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| Gravel Bikes, and why they are the final frontier of cycling |
It took me many years to understand what the "spirit of gravel" was all about. When gravel bikes came out around 10 years ago, they seemed like a solution we didn't ask for to a problem that never existed. Back then, when I lived in perfectly paved suburbia, I was at a lost as to why someone would willingly go out of their way to ride where the streets had no name (only Farm to Market numbers in this case). Gravel cycling seemed to contradict every rule I had once associated with cycling; going fast, being competitive, counting grams, using power data, etc. Riding gravel, is in fact, the antithesis of all that represents modern day cycling. Today, I wouldn't have it any other way.
In the past few years, I moved out of that little quaint, perfectly paved and maintained town that I lived in into the ex-burbs. This is the very outer limit as to what constitutes suburban and rural, on the border, one could say. It is right here on the edge of civilization that I have once again rediscovered gravel biking but with a whole new appreciation for what is possible on this type of bicycle. I am also learning that the slower speeds and challenging terrain allow me to be more immersed in my rides whereas before I was simply riding to track my fitness gains.
When I get on my gravel bike, the only thing that matters is the ride. I'm on a bike that is too slow to worry about average speed, too heavy to worry about setting a PR on a local climb, too cheap to worry about dodging muddy puddles or getting it covered in dust. I can now focus on the surroudings around me, and appreciate aspects of rural living in addition to the beauty of creation.
The bike featured is a Bianchi M.U.S.S singlespeed mountain bike from the mid-aughts turned gravel grinder with a bargain bin 29er wheelset that came off of a parts bike. I have a dedicated gravel bike that I will do a review on later (stay tuned for a review on my Marin Nicasio Plus, which I have been riding for the past couple of years). The Bianchi, however, is the most "Spirit of Gravel" bike that I own. I encourage the reader to look at my other blog posts to get an idea about what the spirit of gravel means. I will summarize by saying that it means being more adventure inclined than considering oneself an athlete participating in an organized sport. Cycling is the only pastime that has a different meaning to almost everyone. The spirit of gravel, means riding gravel for the fun of it, approaching it in the most practical, fun and inexpensive way possible.
That being said, all of the fun, practical and inexpensive gravel bikes seem to be in the 30 pound range, made of steel and running cable actuated shifters and brakes. Derided by the weight weenies, these types of bikes are collectively known as ATBs in their modern colloquialism. Pioneer bike blogger and OG hipster Russ from the Path Less Pedaled summarized this style of bikes and riding as "alt biking", or alternative biking. This is because we now have an alternative to the race focused and competitive nature that we, as cyclists all too readily embrace, even though it runs counter to our own aspirations of why we ride a bike in the first place.
It is this type of riding, "alt biking" that I am taking a keen liking too and would like to discuss a little further in coming blog posts. I am not alone in my sentiment. Grant Petersen was an early pioneer of this movement and basically wrote the guidebook to it "Just Ride", which I reviewed years ago. Now you have influencer personalities like Ronnie Romance and The Radavist carrying the torch where Grant Petersen left off. I recommend giving these guys a look if you're feeling disconnected from the perception of what a cyclist is supposed to be.
Cycling from the purview of Lance Armstrong, Chris Froome or even worse, Tadej Pogacar is not fun and can actually be depressing role models and aspirations to have. The same goes with other sports I enjoy like skateboarding. Skating from the purview of what it meant to be a skateboarder in the 90's doesn't make sense to someone who is about to turn 40. While I enjoy landing the occasional kickflip, I am no Rodney Mullen nor will I ever be. I will likely injure myself out of all sports trying to emulate Rodney's legacy. Skateboarding needs to be unique to the person I am and done within the abilities I possess. That is why surf skating is a welcome change now that I'm older and I am more active on my board now than when I ever was in my teens or twenties.
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| More on this topic later |
So applying the skateboarding illustration to cycling, I am now realizing that my approach to riding a bike needs to be to the stage I presently am in life and the abilities I possess. Gravel bikes and gravel cycling fill that role nicely. Riding around the rural parts of my community where the roads are bad and full of potholes makes more sense these days than putting my bike on a roof rack and driving an hour to a popular greenbelt everyone in Dallas uses. I understand that as an early adopter of this philosophy I will be going at this alone within my peer group of "serious" cycling buddies, so I may stop seeing the regular crew for a while. I also understand, however, that they too will one day cross over the same bridge I did, and will join me in the alt biking club.
This is the final frontier of cycling, the last chapter, the golden sunset, the happy ending that is to befall all wannabe racers and fast people out there. So go ahead, throw away that power meter and cycling computer, get a 30 pound steel gravel bike, put a handlebar bag on it and carry on with dignity in your years and adventure in your hearts. The abandonment of ego is the beginning of wisdom. Keep that fast bike, because if you already own it, then N+1, why not? This is now the time, however, to ride the wheels off of your slow one.
