tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post2029516854527538311..comments2024-03-27T15:04:18.521-05:00Comments on Guitar Ted Productions: The MessageGuitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-22213524577483552012018-11-10T09:36:42.674-05:002018-11-10T09:36:42.674-05:00@Guitar Ted- So many events happen near a mecca or...@Guitar Ted- So many events happen near a mecca or hub or the cycling community (bigger cities and urban populations). The ones that do not hold on to a glimmer of hope that the community that hosts it might experience some tourism. That's been my push lately. We are watching our communities dwindle, our schools shut down, and all of our businesses dry up. There's nothing left. To be able to attract even 30-50 people to town once a year for something this minute and unimportant is encouraging. As far as if the gravel scene were to dwindle......I say who cares. I started riding gravel several years ago after reading one of your blogs, Ted. I didn't know any of these big events existed (I was new to bicycling). But I knew I was surrounded by gravel and dirt so it seemed like the logical choice.Coryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18174273398089062444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-46515282181272283262018-11-05T14:43:17.040-05:002018-11-05T14:43:17.040-05:00Promoters have increased participation in their &q...Promoters have increased participation in their "world-class" events through advertising, which creates hype. That's the way of venture capitalism. Its money spent to make more money. In the case of gravel, it's a house of cards. When the market is saturated with gravel bikes, and interest wanes; those who really enjoy riding gravel will still be riding gravel, and those who don't, wont. The big time events will loose numbers and will eventually collapse, or become shells of their former selves. And that's cool. I will still be riding some gravel, at my own pace.blooddoc23https://www.blogger.com/profile/04100867181336267718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-6911503405035757352018-11-05T10:23:41.918-05:002018-11-05T10:23:41.918-05:00Oops, I forgot to mention a couple other gravel ri...Oops, I forgot to mention a couple other gravel rides that might be of interest to many. Pondero and I have Bike Packed the forest gravel roads in the Ouachita National Forest in N.W. Arkansas and have ridden a bit of similar roads in eastern Oklahoma. Lots of climbing on those roads and one feels a real sense of remoteness. graveldochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735646900935591880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-34209679988087061692018-11-05T10:18:39.293-05:002018-11-05T10:18:39.293-05:00@Guitar Ted said...
Your points are all well take...@Guitar Ted said...<br /><br />Your points are all well taken! The most "exotic" gravel rides in which I've participated have been your Geezer Ride a few years ago and Pondero's Fall Ramble in north Texas. Also, I've toured on the Katy, C&O Canal Towpath, and GAP rail-trails. My local (Southwest Missouri) gravel roads offer a variety of riding conditions, too. Watching Gravel Cyclist's videos of riding Australian gravel roads was a good eye-opener to what they have to offer Down Under. graveldochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735646900935591880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-41057282493701256432018-11-05T09:46:25.605-05:002018-11-05T09:46:25.605-05:00@S. Fuller- Couldn't agree more. especially wi...@S. Fuller- Couldn't agree more. especially with regard to your last comment. Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-2987306395086672252018-11-05T08:44:34.664-05:002018-11-05T08:44:34.664-05:00I like the rise of local races and local non-compe...I like the rise of local races and local non-competitive events. At least here in Iowa, towns like Grinnell and places like Madison county have seen the benefits of bicycle tourism, not only in promoting their towns, but also helping with small boosts to their local economy. The weekly or monthly group ride, to me, holds the most promise. It can get casual cyclists out due to the non-competitive, no-drop nature. They can also get the gravel curious out and off of the paved bike trails to see some difference scenery and to challenge themselves a bit. From an advocacy angle, the more positive interactions people have with bikes and bike riders in their daily lives helps us in the long run.S.Fullerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04308484314231606505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-8853052357947841172018-11-05T07:47:45.440-05:002018-11-05T07:47:45.440-05:00@Stephen Butcher- You make a good point about the ...@Stephen Butcher- You make a good point about the "bikes existing = must be used". That can be seen in two ways though. Either people saw the opportunities to ride and wanted to join in, so they bought a new bike, or they, as you seem to suggest, bought the bike on the chance there would be rides to use them on. <br /><br />Hard to say there. I can only say that year over year, Riding Gravel records more gravel events. The calendar sits at over 500 events right now. last year we had just over 400 at this same time. <br /><br />So, since there are more bikes, do people create more events? That's another way to look at this.<br /><br />But my feeling is that, at least in terms of the "under the radar" events, the ease of organizing, the relative safety in the act of riding, and the adventure/beauty factor in to a much greater degree than anything else. You gotta have the place to ride before you buy the bike, or go to the event, right? <br /><br />Finally, the US probably does have the lions share of gravel, but as far as "quality" goes, I wouldn't discount the UK, European, South African, or the Australian gravel roads I've seen online. There's stuff all over the world to ride that isn't paved. I just think we don't see a whole lot of that. So, we don't realize what is really out there.Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-56241516790187127192018-11-05T06:22:00.802-05:002018-11-05T06:22:00.802-05:00Such an interesting analysis of the future of grav...Such an interesting analysis of the future of gravel road cycling! If I may share some of my "gloppy" opinions. A couple of points that come to my mind is the use of the phrase "world class" and the increase in the "grass roots" rides available around the country. When I think of "world class", I think of comparing the experience to gravel riding in all parts of the world; not just the U.S. The first one that came to my mind was L'Eroica in Tuscany. The closest I've gotten to that one is setting in front of my computer screen watching videos of the events. I know there is at least one similar event in California based on the Tuscany event. Apparently, I just find the idea of riding vintage bikes on gravel roads attractive. Frankly, I would speculate the U.S. is the world leader in gravel roads based on miles as well as quality and variety. Now for the old codger in me to give his two cents. I had the thought that maybe there "needs" to be more gravel cycling events due to a lot of folks having such a fine stable of gravel bikes, they would be attracted to participating in more events in order to get to ride all their bikes more. My apologies because, if you poked around in my garage, you could just say "well the pot shouldn't call the kettle dirty". Finally, in my "conservative" opinion, it seems to me that a lot of the "gravel" specific bikes and technology are pretty pricey affairs which, though no doubt are very helpful for long or epic/adventure gravel grinding, beg for more use to get one's "money's worth". Hope I didn't ruffle anyone's feathers; just sharing some observations from the sidelines. graveldochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735646900935591880noreply@blogger.com