Reaction To The Specialized "Rider Direct" Announcement

 In the last "Friday News And Views" I reported on last Thursday's bombshell announcement that Specialized Bicycles was moving to a 'Direct to Consumer' scheme for retail bicycle sales (excluding e-bikes) which they have called "Rider Direct". (Link goes to a "Bicycle retailer and Industry News story which has been updated since Friday)

In this post I wanted to cover reactions to this story. While it is true that other, smaller brands have done consumer direct sales, this is about one of the so-called "Big Four" brands in the USA. Anchor retailers for the specialty chain bicycle market which have a huge influence upon what you experience as a consumer here in bicycle shops. Those brands are Trek, Specialized, Giant, and Cannondale. 

So, right up front I want to dispel the notion that this isn't a 'big deal' because other companies have been doing this. That is not the point here. It is the impact of the influence on the retail landscape in bicycle sales that matters here. 

The Stage: First of all, we are in challenging times from the perspective of how retail bicycle shops have been affected by a two-year long upheaval in inventory levels due to the pandemic. Shelves are only partially filled and certain bicycle models and types have been 'out of stock' for months with back-orders still to be fulfilled going back to 2021. Meanwhile, the industry in the Far East- where most of the Big Four brand's bikes are made - is taking off time right now for Chinese New Year and when they come back, they will be working on 2023 models. Shipping and warehousing issues have product sitting on ships and on docks worldwide and when- IF - the bottlenecks get cleared up, (some are saying by the end of this year), supply chain issues should clear up. Meanwhile, bike shops are left waiting on a glut of inventory which will have to be paid for eventually. 

The big question: "Will the sales be there when the inventory finally hits the floor?"

Now while all this is happening, consumer trends have changed. There is more on-line shopping than ever. At the same time, bike shops are failing or shrinking in numbers. Trek has gobbled up a lot of retail as a result, making them the #1 specialty bicycle retailer in the USA. Specialized, and I would assume Giant and Cannondale as well, have been pushed out as each new Trek acquisition becomes a one-brand store, whereas they used to be shops which sold multiple brands. 

In the meantime Canyon, and other smaller brands, have moved to D2C sales further eroding the market for independent bicycle retail outlets in sales and numbers. Enter in "Rider Direct".

The Effect: Immediate reaction to the news from the industry was mostly negative. Most fear that this is a big blow to independent bicycle retail.  This reaction comes from the continued observance by owners of retail shops of shrinking 'margins' for complete bicycle sales. Perhaps a quick mention of how bicycle retail works is in order here.....

Time spent unwrapping and assembling a bicycle is part of the cost.

When a bike shop sells a bike, it hopefully makes its full 'margin' on the sale. This is the amount of money above and beyond the cost of the bicycle to the retailer, but there is more to it than that simple monetary figure. Retailers must also include whatever wages their assemblers make across the time it takes to assemble each bike. For instance, if a shop employee making minimum wage, or slightly higher, assembles a bicycle and it takes an hour, (typical time for average bikes), that wage paid for that hour has to be accounted for in the 'cost to do business' on that particular bike. Add in any time spent handling the box the bike came in, which includes off-loading the bike from the freight company's truck, storing the box before assembly, and disposing of the waste after assembly. Add in your daily cost to keep the lights on, pay the rent, etc. Suddenly it is painfully obvious that only making 40% of the cost of a bicycle as 'profit' is not enough. 

A quick example: Bike cost to retailer = $450.00 - Margin target is 40%. Retail bike price = $630.00. Profit after sale = $180.00. (Note: A commenter to this post pointed out that I had confused "margin" with "mark-up". Here's the comment: "You are confusing markup with margin. Margin is calculated by profit on the sale divided by selling price. So if the retail price is $630, 40% margin would be $252. ($630 x .40)" ) 

That $180.00 is where the wages for assembly, handling, and cost of business has to come from. This is assuming no discounts and does not take into consideration how long a bicycle sits on a sales floor, in a back room, or in a box in a storage room/building/warehouse waiting to be assembled. And I am sure I am missing some costs here. Keep in mind also that expensive bicycles typically do not get sold at a 40 margin. Generally speaking, those bikes make even less money for retailers, AND they typically demand a higher paid technician to assemble them AND more time to set up. 

I could go way down a rabbit hole here- But suffice it to say that when "Rider Direct" was announced and that dealers were asked to make less margins due to this program, well- It didn't go over very well.

The Future: While some of Specialized's bigger dealers are saying they will try to deal with this and move on, there are indications that others are cancelling orders and/or are dropping the Specialized line. This further plants Specialized into the D2C camp where Canyon and others are doing business. Meanwhile, Trek has already pushed out some of their competition in brick and mortar retail by their voracious appetite for retail outlets. Where does that leave brands that were once a part of a local bike shop? While Trek dealers can- and sometimes do- offer alternative brands in their shops, Trek demands a high percentage of any retailer's inventory be Trek and Bontrager parts and accessories. (By the way, this figure can be 80% or higher- I know from experience) 

My feeling is that brands like Cannondale, Giant, and more 'second tier' brands like Kona, Marin, and the like, will have to follow suit with Specialized and especially if Rider Direct shows early success. This will mean more pressure will be exerted on the specialty bicycle retail sector as margins get squeezed even further due to online sales programs like Rider Direct, which only allows up to 75%, and as low as 50%, of what margins were previously. 

Meanwhile, I suspect that the numbers of independent, stocking bicycle retailers will begin to fall in numbers. That is a bad sign for consumers. First off- with more single-brand retailers you won't get unbiased information anymore. Secondly, you will have a harder time finding a bike shop in medium sized cities, (and smaller sized cities already lost their LBS's a long time ago), so even getting to see and test ride bikes will begin to be a thing of the past in many more places. 

Some dealers are saying online sales are such a small percentage of actual sales that things like "Rider Direct" don't matter. But it depends on how the brand prioritizes sales and distribution. Trek seems to be behind their dealers. It has been expressed in comments sections online that Cannondale and Specialized are not so dealer-centric and that both brands prioritize fulfilling online sales before dealer sales. If true that could mean bad things for dealers and consumers who like the physical aspects of going to a retail bike shop.

But- I could be 100% off my rocker here. We'll see. I think one thing is certain- things are going to change and change fast.

Reaction To The Specialized "Rider Direct" Announcement

 In the last "Friday News And Views" I reported on last Thursday's bombshell announcement that Specialized Bicycles was moving to a 'Direct to Consumer' scheme for retail bicycle sales (excluding e-bikes) which they have called "Rider Direct". (Link goes to a "Bicycle retailer and Industry News story which has been updated since Friday)

In this post I wanted to cover reactions to this story. While it is true that other, smaller brands have done consumer direct sales, this is about one of the so-called "Big Four" brands in the USA. Anchor retailers for the specialty chain bicycle market which have a huge influence upon what you experience as a consumer here in bicycle shops. Those brands are Trek, Specialized, Giant, and Cannondale. 

So, right up front I want to dispel the notion that this isn't a 'big deal' because other companies have been doing this. That is not the point here. It is the impact of the influence on the retail landscape in bicycle sales that matters here. 

The Stage: First of all, we are in challenging times from the perspective of how retail bicycle shops have been affected by a two-year long upheaval in inventory levels due to the pandemic. Shelves are only partially filled and certain bicycle models and types have been 'out of stock' for months with back-orders still to be fulfilled going back to 2021. Meanwhile, the industry in the Far East- where most of the Big Four brand's bikes are made - is taking off time right now for Chinese New Year and when they come back, they will be working on 2023 models. Shipping and warehousing issues have product sitting on ships and on docks worldwide and when- IF - the bottlenecks get cleared up, (some are saying by the end of this year), supply chain issues should clear up. Meanwhile, bike shops are left waiting on a glut of inventory which will have to be paid for eventually. 

The big question: "Will the sales be there when the inventory finally hits the floor?"

Now while all this is happening, consumer trends have changed. There is more on-line shopping than ever. At the same time, bike shops are failing or shrinking in numbers. Trek has gobbled up a lot of retail as a result, making them the #1 specialty bicycle retailer in the USA. Specialized, and I would assume Giant and Cannondale as well, have been pushed out as each new Trek acquisition becomes a one-brand store, whereas they used to be shops which sold multiple brands. 

In the meantime Canyon, and other smaller brands, have moved to D2C sales further eroding the market for independent bicycle retail outlets in sales and numbers. Enter in "Rider Direct".

The Effect: Immediate reaction to the news from the industry was mostly negative. Most fear that this is a big blow to independent bicycle retail.  This reaction comes from the continued observance by owners of retail shops of shrinking 'margins' for complete bicycle sales. Perhaps a quick mention of how bicycle retail works is in order here.....

Time spent unwrapping and assembling a bicycle is part of the cost.

When a bike shop sells a bike, it hopefully makes its full 'margin' on the sale. This is the amount of money above and beyond the cost of the bicycle to the retailer, but there is more to it than that simple monetary figure. Retailers must also include whatever wages their assemblers make across the time it takes to assemble each bike. For instance, if a shop employee making minimum wage, or slightly higher, assembles a bicycle and it takes an hour, (typical time for average bikes), that wage paid for that hour has to be accounted for in the 'cost to do business' on that particular bike. Add in any time spent handling the box the bike came in, which includes off-loading the bike from the freight company's truck, storing the box before assembly, and disposing of the waste after assembly. Add in your daily cost to keep the lights on, pay the rent, etc. Suddenly it is painfully obvious that only making 40% of the cost of a bicycle as 'profit' is not enough. 

A quick example: Bike cost to retailer = $450.00 - Margin target is 40%. Retail bike price = $630.00. Profit after sale = $180.00. (Note: A commenter to this post pointed out that I had confused "margin" with "mark-up". Here's the comment: "You are confusing markup with margin. Margin is calculated by profit on the sale divided by selling price. So if the retail price is $630, 40% margin would be $252. ($630 x .40)" ) 

That $180.00 is where the wages for assembly, handling, and cost of business has to come from. This is assuming no discounts and does not take into consideration how long a bicycle sits on a sales floor, in a back room, or in a box in a storage room/building/warehouse waiting to be assembled. And I am sure I am missing some costs here. Keep in mind also that expensive bicycles typically do not get sold at a 40 margin. Generally speaking, those bikes make even less money for retailers, AND they typically demand a higher paid technician to assemble them AND more time to set up. 

I could go way down a rabbit hole here- But suffice it to say that when "Rider Direct" was announced and that dealers were asked to make less margins due to this program, well- It didn't go over very well.

The Future: While some of Specialized's bigger dealers are saying they will try to deal with this and move on, there are indications that others are cancelling orders and/or are dropping the Specialized line. This further plants Specialized into the D2C camp where Canyon and others are doing business. Meanwhile, Trek has already pushed out some of their competition in brick and mortar retail by their voracious appetite for retail outlets. Where does that leave brands that were once a part of a local bike shop? While Trek dealers can- and sometimes do- offer alternative brands in their shops, Trek demands a high percentage of any retailer's inventory be Trek and Bontrager parts and accessories. (By the way, this figure can be 80% or higher- I know from experience) 

My feeling is that brands like Cannondale, Giant, and more 'second tier' brands like Kona, Marin, and the like, will have to follow suit with Specialized and especially if Rider Direct shows early success. This will mean more pressure will be exerted on the specialty bicycle retail sector as margins get squeezed even further due to online sales programs like Rider Direct, which only allows up to 75%, and as low as 50%, of what margins were previously. 

Meanwhile, I suspect that the numbers of independent, stocking bicycle retailers will begin to fall in numbers. That is a bad sign for consumers. First off- with more single-brand retailers you won't get unbiased information anymore. Secondly, you will have a harder time finding a bike shop in medium sized cities, (and smaller sized cities already lost their LBS's a long time ago), so even getting to see and test ride bikes will begin to be a thing of the past in many more places. 

Some dealers are saying online sales are such a small percentage of actual sales that things like "Rider Direct" don't matter. But it depends on how the brand prioritizes sales and distribution. Trek seems to be behind their dealers. It has been expressed in comments sections online that Cannondale and Specialized are not so dealer-centric and that both brands prioritize fulfilling online sales before dealer sales. If true that could mean bad things for dealers and consumers who like the physical aspects of going to a retail bike shop.

But- I could be 100% off my rocker here. We'll see. I think one thing is certain- things are going to change and change fast.

Trans Iowa Stories: A Contrast Of Two Cyclists

Mark Johnson struggles against winds, hills, and his single gear. Image by Jon Duke

  "Trans Iowa Stories" is an every Sunday post which helps tell the stories behind the event. You can check out other posts about this subject  by clicking on the "Trans Iowa Stories" link under the blog header. Thanks and enjoy!  

Dan Hughes had won Trans Iowa v13, and for probably more than half of the event we were pretty much solely focused on his progress. However; Dan wasn't the only one who finished, and he was chased for the entirety of the last 170 miles by Greg Gleason. 

Greg had already proven his acumen at Trans Iowa by winning the first one he entered (v10) and coming in as a co-winner the previous year to v13 with Walter Zitz, the pair nearly breaking the 24hr time for a finish. Greg was expected to do well here, and he proved once again that he was, perhaps, the best Trans Iowa rider in the history of the event. 

There were a few oddities regarding T.I.v13, Greg, and his rival Dan Hughes. First off, Greg was not set up to make an all-out assault on a win for this particular year. No, he had bigger fish to fry coming later in 2017 as he was going to attempt the Tour Divide. So, he claimed he had something of an extra amount of weight which he wanted to test himself with at T.I.v13. At one point during the event he relayed that he couldn't hang on to Hughes' wheel up the many steep rollers, and Hughes got away. This resulted in Hughes gaining about an hour and a half gap on Gleason by Checkpoint #2. 

MG giving Hughes a hug. Image taker unknown

Hughes, as has been documented already, was set up to be as light as possible, his set up eschewing any sense of warm clothes or even extra bottles, bags, or the typical things that you might see a self-supported rider carrying. So, on the one hand we thought that the weather was going to do him in, but since it did not, his set up allowed his faster travel over those roads versus what other riders had chosen to do. 

This is why I feel the most underrated story of T.I.v13 is what Greg Gleason did overnight and up to the end of the event. Greg pulled back a full 45 minutes of that hour and a half deficit to Hughes to finish 45 minutes after him. this is even more astounding when you consider that the finish was into the teeth of a 25-30mph wind and up some of the steepest hills of the event. That Tour Divide load didn't seem to matter much, but you have to wonder, what if? Had Gleason been 100% in for the win? I think we would have seen a very different event. 

Then there was some sort of friction between Gleason and Hughes which I never really understood. Gleason alluded to this when we saw him at Checkpoint #2, but he really was a bit steamed about it at the finish. He spoke about 'attitudes' and a refusal from Hughes to work with him, if I recall correctly. At any rate, there was some agitation on the part of Gleason at the finish which animated his conversation we had at the back of his vehicle as he loaded up to bug out. 

It was quite a contrast in cyclists. Gleason came in pretty much as he had previously at Trans Iowa. He looked fresh, not like a man who had been through a hellish 300+ mile ride. He was animated, jovial, and had a beer while onlookers stood amazed while prying him with questions. Greg didn't seem to mind. He answered them all and with a smile. Hughes, on the other hand, was gone within a few minutes of his arriving at Miller Park and didn't really rub shoulders with many of the onlookers there. He was more reserved, and his countenance was deep and felt more heavy. 

Greg Gleason smiles as he sips his Surly beer after T.I.v13.

Another thing that I always was impressed by, and I think of this particularly when I think about Greg at the finish of v13, is how the human body stays warm after 25-30-ish hours of straight riding. Look at Greg there, bare handing a cold beer in temperatures and in air that conspired to suck the very lifeblood out of anyone else standing there. You'll note the onlookers in the images here. How they are all bundled up against the wind and cold, damp air. 

Not Greg! Coat unzipped, nothing but a cycling cap on his head, and no gloves on. He was toasty warm! I don't know, but maybe I am an oddball for noticing these things. I just always found this characteristic of finishers of Trans Iowa to be remarkable. 

Greg loaded up, said a few goodbyes, and motored out of Miller Park. This seemed to signal to many of the other onlookers that it was time for them to leave as well. Of course, it was after 12 noon by this point in the day. Many folks there had been up all night long, or had been up late and not slept much. The weather was inhospitable yet, and all the excitement was gone. But I still had a few riders to look out for yet, and Trans Iowa was not over.

The ending of T.I.v13 was one which I feel was perhaps the ending with one of the deepest feeling of loneliness I have experienced at this event. Maybe v3 was close, but I was delirious at that point of that event. Anyway.....I'll get to that next week.

Next: When The Clock Strikes Two

Trans Iowa Stories: A Contrast Of Two Cyclists

Mark Johnson struggles against winds, hills, and his single gear. Image by Jon Duke

  "Trans Iowa Stories" is an every Sunday post which helps tell the stories behind the event. You can check out other posts about this subject  by clicking on the "Trans Iowa Stories" link under the blog header. Thanks and enjoy!  

Dan Hughes had won Trans Iowa v13, and for probably more than half of the event we were pretty much solely focused on his progress. However; Dan wasn't the only one who finished, and he was chased for the entirety of the last 170 miles by Greg Gleason. 

Greg had already proven his acumen at Trans Iowa by winning the first one he entered (v10) and coming in as a co-winner the previous year to v13 with Walter Zitz, the pair nearly breaking the 24hr time for a finish. Greg was expected to do well here, and he proved once again that he was, perhaps, the best Trans Iowa rider in the history of the event. 

There were a few oddities regarding T.I.v13, Greg, and his rival Dan Hughes. First off, Greg was not set up to make an all-out assault on a win for this particular year. No, he had bigger fish to fry coming later in 2017 as he was going to attempt the Tour Divide. So, he claimed he had something of an extra amount of weight which he wanted to test himself with at T.I.v13. At one point during the event he relayed that he couldn't hang on to Hughes' wheel up the many steep rollers, and Hughes got away. This resulted in Hughes gaining about an hour and a half gap on Gleason by Checkpoint #2. 

MG giving Hughes a hug. Image taker unknown

Hughes, as has been documented already, was set up to be as light as possible, his set up eschewing any sense of warm clothes or even extra bottles, bags, or the typical things that you might see a self-supported rider carrying. So, on the one hand we thought that the weather was going to do him in, but since it did not, his set up allowed his faster travel over those roads versus what other riders had chosen to do. 

This is why I feel the most underrated story of T.I.v13 is what Greg Gleason did overnight and up to the end of the event. Greg pulled back a full 45 minutes of that hour and a half deficit to Hughes to finish 45 minutes after him. this is even more astounding when you consider that the finish was into the teeth of a 25-30mph wind and up some of the steepest hills of the event. That Tour Divide load didn't seem to matter much, but you have to wonder, what if? Had Gleason been 100% in for the win? I think we would have seen a very different event. 

Then there was some sort of friction between Gleason and Hughes which I never really understood. Gleason alluded to this when we saw him at Checkpoint #2, but he really was a bit steamed about it at the finish. He spoke about 'attitudes' and a refusal from Hughes to work with him, if I recall correctly. At any rate, there was some agitation on the part of Gleason at the finish which animated his conversation we had at the back of his vehicle as he loaded up to bug out. 

It was quite a contrast in cyclists. Gleason came in pretty much as he had previously at Trans Iowa. He looked fresh, not like a man who had been through a hellish 300+ mile ride. He was animated, jovial, and had a beer while onlookers stood amazed while prying him with questions. Greg didn't seem to mind. He answered them all and with a smile. Hughes, on the other hand, was gone within a few minutes of his arriving at Miller Park and didn't really rub shoulders with many of the onlookers there. He was more reserved, and his countenance was deep and felt more heavy. 

Greg Gleason smiles as he sips his Surly beer after T.I.v13.

Another thing that I always was impressed by, and I think of this particularly when I think about Greg at the finish of v13, is how the human body stays warm after 25-30-ish hours of straight riding. Look at Greg there, bare handing a cold beer in temperatures and in air that conspired to suck the very lifeblood out of anyone else standing there. You'll note the onlookers in the images here. How they are all bundled up against the wind and cold, damp air. 

Not Greg! Coat unzipped, nothing but a cycling cap on his head, and no gloves on. He was toasty warm! I don't know, but maybe I am an oddball for noticing these things. I just always found this characteristic of finishers of Trans Iowa to be remarkable. 

Greg loaded up, said a few goodbyes, and motored out of Miller Park. This seemed to signal to many of the other onlookers that it was time for them to leave as well. Of course, it was after 12 noon by this point in the day. Many folks there had been up all night long, or had been up late and not slept much. The weather was inhospitable yet, and all the excitement was gone. But I still had a few riders to look out for yet, and Trans Iowa was not over.

The ending of T.I.v13 was one which I feel was perhaps the ending with one of the deepest feeling of loneliness I have experienced at this event. Maybe v3 was close, but I was delirious at that point of that event. Anyway.....I'll get to that next week.

Next: When The Clock Strikes Two

Gravel Worlds In The USA?

 NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

A while back I mentioned that the UCI finally announced a gravel series and that there would be a "Gravel World Championships" in 2022. The scuttlebutt back then was that there would be three US based events and that they were already established events- not new venues. 

Since then there has been a 'radio silence' from USAC and the UCI which has left many Pro and Semi-Pro athletes in the hang since they have to solidify their schedules now. In fact, many would-be 'Gravel World Champions' are already saying that the train has left the station for 2022 and that if the UCI gets a series going, they won't be participating until 2023 at the soonest. 

Also, recently a speculation piece story published on "VeloNews", (owned by the Outside  media group), seems to point at a strong possibility of a US based "Gravel Worlds" to be held in September or October. Meanwhile, Texas based gravel promotions company the Spinistry, posted on their Facebook page concerning this story and said that the situation "...has cluster written all over it.".

Interestingly the Spinistry thread reveals that the organization, which has put on events like the Red River Riot and the Midnight Massacre since the late 2000's, was approached in 2019 by either USAC or the UCI and offered a spot on a gravel series calendar. The only stipulation, claimed Spinistry, was that they had to come up with the 'licensing cash' estimated to be around $20,000.00 for an event. Otherwise, said the author of the Spinistry response, they were left to do things as they saw fit. The Spinistry did not take up the offer then. 

It's an interesting situation with the supposed three US based events. The news that came out late last year was that these events were in the 1000-1500 rider realm, which would make a 20G licensing fee seem pretty steep in terms of entry fees to cover that. But I am not sure about the business aspects of the proposed collaboration. What I am pretty sure of though is that the UCI is trying to stake out a claim to being the "legitimate" choice in gravel riding/racing here. 

Thinking about the US gravel scene, and what I am seeing said by Pro riders, the "unsanctioned" nature of gravel events is - at once a blessing - and I believe, if the UCI has their way, they will paint it out as a curse. The UCI is well aware of the event in Nebraska called "Gravel Worlds" and that this event has become immensely popular and represents the individualistic and free nature of gravel in the US. It is an independent event, not tied to a huge corporate entity, as Unbound is. It has its roots going way back in the scene, and what better way to discredit that event than to challenge the name on that event's home soil? Having the "UCI Gravel World Championships" inaugural event on US shores? It would stamp authority and legitimacy of the UCI over gravel worldwide. 

And I believe that is why the UCI and USAC are trying desperately to host a Gravel World Championships this year on US shores somewhere. Word is something will be announced in the coming weeks. We'll see...... 

But think about it: If there are qualifying events, and there would be, the UCI would hope to suck in all the big names in gravel to their neon lights of prestige, money, and resulting endorsements, and they know that Pro riders trying to make a living off gravel riding will be attracted to that like moths. Then the media will fall down to their will and cover nothing but UCI/USAC approved events, and everything will be "like the old days again" except the racing surface. The industry will then do the same ol' song and dance as they did in the "Lance Era" and push out bikes meant for the upper half a percent of riders. 

When the Spinistry speaks of there being a "cluster" in regards to this World Championships", this is what I think of. The UCI, building its claim to fame off the backs of promoters, and by extension, the lower tiered riders. Hopefully folks like the Spinistry and other independent event promoters will not fall to the wiles of old school racing think.

Gravel Worlds In The USA?

 NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

A while back I mentioned that the UCI finally announced a gravel series and that there would be a "Gravel World Championships" in 2022. The scuttlebutt back then was that there would be three US based events and that they were already established events- not new venues. 

Since then there has been a 'radio silence' from USAC and the UCI which has left many Pro and Semi-Pro athletes in the hang since they have to solidify their schedules now. In fact, many would-be 'Gravel World Champions' are already saying that the train has left the station for 2022 and that if the UCI gets a series going, they won't be participating until 2023 at the soonest. 

Also, recently a speculation piece story published on "VeloNews", (owned by the Outside  media group), seems to point at a strong possibility of a US based "Gravel Worlds" to be held in September or October. Meanwhile, Texas based gravel promotions company the Spinistry, posted on their Facebook page concerning this story and said that the situation "...has cluster written all over it.".

Interestingly the Spinistry thread reveals that the organization, which has put on events like the Red River Riot and the Midnight Massacre since the late 2000's, was approached in 2019 by either USAC or the UCI and offered a spot on a gravel series calendar. The only stipulation, claimed Spinistry, was that they had to come up with the 'licensing cash' estimated to be around $20,000.00 for an event. Otherwise, said the author of the Spinistry response, they were left to do things as they saw fit. The Spinistry did not take up the offer then. 

It's an interesting situation with the supposed three US based events. The news that came out late last year was that these events were in the 1000-1500 rider realm, which would make a 20G licensing fee seem pretty steep in terms of entry fees to cover that. But I am not sure about the business aspects of the proposed collaboration. What I am pretty sure of though is that the UCI is trying to stake out a claim to being the "legitimate" choice in gravel riding/racing here. 

Thinking about the US gravel scene, and what I am seeing said by Pro riders, the "unsanctioned" nature of gravel events is - at once a blessing - and I believe, if the UCI has their way, they will paint it out as a curse. The UCI is well aware of the event in Nebraska called "Gravel Worlds" and that this event has become immensely popular and represents the individualistic and free nature of gravel in the US. It is an independent event, not tied to a huge corporate entity, as Unbound is. It has its roots going way back in the scene, and what better way to discredit that event than to challenge the name on that event's home soil? Having the "UCI Gravel World Championships" inaugural event on US shores? It would stamp authority and legitimacy of the UCI over gravel worldwide. 

And I believe that is why the UCI and USAC are trying desperately to host a Gravel World Championships this year on US shores somewhere. Word is something will be announced in the coming weeks. We'll see...... 

But think about it: If there are qualifying events, and there would be, the UCI would hope to suck in all the big names in gravel to their neon lights of prestige, money, and resulting endorsements, and they know that Pro riders trying to make a living off gravel riding will be attracted to that like moths. Then the media will fall down to their will and cover nothing but UCI/USAC approved events, and everything will be "like the old days again" except the racing surface. The industry will then do the same ol' song and dance as they did in the "Lance Era" and push out bikes meant for the upper half a percent of riders. 

When the Spinistry speaks of there being a "cluster" in regards to this World Championships", this is what I think of. The UCI, building its claim to fame off the backs of promoters, and by extension, the lower tiered riders. Hopefully folks like the Spinistry and other independent event promoters will not fall to the wiles of old school racing think.

Friday News And Views

My bench at Europa cycle & Ski circa 2007.

 Mergers & Buy-outs To Radically Change Consumer Choice/Experience in '22:

 I've mentioned here before how Trek and Specialized are out buying up key retailers in bigger markets to solidify a place in those retail areas for their products. But those are not the only kinds of mergers and buy-outs which are going to affect your cycling experiences in 2022 and beyond. 

While news broke recently that Trek just recently took over an East Coast retailer, I also saw a post on social media which prompted me to read a little further on the subject and reflect on what I have seen personally. I had known this intrinsically, but the post brought this out into words which better expressed my feelings. Essentially, we are going to see - and are already seeing - a big move to make 'choices' go away in local bike shops. 

This will have deleterious effects upon your buying experiences as a consumer. No longer will you find any hint of clear, unbiased opinion on parts, accessories, and bicycles. Now you will only get 'The Company Line®" espoused to you by trained "sales associates" who have managers crawling down their backs to make quotas. (I'm not making this up- it is actually happening) Consumers used to think the local bike shop was trying to "pull one over" on them? Corporate themed bike shops are saying, "Hold my beer....". 

Now- I know not all bike shop employees, owners, and retail experiences were good. I get that, But these big-brand buy-outs of cornerstone retail bike shops is going to point out that there used to be a LOT of good shops, and now there are going to be a LOT less of them. 

I found a pretty interesting article about this from another source written by Matt Stoller HERE.

And that ain't all. Nope! Your media is falling under the same, big-corporate think blanket. Titles and media folk who used to be independent and free to editorialize in the way they saw fit are now becoming subsidiaries of bigger media empires. (Think what happened to newspapers)  And many don't even print a physical magazine anymore. But the bigger issue is who is overseeing what you are reading, and to whom are they beholden? Check those companies out folks. You'd be surprised who all is actually on "the same team" and not what you might think they were/are anymore.  

Specialized Announces Consumer Direct Sales:

In a surprise announcement yesterday, Specialized Bicycles announced consumer direct sales would be an option beginning next week. People visiting the website could choose to either pick up a bike at a dealer, have the dealer deliver the bike in a "white glove, concierge type service", or have a mostly-assembled bike delivered to their door. The consumer direct scheme excludes e-bikes.

Reportedly dealers were made aware of this move last week in a conference call with Specialized headquarters. 

Comments: This is a very big deal. Specialized is widely held to be one of the top four brands in the US market along with Trek, Giant, and Cannondale. Specialized was, by some analysts measure, caught a bit off-guard by Trek's aggressive retail outlet buy-ups over the past several years. This culminated with the Mike's Bikes buyout by Trek, (PON Holding Company bought Mike's Bikes- NOT Trek. Thanks to commenter "sasha" for the catch.)  which was one of NorCals biggest Specialized dealers. Specialized was left without any retailers in a keystone market after they pulled support and sales from Mike's Bikes as a result of the Trek takeover. 

Obviously Specialized, who has bought up some retail brick and mortar stores, saw that they were not going to out-gun Trek in a showdown of who could buy up the most retail outlets. So, this is a shot across the bow of Trek, who have repeatedly stated that they would support dealers by disallowing D2C sales. 

Now I anticipate other, especially second tier brands, to follow suit here. The band-aid has been ripped off by Specialized and I see no going back on this move. It remains to be seen what- if anything- Trek will do, but now it would appear that we are in for big changes in bicycle retail and I think Specialized's move is going to kick this off going forward. Especially if the move is seen as having some success. 

But we'll see. It certainly will be interesting to see how the market reacts to this big change.

 

The new Moots Routt ESC (Image courtesy of Moots)

Moots Debuts New Routt ESC Model:

 Tuesday of this week saw Moots introducing a new titanium (of course) Routt ESC bicycle. It is a drop bar bike for 700c wheels and has clearances for up to 2.4" tires. 

The bike features a big main triangle, presumably to handle large frame bags, and several braze on points for water bottles and packs. The Routt ESC uniquely is sold with a titanium fork as well. 

This new model will be sold as a complete featuring either an ENVE/SRAM AXS spec or what Moots is calling a "Neo Retro Kit" which features a 12 speed MicroShift/White Industries/XT mix and bar end shifters topped off by a classic Brooks B-17 saddle. (Note the image shows the Neo Retro spec)

Both models will have the same frame/fork which has Boost spacing, a 73mm threaded bottom bracket, and five bottle mount points. The bikes come with titanium King cages included in the price.  

Prices are set at from $12,000.00 for the SRAM AXS equipped model and from $9,769.00 for the Neo Retro Kit. Final prices will be determined by finish choices made by the consumer which include frame treatment/color schemes and a few other small details.  

Comments: There were two things that struck me concerning this introduction. One was that this is a great Ti Fargo alternative with a very unusual titanium fork. The frame spec is cool, and it is NOT suspension corrected. See how that radically alters the look of the bike? Personally, I have to say that I have found it rather strange that Salsa Cycles has doggedly stuck to their suspension corrected format for the Fargo. I like this Moots take on the "Fargo style" much better. But I will add that not having a single-speed bail-out option seems like a bit of an oversight.  Especially for a bike which is obviously aimed at the off-road bikepacker. 

Second was the spec and the overall pricing. Look at that "Neo Retro" version. A MicroShift bar end bike for nearly 10G's? Whooo! Moots are traditionally very expensive bikes, so I get that, but is this a reflection of the times and the future? I think it is. Considering the fact that the Neo spec has a LOT of US sourced parts, (White Industries hubs, crank, Velocity rims) and off-center spec (Velo Orange Daija Far Bar, Brooks saddle, MicroShift) and it becomes plainer to see that certain items are hard to source yet. (At least in quantities large enough for a small run of a model) 

Oh.....and this model range is insanely expensive. There- I said it.

 

New Iowa-Illinois Gravel Event Series:

Tuesday news broke on a new Iowa-Illinois gravel series based mostly around the Southeastern area of Iowa. The four event series is being put on by a new organization dubbed "Fitwave Gravel". 

Boasting a series "open to all" and eschewing any hints of elitism and claiming "grassroots" philosophies of self-improvement via suffering, this series will spread its event dates across Spring and Fall dates. Hit the link above for the details.

Comments: Another series of events in Iowa. I like it, but why did it take over a decade plus for this to take root in Iowa? We used to joke as teenagers and twenty-somethings that trends typically caught on at the coasts of the USA and "soaked into the middle of the country". By the time something finally caught on in Iowa it was passe' everywhere else. While gravel events did not necessarily start on each coastline of North America and creep toward the middle, I can say that gravel events caught on in a BIG way in every state around us but not in Iowa. 

Weird.....

But whatever. It is now and that's something I've expected for years. I was asked to spread the news about this new series. Consider it spread. Now we'll see how folks respond.

That's a wrap on the week. Stay warm and try to get out if you can!

Friday News And Views

My bench at Europa cycle & Ski circa 2007.

 Mergers & Buy-outs To Radically Change Consumer Choice/Experience in '22:

 I've mentioned here before how Trek and Specialized are out buying up key retailers in bigger markets to solidify a place in those retail areas for their products. But those are not the only kinds of mergers and buy-outs which are going to affect your cycling experiences in 2022 and beyond. 

While news broke recently that Trek just recently took over an East Coast retailer, I also saw a post on social media which prompted me to read a little further on the subject and reflect on what I have seen personally. I had known this intrinsically, but the post brought this out into words which better expressed my feelings. Essentially, we are going to see - and are already seeing - a big move to make 'choices' go away in local bike shops. 

This will have deleterious effects upon your buying experiences as a consumer. No longer will you find any hint of clear, unbiased opinion on parts, accessories, and bicycles. Now you will only get 'The Company Line®" espoused to you by trained "sales associates" who have managers crawling down their backs to make quotas. (I'm not making this up- it is actually happening) Consumers used to think the local bike shop was trying to "pull one over" on them? Corporate themed bike shops are saying, "Hold my beer....". 

Now- I know not all bike shop employees, owners, and retail experiences were good. I get that, But these big-brand buy-outs of cornerstone retail bike shops is going to point out that there used to be a LOT of good shops, and now there are going to be a LOT less of them. 

I found a pretty interesting article about this from another source written by Matt Stoller HERE.

And that ain't all. Nope! Your media is falling under the same, big-corporate think blanket. Titles and media folk who used to be independent and free to editorialize in the way they saw fit are now becoming subsidiaries of bigger media empires. (Think what happened to newspapers)  And many don't even print a physical magazine anymore. But the bigger issue is who is overseeing what you are reading, and to whom are they beholden? Check those companies out folks. You'd be surprised who all is actually on "the same team" and not what you might think they were/are anymore.  

Specialized Announces Consumer Direct Sales:

In a surprise announcement yesterday, Specialized Bicycles announced consumer direct sales would be an option beginning next week. People visiting the website could choose to either pick up a bike at a dealer, have the dealer deliver the bike in a "white glove, concierge type service", or have a mostly-assembled bike delivered to their door. The consumer direct scheme excludes e-bikes.

Reportedly dealers were made aware of this move last week in a conference call with Specialized headquarters. 

Comments: This is a very big deal. Specialized is widely held to be one of the top four brands in the US market along with Trek, Giant, and Cannondale. Specialized was, by some analysts measure, caught a bit off-guard by Trek's aggressive retail outlet buy-ups over the past several years. This culminated with the Mike's Bikes buyout by Trek, (PON Holding Company bought Mike's Bikes- NOT Trek. Thanks to commenter "sasha" for the catch.)  which was one of NorCals biggest Specialized dealers. Specialized was left without any retailers in a keystone market after they pulled support and sales from Mike's Bikes as a result of the Trek takeover. 

Obviously Specialized, who has bought up some retail brick and mortar stores, saw that they were not going to out-gun Trek in a showdown of who could buy up the most retail outlets. So, this is a shot across the bow of Trek, who have repeatedly stated that they would support dealers by disallowing D2C sales. 

Now I anticipate other, especially second tier brands, to follow suit here. The band-aid has been ripped off by Specialized and I see no going back on this move. It remains to be seen what- if anything- Trek will do, but now it would appear that we are in for big changes in bicycle retail and I think Specialized's move is going to kick this off going forward. Especially if the move is seen as having some success. 

But we'll see. It certainly will be interesting to see how the market reacts to this big change.

 

The new Moots Routt ESC (Image courtesy of Moots)

Moots Debuts New Routt ESC Model:

 Tuesday of this week saw Moots introducing a new titanium (of course) Routt ESC bicycle. It is a drop bar bike for 700c wheels and has clearances for up to 2.4" tires. 

The bike features a big main triangle, presumably to handle large frame bags, and several braze on points for water bottles and packs. The Routt ESC uniquely is sold with a titanium fork as well. 

This new model will be sold as a complete featuring either an ENVE/SRAM AXS spec or what Moots is calling a "Neo Retro Kit" which features a 12 speed MicroShift/White Industries/XT mix and bar end shifters topped off by a classic Brooks B-17 saddle. (Note the image shows the Neo Retro spec)

Both models will have the same frame/fork which has Boost spacing, a 73mm threaded bottom bracket, and five bottle mount points. The bikes come with titanium King cages included in the price.  

Prices are set at from $12,000.00 for the SRAM AXS equipped model and from $9,769.00 for the Neo Retro Kit. Final prices will be determined by finish choices made by the consumer which include frame treatment/color schemes and a few other small details.  

Comments: There were two things that struck me concerning this introduction. One was that this is a great Ti Fargo alternative with a very unusual titanium fork. The frame spec is cool, and it is NOT suspension corrected. See how that radically alters the look of the bike? Personally, I have to say that I have found it rather strange that Salsa Cycles has doggedly stuck to their suspension corrected format for the Fargo. I like this Moots take on the "Fargo style" much better. But I will add that not having a single-speed bail-out option seems like a bit of an oversight.  Especially for a bike which is obviously aimed at the off-road bikepacker. 

Second was the spec and the overall pricing. Look at that "Neo Retro" version. A MicroShift bar end bike for nearly 10G's? Whooo! Moots are traditionally very expensive bikes, so I get that, but is this a reflection of the times and the future? I think it is. Considering the fact that the Neo spec has a LOT of US sourced parts, (White Industries hubs, crank, Velocity rims) and off-center spec (Velo Orange Daija Far Bar, Brooks saddle, MicroShift) and it becomes plainer to see that certain items are hard to source yet. (At least in quantities large enough for a small run of a model) 

Oh.....and this model range is insanely expensive. There- I said it.

 

New Iowa-Illinois Gravel Event Series:

Tuesday news broke on a new Iowa-Illinois gravel series based mostly around the Southeastern area of Iowa. The four event series is being put on by a new organization dubbed "Fitwave Gravel". 

Boasting a series "open to all" and eschewing any hints of elitism and claiming "grassroots" philosophies of self-improvement via suffering, this series will spread its event dates across Spring and Fall dates. Hit the link above for the details.

Comments: Another series of events in Iowa. I like it, but why did it take over a decade plus for this to take root in Iowa? We used to joke as teenagers and twenty-somethings that trends typically caught on at the coasts of the USA and "soaked into the middle of the country". By the time something finally caught on in Iowa it was passe' everywhere else. While gravel events did not necessarily start on each coastline of North America and creep toward the middle, I can say that gravel events caught on in a BIG way in every state around us but not in Iowa. 

Weird.....

But whatever. It is now and that's something I've expected for years. I was asked to spread the news about this new series. Consider it spread. Now we'll see how folks respond.

That's a wrap on the week. Stay warm and try to get out if you can!

Organization Is The Theme

Finding places for all the things.

 It's cold and windy out. That means it is time to do the things I don't want to even think about when the riding season starts up again. Things like- you know.....Cleaning. Organizing. Clearing out stuff I'll never use. That sort of tedious stuff that takes time and is not what you want to face when the weather gets decent enough for riding. 

So, I have been taking time now to get down there and clean, organize, and weed out the chaff. It's kind of funny when you look at stuff you thought was important to keep 20 years ago that barely anyone would need or want now. What is currently 'good to keep' is something that shifts over time. 

This is kind of an ironic situation since what I am doing at home mirrors what my task is at my new job right now. They have a myriad of 'stuff', but not a lot of it is relevant to today's bicycles. Once again, I have to put on my "modern day glasses" when I look at old, decrepit "Schwinn Approved" derailleurs which probably are not going to ever get used now. Those bikes that those derailleurs came on are 50- 60 years old now. Antique! But not antique enough that they have any value. Not like a Campy Record derailleur does. 

And then there are things like 1990's Altus cantilever brakes. You know the ones- They had that plastic spring retainer that always cracks. Saving any of those and actually using them? That's giving someone else a big problem instead of helping them. Nope! Those are going to salvage. And those OEM Shimano brake pads? Those were junk the day they were made. Hard as rocks those. 

Anyway, it is time to separate the goats from the sheep. I'm going to be busy for a while....

Organization Is The Theme

Finding places for all the things.

 It's cold and windy out. That means it is time to do the things I don't want to even think about when the riding season starts up again. Things like- you know.....Cleaning. Organizing. Clearing out stuff I'll never use. That sort of tedious stuff that takes time and is not what you want to face when the weather gets decent enough for riding. 

So, I have been taking time now to get down there and clean, organize, and weed out the chaff. It's kind of funny when you look at stuff you thought was important to keep 20 years ago that barely anyone would need or want now. What is currently 'good to keep' is something that shifts over time. 

This is kind of an ironic situation since what I am doing at home mirrors what my task is at my new job right now. They have a myriad of 'stuff', but not a lot of it is relevant to today's bicycles. Once again, I have to put on my "modern day glasses" when I look at old, decrepit "Schwinn Approved" derailleurs which probably are not going to ever get used now. Those bikes that those derailleurs came on are 50- 60 years old now. Antique! But not antique enough that they have any value. Not like a Campy Record derailleur does. 

And then there are things like 1990's Altus cantilever brakes. You know the ones- They had that plastic spring retainer that always cracks. Saving any of those and actually using them? That's giving someone else a big problem instead of helping them. Nope! Those are going to salvage. And those OEM Shimano brake pads? Those were junk the day they were made. Hard as rocks those. 

Anyway, it is time to separate the goats from the sheep. I'm going to be busy for a while....

We Are Not Immune To Traffic On Gravel

An attempt to intimidate a group of cyclists gone wrong. (Image courtesy of Twitter)

One of the main benefits, in my opinion, to riding rural unpaved roads is that I can escape much of the mayhem caused by the operators of motor vehicles. Distractedness, anger issues, people playing around with you, and whatnot. But.....that doesn't mean you are 100% free from any of this nonsense. 

This was illustrated recently over this past weekend by a social media post that went (sort of) viral. You may have seen this. From what I can gather, it was posted by a former Trans Iowa participant, bike shop manager, and Arkansas resident. The story goes that someone driving the red pick-up truck tried to make an intimidating pass on a group of cyclists on the dirt road pictured here.  The pass caused the driver to lose control and roll the truck over onto its passenger side, trapping an occupant within. 

Apparently there were no severe injuries.

While the overall tone of responses was ,"Good! They got their just comeuppance!", I think this points to a wider issue within the gravel cycling community. That being, "You have to be aware of your surroundings and whatever traffic you might encounter deserves your full attention." 

I say this because many think that going out on rural roads is an "escape"- which often is translated unconsciously to something like, "I don't have to worry about  or pay attention to traffic anymore!", which, as many of us know, is the furthest thing from the truth that could be. 

Most gravel events are held on 'open roads'. (Image by Jon Duke)

It is easy to get sucked into a mindset that you have it all unto yourself when you get way out there, but these are- for the most part- 'open roads'. That means they are meant primarily for trucks, cars, tractors, and agricultural equipment. Maybe you live where logging trucks are commonplace. Or maybe you live in an area with a lot of ranchers that use ATV's. But the point is- you can and will run into situations with vehicular traffic and you must remain vigilant and attentive to this possibility. 

There is no real "written code" for rural traffic-cyclist encounters, but I think the first thing to take into consideration is what many of us call the "Ride Right" rule. That is- "When cresting hills or climbs- STAY ON THE RIGHT HALF OF THE ROAD!" That's probably a rule that is going to save your- or someone else's - life someday. And I've seen it work. 

I used to put on a ride for beginners called the "Geezer Ride" on gravel. On the very first one I directed, we were out on some big rollers near the Amana Colonies. As a small group of us were climbing this 10+% climb, a Dodge Ram came blasting over the crest of the hill doing about 70-80mph. The truck appeared so quickly that we didn't even have any warning by way of sound or a dust plume. It was just suddenly "there". Thank God everyone was on the right side of the climb or we would have certainly had a death, or two. 

And it is also imperative to note that this applies to almost every gravel event I am aware of. Open roads mean that YOU MUST DEFER TO TRAFFIC. What's a more desirable outcome here? That your placing, (and whatever prizing or money might be at stake) is affected by your having to defer to a train, car, or farm tractor, or that you have suffered loss to an injury, or have died trying to hold your place? I'd say walking away with your life and body intact versus any prestige and satisfaction you get from a higher placing is a better outcome. I dunno..... Maybe I'm the crazy one here? 

Sure, it sucked when I had to wait fifteen minutes for a freight train to pass when I was in the DK200 years ago, but I accepted that part of the deal with riding on gravel was that these things might happen. And some Pros will say, "But we're trying to make a 'career' out of this! We shouldn't be affected by traffic!". Well, tell me this- Did you not know that the event was being held on open roads? When you signed up, were you duped into thinking that this traffic thing might never happen? Really? If that affects your 'career', go ride somewhere in an event that doesn't have that possibility, or hey! Put on an event that suits your proclivities yourself! That's kinda what we did in the gravel scene. 

Today's ag equipment is so big you may have to abandon the road!

And of course, the same things are true for casual group rides or solo gravel rides. In fact, troubles can arise even more easily when your mind wanders to conversation or you get way into your thoughts out there. I know. I'm just as guilty as anyone in that way. 

I often have been shocked back into 'the real world' by the sound of crunching gravel, or the plume of dust seen off in the distance. Thankfully I've not been suddenly overtaken when in such deep thoughts, but I have to try to remain vigilant despite my good fortunes. 

Then back to the first image there where the riders were encountering individuals driving that truck who were using the vehicle as a threatening weapon. Yeah.....we're not immune to that sort of thing either. It's a lot less likely- sure- but it isn't impossible. So, do what you have to do to be prepared for those situations. I'd recommend riding with another person more than not, despite the fact that I ride solo more times than not. But- I have the privilege of being a big guy. I'm not someone many rural folks around here would see as being 'out of place', and that is to my advantage as well. Were I an African American would I have to be 'more careful'? Sadly, I think the answer to that is "yes". If I were a solo female would I have to be more careful? Again, I think the answer is "yes". Should those situations change? Yes. But that isn't going to happen today, and not likely real soon either, so.......

So, while the world "out there" on gravel may seem appealing for its promises of "escape" from much of societies ills, you aren't going to get 100% immunity from it all. Be prepared, be aware, and be reasonable. The realities of rural riding are that we- as gravel riders- have to be aware that we aren't going to always be free and clear to enjoy the ride as we might wish to 100% of the time. But I'll take the odds for riding on gravel against riding on a paved county blacktop for safety and fun every time.

Be careful out there!

We Are Not Immune To Traffic On Gravel

An attempt to intimidate a group of cyclists gone wrong. (Image courtesy of Twitter)

One of the main benefits, in my opinion, to riding rural unpaved roads is that I can escape much of the mayhem caused by the operators of motor vehicles. Distractedness, anger issues, people playing around with you, and whatnot. But.....that doesn't mean you are 100% free from any of this nonsense. 

This was illustrated recently over this past weekend by a social media post that went (sort of) viral. You may have seen this. From what I can gather, it was posted by a former Trans Iowa participant, bike shop manager, and Arkansas resident. The story goes that someone driving the red pick-up truck tried to make an intimidating pass on a group of cyclists on the dirt road pictured here.  The pass caused the driver to lose control and roll the truck over onto its passenger side, trapping an occupant within. 

Apparently there were no severe injuries.

While the overall tone of responses was ,"Good! They got their just comeuppance!", I think this points to a wider issue within the gravel cycling community. That being, "You have to be aware of your surroundings and whatever traffic you might encounter deserves your full attention." 

I say this because many think that going out on rural roads is an "escape"- which often is translated unconsciously to something like, "I don't have to worry about  or pay attention to traffic anymore!", which, as many of us know, is the furthest thing from the truth that could be. 

Most gravel events are held on 'open roads'. (Image by Jon Duke)

It is easy to get sucked into a mindset that you have it all unto yourself when you get way out there, but these are- for the most part- 'open roads'. That means they are meant primarily for trucks, cars, tractors, and agricultural equipment. Maybe you live where logging trucks are commonplace. Or maybe you live in an area with a lot of ranchers that use ATV's. But the point is- you can and will run into situations with vehicular traffic and you must remain vigilant and attentive to this possibility. 

There is no real "written code" for rural traffic-cyclist encounters, but I think the first thing to take into consideration is what many of us call the "Ride Right" rule. That is- "When cresting hills or climbs- STAY ON THE RIGHT HALF OF THE ROAD!" That's probably a rule that is going to save your- or someone else's - life someday. And I've seen it work. 

I used to put on a ride for beginners called the "Geezer Ride" on gravel. On the very first one I directed, we were out on some big rollers near the Amana Colonies. As a small group of us were climbing this 10+% climb, a Dodge Ram came blasting over the crest of the hill doing about 70-80mph. The truck appeared so quickly that we didn't even have any warning by way of sound or a dust plume. It was just suddenly "there". Thank God everyone was on the right side of the climb or we would have certainly had a death, or two. 

And it is also imperative to note that this applies to almost every gravel event I am aware of. Open roads mean that YOU MUST DEFER TO TRAFFIC. What's a more desirable outcome here? That your placing, (and whatever prizing or money might be at stake) is affected by your having to defer to a train, car, or farm tractor, or that you have suffered loss to an injury, or have died trying to hold your place? I'd say walking away with your life and body intact versus any prestige and satisfaction you get from a higher placing is a better outcome. I dunno..... Maybe I'm the crazy one here? 

Sure, it sucked when I had to wait fifteen minutes for a freight train to pass when I was in the DK200 years ago, but I accepted that part of the deal with riding on gravel was that these things might happen. And some Pros will say, "But we're trying to make a 'career' out of this! We shouldn't be affected by traffic!". Well, tell me this- Did you not know that the event was being held on open roads? When you signed up, were you duped into thinking that this traffic thing might never happen? Really? If that affects your 'career', go ride somewhere in an event that doesn't have that possibility, or hey! Put on an event that suits your proclivities yourself! That's kinda what we did in the gravel scene. 

Today's ag equipment is so big you may have to abandon the road!

And of course, the same things are true for casual group rides or solo gravel rides. In fact, troubles can arise even more easily when your mind wanders to conversation or you get way into your thoughts out there. I know. I'm just as guilty as anyone in that way. 

I often have been shocked back into 'the real world' by the sound of crunching gravel, or the plume of dust seen off in the distance. Thankfully I've not been suddenly overtaken when in such deep thoughts, but I have to try to remain vigilant despite my good fortunes. 

Then back to the first image there where the riders were encountering individuals driving that truck who were using the vehicle as a threatening weapon. Yeah.....we're not immune to that sort of thing either. It's a lot less likely- sure- but it isn't impossible. So, do what you have to do to be prepared for those situations. I'd recommend riding with another person more than not, despite the fact that I ride solo more times than not. But- I have the privilege of being a big guy. I'm not someone many rural folks around here would see as being 'out of place', and that is to my advantage as well. Were I an African American would I have to be 'more careful'? Sadly, I think the answer to that is "yes". If I were a solo female would I have to be more careful? Again, I think the answer is "yes". Should those situations change? Yes. But that isn't going to happen today, and not likely real soon either, so.......

So, while the world "out there" on gravel may seem appealing for its promises of "escape" from much of societies ills, you aren't going to get 100% immunity from it all. Be prepared, be aware, and be reasonable. The realities of rural riding are that we- as gravel riders- have to be aware that we aren't going to always be free and clear to enjoy the ride as we might wish to 100% of the time. But I'll take the odds for riding on gravel against riding on a paved county blacktop for safety and fun every time.

Be careful out there!