Ridley gravel bikes are increasingly being used by both amateurs and professionals. Swedish champion Michael Tjulander recently received a custom-designed ASTR RS model for his use.
"I learned about gravel riding through friends. Some of them were already involved in it, and once I tried it, I was immediately hooked. Gravel is gaining more and more popularity in Sweden," Tjulander confirmed.
Sweden is also part of the UCI Gravel World Series, hosting the Gravel Grit ‘n Grind race in Halmstad. "The sport isn't as big here as in the USA or Southern Europe, but it's growing every day. For many Swedes, gravel riding is still primarily a leisure activity and a way to stay in shape. But we have incredible landscapes, especially in the north – there's so much yet to be discovered," he said.
Together with his friend Filip Thunberg, Tjulander founded the gravel riding club 444 Cycling Club. They collaborate with the store WestCoast Bikes on Brålandsvägen, which allows them to acquire bikes at a more affordable price.
Tjulander's bike setup reflects his racing style and technical preferences. He typically uses 165 mm crank arms, a 48-tooth chainring in the front, and a 10-51 cassette in the rear. For tires, he prefers Schwalbe Thunder Burt 29x2.1, and his handlebars are 380 mm wide with a 100 mm stem.
After winning the Swedish championship, Tjulander received a lot of positive attention, but his ambitions are significantly higher. He has previously achieved 32nd and 51st place in the gravel world championships. "This year, I'm aiming for a TOP 20 spot. If everything falls into place, it's entirely realistic. Next year, I want to reach the top ten. To do that, I need to accumulate more UCI points to secure a good starting position. That makes a huge difference," Tjulander explained.
