An Era Of Turnover

The promoter is "retiring" from promoting.

 Things change. Time passes and people come and go. This is no news, but we tend to also be creatures who like to hold on to "traditions" and think, "yeah, this will be here again next year."

But it also probably won't be here again next year. This is the part people do not like, or consider very often. In terms of gravel events, it was something I consistently brought to mind with my old event, Trans Iowa. I think it was abundantly clear and understood by Trans Iowa fans that I wasn't going to keep doing the event forever, or for very long. 

But even I get a bit taken aback when I find events are shutting down, passing hands, or changing into something I do not recognize anymore. Such was the case when last week I received an email/press release concerning the GRVL Cycling events, Raid Rockingham, Kearsarge Classic, and  Raid Lamoille. 

The promoter, who folks call Arman, is "retiring" from promoting. He''s been at this since 2012, so pretty much on the front end of all things gravel. I became aware of his Raid Rockingham event while searching for new gravel events to add to my Gravel Grinder News calendar back in 2012. Later GRVL Cycling added the Raid Lamoille, and finally, the Kearsarge Classic. (GRVL Cycling site)  

Now the "last" Raid Rockingham is set to occur this year. Maybe someone else will take over the series? Maybe not. However it turns out, turnover in the promotions field is happening again. It is just another reminder how this niche of cycling is aging and changing with the slow turn of years. 

Jeff Kerkove (Image taker unknown)

Back in 2023, I was in Emporia, Kansas for the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame ride. I ran into Jeff Kerkove there, who I hadn't seen in over a decade. He helped start Trans Iowa with me in late 2004. Back then, we didn't ever consider gravel road cycling events would ever be a "thing", much less become probably the largest segment of competitive cycling events world-wide in 2026. He asked me then if I ever dreamed this gravel cycling thing would become what it had become in 2023. Of course I didn't. Who could have dreamt this up?

The whole scene is mind-boggling now, but it also is so big it doesn't know where it came from. It just "is", and when I see older events changing, or old promoters leaving the sport, it makes me a bit sad to know most of those people and events are not going to get their flowers as they should be. One more lament for myself as I look at where I've been in this whole gravel thing. 

So, I write this post as a reminder to all that the event you "might do" someday will be gone "someday" soon, and maybe if it isn't, it might change and not be what it was. I write this to remind everyone doing an event on gravel that this time it will be like no other time before or after. Enjoy every mile you can. Register memories. Do not take it for granted you are riding in whatever event you are riding. 

Photo courtesy of Dairy Roubaix

The turnover in events and promoters is happening now, and will continue so as time goes onward. Changes are inevitable. With the sheer numbers of gravel events, it probably will be more common now than not to read about these changes. 

I guess many of us early pioneers of gravel events figured we'd have it our way for years to come. Then we got older. More new folks came in. Different viewpoints were expressed. Then it wasn't the same as it used to be, and now it is all changing over once again. Churning. Moving. 

I don't let it get to me anymore like I once did. I'm recognizing all of these changes, and I'm okay with most of it. More people are riding. It means more people are getting healthy outdoors time. It means more companies are making more things for gravel riding. It means I get to take advantage of those new things companies are making. I can ignore them as well. I don't let how events change rub me the wrong way anymore. I don't have to concern myself with any of what the UCI does, or what USAC does, or what any event does, I can just observe. 

The only thing which does give me pause, as I have said, is how many newer-to-gravel folk just do not understand gravel's past. They are unaware of the efforts of people like Arman, who started off hosting 50 folks at that first Raid Rockingham, and grew the event into a multiple event series with thousands of people served. 

Maybe the series carries on. Maybe not. But hopefully folks like Arman get their due. Hopefully some of those thousands he helped provide opportunities to ride gravel will carry on the traditions of gravel, and pass them on to newer generations. 

Maybe you can be one of those who help pass on gravel cycling to a newer generation. Maybe you can help keep the wheels of this niche of cycling going well past any part you might have in it goes. And don't forget to tell those newer riders where this all came from as you do that. 

Cheers and thank for reading Guitar Ted Productions.