In this post I want to share some reasons why gravel riding might stay as popular as it is today, and maybe even grow more in popularity. These are ideas which are being used today for both recreational, adventurous, and competitive events and rides.
First of all, in terms of competitive events, I would like to spotlight the efforts of the unPAved of the Susquehanna River Valley event. One of this event's co-founders, Dave Pryor, was a guest on the most recent Guitar Ted Podcast, (listen to Episode #70 here)
Borrowing from enduro stage type events, and from ideas forged out of dealing with the COVID - 19 pandemic in 2020, Dave and his team came up with several features which not only have made the event more enjoyable, according to its participants, but safer as well. I encourage you to listen to the entire podcast, but here is a bullet point list of some of these ideas:
- Segment Timing: This allows competitors to ride casually in non-timed sections and then race hard in the timed sections. This allows competitors on the fast end to ride with their friends who may not be so fast, and of course, you can come up with other ways this makes sense as well. Secondly, non-timed sections can be placed at difficult road intersections, dangerous downhill bits, or near the end to prevent fast paced craziness in an urban setting. Other examples could also be utilized here as well.
- Start Time Window: This idea allows a rider to decide when they want to start. For instance, the start time window could be 6:00am - 9:00am. Forgot your gloves, or nutrition? You've got time to go back and get it. Pros can start later because it will take less time for them to do the course. And then they get to rub shoulders with other riders. (Now, this may not always be desirable, but see the first point, and I think it works. )
- Course Length Choice: Feeling like a hero at the checkpoint but you signed up for the short course? Or - Maybe you are just off on this day and a hundy doesn't sound very fun, but 50? Yeah, that'd work! This rule allows a rider to switch courses at a prescribed point. The idea of allowing a person to finish in whatever way they choose opens up more chances for rider satisfaction.
Now, you may say, "But that isn't how the big races are done.", and you are correct in saying this. The thing is, many gravel promoters decided their events should mimic a "certain other pattern" set before. However; while this may work for certain instances and for a certain, very small segment of talented athletes, these sorts of events which many promoters try to mimic with their gravel productions are one of the very reasons gravel racing started. Gravel racing originally was in direct defiance of that ultra-competitive style of event and a rejection of all the rules and hoopla which those events represented. Over time though, it seems event promoters were wooed by the way big time Pro road style events did things.
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| Noted gravel cycling fun hog, Dave Pryor cracking an IC Lite. |
"It's a trap", as the noted Star Wars general said, which is easily fallen into. However; as Mr. Pryor said in the podcast, "Not all gravel events have to be the same" and he is not only right, but he takes his own medicine. And it works.
But this is not all Mr. Pryor and his accomplices are doing to set a course for gravelly goodness. They are trying to promote gravel riding as a lifestyle.
Getting people to be jazzed about riding gravel in Pennsylvania is what is next on the menu. This includes events promotions, but it is also going to be more than this. Highlighting cool places to ride, cool places to visit, and the businesses and people which will help tie all this together will hopefully begin to put Pennsylvania's gravel roads on people's radar as a destination for vacations, adventures, and maybe even a place they'd want to call home.
These are the sort of ideas which go beyond creating a "bucket list" event to come and ride once, or a few times in one's life. That is all fine, of course, but there are only so many people who will be attracted to doing those types of events. Maybe you just want to have an adventure, or historical, cultural, and geographical highlights are what gets your interests up. What unpavedpennsylvania.com hopes to accomplish is being the information hub to guiding riders to come to Pennsylvania to ride for all the reasons stated above.
It is my opinion that efforts like this are what will extend gravel cycling's popularity and also could make gravel cycling something non-cyclists might want to help foster due to its potential economic and social benefits. Benefits that last beyond a weekend's impact from an event.
I think it is obvious where this could go in terms of impact. Other states should take note. I know Kansas has something similar, but not an all-encompassing effort such as this one I am highlighting today.
If gravel cycling going to keep riding at the high level it finds itself at now, it has to do so based upon more than a few "bucket list events" and competitiveness in general. This does not mean what is going on in Pennsylvania in regard to events and more is comprehensive and the exact template other states or regions should use. It is a fine example of what could be done though, and in my opinion, thinking like this just might save gravel cycling in the long run.
Note: I'd like to thank and credit Dave Pryor for the images and information used in this post.
