Thoughts On The Gravel Family

Dave Pryor, GT (L) and a reflection of N.Y. Roll Image by Dave Pryor.

I posted that "Riding Gravel Radio Ranch" episode with Dave Pryor the other day, (here) and as I was re-listening to it, I was reminded of how Dave interpreted the term "gravel family". Now, I know a lot of you out there may roll your eyes at the sight or sound of that term, but if you listen closely to what Dave Pryor is saying there, I think you'd come away with a deeper understanding of that term, and an appreciation for what it stands for.

It can be shrugged off as merely marketing, or a goofy construct of gravel riders, say like the term "Spirit of Gravel", which has been bastardized to the point that it is now a term of mockery for the gravel riding enthusiasts. However; in the podcast episode linked there, if you listen to it, I think this whole idea of "the gravel family" and what that looks like up against what has been traditional bicycle racing, will become apparent. Much of what is happening now in the upper echelons of gravel racing will make more sense. 

I really appreciated Dave's viewpoint where he says that there are "different religions" and when you marry into a family with a different "religion" than your traditional family's that the sense is that you start to have a different viewpoint. This becomes apparent with regard to the gravel scene when we start looking at inclusion, representation, and equity. These are also terms which many roll their eyes when they see or hear them, but if you take a closer look at the gravel scene, it actually means something. 

I think this term, "gravel family" also helps us identify ourselves a bit differently. We are not 'just cyclists', or "racers", or part of a "tribe". If we consider ourselves part of this dusty, dirty fellowship of humans, then we see more similarities and we celebrate our differences, not drawing lines and separating ourselves into factions. We know that parts of our family are challenging, perhaps even distasteful, but hey! We love them crazy outliers as much as we do our close friends because we all stand together. Apart we will fail. 

Dave mentioned that we have a participatory activity in the gravel cycling scene. We all can come together and do this thing. We need to be together and enjoying each other's company and the gravel scene, I think, has done more of that than anything I know of. 

And the World could use a little more of that.