LCP

Gravel racing is starting to split in different directions — is that for better or worse?

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Steve Thomas's picture

Steve Thomas

Steve has been riding, racing and travelling the world with all kinds of bikes since his pre-teens, which was longer ago than he'd care to (or can) remember. Always with a strong leaning towards the extreme adventure side of things, and having been involved with many aspects of the sport and bike industry, he started writing about and taking pics of all things bikes and travel in the pre-internet days of early mountain biking.
Against the odds, Steve is still out on the trails shaking it, in his own analog way, and usually on some far flung mountain or jungle trail.

3 comments

1 month 2 weeks ago

For the pro's yes ther is an arms race all about aero etc. But still ther eis a lot less team play involved depending on the parcour. Unbound is just 320km of roling hills and 4 bends. But the Traka is completely different 

1 month 2 weeks ago

Gravel racing has become something I hoped it wouldn't; very similar to road cycling, just off-road. From what I've seen, it doesn't appear to be technical enough, so the riders with the big engines will dominate - that's not what Gravel should be about.

And I wish there were other formats; stage races, Enduro style Special Stage Gravel races......It's all a bit too similar to road cycling in my view.

1 month 2 weeks ago

I love gravel. The rocket ship speed of evolution of gravel is mad. The birth was all comers welcome, riding what ever. A new start for cycling without the pomp of road biking. That is now all but gone with ego if ultra distance and speed suits eroding what was inclusive, the cycling industry has again made the barrier to entry a 'look', which becomes a uniform and is £12K.

So yes I love gravel racing . But the ethos whenre is began in a little bit of adventure on any bike you could muster-  is missed.