This article will sum up my thoughts on this new class of inductees to the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame from 2026. First of all, "Congratulations to all four of you inductees!" As a fellow member of the GCHoF, I welcome all of you into this varied and colorful cast of characters who helped form gravel cycling into what it has become today.
Now, I won't pretend to know a lot about some of you. Hopefully this will change at some point. But as this hall grows larger it only stands to reason that not everyone will know everyone else, or perhaps ever meet each other face to face. Due to this and the varied nature of the inductees, I will not pretend to be an expert on all the members nor will I have any commentary of import for some members now and in the future. It simply is impossible to be a balanced human being and also be hyper-focused on 100% on the GCHoF at the same time. In fact, that would be borderline insane.
So, here I will be more general in my comments and at the end I will have an over-arching statement for the future and the GCHoF in general.
I am including the statements from the press release for each individual here for your consideration.
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| (L-R) Megan Fisher, Kristen Legan, Paul Errington, Jim Cummings (Image by Dan Hughes) |
Megan Fisher: With palmares including Paralympic gold, silver and bronze medals, Meg Fisher turned her world-class talent to gravel bicycle racing. There, she quickly became an example of courage, perseverance and inclusivity, with para category wins at world-class events including Unbound Gravel, Rebecca’s Private Idaho, Gravel Worlds, and SBT GVL, among others. As an advocate for the creation of para classes, Meg has helped create inclusive spaces at gravel events across the country. Her presence at those events, her willingness to share her story, and her encouragement of others has inspired countless riders of all abilities to find confidence, resilience and joy through gravel cycling.
Comments: Gravel cycling, if nothing else, has been welcoming of any and all who wanted to give things a go. Megan Fisher is a person who represents how others who are para-athletes or physically impaired in some way can see themselves "doing that" and be a part of the biggest move in popular cycling in recent memory. Having an athlete with her accomplishments is impressive and a welcomed addition to the Hall.
Kristen Legan: Gravel cycling has always been about more than the ride itself. It’s a mindset rooted in resilience, curiosity, adventure, and a strong sense of community. Few people embody that “Spirit of Gravel” more fully than Kristen Legan. From her earliest days chasing dusty, muddy horizons to her current work shaping how the world experiences gravel, Kristen has served as an inspiration to countless aspiring gravel cyclists. Her accomplishments on the bike include multiple Unbound 200 podiums and a victory at the 2023 Unbound XL, but today her ongoing legacy is in her storytelling and the riders she coaches. Kristen has helped cyclists of all abilities accomplish and exceed their goals in gravel cycling. In addition to her coaching, Kristen works with leading brands in the cycling industry, including Shimano, Lazer helmets and others, to advance and promote the sport of gravel cycling.
Comments: Kristen, along with her husband Nick, are the 'first couple of gravel now', I suppose, since they are the first couple inducted in to the GCHoF. But seriously,Kristen is a very accomplished athlete on gravel and now, behind the scenes, is doing a lot to influence gravel riding. Her work with Shimano is probably more of a big deal than anyone knows, but fortunately, the electors figured it out and voted this well-deserving candidate into the Hall.
Paul Errington: While modern gravel cycling has its roots firmly planted in the USA, it has quickly become a global phenomenon. One of the key figures in the global proliferation of gravel events has been Paul Errington. He recognized the potential of gravel cycling as a unique and accessible form of outdoor adventure. As an early advocate for the sport, he’s inspired countless cyclists to explore the world on gravel, both in Europe and beyond. He hosted his first gravel event –– The Dirty Reiver –– in 2016 and was a key figure in the global expansion of the Grinduro gravel series. Today, as the Grinduro series owner, Paul hosts thousands of riders each year at multiple events across the globe.
Comments: Paul is a person I have met and spoken with in the past. He came over and did Trans Iowa in 2013 and I believe he did the DK200 the same year. A Salsa Cycles sponsored athlete as well, if I recall correctly, so he was embedded into gravel culture fairly early on. Echoing the press release here, but Paul has to be the key figure in making gravel cycling more popular in the UK for sure. His event was an immediate hit, and his continuing support of the form speaks volumes years later.
Jim Cummings: As co-founder of Unbound Gravel’s predecessor, the Dirty Kanza 200 (with 2023 GCHOF inductee, Joel Dyke), Jim Cummins placed his bet on the potential of gravel as a cycling discipline in 2006. Jim and the DK team successfully scaled from 34 riders in 2006, to using a lottery system to fill the 2,500 available spots in 2018 –– remarkable growth by any standards. It was also one of the first gravel events to host international riders. Today, Unbound Gravel is the world’s largest gravel cycling event, bringing thousands of riders, support crews and race fans from all over the world to the Emporia area. The economic impact is easy to see, as the empty storefronts of 2006 have been replaced by thriving businesses. Throughout the spring, summer and fall, the Emporia area is now a destination for gravel cyclists seeking adventure.
Comments: Righting a serious wrong here, the electors finally came to their senses and inducted Jim after his having been submitted as a candidate for every year of the Hall's existence. Also- Thank you in that I don't have to write another screed admonishing this entity for its lack of inducting one of the key founders of gravel cycling in the Modern Era in Jim Cummings.
And yes - that upset me. So, selfishly I can now be at peace seeing Jim being included in this hall. But also I am happy for Jim, and I know he has his head on straight and I know his heart is in the right place. He didn't need to be in this Hall. He already knows where his 'prize; is, and it isn't in this World. But that said, I am happy for him. He deserved to be a first class inductee along with myself, but at least he got in. I hope people will celebrate his inclusion and see his contributions as being paramount to the success of gravel cycling as we know it in 2026 and beyond.
The Extras: There were other awards handed out as well on Wednesday evening. These included GCHoF Athletes of the Year, and GCHoF Community Impact Awards. There was a Gravel Icon award as well.
Comments: Nice, but honestly, will anyone care next month? I get it. Recognizing work in the field is meaningful to those working in the field. To consumers it matters little. This is just the hard truth of the matter. Also - No one cares about cue sheets. This coming from someone deeply passionate about them. My opinion- others can disagree.
Ah....halls of fame! This sort of thing engenders a lot of feelings. Some are indifferent. Some are passionate. I suspect most don't care.
I saw a little more of an effort to showcase the physical items representing the history by the GCHoF social media person. The stories this hall purported it wanted to catalog? I don't see it. Personalities seem to be this hall's area of expertise. I get it....
A week ago I floated an idea for an Iowa Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame. The discussion in the comments helped me focus this idea and distill it down to what I feel really matters: The historical record of gravel and having that record tell the story of how gravel cycling grew into this world-wide phenomenon which it is today.
My opinion is that the current leadership behind the GCHoF has no appetite for doing a historical record in keeping with the truth of the matters as they occurred. And, it should be added to be fair, they don't have the finances or manpower to do that anyway, in my opinion. So the GCHoF is what it is. I'm less excited about that than I am about what I see as being more important in the future, That is telling a story, based in historical facts, in such a way that future generations can read it, or see it, and understand where this form of cycling originated from.
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