tires; aid is spread far apart, so flats, fueling, and hydration are largely your own problem between stops.
- Wind. Open ranch country offers little shelter, and a Texas crosswind or headwind can turn a steady section into a grind that further raises your effort and your heat load.
Build the engine: long, steady endurance
This race is won and lost in Zone 2. The course rarely demands big anaerobic efforts, so the priority is the ability to hold a steady, sustainable aerobic pace for many hours. Build your long rides progressively until you've comfortably completed at least one ride in the four-to-six-hour range, ideally on gravel or mixed surface so your hands, back, and contact points adapt alongside your aerobic system.
Practice riding within yourself on the rollers. The most common mistake is hammering every short riser and coasting the back side; over 150 miles that surging burns matches you'll desperately want late. Train yourself to ease the pace slightly into each rise and pedal through the top, keeping power smooth. A power meter helps here, but perceived effort works too — the goal is a day that feels almost too easy for the first two hours.
Heat acclimation is training, not an afterthought
If you're coming from a cooler climate or an indoor winter, plan a deliberate heat acclimation block in the final two to three weeks. The body adapts to heat surprisingly fast — roughly one to two weeks of regular heat exposure improves plasma volume, sweat response, and cardiovascular stability. Practical options include riding outdoors in the heat of the day, overdressing on the trainer, or finishing easy sessions with sauna or hot-bath exposure if you have access.
Just as important is rehearsing your in-race cooling: pouring water over your head and neck, using ice in a jersey pocket or sock, and easing your effort proactively when you feel your core climbing. Heat illness sneaks up on motivated riders. Going in with a tested plan — and the discipline to slow down early on a brutally hot day — is what keeps you upright at mile 120.
Fueling and hydration for a six-hour day
On a long, hot day your fueling target is higher than most riders expect: aim to practice taking in roughly 60–90+ grams of carbohydrate per hour and to know what your gut tolerates before race day. Mix sources — drink mix, gels, chews, and real food — and start eating in the first 30 minutes rather than waiting until you feel low. The single biggest fueling error here is falling behind early and never catching up.
Hydration and sodium matter even more in the heat. Sweat rates climb, and plain water isn't enough; plan a tested electrolyte strategy and consider that you may need to drink more than one bottle per hour on the hottest sections. Know where the aid stations are, carry enough capacity to bridge the longest gap between them, and treat each stop as a deliberate refuel rather than a place to linger and overheat.
Equipment, tires, and race-day logistics
Texas gravel can be fast but rough, and a cut tire or pinch flat is the most common race-ender. Run a tubeless setup you trust, lean toward a slightly higher-volume, more durable tire than you'd pick for a smooth course, and carry the tools to handle a flat or a sidewall cut on your own. Dial in tire pressure for the chunky caliche — a touch lower than the road for grip and comfort, but not so low that you risk pinch-flatting on the sharp stuff.
Set the bike up for comfort over a long day: tested contact points, a bar position you can hold for hours, and enough bottle and storage capacity to stay self-sufficient between aid. Confirm logistics ahead of time — start time, the exact route you've entered, cutoff times, and aid-station spacing — directly from the official event communications, and arrive with a clear pacing and fueling plan written down rather than improvised at the line.
A sample build
A skeleton, not a prescription — the right plan flexes around your starting fitness, your weeks, and your life. Use it to picture the shape of the work.
Common questions
How hard is Gravel Locos for a first-time long-distance rider?
The terrain is approachable — rolling rather than mountainous — but the combination of ~150 miles and Texas heat makes it a serious endurance test. Shorter route options make it accessible, but for the long route you should have multiple four-plus-hour rides in your legs and a tested heat and fueling plan.
How should I train for the heat if I live somewhere cool?
Build a heat-acclimation block into your final two to three weeks: regular exposure through outdoor riding in the heat of the day, overdressing on the trainer, or post-ride sauna or hot baths. One to two weeks of consistent exposure produces most of the adaptation, but it must be deliberate and tested before race day.
What tires should I run?
Confirm the current surface notes from the organizer, but Texas caliche and gravel reward a durable, slightly higher-volume tubeless tire and pressures that protect against pinch flats and sidewall cuts. Most riders prioritize flat protection and comfort over outright speed here.
How much should I eat and drink?
Practice taking in roughly 60–90+ grams of carbohydrate per hour and start fueling within the first half hour. In the heat, plan a tested electrolyte and sodium strategy and expect to drink more than usual — possibly more than a bottle per hour on the hottest sections.
Course distance, elevation, and dates shift year to year. Always confirm the current year's details on the official event site — Gravel Locos. This guide is general training information, not coaching advice tailored to you.
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