Gravel Past, Gravel Future

On the latest edition of the "Riding Gravel Radio Ranch", I interviewed the unPAved of the Susquehanna River Valley's Dave Pryor. (Listen to Episode #53 here) Near the end of that episode, I went on a bit of a rant about some things Dave had shared with us in light of some of the recent developments in the gravel scene and all that with the backdrop of the pandemic in mind.

The pandemic has forced a sort of introspection where it comes to how we are perceiving bicycle racing in general, and gravel events in particular. As you no doubt know, most of the racing calendar is in a shambles with hardly anything for the semi-Pro down to your everyday Jack or Jill to train for. Some events, the unPAved being one of the highest profile examples, is trying to do what they can do. But most have pushed off to next season.

Now combine that with what has happened since April of 2018. Since then, Trans Iowa, the Almanzo events, and the Dirty Kanza ran their last events ever. Those were the "biggies" from back in the day. The only one left standing, arguably, is Gravel Worlds, and we only know that they plan on doing their event next year. But as we have seen- nothing is a given these days. 

So, what do you have left? The big, "corporate" events? You still have what once was 'Land Run 100', but under a new name. Hmm......basically the same, but even that change is significant with regard to the beginnings of the gravel scene. The Mid-South is a "big event" these days, regardless. So, has gravel 'sold its soul'? Is the once grassroots scene now gone forever? Well, if you are Dave Pryor, you say, "No, hold on a minute here." Dave, in my interview with him, hit upon a term that I resonated with. That would be the term "Hyper-local". You can just as well think "grassroots gravel" when you hear that term. Just what the heck does that mean in 2020 and beyond?  

We are already seeing what it will mean. People are not sitting idly by while everything is either shut down or discouraged, (area dependent), and they are getting routes out to people to be challenged by, or gathering small groups to tackle local gravel and dirt courses set up by adventurous, creative folks for the rest of you. Some are, and have been, events in their own right, just on a smaller scale. Basically they all are local deals that, until now, had little interest in them. Now that these things are 'the only game in town', so to speak, suddenly these events are getting a lot of traction.

Grassroots cycling is dead? Long live grassroots cycling! And if you are sitting there reading this thinking, "Well, maybe where GT lives things are like this. But nothing is happening where I live." Well, I would say to you, "Get off yer duff and create something then!" Listen- I am not anyone out of the ordinary. I have promoted routes, small events, and big events, all just because I decided to do it. Want to have something to train for, to go challenge yourself by, or to share with a few, (socially distanced-natch!), friends? Then get going! You've got places to do this, get out and look.

I see no reason that grassroots- hyper-local affairs, will not be a big part of the gravel scene going forward. And that's as it should be. Will big events come back? As soon as they can- yes they will. But next year? Hey look- we thought this Fall we'd all be back riding the big events again, right? There was no way we wouldn't be doing those, remember? I'd say no one knows what we will be doing next year......yet, when it comes to the big events. So, in the meantime, I think the smaller, local affairs gain the upper hand.

 A "hyper-local event in my area. If this guy can do this- You can too!

That will make the mainstream cycling media, marketing firms, and brands sad. They will post laments and platitudes about the events they are wishing would happen. I'm sure a lot of folks in these positions are thinking with pure hearts, but there is that money thing. Don't forget that part! The hyper-local affairs don't operate that way, and maybe, just maybe, that has something to do with why these events from the past were held in such high regard. Maybe, just maybe, that was why the gravel scene took off and got to where it is today. Trust me- those big fancy pants events did not build the scene. It was all done off the backs of smaller, grassroots events and while things like the DK200 turned a lot of eyes toward the gravel scene, those types of events didn't grow gravel up. They cashed in on what was already happening.

This isn't an indictment of those bigger events either. They are fine. They exist to satisfy a certain itch many people have. But the story wasn't started by the big, high production events, and those events should have a great interest in seeing these smaller local events thrive. That's where the passion came from for gravel/all-road/back roads riding. That's where their customers will come from and keep coming from.

The final point is that this time we find ourselves in, these 'pandemic times', can refocus us, bring more riders in, and grow local communities. We can learn more about our own 'backyards', as it were. We can get to know people in our locale, our region, maybe, a little better. We can support local businesses, and we can affect our own little corners of the world with better health and a benefit to local economy.

Gravel Past is just that- the past. I wouldn't bother lamenting the passing of those days. But if you wonder what it was like, take the leap and do your own thing where you are. That's what Jeff kerkove and I did. That's what Chris Skogen did. That's what Joel Dyke and Jim Cummins did. That's what the Pirate Cycling League did. Shall I go on.......?

Be part of the "Gravel Future". Be a DIY starter. Many around here where I live are doing just that. There are no prerequisites other than you are a cyclist and want to have an adventure. Go forth and multiply!