Thoughts on gravel "races" and events

[dra1980]

It seems we are living in the hey day of gravel events. Lots of good people laying out good routes with some good scenery. 

I was drawn to these gravel rides a few years ago because they seemed more relaxed than roadie events. However, as I've sort of transitioned from a slow wanna-be racer to a slow let's enjoy this rider (thanks in part to Grant's philosophy on cycling), I've found that I'm often alone out there plodding along on my Joe. It seems like as more people have gotten into gravel, they've brought some of the fast, lycra, no notice giving paceline stuff to the events that I've turned to in the past. This past weekend I had a great time at a 50 mile "race", rolling along enjoying the course, hoping off my bike to traverse sandy backroads and two tracks when necessary. By the time I got done, most of the finishers had celebrated and moved on. The race promoters were there to give high fives, but the whole thing left me feeling kind of lonely. I was super happy to have finished, and just finishing is usually my goal at these things.I was comfy as heck on my Joe and really enjoyed the ride, but I drove away wondering if the community of gravel riders is more and more pushing these events to be races for racers. 

So what's a enjoy the ride kinda person supposed to do to connect with others and find fun routes/events to do? I really do like being able to have a calendar of pay to play rides to look forward to, but I'm kinda getting sick of rude racers flying by without saying a word and everyone being more worried about Strava times and KOMs than pedaling along and enjoying the road. I really want to do a couple 100 mile rides next year before I turn 40, but I'm starting to feel like the father I can ride, the more the events with those distances are geared toward the hard core riders who want to fly through them. 

Am I just getting old and cranky? Anyone else notice this? Any remedies? 

[Garth]

Just be yourself .... it's the most simple thing of all.   Such is the "sweet spot" ... always perfect as-is .... for that which is .... simply and irrevocably is ... and oh so wondrously is.

The Sun is the Flower as the Flower is the Sun ....  never two  .... there is always only the Inseparable and Indivisible.

[Bill Lindsay]

Perhaps you’d feel more at home doing randonneuring events.

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito Ca

[Austin B.]

Well, first I would steer clear of any event which includes the word "race" in the title. 

For these organized gravel rides, part of it is the result of what RBW and BQ have been promoting for years--wider tires, offroad terrain. 10 years ago, "gravelbiking" it hardly existed, 5 years ago it was niche, now it's pretty much mainstream as indicated by all the gravel/cyclo bikes that Trek et al sell. So yes, it's attracting more of the "A-type" personalities as you describe.

My remedy: know what I want to achieve out of it.

Like you, I like to do my share of "pay to play" events, some road, some mixed terrain. Ultimately, I do it to be around other bike people, to challenge myself, and for a bit of the excitement & fanfare that comes with rest stops, finish line parties, etc. During the ride I also need to periodically remind myself to "ride my ride" and not try to keep up with younger 20 & 30-something go-fasts.

Are you getting old? Most definitely. Cranky? Can't say and it probably doesn't matter.

Know what you hope to achieve from these rides, manage your own expectations, and most importantly, ride your own ride to maximize your enjoyment & experience. Screw what anyone else thinks!

-Austin

[Kevin Mulcahy]

Advice from a fellow Laterne Rouge gravel/endurance rider: prepare yourself to be riding alone, it's bound to happen unless you've planned ahead with friends or somehow make friends along the way during the ride. On long distance events it happens to everyone, actually, even the fast people in the front and mid-pack. It'll also happen on rando rides and mtb events. That's because these events are mostly structured as as events where people can make very-personal achievements. They aren't team events. Even most of people in "pelotons" are basically riding alone. I mean, if they stop for a pee break, the group would drop them in a heartbeat. 

I'd also like to caution against judging people for wearing lycra and riding fast. That alone doesn't make someone Type-A, or whatever, and it doesn't mean they are somehow having less fun. There's plenty of over-thinking anal retentive slow riders, and gifted people who are having the time of their lives while shredding with the best of them. 

A few weeks ago I finished a +100 mile mtb race a full 10 hours slower than the winner. About 2/3rds of the way through the ride I teamed up with a fellow slow rider, and I'd argue that our ride was way more epic and memorable than the racey guy's. Plus, I left the ride with a new friend. 

Kevin 

In Madison, WI

[Touriste-Routier]

There are a lot of different types of Gravel events.  I started organizing some in 2007; none of them are races, but all it takes to have a race is to have 2 people trying to outdo each other.  In the larger events, it is typically easy to find someone to ride with, regardless of one's pace. In the smaller ones, the chances of having a lonely day are greater. 

The scene has definitely changed, but with all things, you typically get out of them what you want.  If you want to race, great, if you want to ride, terrific.  However, if you want to venture off the designated course, I'd suggest you not enter. 

While exploring is great on your own or with friends, doing so purposely during an event puts the event at risk.  Properly permitted events have parameters and estimated time tables, and support for these confines.  When participants venture away from these, bad things can happen.  A few years ago, we had some participants who knowingly strayed off a course, and when one of those riders crashed, when the call came in, we had a hard time figuring out where they were and how they got there...  We figured it out, and all ended well, but it could have been very bad. 

Gravel started out as an inclusive change from the road scene, and for the most part, it still is.  A key thing to maintain this vibe is avoiding judgement whether it be from the faster riders about the slower riders or vice-versa.  One should respect fellow participants, the course, and the rules.  If there are time cut-offs, they are there for a reason, which may not be apparent to the participants. 

And FWIW, my events used to attract racer and seasoned riders, but now we are getting significantly more less experienced riders.  It's all great, but as an organizer we've had to adapt; we've needed to expand our support services to accommodate this.

Brian Ignatin

Pineville, PA  USA

[Patrick Moore]

[Mark Roland]

If you go to an event by yourself, as mentioned, these rides get spread out pretty quickly, so you may not see many folks at whatever pace you happen to be riding. Personally, I'm fine either way, but if you would like to ride an event with one or more other like-minded riders, I would suggest starting well ahead of the event and building a local group (or even a not-so-local group) with the idea of doing the ride together. I go to D2R2 with friends, makes it a fun day on the wheel. Though I'm just as happy to introduce myself to a bunch and ride along, or enjoy riding solo as part of a bigger picture. Ride that Joe!

[Fullylugged]

I voluntered at yesterday's Trash Panda Red Dirt Ramble from Deatsville, AL. 74 sign-ups and bikes ranged from Surlys to Niners with a helthy dose of TREK and Specialized all disc brake gravel specific along with a few mountain bikes. An All City single speed was unique there, but kept up just fine. This was not a race, but a fund raiser for the local humane animal shelter. The lead riders did 70 miles at about 20 mph avg which is booking it. The slowest rider did 27 miles at around 10 mph. Light showers settled the dust (it had been dry here) and the riders loved it. I pre-rode the course on my Ram with 1 1/2" Paselas and it was a little skittish, especially down steep descents with loose cover. I've since put Gravel Kings on a 650B conversion and would prefer that next time. This ride is one of just a few in the state for gravel.

Saturday, for comparison, I volunteered at our club century which benefits the Boys & Girls Club in a poorer area of town as well as cycling advocacy. We had over 300 riders. So road remains far more popular. There are over a dozen supported club centuries and charity events in AL. And RUSA rides too.