Gravel Grinder News: Iowa Wind And Rock Announces Final Event

After eight years of events, Iowa Wind and Rock, the ultra-distance, self-supported, self-navigated gravel event will hold its last ever event on April 17th-18th, 2027. 

The announcement was posted to Iowa Wind and Rock's Facebook page on Monday, September 7th. 

The event, which uses a different course every year, is unique in the gravel racing world as it eschews most of the features many gravel events see as being "necessary". There is no pre-event course release, riders do not have any idea where they are going during the event unless they are familiar with Iowa backcountry. There is no gps file. Riders navigate by cue sheet instructions. It all is done to test the physical, mental, and mechanical limits of each participant. 

There really are no gravel events quite like IWAR. The loop course, which is typically well over 300 miles, must be completed in 34 hours or less. The event starts at night, riders ride into the day, the next evening, and typically finish the following day in the morning, IF they finish at all. 

If you are interested in IWAR, see their site HERE for more details, but do not tarry, as after the 2027 event, a challenge like this will disappear from the gravel calendar for the first time since 2005. 

Comments: Full disclosure, I was told about this on September 3rd. The event directors, Sarah Cooper and Steve Fuller felt that I deserved to know first. In case you aren't aware, Iowa Wind and Rock grew out of the event I put on starting in 2005 called Trans Iowa. 

So, a quick recap of what happened in 2018 when I announced the end of Trans Iowa. Sarah Cooper asked if she and Steve Fuller could take over the event. I had decided this wasn't a very good idea. NOT because I didn't want them to take over Trans Iowa, but because I didn't want Sarah and Steve to be held to the same standards set up during Trans Iowa's 14 year run. 

So, instead, I suggested they start their own event, be that a clone of T.I. or whatever they decided to do. Then their legacy would not be judged against Trans Iowa. And I was very pleased to understand that IWAR did indeed take this track and they ran with it for eight wonderful years. Building their own story, fans, and doing it their way, even if that was as close to Trans Iowa as it could possibly be. 

So, there is the connection between IWAR and Trans Iowa. I have to admit, I was a little heartbroken reading the email I got September 3rd. The gravel world has moved on into several different directions, but this event is so unique and special, I think it is a bit of a shame this won't exist anymore. 

That said, I "get it", and that in spades, as to why this must come to an end. As Craig Schmidt, co-founder of Gravel Worlds outlined in his response to the IWAR announcement on Facebook, you know what you know if you have ever put on an event. If you haven't, it's hard to explain the weight on your shoulders. It is not easy to bear. So, from this viewpoint, I can certainly see why it is time to let IWAR go for the RD's of this event. 

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Trek Bicycles.

Mazda Becomes Official Vehicle Of Trek Off-Road Teams In North America:

On Tuesday a press release went out declaring the Mazda has become the Official Vehicle of Trek North American Off-Road Teams and events. 

Mazda will provide the CX-50 model to Trek in a "multi-year" deal. These vehicles will appear at North American XC MTB events, DH events, and at select gravel events under the "DRFTLSS" moniker. (DRFTLSS example shown) 

Comments: Old timers will recall the Trek VW MTB Team and how they were a staple of the NORBA scene in the mid to late 90's. There were some Trek VW mountain bike models made and sold at dealers, but no such plan has been revealed for this new partnership with Mazda. 

Yeah.....gravel events have come a long, long way. Team cars at gravel events? With big time sponsorship from a worldwide automaker? Crazy.....  I just shake my head in wonder.

Then there is this current trend to avoid vowels. I'm going to say it - I don't like it. I know...... Maybe I'm a fuddy-duddy, but spelling is important to me. At least it seems the terms "groadie" and "groad" have quietly been retired. Those were just plain stupid. I always despised those two terms.

Image courtesy of Trek Bicycles

 You're Almost There!

The "endurance" geometry road bikes have been creeping into "gravel bike" territory for the last couple of years. On Thursday Trek released the fifth generation of the Domane. It is another step closer to where I thought road bikes for the average folks should be at back in 2010. 

Featuring the new frame and fork which has retired the use of IsoSpeed (thankfully!), Trek has otherwise designed in a compliant seat post, (A ROUND seat post? gasp!) and given the bike clearance for tires up to 40mm. The geometry is pretty much "first generation" gravel bike geo, and hilariously, they ditched the down tube storage to lighten the frame. (Take that N.Y. Roll!)  

There are several models to choose from starting at about 8K and going up from there. 

Comments: First of all, Trek's website navigation is a disaster. It seems overly-complex and offensive in its barrage of visual information. Maybe that's just me, but I've seen far easier sites to look at. That much I do know.... 

Okay, the bikes! Well, I find it very interesting that, ten years ago, this would have been a top tier gravel bike without question. Checking into some details, there is even a frame bag mount and a custom fitted bag available for this Domane along with a top tube bag. Fully kitted out, a new Gen 5 Domane would slip right into any current gravel event and no one would bat an eyelash.  

There is a white paper page which goes into all the nerdy details of the ditching of IsoSpeed. I found it fascinating to read that Trek credits tire volumes and disc brakes as things which have negated the need for decoupling their frames. They credit flexing seat posts as a benefit as well as their trotting out the old saw of "vertical compliance and lateral stiffness". (HA!) 

I'm glad Trek figured it out, (finally), but they need to go just a little further with this. Give me clearance for 42/43mm tires, (or 45mm, since the tire folks have kinda landed on a 40-45-50 scheme), and slacken that head angle a half degree or so and we're there. Domane AllRoad, I'd call it. Oh! And maybe not make the entry level bike so dang expensive (carbon), 8K is nuts.  

 

Accell Group Declared Bankrupt By Dutch Court:

In news from the bicycle industry, it was revealed on Wednesday that a Dutch court had declared Accell Group and its brands bankrupt. This is an escalation from the previous designation by the courts which would have provided a means of restructuring the company. 

Accell Group owns the brands Raleigh, Lapierre, Ghost, Haibike, and others. The status of these subsidiaries is  complex due to the multi-national situation. Lapierre, for instance, is seeking to find its way independently, but the success of this move has yet to be determined. 

You can see more details in the story posted on "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" 

Comments: This seemed to me to be the most probable end-game for Accell, who have struggled mightily since the pandemic. It would be easy to blame that time for this news, but I feel Accell's problems started well before this. 

Now.....this is just my opinion, but as I was working at a Raleigh dealer in the USA in the 2010's, I can say that Raleigh was at their pinnacle of potential here in 2014. In that year Raleigh introduced the Tamland range. It was one of the very first, purpose-designed bicycles for gravel. It also sold very well. Raleigh could have made a big dent in the gravel market. 

However; shortly afterward, Raleigh started a consumer direct model of selling bicycles, which Raleigh's US based dealer network was not happy about. 

Subsequently their dealership numbers faded quickly here. This coupled with Raleigh's too soon timing of their D2C move essentially erased Raleigh's presence from the US bicycle market. It could have gone so much differently, but the D2C thing along with a lack of vision for the Tamland and successors in the gravel range pretty much set the tone for what happened after the pandemic.   

unPAved of the Susquehanna River Valley Announces 2026 Events:

A press release sent out on Wednesday announced the details on the 9th unPAved of the Susquehanna River Valley events for 2026. This year the unPAved weekend will be on October 10th - 11th in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. 

Some details include:

Race for Whoopie Pies: For those who want a place on the podium and part of a $3,000 cash purse we've got the Full-130 course battled out over four timed segments that add up to 59 total miles (45% of the full route) of gravel racing. And if that’s not enough, there's the Big Lick-200 for the ultra endurance folks that prefer to race through the night.

Ride at Pierogies Pace: For those just looking for the vibes and the views we've got four choose-your-own-adventure courses from just over 50 miles to the Full-130 course at a civilized pace and lower price. Plus we have added two new courses (40 and 70 miles) for our Pierogi Pacers in 2026 that will start and finish at the Rusty Rail Brewing Company in Mifflinburg, PA.

Have a SlumberPArty: If you're all about gravelmaxxing the weekend our SlumberPArty gives you two days to ride the course. Roll out on Saturday, camp overnight at R.B. Winter State Park, and finish the course with the other riders Sunday. We'll even ferry your gear to and from camp.

Weekend Full of Activities: unPAved has grown from a single-day event to a full 3-day weekend, with gatherings starting on Friday night, and on Saturday there’s the Lewisburg Fall Festival with FUNpaved Rides, vendors, crafters, and kids’ activities followed up by the unPAved Film Festival at the historic Campus Theatre in downtown Lewisburg, PA.

Comments: Highly recommended event and one of the very best gravel events anywhere. Especially for anyone on the East Coast. Register HERE

No Powerline?

Wildfire damage has altered the course for this weekend's Leadville event taking out an iconic climb and making the overall elevation gain for the event less than it typically has. 

Storylines for this year include Quin Simmons attempt at the Men's win, Last year's Woman's winner, Kate Courtney's attempt two double up, 32"ers making a dent, and the 5DEV company offering 12K plus a little to anyone who can win using their Shredville Mount, a system which allows one to use road controls on a flat bar. 

Lots of weirdness possibilities this year, which I think is fun. We'll see how it all turns out. 

Okay, that is a wrap for this week! Get out and ride those bikes! Summer is fading fast!

Two Things

The second part of my BRAN experience on audio is HERE

 One Day vs One Week:

 This idea popped into my head as I was writing up all the BRAN recap posts. If you read those, you can attest to all the experiences, scenery, and riding which I was afforded the opportunity to enjoy. It was a lot packed into a full week of fun, challenges, and surprises. 

Considering all the things I was writing about I was made aware that gravel events are not generally like this. They are typically one-day events and you are in and out of there before you have any time to settle into things. 

And maybe the quick in-quick out thing works for you. There is a lot going on in most folks lives and carving out time to play gravel bikes is not easy. However; if you can get a week in Summer off, here is something to consider. 

Going to a single day event has obvious entry fee costs. You have travel expenses. Maybe you can get there and back without any lodging fees, but if you have to stay in a motel, or camp, it is going to cost even more. Obviously you have to eat, and maybe you bring your rations. Most folks are going to subsist on a diet of convenience store fare or go to a restaurant.  More money spent. 

My figuring at a minimal amount spent going to a 100 mile gravel event with an average cost of $1.50 per mile (figured from my gravel event cost survey I posted last January) , using an average cost for gas currently ($3.93/gallon), and throwing in a bit for food and small extras, I come up with around $300.00 for a one day event. That is with zero lodging fees and no restaurants, beer/liquor, entertainment, etc. 

The fee to ride BRAN this year was $425.00. You have to feed yourself, get there and back, and any extras are on you. My figure for the week would have been right around 1K. (Had I paid the $425.00 entry fee and the $110.00 bus trip out) That's for seven days of gravel riding WITH support. Seven days of single day events would be $2,100.00 minimum. Probably a lot more than 2K, and especially so if you attend a "bucket list" event in there like Unbound, Gravel Worlds, Mid-South, SBT GRVL, or a Belgium Waffle event. 

If you mechanical, bonk, crash out or anything like that in a single day event? You are done. Game over. Not so at a ride like BRAN, (are there any other rides like BRAN?), where you have mechanical support, sag support, and can recoup the next day and still ride. (Unless a severe crash or medical condition arises, which is an obvious ride ender no matter the format) Plus you get seven days worth of small town charm, meeting people, and lots of cool points of interest to explore. 

Sure, BRAN, or whatever ride there is like it on gravel, is not a competition, but it is a huge experience. Like Jimi said, "Are you experienced?" Or, are you racing to be another place on a finishing roster? Yes, I am biased, and maybe competition gives you something a tour cannot. Good, You know what to do. But if you haven't considered anything beyond the traditional one-day event on gravel, well perhaps this BRAN thing is of interest. That's all...... 

Riding shotgun on ride support for a kid's Summer program

Hope For The Future?

With my being employed by the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective, I get opportunities to help with children's rides during the Summer via another organization which has us volunteer to do the safety checks and ride sweep for the rides. 

Sometimes I lament over the daily sightings in my neighborhood of kids on electric scooters zipping down roads and sidewals. Or kids on throttle-controlled electric two wheeled contraptions of various sorts. It is as though we are entering into the time of the movie "Wall-E" where humans never go outside and hover around on personalized craft instead of exercising. 

But a couple of these kids rides this Summer have given me hope. One in particular where we supported a ride consisting of about six boys of 10 - 11 years of age. All had 'quality' 24" wheeled bicycles in really good condition. They all rode with each other in a small Iowa town but for one young boy from another small town further away. 

These boys were amped to ride and as we went along it was a reminder of what it was that made cycling so fun when I was young. Speed, of course, but the adventure, camaraderie, and the occasional bout of competitiveness in equal parts. This was what drew me into cycling. 

There were no cell phones, stopping to take Instagram images, Snapchats, or the making of Tik-Toks. It was just pure joy and on a bicycle, outdoors, for 12 awesome miles. These boys were all about it. This experience was a shock to the system for me. 

Maybe there is a little hope after all. 

Follow-Up: Safety & Media Coverage

This post is an excuse to post one of my favorite TI recon images

Note: This post is a follow-up to yesterday's opinion piece on the relationship between gravel racing and the media which covers it. If you have landed here and have not seen the post being referenced, please take a moment or two to read it for context on today's reaction. 

First, some house cleaning  According to a source close to Orange Seal, it was not their ATV which was involved in the incident in The Mid-South event this past weekend. I apologize to Orange Seal for any confusion regarding this incident. .

Next, thank you for the mostly positive responses I received on the article yesterday. I appreciate the time taken to respond to the thoughts I wrote concerning gravel racing and the media. Now on to my reaction to your comments!

The comment which I thought was very insightful was one concerning how top gravel Pros need  there to be coverage of their racing because it amplifies their ability to make money doing what they are doing. This is a notion which exists now because gravel riding was monetized. It was not always this way. And while it may seem that "making money"off gravel is "bad" then, from someone of my perspective, I would push back on this a bit. My real issue with all of this stems from how I see the definition of "success" versus how most people see this word being worked out. Specific to gravel racing, I want to get into this a bit. 

I've written about this before, but to my mind, the outcomes we are seeing now: ATV's interfering with racing, champagne spraying of finishers, Pro vs Every Other Rider classes/event start times, ancillary events like running, etc, the whole circus which is "Big Time Gravel" these days circles around money. Money is the measuring stick for "success". If a promoter and the very pointy end of the Pro field can eek out some sort of "career" out of gravel, if tons of money flows through venues/city's coffers, and if there is a lot of media attention digitally and socially, then you have hit the big time of gravel. 

But it wasn't always this way, and "gravel" wasn't built out with any of the above in mind. In fact, as one commenter astutely pointed out, gravel's genesis was a rejection of all of the above which permeated other types of cycling events. 

Image credit: Jon Duke

Another thing all the chasing after the big time has brought is a more "cookie-cutter"(using the commenter's term) approach to gravel events. This is evident in the categories offered, the satellite events, the sponsored pre-ride events, expos, Pro cats separation from the rest of the riders, and more. 

It used to be that many gravel events were quirky, had their own personalities based off race director's creativity, and used interesting courses sometimes based in historical background or other interesting geographical highlights. Now things like this are seen as getting in the way of being "successful". 

Another interesting irony is what Pro riders think about gravel racing now versus what they used to come to it for. I remember back around 2015/2016 when it was not uncommon to hear the random Pro/ex-Pro roadie comment on gravel racing something to the effect of how it was more relaxing. It was "fun" not to have to come and compete at the dog-eat-dog level of Pro road racing and just ride for the joy of riding. 

Funny how this relaxed atmosphere and having Pro's enjoy that with us has also been excluded from being a thing anymore. I guess making a living off what you once thought was "fun" and relaxing is more important than experience and the joy of cycling. Now you are out there dodging ATV's. So much for the old days..... 

But this is what happens if success is defined as it is now. It doesn't have to be based on money. It doesn't have to be based on attendance numbers, (so you can "raise enough money to put on the event") , it doesn't have to be about satisfying sponsors or eeking out a career. Gravel racing should not be based on the revenue stream of amateur classes of people so you can feature Pro's, have live streams of Pros, and sort of shuffle off all the cool things which made gravel a thing in the first place.

Gravel didn't need "rock stars" in the beginning. It didn't need thousands of entrants to an event. The events were equitable. There was respect across the entire field. The events were smaller in terms of attendance. This made the events feel more inclusive without highlighting certain classes or last place finishers. Everyone was included. Everyone was the focus. Money was important, but it was a tool, not the gauge of success. Gravel events did not need thousands of participants in a singular event to raise capital. No one was expecting a paycheck from gravel. A handshake, a hug, a shared beer and new friends were your rewards. 

Image credit Wally Kilburg (R.I.P.)

 But like I said in a post not too long ago, to think we're going to see the toothpaste put back in the tube is not going to happen. We are stuck with this behemoth called Professional Gravel Racing and all we can do is make a decision. Either support it, or ignore it. Your first line of support has to be seen as event registration. Without those dollars race directors are not making a living off gravel. Professional riders and semi-pro riders are not making a living in gravel racing. I think as long as the rider who buys in understands their shoulders are being stood upon to support the ecosystem, then that's fine with me. I have no beef with individuals who grasp their place in that ecosystem. 

Or, on the other hand, you decide to not support those events and do......something else. You likely decided your rides and self-created adventures will have to fit into a season without spending money at the big time events. And if this is you, that's cool as well. You probably don't care if so-and-so loses a career in gravel event promotions or racing. No one said you had to support this, so I wouldn't feel guilty if this is you. I also don't think folk banking off gravel are going to suffer if a few folks drop out of the scene. 

One more note about yesterday's post. I had one RD of a well known gravel event message me and that person told me they decided not to use side-by-sides for their live stream after their first year of using them because they recognized there were dangers in doing so.  According to this individual they use USAC and UCI trained ATV operators and drones where the course dictates their usage makes sense. 

That's all well and good, but this doesn't mitigate dust issues (if their ATV riders are out there driving with the riders) nor does it guarantee zero incidents,with event related vehicles, as I stated yesterday. These near misses and crashes occur at UCI events every year. Gravel doesn't need vehicles on course. Not more than local traffic already incurs. Again, why add to the problem when it is completely unnecessary. 

But I will tip my hat to this event for taking measures to help make their event safer than it could be otherwise.  

Opinion: Rider Safety And Media Coverage

Image credit: Wally Kilburg

NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

Today I am going to dive into the subject of media coverage of gravel events. As my long-time disclaimer above indicates, this is my opinion. But first, I want to get into the most recent incident of interference of media in a cycling event on gravel. This was an incident where no one was injured, thankfully, and one of the affected riders, the leader at the time, won the event. So the rider's final placing was not negatively affected. However; things could have very easily gone the wrong way. 

You may have already seen the evidence posted on Instagram or Facebook. It happened last weekend at Mid-South. There were two riders affected in the women's Pro field who were off the front slightly from a larger chase group. From the video I saw, the two leaders, Paige Onweller and Sofia Gomez Villifane, were about to enter a 90° left hand turn when a side-by-side ATV came up from behind them at a higher rate of speed than the two riders. The ATV split the two riders, nearly hitting Villifane, and then over correcting and almost hitting Onweller. Audio from the clip revealed a bit of angry and fearful yelling from one of the riders. 

From another social media post by @ministerofgravel on Instagram, commenters identified the offending ATV as being driven by people from Orange Seal (or the vehicle was sponsored by the brand) , UPDATED 3/17/26: According to a source close to Orange Seal, it was not their ATV which was involved in this incident. Apologies to Orange Seal for any confusion regarding their involvement in this incident. a brand which sells tubeless sealant products. Commenters also pointed to this same ATV causing issues the day previous during Mid-South's running event and on the course for the cycling event elsewhere on Saturday. These accusations are not verified, as far as I can find, but these comments are noteworthy and interesting in light of the video evidence from the near-miss of the two Pro women riders. 

A still from the video posted on Instagram. (Image credit @colinsigers)

This unfortunate incident is not alone in cycling. I read about near-misses and collisions between media motos and Pro road racers every single year. Team cars are also involved in many incidents and seem to be a year after year issue within Pro cycling. 

So, why do event organizers allow these vehicles and the people who drive them out on courses. Drivers which endanger riders and often interfere with the racing action, at the least, and cause injury and death at the worst? 

Well, it has something to do with money, doesn't it? We have to have media coverage and team support during events or..... Or what? We cannot race? This seems out of whack to me. Riders are human beings. We should be willing to sacrifice convenience and marketing opportunities to provide these riders - professionals or not -  with conditions on course not being affected by cars, motorcycles, or ATV's. 

Specifically to gravel events, I would posit that there be no vehicles on course besides the race director's vehicle. None. Zero. Observers should be stationed at critical points to make sure the riders are safe, not cheating,and to quickly address emergency situations. Media can be parked along side the road with cameras and can be allowed to travel to different points along the course, if possible, along roads/trails not on course. If this is not possible for media. too bad. Really. The whole media coverage of gravel events during the race is unnecessary. 

Mid-South's statement regarding the incident. (Click to embiggen)

I know that is unrealistic, so if we have to indulge ourselves in videography of gravel cycling events, then perhaps a bit of drone action is okay. I'm not a big fan of this, and the weather would probably play into whether this is a feasible solution for most cases. But moving vehicles, be they ATV's or whatever, cruising alongside Pro riders going all-out to win and make money, gain/maintain sponsorships is not a good mix.We see the outcome go negative all too often. 

The other point I'd like to make concerning this would be environmental. Gravel often times equals dust. Vehicles kick up a ton of dust when going down gravel roads. Obvious, right? Most people do not want to breath the particulate matter from gravel dust, do they? I would suggest they do not. Especially Pro athletes who train diligently to squeeze out every ounce of effort during a race. Certainly they do not like to breath in dust, do they? And besides, it makes it harder to see. Right? 

So, again, why do we put cars, trucks, ATV's and motos on courses with riders? All riders deserve good air, not dust-filled air from course vehicles. It's bad enough at times just being around other riders and dealing with the dust coming off the bicycles. Do we really need to add to this? 

And while we're at it, can we quit spewing champagne in rider's eyes the second they cross the finish line? Let those guys and gals do that on the podium. They earned the right.  

There has to be a better way. Gravel event directors should be searching for solutions, not waiting, hoping everything will work out because "this is how races are produced". Even sponsors should want this. I mean, look at the ATV which interfered with the two women riders at Mid-South. I'm sure that is PR that the company who was responsible for the incident would rather not have out there. Maybe doing the same thing over and over again is not the best plan. 

I also will say this to close out my thoughts. Many of you may not know I used to put on a gravel event because the last time I did so was seven years ago. But I understand the challenges behind the scenes and I know what racing on gravel roads is like from both sides - as an event director and a participant - so I feel as though my opinions are not just random ranting. I just honestly don't understand why we think gravel racing has to be the way it is, because it clearly doesn't work like it should on this level as seen at Mid-South and other events on gravel. The default event production methods are not the only way to do events on gravel. Events on gravel do not have to be live streamed. We went many years without live streamed gravel events and the segment grew and got along without it just fine. 

And I get it. Money talks. My ideas are probably not going to see the light of day at any "big time" gravel event. But I'm not going to sit here and let it go either. That's my take. Hopefully for the riders the event directors will find better ways to do things in the future for the good of all riders on gravel. 

The Numbers Are Not Adding Up

From CIRREM's social media post

The numbers are down. This is the common report being quietly communicated across several disciplines of participatory sporting events. Gravel cycling is not immune to this. 

Despite a robust growth in numbers from around 2015 until just after the pandemic, it now seems we are experiencing a downward trend developing in participation across gravel events. 

Events which once had to turn away would-be riders are now posting messages trying to entice registration. One may not care about this, but I wondered why this might be occurring at this time. As with most issues involving humanity, this is not an easily answerable issue. It's complex. 

I did a little - admittedly light - research into possibilities for why gravel events, and events in general, seem to be having more trouble getting people to commit to participating. This is not an exhaustive list of reasons, by no means, but it is interesting to consider where we are in terms of the gravel scene. 

Well, at least I find it interesting! Your mileage may vary on that. 

Is it fun to pay to do the same course year over year?

Been There - Done That:

First of all, I think there is a bit of fatigue relating to gravel events which may be a factor here. I think this is especially true if an event uses the same course year after year. 

You see the same things and it is not like the first time you saw those things. The discovery phase is exciting. The "here that hill comes again" phase is.....boring. 

Same with event venues, formats, and overall experiences. There are 'discovery" elements to any event which may keep things fresh for a time, but after a while, things get stale and then you have......

Rising Costs:

Probably the number one factor I saw in comments on this issue. Rising entry fees, housing costs, travel, etc. It all adds up to a larger obstacle to attending events. Unless there is an overarching reason to go to an event beyond the high cost of entry fee, lodging, and travel, I would have a hard time making a decision to attend. Of course, having friends there makes it a bit more enticing which leads me to.....

Events have gotten so big we've lost the ability to have intimacy.

The Social Facet Of Gravel Is Becoming Rare:

Finding any social benefits to attending gravel events is becoming harder to find these days. It's no wonder when events have grown to having thousands of participants. 

I hear a bit of complaining about how people finish events and then pack up and head home with no time for relaxing and connecting afterward. This is harder to do when you are simply part of a crowd which is there, really, to support the career choices of a few individuals. 

It was not always like this, and in my opinion, the social side of gravel events was one of the big attractions to attend events like CIRREM, The Gent's Race, and even Gravel Worlds back in the early 2010's. Odin's Revenge had possibly one of the best, intimate social facets to an event that I can point to. But now days? Yeah......why would you stick around? Everything is geared toward being a big time production with a big crowd of people around and things just get too hectic and crazy. 

We went to gravel races for the calm atmosphere, the bucolic scenery, and to connect with a few others doing something we loved. Not to be a cog in a wheel for some LLC that needs to turn a profit. 

Changing Culture:

Much of my research turned up the way younger generations see events and what they like in their entertainment choices. It seems anything with a start to finish time of three hours or less is okay, but anything beyond this time period seems to lose younger audiences. This also goes for participation in events. 

Many younger folks also are tied to digital means of entertainment which they find more engaging. Opinions on this may vary, but it is a factor in why younger folks don't gravitate to outdoor activities or physical exertion. Obviously, it takes an effort to do a gravel event and usually these events are longer than three hours. 

Trend Cycles:

Finally, trends and movements have cycles. The typical long-term cycle for a sport, or fashion, or cultural trend is said to be around 20 years. Gravel cycling, in its Modern Era, has reached the 20 year threshold already. Could it be we are experiencing the natural ebbing of a once growing sport? 

In my opinion, I could see this coming in 2019. The pandemic threw a wrench in the cycle, I think, and extended things for a few years afterward. But I feel as though we are back to a descending  part of the wave of gravel cycling. Of course, I could be all wrong about this, but everything I see is indicating to me we are on the downward slope now. 

Those are my thoughts and what I found in my limited research. What is your opinion? Is gravel suffering from a long list of ills or are we still on the upswing? Maybe things have plateaued a bit? Let me know in the comments.  

Gravel Grinder News: New Minnesota Based Event Series

Image courtesy of the grvlsota site

A new Minnesota based gravel event series has just been announced which will include 12 events over the course of 2026. These events are - for the most part - long-standing gravel events in the state. 

The series will not homogenize each event to fit a mold, and competition, while present, won't be the main focus. The series won't even charge a fee to participate. 

The focus will be to keep each event in the series independent and free to evolve its own identities. Riders can expect an experience at each event not unlike what there was previously. The series will try to enhance participation across Minnesota events, highlighting Minnesota's vast gravel and dirt road network while compiling points for a leader board. Participants who compile the most points will get some sort of season-end recognition. 

Many of the details are being ironed out yet, but you can check in at the "grvlsota" site to see what they end up doing there. 

Image courtesy of the grvlsota site

The current event calendar for the inaugural grvlsota series is as shown below:

May 16 – Spring Valley 100 – Spring Valley
May 23 – Le Grand du Nord Gravel Classic – Grand Marais  
June 6 – Kasners Kick Duchenne (KKD) – Farmington
June 27 – Woodtickr – Hawley
July 11 – Freedhem Gravel – Freedhem
July (TBD) – The Wolf Bikepacking Race – Finland  
Aug. 22 – Hero Gravel Classic – Stillwater
Aug. 30 – River Valley 100 – Mankato
Sept. 5–6 – Gray Duck Grit – Cannon Falls  
Sept. 19 – Rosewood Gramble – Thief River Falls
Sept. 26 – Heck of the North Gravel Classic – Two Harbors  
Sept. 27 – Kato Bike Fall Fest – Mankato

According to the website there will also be a podcast called the "Level Be" podcast which will highlight the events in the series, interview event directors, and cover other event news. 

The grvlsota series is an effort by the non-profit Level Be Adventures organization who aim to promote Minnesota gravel events and tell the stories behind them while tying together a community of riders. They also hope to feature what is good and enjoyable about the courses represented in the series and highlight the small towns and villages these events benefit.  

This will not be the first gravel event series in Minnesota. During the late 2000's Almanzo 100 organizer and Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame inductee, Chris Skogen, started the "Race For The Cup" series, which the Heck of the North was a part of as well. That series was short-lived, however, and happened before gravel events really took hold of the cycling consciousness.   

A Look At Events For 2026

Well, it seems every year I have written up a post concerning what I am going to be planning for in terms of events for the year. A few things have changed since last year and I have a couple of things I want to accomplish before next Winter on the bike. 

Keep in mind this is a list of plans. Many times our plans do not work out. I am no exception to the rule. So, while I may have a strong desire to do the events I am about to list, it doesn't mean it will happen. 

Okay, with the disclaimer out there saying I am not 100% in charge of the future, here we go with what I have on my plate for 2026 in terms of gravel events. 

Leading up to April my goal is to just put in some decent, three to four hour rides weekly. This should get me into riding shape. I do not plan on doing any events, but I may crack off a longer ride if the weather and timing lines up. We will see. My main focus will be just getting out there. 

The "big" deal this year will hopefully be this Legends Of Gravel ride in April down in the Flint Hills of Kansas. 

Once again, in case you haven't heard of this, here is a link to a post about this ride.  

I will also add again the fact that I am not in charge of the organizing nor do I have any influence on how this ride is set up. I was asked to come, (along with certain others) so the ride is named what it is named because of this. 

Link to registration:  https://www.bikereg.com/legends-of-gravel

Once I get beyond this point in the year I have to bring focus to what the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective is doing. May and June are the busiest months there, and extracurricular events are at their height during this point in the season for the organization. Due to these things, I am not considering any events during those times, especially since I am taking off time in April from my job there already. 

This means things like a planned bike packing trip around West Central Nebraska I was invited to are not in the cards for me. It was a nice thing to have included me in the invitation, but I just cannot leave people hanging who are depending upon my participation. Further,ore, being on a limited income, I cannot afford the time off either.  

At some point in July or August I will be doing another ride in honor of my son, Jacob Stevenson. This will get announced when I see a time window for the ride maybe in June. I want to do around a metric to maybe a full century ride on a course somewhat local to Waterloo. 

Details will be fine tuned as the Spring and Summer go along, but this is an important ride for me and I will make GT's Ride For Jacob happen. Worst case scenario is I do it alone on a weekday when I am off work, because typically Saturdays I have to work. But this is all yet to be determined. 

Then the only other thing I am committing to is the Virtual Turkey Burn Challenge in November. Other than this idea, I probably will end up doing something with N.Y. Roll at some point during the year, but we haven't had any discussions on an idea, and it remains to be seen if we do or if we do not do a ride like the Tree In The Road Ride we did last year. 

Besides those ideas, I just want to focus on getting outside, riding as much as I can, and having fun. I don't need for, want to do, or have much interest in attending the "big organized rides" like Unbound, Gravel Worlds, or Mid South again. I'd rather ride for an adventure, and in other places, than do those things over and over again. 

And that's about it. So, nothing hugely exciting here, but if I get to ride all of what I have outlined here it will be a big year of riding for me. I do not expect it all to happen though, except for the ones I have stated I really want to do, (really only a few), and if this is all I get in, well that'd be great too. 

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

2026 Gravel Events Cost Survey

The 2026 Gravel Events Cost Survey

The Gravel Events Cost Survey is a random look at events across the USA which are primarily gravel based cycling events to see what it costs to go ride organized events in the year 2026. 

I did a similar thing last year  so take a look there for comparisons. Note to any readers of this survey: I have opinions which may not line up with what you believe. This is my take on this subject.  

How The Survey Was Done: I began my survey by taking a look at some promotions that started coming into the inbox here and taking notes on distances offered versus registration costs. Then I added events from BikeReg using their geographic breakdown of the nation and the events listed in each region. I noted some events were listed in more than one region so I avoided those for the survey, or only used an event listed twice across regions in one region that made sense to me. 

Here are the regions as broken down by BikeReg: New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Rocky Mountains, South Central, Northwest, and Southwest/Texas. (Note: I combined the Southwest and Texas regions because the events overlapped so much) So, I used four events from each region, (last year I used three) trying to use a different state in each region where possible, and this brought in 37events. (I accidentally used FIVE events from one region. Sorry!) I also included the one event I had already been noting previously as mentioned from promotions So a total of 38 events were included. (One more than last year)

 The Events: So, what types of "gravel" events were included? Of course, their are a few "biggies" in the survey: None of which I used last year. But I have unheralded events from all across the nation. So, there is a range from very inexpensive to well over four (!!) figures in cost and everything in between. 

I chose the regional events based upon a few things. First, I only looked at the names of the events and where they were located to get a good representation of events all across the USA. Names of events came into play where I recognized names from a long time ago and are events that have been well-established. I also included some events which had names that just struck my fancy. For instance, "The Lit Whizzy". 

But this year I tried to find as many events with "gravel grinder" in their name as possible, (rather easily done, by the way) and any event with a skull as a logo or having "skull" in their name. I know....weird, but it helped randomize my selections. 

What I Am Trying To Show: My baseline for a gravel event value is based upon how much it cost per mile to register. So, if an event is 100 miles and cost 100 bucks to enter that event has a cost of a dollar per mile. 

You'd think that the biggie events would skew the rating far more to the spendy side but I found that many smaller events are charging a LOT more these days for registration. And it should be no wonder. "Gravel" is the hot ticket for competitive bicycle events these days and the genre' shows no signs of slacking off yet. Event directors and organizations are seeing the big time events charging three-digit entry fees and are following their example. 

Also, this survey is an average cost analysis. I am not breaking down these by regions or in any other way. I am just curious to see how far above the old "dollar-per-mile" limit we used to use for gauging events we have gone now and what the new baseline might be. That's it. I'll give that average cost per mile for 2025 and then give you some trends I have noticed while doing this survey. 

The cost analysis was done over 109 distances/costs. This year's survey has 51 unique distances from 12 miles all the way up to 350 miles.  

Average Cost Per Mile: So, in this year's survey, I found an event with a free distance, a beginner's distance of 18 miles, and the most expensive distance was from an event which charged the a 200+ dollar fee for all its distances making the 40 miler come in at cost of $6.02/mile.  The event with the highest entry fee at $1.400.00 for either distance offered actually wasn't too bad $4.83/mile and $4.00/mile costs. 

Most event distances in this year's survey cost between $1.00 and $2.00/mile. I found this a bit surprising. This wasn't even close, by the way. The next group of event distances - Over $2.00 to $3.00/mile - had  almost 30 less examples. So, I think it is safe to say the overall average is going to be under $3.00/mile yet. At least it is in the examples I pulled from BikeReg this year. 

Comments: My initial impressions were that event prices felt higher than before, but in reality, the events I pulled from seem pretty average and close to last year's average per mile cost. Keeping in mind I am not considering aid stations, swag, after-parties, etc. This is purely money versus mileage. 

I also did not include any "bucket-list" events. Those skew the results, and since one in particular uses a lottery, it is harder to determine "costs" to the rider. Finally, I think focusing on events which are available to most everyone across the nation makes more sense than focusing on the ultra-exclusive, "bougie" events.  

It was immediately apparent while doing my research that a rider gets more value out of an event if they choose the premier/longest distance offered. Many events are really oppressive when it comes to what they are charging for shorter distances to the point it makes me wonder if they are actually trying to discourage folks from taking shorter distance options. Just for an example, one event was charging more than double for its shortest distance per mile versus their longest distance. 

Sometimes this is a factor of events making each distance the same fee. I suppose this streamlines their planning but it sure makes me not want to choose a shorter distance when I can pay less per mile to ride more.  

I tried to sprinkle USAC events in my survey. This did not seem to make much of a difference one way or the other in cost per mile. But those events do have loads of categories. Some non-USAC events did as well, but these were by far in the minority in terms of the 38 events I looked at. There were far more with very simplified categories. 

I did also notice some older events still chugging along but there were far more I'd never heard of, and I was just in there at Bike Reg a year ago. Finally, it seems there are fewer events this year, but I could be off on this. I did not count, it just felt that way to me. 

It's good to know you can still find events with a less than $1.00/mile cost, and many are good values from this standpoint alone. I am not taking into account anything like courses, views, or extras. So, this shouldn't be used to gauge any specific events. I just do this exercise more out of curiosity, and to check in on the health of grassroots gravel across the USA. 

I hope you found that interesting. Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions. 

From Untamed To Unbound: How Gravel Riding Has Changed

Image by Guitar Ted

Gravel cycling  has been in its"Modern Era" now for over two decades. In those early days, it did not take long for a debate to ensue amongst its participants as to what would happen if and when "sanctioned" events, large amounts of money, and professional level riders came into the sport.  This debate sprung up because everyone who participated back then was in tune with what was going on with the early gravel events. However; this was so long ago now, many cannot even begin to understand when older gravel riders shake their heads and look away in dismay when younger riders extol the current gravel racing scene. 

Somewhere there is a discourse to be had which might connect the two feelings and viewpoints represented by the older way gravel events were conducted and how these events are conducted in 2026. It might explain why the UCI has not made a lot of headway into gravel racing in the USA. It could be a way to explain what people are talking about when the much-maligned term, "spirit of gravel" is mentioned.  

Today my hope is what you are about to read will shed some light on these two disparate views.  

I am a big J.R.R. Tolkien fan. I was introduced to his writings back in the early 1980's by way of an acquaintance who suggested I read "The Hobbit", and loaned me his copy of the book. I took it home and devoured it in two sittings. Of course, Tolkien's famous trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings" was next, and I read this three book series eight times. I'm not trying to brag about my voracious appetite for the author's most famous books, but I am trying to let you know I was fully engaged and knowledgeable on the legends Tolkien created. 

This explains why, when I went to watch the first, blockbuster movie of the books, directed by Peter Jackson, I firmly rejected Jackson's rearrangements and omissions of what I held to be critical parts of the stories. While it is true Jackson's movies based on the fantasy trilogy brought the "Lord of the Rings" to millions who otherwise may have never read the books, it was done at a cost to the visions of J.R.R. Tolkien and to how the book's fans believed the story should be told. 

I feel similarly about gravel event's past versus today.  

A gravel race start line4 in 2008. Image by David Story

Many fans of Tolkien's books will freely admit there is probably no way a film adaptation of the trilogy could ever be done 'properly', and done accurately to the books. This translates to where we are in gravel events in 2026. I agree with this sentiment in terms of gravel events, and I think it is pretty plain as to why this is. 

Those early events most assuredly have little chance to be recreated in terms of "feel", function, and outcomes in 2026. The story which was told twenty years ago is so vastly different and unimaginable to most riders today. Most riders of gravel in events now have expectations which were not even considered necessary twenty years ago. Event directors demand a certain level of insulation from catastrophe and  a certain level of compensation for liabilities and efforts they are willing to shoulder in 2026. No, things have changed so much, in critically important ways, that the "feel", the essence of those early gravel events, is nearly impossible to find at the "bucket list" events people queue up to get into now. 

So, what is this thing, this "feel", this essence which I speak of? Yes, it is often referred to as the "spirit of gravel', but this term has been so laughably misused and misunderstood, I hesitate to mention it anymore when speaking about gravel events. It is a thing which most people do not have a clue as to what it meant, and it has almost no bearing on the way things are done in gravel in 2026 anyway, so the point is mostly moot.  

However; it was a thing. It was "how the story was originally written" by the event directors and participants back in those days. To fully understand what the essence of gravel was then, one must drop the preconceived notions of what a "race" is and look at competition in a bit different way.  

Difficult conditions were actually relished by early gravel riders and considered a badge of honor to have gone through. Image by Wally Kilburg

I used to have difficulty trying to express what it was which made the early gravel races and rides different. There were the obvious things. Things like start and finish line trappings, chip timing, aid stations, and now - media coverage - which were all non-essentials in early gravel racing. Those things, while seen as unnecessary, were not why gravel events felt the way they did back then. It was something I always had a hard time putting my finger on. It is why any discussion of the term "spirit of gravel" was useless. 

However; I recently came across a dissertation on the views of J.R.R. Tolkien regarding his contemporary, Walt Disney. I found some lines from the dissertation to be particularly enlightening when it comes to explaining the essence of early gravel events versus today's version of gravel. 

Tolkien was reportedly disturbed by Walt Disney's portrayal of fairy tales. Originally, these medieval tales were written with a view to the moral and ethical complexities of situations and choices. Sometimes fraught with danger and frighteningly descriptive details. Disney sought to soften these edges and simplify the moralities for his creations within these tales to make them more accessible and lucrative .  

First up - Here is a quote as taken from "The Inspireist's Post", as seen on social media. 

"For Tolkien, mythology was not meant to be improved, modernized, or made accessible through simplification, It was meant to be preserved - its complexity, its darkness, its moral ambiguity, its genuine danger all intact. If that meant that fewer people engaged with it - so be it. Better a small audience encountering the real thing than a mass audience consuming a commercialized substitute."

I will freely admit I was one of the "Tolkienists" of early gravel. In fact, I was appalled when I found out the Dirty Kanza people were going to take the impromptu parking lot finish line from 2006's inaugural running of the event and refine it. The "feel" of the experience that evening was not repeatable by tinkering with the loose formatting of the first event. And one might argue it couldn't ever be replicated. But this is but one example I have concerning all facets of those early events. 

Pop-up tents, coolers, and clipboard check-in sheets. 

One could also argue that an"elitist" stance of holding gravel to those sorts of limitations may have discouraged many would-be gravel riders. Riders who have since engaged in gravel events because of the simplifications, the amenities, and technologies allowed in events these days. Similar criticisms were laid at Tolkien's feet concerning Disney's treatment of fairy tales and their subsequent successful acceptance amongst millions of people. 

Again, from "The Inspireist's Post" -

" But Tolkien's counterpoint would have been, "What exactly did Disney introduce them to? If the darkness is removed, if the moral complexity is simplified, if the genuine danger is replaced by manageable scares, are children encountering fairy tales? Or are they encountering something that looks like fairy tales but functions differently - as entertainment rather than a myth?""

As I stated earlier, there is almost no way to turn back the clock and do things "the way they used to do things". You have smart phones with desk-top computer functionalities. Navigation, maps, and contact with any knowledge one desires is hand-held and ready for the taking. Demand for inclusion dictates a certain level of care and responsibility on the part of event producers. Certain governmental levels of approval and acknowledgement require levels of guarantees and compliance which weren't considerations twenty years ago. I understand these things to be inherently true. It is also why this entire "spirit of gravel" thing is misappropriated and a moot point today. 

The "genuine danger", moral choices, and the "darkness" of early gravel events is now mostly sanitized and streamlined to fit a model of efficiency, creature-comforts for riders, and sheer numbers of participants.. The substantial monies necessary to produce such big events also creeps in with its own set of demands on events. Social media and sponsors demand a level of viewership which has resulted in coverage of the larger, more lucrative events by way of media vehicles, drones, and helicopters. 

Image by Wally Kilburg

Gravel in 2026 is nothing at all like it used to be. Besides a few examples like Iowa Wind and Rock, the Heywood Ride, and several smaller, lesser known local events, the old narratives of adventure, daring-do, and pure grit are gone. 

They have been replaced by a sharp rise in the level of physical preparations, technological applications to the bicycles, and a focus on competitive fairness in regards to age categories, gender, and an ability to earn money above all else. 

It used to be competition was against oneself. A chance to see if one could overcome Nature, The Course, and Spirit. Others in the event were not seen so much as "competition" but as potential life-long friends who had endured the same situations as you had through to the finish line. Choices were paramount to success. Make a wrong turn, eat the wrong thing, or choose the wrong clothes and your ride might end in a ditch somewhere. 

One is not necessarily better than the other. I admit to being more attracted to the latter rather than the former, but there is no denying the fact we are experiencing things we would not have otherwise if gravel had not followed the 'path of Disney'. My point in this post is to show why the essence of gravel in the early days is not repeatable - or maybe even applicable anymore - today. Many people wouldn't want those things we cherished then anyway. It would be said to be too hard, too dangerous, and too risky. Maybe even stupid. 

While the old ways and experiences may not be replicated today, and at odds with how today's gravel scene on the bigger stages is, I find it ironic that the whole "Spirit of Gravel" thing was what drove this niche into the behemoth of competitive cycling it has become today. We couldn't have today without yesterday, yet most involved in the storytelling of gravel seem to forget about this fact. It is something which is being lost as the years go by. I find this to be a worse thing than not having today's events reflect the true spirit of the old days and events.   

It is a story worth being told.  

I hope this helps explain where we came from in gravel, and why it is different today. Thanks for reading! Please feel free to leave a comment in the comment section.  

Friday News And Views

Gravel Worlds Foundation Announces "Aloha Gravel" Event In Hawaii:

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/
 

Tariffs, Supplies, And Pricing News:

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!