Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Surly Bikes

 Surly Sorceress Trail Bike Debuts:

On Tuesday of this week Surly Bikes dropped a new model into their line called the Sorceress. It is a long. low, slack  steel hardtail 29'er (27.5"er in XS) with the capability to be set up geared or single speed.  

Surly worked with SRAM to develop a new rear drop out which can be set up geared using the SRAM UDH hangar or a chip can be subsituted which allows for a single speed set up. Surly calls this new dropout the "DUH". (Yes, seriously they call it this)  

The geometry is slack with a 65° head tube angle using the suggested 140mm travel fork. The seat tube is minimized for maximum length dropper post use. Chain stay length is 429mm and the bike comes in complete form with Teravail 2.5" Kessel rubber. 

The bike comes in three complete specs and as a frame ($999.00) in Elderberry Tonic or Hot Honey Bling. The single speed is priced at $2,199.00, the Deore 12 speed model is $2,499.00, and the range topping SRAM Eagle 90 is $3,199.00. 

Sorceress drop outs (Image courtesy of Surly Bikes)

Comments: Let's see...... I think it was late 2012 when I reviewed that Diamondback Mason hardtail 29"er. It was about the same bike as this Surly model. So.....nothing new here. 

Yeah, its got that drop out the online sites are all ga-ga over. What is this? Like the 39th variation of a rear drop out Surly has designed over the past 20 years? I don't know......it's all right, I guess. Nothing mind-blowing. 

I'm not sure why Surly decided to make this bike now. Are dealers clamoring for something to sell like this? Are Surly "Humanoids| messaging Surly asking for this? Maybe they are. It just seems like a weird bike for Surly to sell because it hasn't got that "make it your own" thing nor does it really do anything oddball like one used to expect from Surly. Yes....it can be set up and purchased as a single speed. At least they got that part right. 

Image courtesy of Bianchi

Bianchi Releases Limited Edition Infinito Celebrating Paris-Roubaix:

 Paris-Roubaix is this weekend. It might be the most romanticized cycling event in world history. More so than any other "monument" of cycling and perhaps more so than the Tour de France as well. In my opinion, Paris-Roubaix has been more influential in regard to cycling competitions than any other cycling event ever. Just look at gravel events which borrow from either its name, its vibe, or both. 

In light of this, it should come as no surprise then to see a company like Bianchi release a very expensive, very limited edition bicycle to celebrate Paris-Roubaix. 

 The Infinito model was chosen to feature a special paint job with details such as cobbles and a commemorative logo on the seat tube. Only 55 Infinito bikes will feature this livery which points to the 55 kilometers of cobbles in the 2026 edition of Paris-Roubaix. 

See this and all Bianchi's bicycles at www.bianchi.com 

Shimano PD-GR400 flats (Image courtesy of Shimano)

Another Flat Pedal Choice:

I may be a bit behind on discovering these Shimano flat pedals, but the PD-GR400 from Shimano is right up my alley. 

The resin-composite body has nine replaceable grip pins per side and the entire pedal weighs a claimed 394 grams. At a cost of $79.99 direct from Shimano, these pedals seem like a pretty good value. 

I like that they come in different colors as well. Six colors to be exact. I'm showing purple because it is the best color ever, and there is no debate. (Ha!) 

I also like resin composite pedals in the colder times when a metal pedal acts like a heat sink and draws heat out of your foot/shoe combo. Not good! Resin is far less adept at transferring heat, which helps keep those tootsies warm in Winter. 

Anyway, these are not the only choice, but they are another choice I think is worth checking out. Personally I have been a big fan of Fyxation Mesa MP's and I have several sets of them running on different bikes. It looks like Fyxation is on the down and outs though, so I may have to use these Shimano pedals in the future. 

Image courtesy of White Industries

White Industries, Brunk Industries, and Moots Team Up for Titanium Cranks:

An unlikely trio of businesses have teamed up to help produce a made in USA titanium crank set. Brunk Industries does the stamping and forming of the titanium arms. White Industries does the precision machining of the arms and spindles. Moots does the welding of the arms and pedal inserts. 

The cranks will be sold through both White Industries and Moots in several lengths from 165mm, 170mm, and 175mm. Different spindle lengths accommodate MTB, Road, and Gravel drive trains. The cranks us 8 bolt SRAM chain ring mounting standard. Spindles can also be DUB standard or 30mm. Some slight detail differences exist between the Moots and White Industries offerings, mostly in the aesthetic realm. Both brands are selling this crank set for $1350.00 USD.  

Image courtesy of Ergon

Ergon Expands GDH Grip Line Sizing:

Ergon has had the GDH grip in the range for some time now but there was only one diameter/size available. Now there will be three sizes and some new colors as well. 

The news sizes vary 2mm smaller and2mm larger than the original GDH, so if you are a fan of the OG grip, no worries. It is now called Medium sized. 

The grips will all have the "GravityControl" grip compound, progressive damping, and anatomic finger boxes. 

Check out these grips on Ergon\s product page: ergonbike.com/en/lp/gdh-color and US riders can : buy them here. 

Grinduro Returns To PA:

Lockhaven, PA, July 18th, 2026 is the date and place for Grinduro Pennsylvania. Registration is open now. 

Grinduro is timed segment event. This means there are segments where you will be in competition, but there are also segments where you can just cruise and enjoy the ride. 

The event will be going through Sproul State Forest and will feature stunning views, top-notch aid stations, and live entertainment. The event will also feature the following:

• Four timed race segments with plenty of adventure in between
• Festive aid stations with proper fueling and the treats that will lift you spirits
• A lively post-ride celebration and “hootenanny”
• On-site camping available Friday and Saturday
• Possible “Hellbender” salamander sightings all weekend

Proceeds from Grinduro PA will benefit the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League #morekidsonbikes 

That's a wrap on this week. Stay in the saddle and ride!  
 

Review: Aeron TPU Tubes

 Note: Guitar Ted received Aeron TPU tubes and a patch kit at no charge for test and review from Aeron. Guitar Ted is not being paid, nor bribed for this review and all opinions are Guitar Ted's. 

I mentioned in a recent FN&V article here that I was receiving some Aeron TPU tubes for testing. Those tubes, and a patch kit, have arrived so now it is time to let you readers know what these TPU tubes are all about. 

Aeron has three levels of TPU tubes available. The Superlite Race AL, The ExtraLite Protect AL, and the ExtraLite Protect. Essentially the differences are that the SuperLite has a thinner TPU than the other two. The ExtraLite Protect AL has an aluminum valve stem while the ExtraLite Protect has a polymer valve stem and costs slightly less. 

Prices are $29.95 USD for the SuperLite Race AL and ExtraLite Protect AL and $24.95 USD for the ExtraLite Protect.

You can check out the range on the Aeron site HERE. 

Aeron TPU patch kit contents

Why TPU? Why Not Run Tubeless? 

This is probably a good place to discuss this, at the beginning, so you will not waste your time with the review if tubeless is your decision no matter what. However; if you have an open mind, there is a good argument to be made for TPU tubes.  

First of all, it is fairly well understood that butyl tubes, the typical "rubber" tubes you probably are familiar with, can puncture and there are several use cases for a different system than a typical tube. For instance, you may ride in an area infested with poky things, like goat heads, or cacti, or glass shards. Tubes are a frustration in these instances because they can fail easily. 

This is where tubeless comes in handy as generally speaking, those poky things will not stop you because the tire self-heals with the aid of sealant. This is great.....when it works. 

Sealant does dry over time, so there is a maintenance factor you get with it. Eventually tires should be cleaned since old sealant cakes up inside tires when it dries out. Valve stems can fail due to the ammonia and latex which is in most sealants. So, you can have this to deal with at times along with the possibility clogged valves at as well.  

Tubeless aficionados put up with this because the ride quality is enhanced by using tires without tubes. Once felt, this can be addictive and hard to think about giving up. On the other hand, tubes can be easily swapped, if the need arises, they hold air well, and there is no sealant maintenance issues, no clogged valves, and no sticky, gooey mess. I won't even get into rim tapes, mounting of tubeless tires, and patching tires when sealant fails to seal up a bigger puncture or tear.  

TPU tubes are far lighter than their butyl counterparts. 

Now what about TPU? How does this material fit in as a tube for a tire? Well, it has a lot going for it. TPU doesn't allow air leakage like a butyl rubber tube does, so it holds pressure for longer than standard tubes and tubeless set ups. But the real advantages come in when you have a failure and need to fix a flat tire.

Remember when I said tubeless is great when it works? Well, there are times when it doesn't. Thus the entire tubeless plug industry. Those plugs are there to help you seal up a leak the sealant cannot manage to seal. Okay.....what's the problem? 

Well, those plugs are great, but you are losing sealant up until the point you get the plug to seal, and this depletes any further protection level should you puncture again. Maybe you get another plug to work, maybe not. 

Of course, you may not have a "plug-sized" hole, because it is a tear, or too big a hole for a plug, and now you've gotta deal with the sealant mess. Now you remember, perhaps, if you are old enough, how you could swap a tube fairly quickly and be on your way again. You could boot a tear with a Power Bar wrapper, (remember those?), or you patched a tube if you weren't in a hurry and kept on truckin'. Do you wish those days were back, but with benefits? This is why you may like TPU tubes. 

They have light weight down. Typically you can save way over 50% in weight over a similar sized butyl rubber tube. You get nearly the same low rolling resistance as tubeless, but none of the downsides. Plus, TPU is less likely to puncture than butyl tubes and the TPU can be patched. Besides, you can swap out a TPU tube in the field, and be on your way again without needing plugs or spraying sealant. Plus TPU is recyclable. So it is a better solution than tubeless from a "green" standpoint.  

UPDATE: I also should mention that any TPU tube should NOT be used with rim brakes. The heat generated by braking on the rim can cause TPU tubes to burst. Only use TPU tubes on disc brake bikes!  

Aeron TPU tube on the left, Tubolito TPU tube on the right. 

TPU's Evolution:

TPU, when it first came out, was not ready for prime time. There were issues with valve stems, which were made of a polymer or TPU material. There were issues with stretching too thin and failures occurred. Early TPU tubes were perhaps too radical in that they were made so thin and lightweight they did not hold up well in real world riding situations. 

As an example, I pulled out an old Tubolito TPU tube I got several years ago. It has a flimsy TPU valve stem, a non-removable valve core, and it was really thin! The "gravel" Tubolito on the right above weighs 33 grams! The Aeron tube weighs 59 grams. The Aeron tube is thicker feeling. It gives me a feeling of confidence in that I won't worry if it will hold up or not. The Tubolito always was in the back of my mind as something which could fail at any moment due to the flimsy feeling material and the sketchy valve stem.   

The Aeron stem is aluminum and has a robust connection with the tube.

Aeron uses a "multi-layer" TPU which you can feel in the hand as a thicker, perhaps tougher material. It is probably why Aeron recommends this TPU tube for anything from a 32mm tire to a 52mm wide tire. Early TPU tubes were not recommended for such a wide range and could split if you pushed them too far in terms of tire width. 

Obviously the aluminum valve stem is much better than the old, flimsy first generation TPU valve stems which, to be honest, were really bad. 

All this to say that TPU tubes have come a long way since the first TPU tubes came out several years ago. 

The Test Set Up:

I'll be putting the Aeron ExtraLite AL TPU tubes in a wheel set I have with different tire sizes for rougher terrain riding. The rear is a Teravail Cannonball 47mm tire while the front is a going to be either a WTB Nineline or Nanoraptor. I have to make sure the tire isn't too wide. 

The next post will show the set up and I'll give you all some first ride impressions. Stay tuned... 

Gravel Grinder News: Baumier & WTB Press Releases

Image courtesy of Baumier 

 Note: With Sea Otter coming up in a week there are press releases hitting the in-box at Guitar Ted Productions headquarters which require space here to publish outside of the FN&V. 

All information and images were provided by Baumier and WTB. Comments are Guitar Ted's.  

Quebec's Baumier Announces Their First Complete Bicycle: 

The Canadian company, Baumier, is known more for wheels than complete bicycles, but the Quebec based firm hopes to change this in the future. Their first complete bike, the BO1, is designed and manufactured completely in the Marche Central District.

The BO1 has 3D printed titanium junctions including the head tube, bottom bracket, seat cluster, and drop outs. The connection between these titanium bits is made from braided RFC carbon fiber tubing. The RFC process (Resin Flow Composite), allows Baumier to optimize strength and lightness with zero waste. The process has been in development for eight years. 

The Baumier B01 is defined as an "all-road" bike and maximum tire clearance is 42mm. The bike can be configured in three spec levels which Baumier calls "Hors Categorie", "Lifetime", and "Timeless". 

B01 Hors-Catégorie (HC)  Features

• Drivetrain: Shimano XTR Dura-Ace Di2 or Sram Red XPLR
• Crankset: Rotor Carbon 
• Wheels: RT40 HC or GT24 UL

B01 Lifetime (LT) Features

• Drivetrain: Shimano GRX-827 Di2
• Crankset: Gemini Forged carbon & 5DEV Titanium crank arms
• Wheels: RT40 LT or GT24 LT

B01 Timeless (TL) Features

• Drivetrain: Shimano GRX mechanical
• Crankset: Rotor alloy
• Wheels: RT40 LT or GT24 LT

Technical Specifications
Frame Features

• Material & Process: Braided RFC (resin transfer molding) carbon tubes & 3D-printed Grade 5 Titanium lugs
• Constructed, finished, and built in-house
• Geometry: Allroad road geometry, 5 sizes from 50 to 60
• Finish: Natural brushed titanium or sandblasted titanium
• Maximum tire size: 42mm 

No pricing was given in the press release. See Baumier's site for more. 
 

Comments: The BO1 is an interesting bike which leverages newer tech and allows for a bit better style of manufacturing considering Baumier's focus on zero waste and Earth-centric values. Granted, this is a canadian company and they are not well known here in the States, but I like the in-house design and production piece here. 

Hopefully they can make a go of it. Similar efforts by Allied and others in the US have not been as successful in doing what Bamier is trying to accomplish with the B01. 

WTB Announces All New Fit Right Saddle Finder System:

WTB, the tire, rim, and saddle makers from California, just dropped their revamped saddle fit system. Their previous system was a bit less robust when it came to details, but the new system seems to have addressed those shortcomings. 

Dubbed the Fit Right System, the new saddle finder has riders answer a few questions, plug in their sit bone width, (if you do not know this measurement, they have a way for you to find out), and then there are suggested saddles for you to look at. 

Comments: As with any fitting system for humans, this isn't going to be a slam-dunk, definitive saddle answer for everyone. That said, it's better than what they had before and probably will get you in a ball park so you can find that perfect saddle eventually much more quickly as well.  

Paris-Roubaix Is The Most Influential Cycling Event

Image courtesy of the Official website of the Paris-Roubaix

The Paris-Roubaix. Just saying the name probably conjures up images of mud-splattered riders on a narrow French farm road. Riders lined alongside these roads with a crowned surface of stones called cobbles. The brutality of riding these rough-hewn stones on bike and body seems to impart some sort of deep-set, carnal impulse to celebrate overcoming such a course. 

Without going into depth on the historical and cultural background of the event itself, because this would take a novel-length post to get into, I wanted to point out something relevant to gravel cycling. 

At the onset of gravel cycling's Modern Era, comparisons to Paris-Roubaix were unavoidable. Maybe it was because Trans Iowa started in April, the same month  Paris-Roubaix was held. Maybe it had something to do with the muddy second year where no one finished. But it became immediately apparent that something about a Springtime gravel event was akin to Paris-Roubaix in some way or another. Dust, grit, mud, and sweat all combined to give an atmosphere similar to the French monument event. The country settings most early gravel events embraced only enhanced the connections. 

The rural settings, Springtime weather, and the challenge hearken back to Paris Roubaix. Image by Wally Kilburg (R.I.P.)

A shout-out also has to given to the Canadian event, Paris - Ancaster, which has utilized a similar Springtime, farm-road sector event to pull in the same vibes as Paris-Roubaix. This event no doubt was also a big influence upon the early gravel event promoters of the Eastern part of the USA. 

Maybe you would not agree that Paris Roubaix is the most influential cycling event in a competitive sense, but consider all the gravel events which took cues from this seminal European road race. So many events used the name "roubaix" in their event name that you just cannot deny the influence. Events like Dairy Roubaix, Rouge Roubaix, and the famous Barry Roubaix events show their influences right upfront. 

Other events drew the same or a similar vibe to Paris-Roubaix with events either featuring muddy roads or dirt roads which were rough and tumble. Either way, by direct naming usage or in its DNA, many early gravel events were influenced by Paris-Roubaix and the images of dirt-splattered faces were the signs of a hard-won prize in those early events. 

Gravel's popularity spread from there with many being attracted by the challenges these events offered. There were no Pro classes, no pretense of making a living, just the purity of competition and challenge set out for each participant. It was this, and the romanticized "Paris-Roubaix" factor which drew in thousands of gravel riders. 

This is not obvious to the casual observer now. However; how many events can you point to today which bear a resemblance to the Tour de France which have such high participation numbers as gravel events do from the general populace? I'll wait while you look.....

Image by Steve Fuller

Gravel is the de facto king of competitive cycling now in terms of participation numbers. Many of the events seen on the calendar today owe part of their inspiration, either directly or indirectly, to Paris - Roubaix. It is, by far, the most influential competitive cycling event ever. 

Enjoy watching or following the Paris-Roubaix this weekend, and if you do, think about all those gravel events which have drawn form this monument of cycling competition.  

Gravel Grinder News: Easton Announces New EC90 ALX Crankset

Note: All images and information in this article were provided by Easton Cycling. The "Comments" section is Guitar Ted's opinions only. 

Easton Cycling's New EC90 ALX Carbon Crankset:

Easton Cycling is excited to show its newest EC90 level component. The EC90 ALX crank set is for all-road, gravel, or cyclo cross usage. This new crank has several new features. 

Most notable of the new features of the EC90 ALX crank set is the embedded stainless steel metal heel-scuff protection plate which is designed to protect the carbon arms and keep the EC90 ALX looking great throughout its lifespan. 

Easton claims this is the lightest and the strongest crank set it has ever offered. Every facet of the design was scrutinized to minimize weight but keep strength at a very high level. The pedal inserts and spindle, in aluminum, were especially focused on and in conjunction with minute design choices, this has resulted in what Easton thinks of as the perfect all-road/gravel/cyclo cross crank set. 

Of course, several lengths are on offer along with 1X and 2X options. The specs are listed in this chart below.

Prices:

The EC90ALX cranks are priced as follows:

 Weight:

You can see some of the claimed weights above. Easton also claims that a 170mm arm length, 40T Shimano 1X crank weighs in at 419 grams.  

Strength:

Easton's testing showed the EC90 ALX has incredible strength for such a lightweight component. Their testing included an application of an increasing quasistatic load to the pedal end of the crank until either the arm failed or the spindle/crank interface failed. The result was not only did the crank surpass Easton's all-road benchmarks, but it surpassed the standard for XC/Trail MTB cranks set by Race Face. (An Easton brand)  

Warranty:

Easton warrants this crank set for the lifetime of use to the original owner. Even if it is in a crash. 

Comments: For the racer and weight chaser builds, this looks like a great product. The claims Easton makes seem pretty astounding. I like the sounds of the testing results. 

At around $500.00 when it is all said and done, less your bottom bracket, it isn't cheap, nor should it be, but it isn't the most expensive crank for gravel racing by a long shot. But you do not get a power meter, and if we are speaking of racing, this might be a deal breaker for some.  

Review: Redshift Sports Top Shelf Flat Bar

Note: Redshift Sports sent out a sample of their Top Shelf Flat Bar for test and review to Guitar Ted Productions at no charge. Guitar Ted is neither being paid, nor bribed, for this review. All opinions are Guitar Ted's and Redshift Sports has no say or influence on this review. 

Redshift Sports now offers a flat bar style handlebar in the Top Shelf.

  Recently I was asked to try out a new handlebar from Redshift Sports, I was initially thinking this would be another version of their great drop bars, but not this time! Instead, it is a flat bar, with rise, of course, and it is called the Top Shelf Flat Bar. 

The Top Shelf Bar on my 2003 Surly Karate Monkey

What It Is:

The Top Shelf Flat Bar comes in two rises. A 50mm rise and a 70mm rise. (50mm shown) The aluminum bar uses a 800mm width, which can be trimmed down. The bar features a five degree upsweep and a 14 degree backsweep for a comfortable hand and arm position. Claimed weight for a 50mm rise version is 544 grams and the 70mm rise version weighs in at a claimed 552 grams. 

Price for the Top Shelf Flat Bar is $129.99 USD and boasts a Lifetime Warranty. You can see the webpage for this bar HERE.  

Like its drop bar sibling, the Top Shelf Flat Bar has a 31.8mm diameter clamping section for the stem attachment. The top of the handlebar is a continuous hollow bar of 6061 T6 aluminum with a 22.2mm diameter which means this is a great part of the bar for your accessories.

Other riser bar designs often use a smaller diameter crossbar between the riser sections, or have no crossbar at all. This leaves very little room to mount accessories to those types of bars. Redshift avoids this hassle by employing the design they have with this riser flat bar. I think this is smart. 

The Top Shelf Flat Bar is really great for handlebar mounted bags like this one from Velo Orange.

Impressions:

The Top Shelf Flat Handlebar has a nice width, in my opinion. While you can cut it down, I happened to find the stock length "just right" for my Karate Monkey. The width lends a great amount of control. Leverage is perfect for grinding up a hill in single speed mode. 

There are a lot of handlebars with backsweep and everyone has an opinion on how much is too much or not enough. The Top Shelf Flat Bar has 14° of backsweep and I felt it was right in the pocket for my single speed. This amount of sweep feels natural, and not weird when standing and mashing the pedals. 

Thankfully this handlebar is not so stiff it "zings" your hands on sharp hits or abrupt surface changes. In fact, I can detect a little give to the extensions of the bar, and while I'd never mistake this for vibration reduction, it serves as a bit of relief from the pounding meted out by riding rigid. 

 Final Verdict:

This is a great handlebar with a design detail which makes it practical and easy to get along with. The backsweep is in the sweet-spot, the width is great, and the way the top section can be used for accessories is very handy. Plus it rides well and feels natural in the hands.  

 All in all, another hit from a long line of great products from Redshift Sports. It isn't flashy, but it gets the job done and in a smart way.  www.redshiftsports.com

Two Things

New Podcast Drop:

This episode features an answer to a listener's question, (Thanks Sam!)) and the audio here kind of goes along with a post I put up here last week. The link to our Spotify home page for this episode is HERE. 

The post I am referring to is found by clicking THIS LINK. 

I guess the bottom line is this: If you are old enough, you have bridged across two important eras of how life is lived. I kind of feel like most of us do not recognize it at all. But the "Analog World" and the "Digital World" eras are so different and completely incompatible with each other that I find it hard to believe this isn't something being studied and dissected by social researchers, historians, and others with an interest in culture change. Maybe you've seen or are aware of such studies. I've got to think it is something smarter folks than I are thinking about. 

Anyway, the contrasts between these two eras affects cycling and how we approach and engage in the activity to a very high degree. At some point, and maybe we are already there, anything cycling without some digital feature attached to it will be seen like we see riding fixed gear all the time is seen now. Yeah, you can do that, but why? 

Of course, I've experienced the other side, and my bias shows badly, but I feel we've been cheated and that we have lost something in the exchange going from one side of the timeline to the other. 

Maybe I'm just old and in the way. 

Give the podcast a listen and let me know what you think. 

New Occupant At Guitar Ted Headquarters:

Last June we lost our cat Felix unexpectedly. He was found dead in the hallway on June 6th. It was a devastating occurrence within the family. (And as you may know, not the only one) 

I kind of figured Izabel and Phyllis would want another cat at some point, but for obvious reasons this kind of was pushed back and well, now is the time, I guess. 

Izabel found this tuxedo cat online at our local animal shelter's website and made the arrangements to go get him. So, please welcome "Haroo". 

He's about 7 months old, and he's had all his shots and has been neutered. He's a bit skittish. He was in hiding for the first ten hours or so of arriving here and is now getting more acclimated to us and his surroundings. 

As for his breed, well I don't know but I'd say he's got some Burmese in him by the shape of his head, ears, and by his loud vocalizations and their variances. He also purrs a lot when being pet, very loudly!

Our other cat, Minka, is very curious about him, but for now we're keeping them mostly separated from each other until we can get them to behave with each other unattended. So far, so good. 

And that is the latest from here. Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions.  

Happy Easter

 Happy Easter!

Guitar Ted Productions is taking today off in observance of Easter. 

I hope you have an enjoyable day whether or not you observe this day. 

I'll be back tomorrow at the regularly scheduled time with more posts.  

Till then try to get out for a ride and enjoy the day.

Peace! 

The Path To Discovering Gravel Grinding: Part 6

 This is Part 6 of a mini-series of posts telling the story of what it was like to attend events in the early days of the Modern Gravel Era. In today's post I am going to explore things which, in my opinion, made early gravel events unique and more than just a competition. 

Image by Ari Andonopoulos

Early gravel races and rides had something which up until the start of the Modern Gravel era in 2005 were mostly unheard of anywhere else. This would be a side of gravel which drew many into the scene and gave rise to the term, "Gravel Family". A term co opted by a certain big-time gravel event now. 

What am I speaking of, you might ask? Well, it would be the social functions surrounding many of the different gravel events in those early days of gravel grinding. 

This was always a part of the gravel scene right from the jump. At the first two Trans Iowa events there was a pre-race meeting, but it was held at a Pizza Ranch restaurant with a full spaghetti meal for all in attendance. This served as a social meeting, as the riders were all in one place and could meet each other. Given the low-key nature of these early events, the front-runners mixed in with the back-of-the-packers and everyone got along famously. It was as if Pro racer perks were against the rules. And in a way, this was kind of an unspoken rule in gravel. No one was above anyone else. Snobbery, in even the slightest form, was looked down upon. 

From the beginnings, in the mid-2000's, this facet of gravel events was evolved by different event promoters. Some copied the Trans Iowa format, while others invented their own ways, and it even infiltrated the actual events in some cases. 

The first Gravel Worlds held their sign-in at Oso's restaurant in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska.

Trans Iowa held a "meat-up" where riders had to grill their own meals. Image by Wally Kilburg (R.I.P.)

Eating together is a basic human activity and is conducive to having people engage in discourse with each other. This helped bond the riders and created reasons to go to other events which had similar social gatherings to reconnect. 

Odin's Revenge sandwiched their event with a beginning social at the Walker's Steakhouse...

...and ended at a KOA Kampground with food, beer, and socializing.

Events branched out to do some different things then and each event director tended to have a bit of a different spin on the social activities. It was a fun time to go see how things would be done, and if the event was successful, word of mouth would spread and the event was sure to get even more attention in following years. 

Night Nonsense, an event held entirely at night, had a truck with volunteers handing out slices of pizza about 3/4's of the way through the course. 

The Moonshine Metric started and ended in the RD's garage and there was a potluck afterward. 

Not every event did things this way, and some still do, but I think early on this facet of the gravel scene was a huge draw for riders tired of going to an event, racing, packing up, and driving home. Now you had reasons to go besides the bicycle racing/riding. You went to see those folks you met at another gravel event, and you had time to talk, and maybe even enjoy something like a meal, a cold one, or some other activity with those folks. 

The Fargo Adventure Rides often had meet-ups the evening prior with food and drink with a social gathering afterward, (Image by Jason Boucher)

Gravel clinics, like this one for Trans Iowa held in 2014, were another excuse to gather together outside of competitive riding.

I truly believe that without a social component to these pioneering gravel events we would not have seen the rise of gravel as a sport such as we have now in the last ten years. All this talk about how "gravel has grown up" and become "serious" now is not possible without the bedrock foundation the Pro level sport stands upon now. People are making a living off gravel because of the way events were done back then, not despite the way they were done. (And in many cases, still are being run.)

So, when you see the malarkey being posted online concerning how Pro racing has legitimized gravel, you should call "BS", because that isn't what happened. The early gravel scene made what they are doing now to the sport possible, and without it, no one would be making bank off gravel. Not that I am concerned about the money, because I honestly don't care. But when the story gets twisted, I don't like the results the twisting of the actual background stories causes. Or the out-right ignorance of the way gravel history unfolded. Which, honestly, is more the case than not, unfortunately. 

Too bad there isn't some organization out there to gather up this history, preserve it, and tell the real stories behind gravel cycling. Hmm.... anyway. 

Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.