Yesterday the Gravel Worlds Foundation, a new, non-profit arm of Gravel Worlds, announced a benefit ride in Hawaii called "Aloha Gravel" Benefitting the Imua Family Services, an organization committed to the critical support to children and families across Maui County (Islands of Maui, Lanai, and Molokai), the event will send all profits to help out with their cause.
The event itself will consist of a 9 mile gravel and single track loop which riders are encouraged to ride as many laps as possible on within the six and a half hour time limitation. The event will happen at Kappalua, Maui, Hawaii. One week after this event a Gran Fondo will be held which riders are encouraged to stay for as well. For more details see https://www.alohagravel.com/
Recent upheavals with importing products into the USA due to tariff policies have started to wreak havoc on the bicycle industry. Coupled with sales which are not taking off as well as hoped for the start of the 2025 cycling season here and it appears that there are going to be several issues forthcoming for cyclists.
First up, I am still seeing several sales with BIG discounts on certain bicycles. Locally shops are offering up to 50% off on certain bicycles which is unheard of in past years. Accessories in the clothing segment are all really deeply discounted in many cases. Then on the other hand, certain bicycles and gear is non-existent and if you can find it, the price has been jacked up due to reactions to tariff pricing. (I just saw a confidential communique from a major brand indicating an average 9% price hike across its range)
Some reports in the industry indicate many suppliers are not going to import any new inventory until things get sorted out, or until tariffs are dropped. This may induce some shortages and definitely will drive up prices if demand is there. One industry organization, People For Bikes, is claiming the situation faced by companies is going to induce layoffs and perhaps even shutdowns, as was the case with Revel Bikes out of Colorado recently.
All in all, it looks to be a bumpy ride for cyclists for the remainder of 2025.
Update On Pre-2013 Events List:
A few days ago, I wrote about which events in gravel grinding history were the seminal, genre-defining events. These events were either prototypical, and influenced later gravel events, or they were events which personified what "grassroots gravel" means.
I chose the pre-2013 date as, to my mind, this was when we left the "pioneering - discovery" phase of gravel riding and sport, and then we moved into the era where the cycling industry and professionalism began to take root as major influencers of the gravel scene. I wrote a breakdown/timeline of gravel history previously HERE.
Since the post went up a few days ago I have received a lot of feedback on the post comments, via messenger texts, and email. I wanted to list some of those events here so you all know where the list stands at the moment. Note: I am not going to list 'the obvious events', just the ones which are outside the "normal" lists one might expect to see concerning this topic.
- Blackfly Challenge
- Odin's Revenge (LOTS of feedback was given on this one!)
- Flint Hills Death Ride (Organizer of the FHDR, John Hobbs, is a 2025 inductee to the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame)
- Renegade Gent's Race
- Heck of the North
- Ride to Paradise - A Kansas ride started by Erin Bogan Renard in 2003 from her ranch just North of Russell Kansas to Paradise Kansas and back again. Influential event to the Wicked Wilson gravel event. (Thanks to Mike Marchand for the tip!)
So far, this is an interesting list. I know there are more events we are missing, but I can scour my old events list on Gravel Grinder News and find some more gems. I'm thinking of events like Melting Mann in Michigan and maybe some Northeast events like those traditionally held in vermont. But if you have suggestions, keep those coming.
And with a sparse news week, that should do it for this week's FN&V. Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions, and get out and ride those bicycles!
4 comments:
I’d like to also nominate the Good Life Gravel Adventure, prior to it becoming Gravel Worlds. That thing was as grassroots as it gets.
@MG - Good Life Gravel Adventure/Gravel Worlds was on my "obvious to include" list, so it is definitely going to be included! Thanks Brother!
I remember going to the Farmhouse Classic in 2011-2012. That was Joe Fox's birthday ride, but open to anyone that wanted to come. It started/ended at a relative's farm near Lathrop, MO around mid July. Always plenty of BBQ and beverages waiting at the finish.
I stumbled on to it in 2011 looking for anything to ride after my DNF at DK200 that year. No entry fee. Eric Benjamin was there in 2012 and had a post about it on his blog - I think it's gone from everywhere but the archive now though, and no pictures.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150118075906/http://adventuremonkey.com/blog/the-farmhouse-classic
@KC - Yeah, that was a great "grassroots" style event, and one which had a unique feel to it. I always wished I could have made it work to get down there and ride in the event, but alas! It was not meant to be for me.
I have met Joe Fox several times, he's done Trans Iowa before, and I last saw him last year at his shop in downtown KC. I told him he needs to revive the Farmhouse Classic. I'm not sure he took the advice positively, but hey! At least I asked!
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