What's next? After gravel, what's the NEXT BIG THING?
#76
Senior Member
I totally understand what you're saying. It's still a pretty blanket statement that isn't entirely true, at least for some people.
My experience is that while I encounter more cars on the road, I encounter more personal, intense interactions on gravel.
Case in point: I've never had a gun pulled on me on the road, I have on gravel.
I've never been bitten/attacked/taken out by a dog on the road, I have on gravel (and almost everyone I ride with has. Not true for road.)
I've never known a single roadie that packs heat. I know several gravel riders that do. That can't be coincidence.
Anyway, "not having to worry" about cars is well and good but it's not cars that I worry about, it's the sh*tbums driving them out in the middle of nowhere that can't been seen or tracked that I worry about.
My experience is that while I encounter more cars on the road, I encounter more personal, intense interactions on gravel.
Case in point: I've never had a gun pulled on me on the road, I have on gravel.
I've never been bitten/attacked/taken out by a dog on the road, I have on gravel (and almost everyone I ride with has. Not true for road.)
I've never known a single roadie that packs heat. I know several gravel riders that do. That can't be coincidence.
Anyway, "not having to worry" about cars is well and good but it's not cars that I worry about, it's the sh*tbums driving them out in the middle of nowhere that can't been seen or tracked that I worry about.
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#78
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#79
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Recumbents
I still think recumbents can become a thing. One day people will realise they can be faster due to aerodynamics and also comfortable.
Can you imagine an e-recumbent with full suspension and gravel tires? Lol.
Can you imagine an e-recumbent with full suspension and gravel tires? Lol.
#80
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And regarding the gravel trend, how many people are really in to crushing gravel vs. just owning a very versatile bike?
I worked in a bike shop when the hybrid trend came on strong in the 90's, and like gravel bikes hybrids are also quite versatile in terms of the mixed terrain they can handle. But hybrid owners were very quickly slapped with the label of "non-serious cyclist", and hybrids became the choice for soccer mom's and grandmas everywhere. Gravel bikes have a lot of the versatility of hybrids and touring bikes, but maintain a level of coolness.
I worked in a bike shop when the hybrid trend came on strong in the 90's, and like gravel bikes hybrids are also quite versatile in terms of the mixed terrain they can handle. But hybrid owners were very quickly slapped with the label of "non-serious cyclist", and hybrids became the choice for soccer mom's and grandmas everywhere. Gravel bikes have a lot of the versatility of hybrids and touring bikes, but maintain a level of coolness.
#81
Senior Member
I totally understand what you're saying. It's still a pretty blanket statement that isn't entirely true, at least for some people.
My experience is that while I encounter more cars on the road, I encounter more personal, intense interactions on gravel.
Case in point: I've never had a gun pulled on me on the road, I have on gravel.
I've never been bitten/attacked/taken out by a dog on the road, I have on gravel (and almost everyone I ride with has. Not true for road.)
I've never known a single roadie that packs heat. I know several gravel riders that do. That can't be coincidence.
Anyway, "not having to worry" about cars is well and good but it's not cars that I worry about, it's the sh*tbums driving them out in the middle of nowhere that can't been seen or tracked that I worry about.
My experience is that while I encounter more cars on the road, I encounter more personal, intense interactions on gravel.
Case in point: I've never had a gun pulled on me on the road, I have on gravel.
I've never been bitten/attacked/taken out by a dog on the road, I have on gravel (and almost everyone I ride with has. Not true for road.)
I've never known a single roadie that packs heat. I know several gravel riders that do. That can't be coincidence.
Anyway, "not having to worry" about cars is well and good but it's not cars that I worry about, it's the sh*tbums driving them out in the middle of nowhere that can't been seen or tracked that I worry about.
Guns AND e-bikes - this is an AWESOME thread!!
I can't say that I've had any bad encounters - involving guns or otherwise - on the local dirt roads. But I am bracing for the inevitable yahoo coming the other way who doesn't slow down.
However, many years ago my wife and I were riding an out-and-back route on a national forest road. On the way back I could hear shooting - the rhythm sounded like target practice - and we had no alternate route. Sure enough, two guys set-up shooting across the road at targets on the other side. I taxi-whistled in advance and they stopped. We all said good morning to each other and my wife and I rode on. Felt a little weird because we were alone and about 3 miles from the main road.
Fortunately, that's my only guns and gravel experience.
#82
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Not an "emotional" comment just a fact. You don't need to worry about a gun being pulled on you in many places on this planet.
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#83
Chases Dogs for Sport
Thread Starter
I totally understand what you're saying. It's still a pretty blanket statement that isn't entirely true, at least for some people.
My experience is that while I encounter more cars on the road, I encounter more personal, intense interactions on gravel.
Case in point: I've never had a gun pulled on me on the road, I have on gravel.
I've never been bitten/attacked/taken out by a dog on the road, I have on gravel (and almost everyone I ride with has. Not true for road.)
I've never known a single roadie that packs heat. I know several gravel riders that do. That can't be coincidence.
Anyway, "not having to worry" about cars is well and good but it's not cars that I worry about, it's the sh*tbums driving them out in the middle of nowhere that can't been seen or tracked that I worry about.
My experience is that while I encounter more cars on the road, I encounter more personal, intense interactions on gravel.
Case in point: I've never had a gun pulled on me on the road, I have on gravel.
I've never been bitten/attacked/taken out by a dog on the road, I have on gravel (and almost everyone I ride with has. Not true for road.)
I've never known a single roadie that packs heat. I know several gravel riders that do. That can't be coincidence.
Anyway, "not having to worry" about cars is well and good but it's not cars that I worry about, it's the sh*tbums driving them out in the middle of nowhere that can't been seen or tracked that I worry about.
#84
Chases Dogs for Sport
Thread Starter
Not completely true. There are many countries in which firearm ownership is legal. And in some countries -- Israel, Switzerland, others -- guns are mandated. (I would rather be in gun-mandated Switzerland than in gun-"restricted" Chicago on a Saturday night.)
#85
Senior Member
B) people invented many ways to hurt each other before firearms, those methods still work as well as always and I am just as concerned about being knifed or beaten as I am of being shot.
#87
Senior Member
My Midwest/rural USA perspective:
I don’t see a lot of gravel cyclists “moving on” to the next big cycling thing, at least where I live...maybe in other parts of the country. Gravel roads here are fun, challenging, abundant, offer great scenery, and in my opinion feel much safer than riding pavement (paved roads here are not designed with riding in mind, dedicated bike paths/MUPs are rare, and drivers are occasionally dangerous and inconsiderate)
I don’t see a lot of gravel cyclists “moving on” to the next big cycling thing, at least where I live...maybe in other parts of the country. Gravel roads here are fun, challenging, abundant, offer great scenery, and in my opinion feel much safer than riding pavement (paved roads here are not designed with riding in mind, dedicated bike paths/MUPs are rare, and drivers are occasionally dangerous and inconsiderate)
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#88
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Greenwood and Clinton have some good gravel. A lot of it is through Sumter National Forest, beautiful rides with very little traffic. Here's a few good routes, they're for events that SouthEast Gravel puts on. First one is in Feb, the next two are for a new event coming in Oct. They have a facebook page if you want to follow them, we did a preview ride for the Oct 100k route last month.
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/38169136
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30034091
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29865599
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#89
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for the sake of my bicycles, I am hoping the next big thing is the not using salt on the roads!!
I love winter riding, but one way or another I hit roads that have had salt use.
Unfortunately I think my only option is to move locations.
I love winter riding, but one way or another I hit roads that have had salt use.
Unfortunately I think my only option is to move locations.
#90
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1. You can legally own guns in Chicago. The handgun ban that conservative media jumped all over about ten years ago has been off the books since 2010, when it was overturned by the Supreme Court. So was the ban on gun sales within city limits, which was basically useless since gun sales were always happening in the suburbs.
2. I lived within the city limits of Chicago for over a decade, and believe me, you are far more likely to get hit by a car or bitten by a dog when cycling than you are to get shot in Chicago, assuming you stay away from the worst neighborhoods in town and aren't involved in gang activity. Non-Chicagoans are incredibly ignorant about life in that city. Violent crime rates in Nashville (1,138 per 100,000 residents) and Memphis (2,003 per 100,000 residents!!!) are both higher than in Chicago (1,099 per 100,000 residents).
****
#91
Senior Member
All this gun talk reminds me, I have seen mentions of bicycle biathlons but never had the chance to actually attend one.
#92
Senior Member
I would join one, sounds like fun! Maybe the next big thing is bikes with good mounts for holsters or rifle scabbards? Or kit with better accommodation for concealed carry would be nice.
#93
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Your observations are purely local to your area. Where are you? In middle Tennessee, our experience is the opposite. Almost all roadies carry small revolvers to deal with the problem of loose dogs (they don't load bullets, they load powdershot in order scare the dogs away). I don't know of anyone who has had a gun pulled on them on either type of road. But at the top of EVERY paved climb, you can count on there being at least one, and probably 3+ big loose dogs. On gravel? Not so much.
That's the closest I've come. Been chased by a dog, I threw a water bottle at it, missed, and the dog chased the bottle. I've had more problems with ankle sized yippee dogs, the kind that will run right in front of your wheel.
I've seen plenty of bears while riding. They're afraid of people. It's a treat to see one.
#94
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Yeah, I think there has been some misrepresentation of gravel riding on this thread as some kind of Jurassic Park, wild-west redneck playground. This isn't my experience here in the US deep south.
I can remember only one negative motorist encounter on gravel.
Hunters and outdoorsmen are usually really friendly. They typically ask if I've seen any wildlife and are eager to talk about trails, stream crossings, gravel/dirt roads and routes in general.
Dogs are no worse on gravel than pavement and there are fewer on gravel. Some are trained hunting dogs which obey their owner immediately.
Sunday I rode near a private hunting preserve. Guys were shooting shotguns just off the road. I stopped and walked over, asked if they minded if I watched. Everyone was super friendly and were pretty surprised by a carbon bike with hydraulic disk brakes and electronic shifting. Everyone was really chill.
The scene here in the south isn't huge but the riders are into gravel - not wide tire road bikes which might occassionaly stray onto dirt roads. Its about driving 1 or 2 hours to get to the mountains and hammer some forest service roads on 38's or wider.
-Tim-
I can remember only one negative motorist encounter on gravel.
Hunters and outdoorsmen are usually really friendly. They typically ask if I've seen any wildlife and are eager to talk about trails, stream crossings, gravel/dirt roads and routes in general.
Dogs are no worse on gravel than pavement and there are fewer on gravel. Some are trained hunting dogs which obey their owner immediately.
Sunday I rode near a private hunting preserve. Guys were shooting shotguns just off the road. I stopped and walked over, asked if they minded if I watched. Everyone was super friendly and were pretty surprised by a carbon bike with hydraulic disk brakes and electronic shifting. Everyone was really chill.
The scene here in the south isn't huge but the riders are into gravel - not wide tire road bikes which might occassionaly stray onto dirt roads. Its about driving 1 or 2 hours to get to the mountains and hammer some forest service roads on 38's or wider.
-Tim-
#95
Chases Dogs for Sport
Thread Starter
Agreed, Tim. The downside is the drive to find unpaved roads. (There are none in my county.) I must admit envying those in rural Kansas / Nebraska who have to drive to find a paved road.
#96
Chases Dogs for Sport
Thread Starter
That's the closest I've come. Been chased by a dog, I threw a water bottle at it, missed, and the dog chased the bottle. I've had more problems with ankle sized yippee dogs, the kind that will run right in front of your wheel.
I've seen plenty of bears while riding. They're afraid of people. It's a treat to see one.
I've seen plenty of bears while riding. They're afraid of people. It's a treat to see one.
#97
Senior Member
Personally, "gravel" bikes really only became a thing because people wanted to stuff bigger tires under their road bike. I see a lot of gravel bikes, pristine and with slicks on the local MUPs every weekend. No doubt, being loaded into or out of the owner's pristine SUV.
I bought a gravel bike because I wanted the utility and flexibility, there wasn't a single road bike that could achieve the results I wanted.
I will always take the gravel or dirt path given a choice. I go out of my way to include it. I use my "gravel" bike as my road and off road bike. I've had a pristine clean bike coming off my car at times like you mention and I've also done group road rides with the only mud and gray dust covered bike.
Last edited by u235; 08-08-19 at 05:29 AM.
#98
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Come to Tennessee and let me introduce you to some paved road redneck dogs. They don't chase decoys. Always waiting at the top of the steepest climbs. I've had two dog attacks requiring medical attention. One pack attack where a pit got me. And one chow attack that required five surgeries and two years off the bike. They were both on civilized paved roads, though. I can't remember ever seeing a loose dog on gravel, whether in Tennessee or the midwest. (I'm sure they exist. I just haven't seen them.)
They're generally farm dogs vs junkyard dogs so maybe that accounts for it. I've only been bit once, fingers crossed, and it was a redneck dog and not a farm dog.
Thread seems to have taken a potential foo subforum turn but...
I will always take the gravel or dirt path given a choice. I go out of my way to include it. I use my "gravel" bike as my road and off road bike. I've had a pristine clean bike coming off my car at times like you mention and I've also done group road rides with the only mud and gray dust covered bike with salty dried sweat splatter mixed with dust on my head and top tube.
I will always take the gravel or dirt path given a choice. I go out of my way to include it. I use my "gravel" bike as my road and off road bike. I've had a pristine clean bike coming off my car at times like you mention and I've also done group road rides with the only mud and gray dust covered bike with salty dried sweat splatter mixed with dust on my head and top tube.
#99
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When I was in college, I made drive from Mississippi State down to Tulane(New Orleans) to visit my now wife countless times. Probably averaged once every four weeks. Anyways, counting stray/loose dogs was one of the ways I passed the time. It was crushingly sad if I thought about all the systemic reasons why I saw so many dogs, but it was fun to superficially count them and see if I could find more than the previous trip.
#100
Senior Member
Also, gravel riders seem to care far more about stray animals, rednecks and shooting sports than the next big thing, haha.