This name is a good one, in my opinion, because I feel many riders today have no idea where this all stems from when it comes to gravel cycling. One thing I want to make perfectly clear before I go any further.
This isn't about who did what first.
I'm not going to even entertain this idea nor debate it. I find pursuits of this nature to be fruitless and divisive. The way gravel cycling evolved came from a focal point which - yes - a very few were involved in. Ideas were gleaned from past cycling events and ideals. Certain elements were deleted from consideration for these early gravel events. Certain events from decades past were taken as guide posts and inspirations. Those pre-modern day gravel events were never going to become gravel as we know it today. However; those bits are important ingredients that helped make gravel great and helped form the ideas that did get modern-day gravel started.
Beyond events and culture there were the days when there were no gravel cycling specific bicycles, tires, or other accessories and gear. Yet people came to the events on bicycles and used ideas to help them conquer those rural crushed rock roads. Many of these ideas spurred designers, brands, and marketers to come up with gravel-purposed bicycles, tires, and gear which helped propel gravel cycling to new heights. We will be covering this as well.
The series will entail conversations with pioneering gravel cyclists and others who were around when these events happened. There will also be supporting articles which will cover the gear and accessories used in early gravel events. So, some of this will be on "The Guitar Ted Podcast" while some will be written up on this blog.
As always, feel free to make suggestions and comments for ideas you'd like to see covered in this series.
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