Why is Gravel Riding Such a Thing?
#101
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That doesnt seem to align with everybody wanting a shot at the Gravel Riding Hall of Fame.
Small races set up by race organizers are really a blast, at least where I live. Demand is healthy- there is a rush when signup goes live for some races. The races I ride in are all hosted by some really positive and supportive people.
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#102
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It just depends on what type of area you grew up in and what you're familiar with. To a city person such as yourself, these pics are probably nirvana. But to someone such as myself, who grew up hauling hay out of fields like those, taking said hay down roads like those in 100+ temps, it's not.
2. While I was born in the city, I spent a lot of time "in the woods" and "on the water" in New England during my high school years. And I once spent nearly 4 months on the road riding through everything from mountain snow to weeks in a row of intense heat and humidity with very little some days none) shade. I still like bike touring. And try working in an enclosed metal hot dog cart on a street corner with no shade when it's 100 degrees out and there is 95% humidity. Sure. I would never do it again, but I have no idea what bearing that has on where I like to tour and why.
3. One of my points is that I don't understand how someone (the OP) who about his MTB and road experience cannot understand why some people like riding unpaved roads so much.
Last edited by indyfabz; 01-12-22 at 10:07 AM.
#103
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#104
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1. You hauled hay down roads on your bike? Down from places like the Bitteroots and Black Hills, no less?
2. While I was born in the city, I spent a lot of time "in the woods" and "on the water" in New England during my high school years. And I once spent nearly 4 months on the road riding through everything from mountain snow to weeks in a row of intense heat and humidity with very little some days none) shade. I still like bike touring.
3. One of my points is that I don't understand how someone (the OP) who about his MTB and road experience cannot understand why some people like riding unpaved roads so much.
2. While I was born in the city, I spent a lot of time "in the woods" and "on the water" in New England during my high school years. And I once spent nearly 4 months on the road riding through everything from mountain snow to weeks in a row of intense heat and humidity with very little some days none) shade. I still like bike touring.
3. One of my points is that I don't understand how someone (the OP) who about his MTB and road experience cannot understand why some people like riding unpaved roads so much.
https://www.hh100.org/
#105
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Why is Gravel Riding Such a Thing?
I've always viewed them as something between a paved roadway and an open cross-country track. A road bike works fine on the former; a mountain bike, on the latter. But Gravel's somewhere in between. Doesn't require the more-ponderous setup of an outright "mountain" bike, but it'd beat up the average road bike. Hence, "gravel bikes," which (at least from my perspective) beef-up those parts of the bike that are most subjected to increased stresses (wheels and forks) above and beyond what a regular road bike would otherwise have.
Gravel's not really my thing. Never have enjoyed cobble stone roadways; IMO, gravel's only marginally better, insofar as it's usually (at least these days) an off-the-beaten-path type track. I'm very much a paved surface type, myself. But then, I've generally viewed bikes as a means of transportation, more than a sport as such. If I want to get off-pavement, it's worth donning the shoes and hiking togs, taking things a bit slower.
Got to love folks who try to squeeze the most from whatever conditions, though. Road, cross-country, gravel, snow/sand, whatever. It's all good.
#106
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Here you go. you can get the experience yourself! Bucket list for a lot of riders. Road, MTB, gravel, you can do it all and talk about how awesome it is. One of the other BF members I road it with this past year gave it a 10 out of 10. Different strokes for different folks.Take a look.
https://www.hh100.org/
https://www.hh100.org/
And I would rather do this again, if only because it's not in Texas:
D2R2 - The Deerfield Dirt Road Randonnée - Franklin Land Trust
#107
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Another thread in addition to the one I linked to earlier:
Can somebody please explain gravel riding to me? - Bike Forums
Can somebody please explain gravel riding to me? - Bike Forums
#108
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Frankly, I find it highly suspect that someone with MTB and road riding experience would legitimately not understand the "fascination" some have with gravel riding. I mean, just look at how many people ride the GDMTBR every year. And that's just one , small example. Here are a few others I just happen to have handy at the moment.
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I think you are conflating two different issues/questions.
And I would rather do this again, if only because it's not in Texas:
D2R2 - The Deerfield Dirt Road Randonnée - Franklin Land Trust
And I would rather do this again, if only because it's not in Texas:
D2R2 - The Deerfield Dirt Road Randonnée - Franklin Land Trust
Here's something you also might find hard to believe. One of the things I really like doing when I'm in a big city such as DC or Chicago or your town is to get on their version of the metro and just ride. I love it. It's a far cry from the dirt roads/pastures of my teenage years. Very entertaining. I know, not something you'd recommend. It just what you grew up with and were exposed to.
#110
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The comparison is usually to 90s mountain bikes.
After I provided you with six articles describing the many differences, you keep repeating that. Just pretend you've convinced me and move on.
After I provided you with six articles describing the many differences, you keep repeating that. Just pretend you've convinced me and move on.
#111
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Feel free to feel otherwise.
Last edited by indyfabz; 01-12-22 at 11:26 AM.
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#112
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At the risk of oversimplification, there seem to be a few classes of reasons:
1. Rider is afraid of traffic on roads.
2. Poor quality pavement on local roads.
3. Plentiful gravel roads near rider.
4. Lower traffic volume on gravel roads.
Almost nobody wants a gravel bike because it's hot and they want a new bike that's "in," so obviously marketing isn't driving the demand for gravel bikes.
1. Rider is afraid of traffic on roads.
2. Poor quality pavement on local roads.
3. Plentiful gravel roads near rider.
4. Lower traffic volume on gravel roads.
Almost nobody wants a gravel bike because it's hot and they want a new bike that's "in," so obviously marketing isn't driving the demand for gravel bikes.
I don;t think the intro of 'Gravel bikes' suddenly created a 'thing'. Has been done long before by many ...
What one chooses to ride to navigate these paths/roads has been varied. When in Germany to spend time in my family home, I choose my Opa's fiets to ride the local forest and farm paths.
4 points above cover the high points, although I would modify #1 slightly as to 'fear'. To me is just a realization that 'traffic' has become too 'distracted' and the possibility of becoming a traffic mishap statistic has become significanty higher; even here where road cycling is a BIG thing and becoming more accommodated for.
Let me add 1.2 - more risk on designated paved bike/MUPs - because of low awareness riders of E-bikes. Too many incidents and possible collisions from unaware/over-entitled meatheads on 50 lb+ machines, doing 25+ mph on crowded paths also used by families and their small children...
There are plenty of riders in the Santa Barbara area who now have Gravel Bikes, because they are a 'Thing'. I'm okay with that.
There are still those who're still riding their converted 'roadies' and 'mtb's.
There really isn;t much 'gravel' in our area (SB Valley), a few green spaces... but when you go off-road, it mostly serious MTB stuff.
especially the Los Padres Back Country.
Much of what are 'dirt roads' in Northern SB County are on private lands, going thru vineyards, so access is limited...
SO I'm reducing my 'roadie' riding and rediscovering the great MTB riding available, half the miles, 1/1000th the people, 2x the fun.
Now I only have 2 things to worry about - 1. making a stoopid move that will send me into a canyon... 2. Becoming Cat food... LOL!
... happy for those who have found the added pleasures of 'gravel' and off-road... also ok with the new tweak of 'gravel' on the equipment soul...
adds a small load on the whole 'environment' issue, but certainly moving in a better direction. ride/recycle/reuse !!!
Ride On
Yuri
#113
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In my state, gravel is the new pavement. If you want to get away from heavy traffic, your choices are bike paths or minor roads that are crumbling. Some counties are converting pavement to gravel because it's cheaper to maintain.
So far as bikes go, I think it's hard to guess why certain bike categories are popular, because a lot of casual users such as myself aren't committed to riding under a limited set of conditions. We're looking for something that's likely to be comfortable, versatile, and that looks good.
So far as bikes go, I think it's hard to guess why certain bike categories are popular, because a lot of casual users such as myself aren't committed to riding under a limited set of conditions. We're looking for something that's likely to be comfortable, versatile, and that looks good.
#114
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I'm a total urban rider and I find neither the road scene or the MTB scene all that interesting. With a gravel bike I can ride long routes that connect both the roads and off-road trails straight from my door. In fact I actually have two gravel bikes, one optimized for more serious off-road and lower gearing and the other one higher geared for road with light off-road capabilities. Also I've noticed in less developed countries gravel bikes are becoming more popular for exactly this practical reason. Gravel bikes are the one bike that can do it all.
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Nice thing is, whatever somebody's "thing" happens to be, it doesn't impact any others. They can do what blows their own hair back, and those doing their "thing" can do that. Everyone's content.
It's nice having the freedom to choose whatever "works" for a person. Some aren't nearly so fortunate.
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But before we got into this debate I was merely pointing out that road/gravel bikes are very closely related, while mountain bikes have moved to another planet.
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tl;dr
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John
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What I'm learning from this thread is that some gravel riders appear to be trying to distance themselves from roadies as if it really is something very different, requiring some sort of special bike that isn't essentially a road bike with wider tyres.
Sorry guys I didn't mean to be negative (read back through my earlier posts on this thread for proof) but this is getting a bit tedious. The differences between a typical gravel bike and even a fairly racy endurance road bike are pretty minimal. Tyre clearance being the main differentiator and now road bikes are edging up well into the mid 30s and even 40 mm clearance in some cases, there's hardly anything in it. Maybe an extra bottle cage?
We've had plenty of threads here asking should I buy an endurance road bike or a gravel bike for 50/50 road/gravel use? There is never a right or wrong answer to that. With 2 sets of wheels they are pretty much the same beast.
#125
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There is absolutely an overlap between what is considered a Gravel bike and what is considered an Endurance Road bike. An Endurance bike with 38s is basically a gravel bike as well in my book.
My bike (Soma Fog Cutter V1)) is called Endurance Road, but it can take 42mm tires.
Overlap and fuzzy boundaries are fine. The fact that some bikes blur the lines does not mean the terms are not useful.
When it comes down to it, Gravel bikes ARE road bikes. They are just road bike that don’t suck on gravel roads.
If anything, Gravel bikes are a more true “Road” bike as they actually work well on most roads. Pavement Racing bikes are the niche bike.
My bike (Soma Fog Cutter V1)) is called Endurance Road, but it can take 42mm tires.
Overlap and fuzzy boundaries are fine. The fact that some bikes blur the lines does not mean the terms are not useful.
When it comes down to it, Gravel bikes ARE road bikes. They are just road bike that don’t suck on gravel roads.
If anything, Gravel bikes are a more true “Road” bike as they actually work well on most roads. Pavement Racing bikes are the niche bike.
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