tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post2635453098032154752..comments2024-03-27T15:04:18.521-05:00Comments on Guitar Ted Productions: Reactions Part TwoGuitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-64899126046377900202018-09-20T19:06:47.404-05:002018-09-20T19:06:47.404-05:00@onoffrhodes- Perhaps what you describe can/could ...@onoffrhodes- Perhaps what you describe can/could be the case, but many early free to enter gravel events weren't understood to be "shop rides". They weren't understood to be "group rides". It was understood by most, at any rate, that they were serious competitions. Many ultra-distance Western mtb rides from the early 00's were where this idea came from for gravel. <br /><br />Your Oregon situation is not unknown to me. I have had some of it explained to me by those who were putting on the original Oregon gravel races, which had to go "underground" due to legal and other intrusions by the county around 2011. Those events became "group rides" out of necessity because they couldn't have any hint of being a competition without incurring the wrath of the government. <br /><br />So, there may be some rides that have elements of competition today, which are "free to enter" deals, and aren't very organized, at least in the traditional "event" sense. However; that's not how it was when this scene started here in the Mid-West. Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-8409599205709403082018-09-20T18:15:53.443-05:002018-09-20T18:15:53.443-05:00To a degree the free gravel events are no differen...To a degree the free gravel events are no different than your more typical group mountain or road rides. Somebody develops a course, invites a bunch of people and off everyone goes. The Portland Velo Rides here in the PDX metro area attract between 30-120 riders every Saturday morning for various speed/skill level groups. The Our Mother The Mountain www.omtm.cc guys do quarterly free gravel rides where they provide the route you come test yourself. Recently they instituted a waiver program, more than likely due to an event at one of their spring rides.<br />The pay-to-play gravel rides are totally to be expected. Just like a mountain bike race, road race, gran fondo, century, etc there are people who want to monetize their event. Be it for charity support, personal financial gain, or something else (or a combo) it totally makes sense. I don't think gravel holds the monopoly on "free" events, people just tend to take your shop rides, weekly cycling club rides, etc for granted because they have been around forever. Just my 2 cents.onoffrhodes.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09076603019674041266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-21823356066131249202018-09-20T04:39:09.876-05:002018-09-20T04:39:09.876-05:00Having just read your post, Mark, I am given to th...Having just read your post, Mark, I am given to thinking about your "Geezer Rides". I participated in one a few springs back and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the people and geeking out on the bikes they were riding. I found all involved to be friendly, supportive, and no inkling of a mindset bent on racing and dominating the "field". Although my personal performance was lackluster, I got to experience Iowa Chunky gravel, beautiful farm country, and chat a bit with you. I, also, learned a bit about myself and what I should probably do in the future if I would every attempt a similar effort. I hope you continue to be able to arrange similar gatherings in the future.graveldochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735646900935591880noreply@blogger.com