Our story
The sand is soft, the sun is bright and the wind is fierce. It is 2015 and Gertjan van Ginderen is at the start of a beach race in Zeeland. A tough course: along the coast and over the tarmac of the Oosterscheldekering. A race where you have to change the tyre pressure to keep up with the leaders. This was the beginning of GRAVAA. We take a trip back in time.
Battle against the elements
For tourists, the beach is the place to relax. To gaze at the horizon and where the salty smell of the sea evokes the ultimate holiday feeling. But for Gertjan van Ginderen, who is taking part in the Beach Race, the coastal area is a real war of attrition: a battle against the elements, against himself and against too low or too high tyre pressure.
Beach, tarmac, Beach
The race starts with 25 kilometres of racing on the beach. And if you think that’s tough, the course continues through the loose sand and over the long stretch of tarmac of the famous Oosterscheldekering, part of the impressive Delta Works. Then, the final challenge: back over the dune for a final eight kilometres on the beach, with legs burning and the sea beckoning in the distance. The challenge is ‘simple’: whoever finishes this gruelling race the fastest wins.
Adding air with CO2 cartridges
While low tyre pressure is a must on the beach, on asphalt you actually need more air to stay on pace. Only then will you have a chance of keeping up with the leading group. The CO2 cartridges brought along should be the solution.
“But once I stopped to use the cartridges, I soon realised that inflating those big beach tyres with a few cartridges was a hopeless task. Too time consuming, too inconvenient. So I abandoned the idea and decided to move on. The downside? The fastest cyclists soon disappeared in the distance.”
“I wondered why there was no system that allowed you to inflate or deflate your tyres while cycling."
Simple thought, complicated system
As he pedalled on, with the sea at his side and the sand under his wheels, Gertjan wondered why there was no system for adjusting tyre pressure while cycling. “A simple thought I couldn’t get out of my head.
After extensive market research and countless rides with flat or badly inflated tyres, he decided to develop one himself. It turned out to be much more complicated than expected. Finding the right partners and engineers was the biggest challenge. “In the end, I found the perfect team of passionate cycling enthusiasts. The design, testing and manufacturing process began. All from Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
Milestones
The big moment has arrived: the KAPS-technology is in production. A compact and lightweight mechanism integrated into gravel rims. Currently available in RESERVE and DT SWISS, but can be ordered for any wheel make. Invisible, inaudible and almost imperceptible, ready to adjust tyre pressure to any terrain. No more hassle on the road; optimum tyre pressure without loss of speed and reduced risk of punctures.
And milestones, as its effectiveness is noticed by international racers and Pro Cycling teams. Team Visma | Lease a Bike, for example, has been experimenting with GRAVAA x Reserve wheels since 2023. Per October 1st GRAVAA earned the status of Official Supplier when the team raced GRAVAA at the Gravel World Championships.
And the beach race in Zeeland? That will run a lot smoother from now on.
GRAVAA improves your cycling experience.