In celebration of the twentieth year of this blog, I have a few tales to tell. This post is one of them. This series will occur off and on throughout this anniversary year, I hope to illuminate some behind-the-scenes stories and highlights from the blog during this time. Enjoy!
In 2012 about this time of the year I had just put on the eighth Trans Iowa event. There were tons of other gravel events with several years of editions behind them. There were also a lot of new events hitting the internet with promises of challenge, scenery, historical context, and fun times. There were new products designated as "gravel" products by this time, which was a new thing. Gravel cycling was in the midst of changes.
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| Gravel was changing by 2012 - Image by Wally Kilburg |
The post I wrote in 2012 is interesting, to me at any rate, because of who commented on it. There were two regional publishers and one current Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame member in there chatting about what they thought of all the changes going on.
Of course, looking back on this thirteen year old collection of thoughts about where the gravel cycling scene was headed should tell you a few things. One: Gravel wasn't "new" then and it isn't now either. A lot more about the gravel cycling scene has passed away than anyone probably even considers today, unless you were around in the scene then. There are things people would be shocked by which we accepted as common practice back then. (Cue sheets, no chip timing, no aid stations, etc.)
But it wasn't about products aimed at gravel riders, it wasn't about event innovations, it was about what one of the commenters said, which was: "You don't have to be Joe-racer-head to really enjoy one of these events." It was also about this, which another commenter said, "The interest in off piste cycling events is growing in general (simply) because they are less mediated and more fun (focus on fun)".
I also was able to discuss this on my last two podcasts in the "Where We Came From" series and I think the general consensus is gravel cycling has become more about "joe racer-head" and it has more mediation and less focus on fun. At least in the upper echelons of the sport.
One thing is certain, which is gravel cycling is as big world-wide as it ever has been. Is this sustainable? Ehh...... Who knows? I will say the subject has been one which has been written about a ton here on this blog for the past twenty years, and today's highlighted post is evidence of this.
2 comments:
It's been fun following you and how these events grew. I've never done a gravel event proper. Kinda got away from group stuff. But it was in 2005 I bought my acres in the country partially because the gravel roads. Lower taxes and a place to build our Straw bale barndominium were other reasons
I just finished helping with the Gravel Worlds Gravel Camp, so my perspective is shifted a bit at the moment because of that, but based on what I saw this weekend, there are still quite a few people who’ve yet to experience or embrace gravel riding. No, I don’t think the numbers are the same as they’ve historically been (esp. over the past 13 years), but the new riders are still coming out to see what this funky gravel thing is all about.
I think Cornbread’s perspective from 13 years ago kept me from commenting on that post, as his sentiments basically echoed my own at the time. And they’re still true today. Let ‘em come. The more the merrier. More people riding gravel doesn’t detract from our own love of riding gravel. In many cases, it’s quite the opposite. Everyone brings something unique to the table.
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