The Open Source Naming Project

The Open Source Naming Project or "Kickstarting A New Name For Gravel Grinder Bikes"

Too good to be just used for gravel

 Okay folks. I am going to enlist your help in making a sea change in how we are going to refer to the fat tired, "not-a-cyclo-cross-bike", bikes that some of us know now as "gravel grinders". Why? Well, if you have not been paying attention, here's a recap....

Calling a bike by a specifically named purpose for such a bicycle generally doesn't work well. "Mountain bikes" being a notable exception. "Road" bikes is a misunderstood term, so that's not applicable here either. But what I am saying is that by calling a certain obese tired, mountain bike-ish looking bicycle a "snow bike" instead of a "fat bike" makes a huge difference in perception. I believe something similar happens when we say "gravel grinder bike".  It also is my belief that these "gravel bikes" are really the best bike for all-around riding for most folks.

Typical road racing style bikes, (which is what the vast majority of "road bikes" are), just do not do what most folks want, or could be doing with regard to everyday cycling, adventurous cycling, rural cycling, smooth dirt cycling, commuting, and a bunch of other kinds of cycling. Racing bikes are designed for "racing" and have geometry to match. They are not as comfortable as they could be, nor as stable as they should be, for daily, average cyclists usage.

The "gravel bikes" coming out do things like the racing style bike, but go waaaay beyond them in terms of use, versatility, and in terms of having fun. You remember fun, right? It probably was the reason why you got hooked on cycling in the first place.

But calling these bikes "gravel bikes"or "monster cross" bikes just doesn't produce the right mental image here. We need another, better name that is wider ranging and inclusive for these beasts.

"Monster Cross"? Nah.....

So, there are the reasons I feel we need another name for these bikes and why I am inviting you to brainstorm a name up. A few considerations:

• "Any Road" is already used up by Giant
• "All Road" and "All Roads"is already used up....
•  Non-sense suggestions and obscenities are not allowed. 
• Yes- this is serious.
• This is going to be an "Open Source" name. I am not schilling for a company here. It is purely for the betterment of any company that wants to use the name, if a name surfaces that folks agree upon.

Okay? Hit the comments section with your suggestions. I will not approve of negative, non-nonsensical, or offensive comments, so save your typing for something else if you were going there. Otherwise, have at it.

Need a suggestion to start out? Fat Road. See my discussion of that name here.