"More" Is Not Always A Good Idea: A Follow Up.

On August 19th I wrote a post about how some gravel events try to reach for importance and relevance in the scene by having "more". The promoters of the bigger events often try to grow their events in a way that seems rote and are uninspiring when it comes to preserving the elements that brought gravel events to prominence in the first place. 

The growth in some gravel events is often not met with a keen eye toward consequences from the intended "growth" and these consequences have started to rise up and become major issues. 

Two recent events seem to have become prime examples of how "more" can be a big problem, or at least a potential problem. 

SBT GRVL has been the poster child for these issues, but the event is not alone in this. Since the focus is on this event currently, and more non-traditional coverage has been done on the SBT GRVL's struggles with county government, I'll take a quick look at the fall-out from SBT GRVL's most recent event first. 

I recommend reading this excellent article from the "Steamboat Pilot & Today" written by Trevor Ballentyne. It covers all angles and issues with great reporting from riders, ranchers, and the county government's positions. Most of these things I have written about as well, but the one quote from Routt County Sheriff, Doug Sherar I will share here. As quoted from the linked article:

“The bottom line is (SBT GRVL) it’s  too big, in my opinion,” the sheriff said. “And I don’t know how we mitigate that. I have gone over and over in my mind on how we can make that safer and I don’t have any answers other than having a full rolling closure … and that is definitely not feasible for the sheriff’s office.”

Former Gravel Worlds winner, John Borstelmann's Facebook comment on his recent post about issues at Gravel Worlds this year.

As stated, SBT GRVL isn't the only event with issues regarding size and rules enforcement. Gravel Worlds was criticized by former winner, John Borstelmann in a Facebook post where he showed several images from the Gravel Worlds' live feed illustrating his problems with riders cresting hills on the left and with media cars and vehicles cresting hills on the left alongside riders. Both things which should raise alarm with the riding community and with the event directors. 

Check out the latest GTP episode for more on this subject

Again, is "more" what we need? Perhaps less, as in less riders at events, or less hoopla (media frenzy around live feeds) might be prudent. Are these things (bigger fields and media broadcast) what we need to be successful? What should be defined as "successful" when it comes to gravel events? Were those big fields and media coverage the things which built gravel as a cycling discipline? Should a gravel event "take over" the countryside, or should a gravel event be a minor blip on the radar for residents who live in these rural environs? 

How is it that gravel events strive to be like Pro road racing now when gravel events were not trying to be Pro road racing to start out with, and in fact, were done in rebellion of the trappings of the road scene? Can't it be that gravel racing could be different than Pro road racing? Could it be we find that money, big sponsorships, and media coverage only pushes us out of the very things we loved about gravel events? 

Maybe less is actually "more". Some things to think about......