Photos Digby Shaw

Gravel riding is not exactly a new thing, but its increasing popularity is spawning a whole new form of riding and with it a slew of new events. In fact, gravel riding is probably the oldest discipline of bicycle riding, or transport as it was called a hundred years ago. Before tarmac there was dirt, and before the gravel bike there was the bicycle. So, there it is, the latest is the oldest, you see?

As a long-time punisher of the road bike on dirt roads and river trails, the addition of a specific breed of bike was inevitable, if not entirely necessary. But what is there about cycling and all its offshoots that is actually really necessary? We are market driven, but to hell with it, riding a drop-bar bike with bigger-than-road and smaller-than-mountain-bike tyres is a pretty fun endeavour. Roads that are tame on the MTB and a bit of a stretch for the roadie become the epitome of on-the-edge traction and speeds that can sometimes put you in a little bit of an exciting place. Add in the fact that gravel roads are usually found in rolling rural settings and most rides become an adventure in places one may not normally venture to.

When a down-south friend sent an email a few months back titled ‘winter fun’ in the form of a gravel stage race to be held around the Blenheim area, it immediately piqued my interest. Right up my alley, so to speak. Our regular crew of keen gravel grinding gauchos was soon whittled down to just two of us, and for someone who has eschewed racing of all forms for a few years it was surprising to myself that I was so amped for it. Shit, I even embarked on what some may call ‘training’, which I call ‘riding my bikes more when it’s cold and motivation is low’.

I’m not going to get into too much detail here and now as I have a whole lot of other words to write for a whole other platform. But I will say this: the day was a heap of fun! The stage concept allows you to hammer it for an hour, then have a break and do it all again another three times. Pain quickly dispelled by euphoria. Everyone seemed stoked on the event and it ran without a hitch, got lucky with the weather, all manner of folk on all manner of bike got to ride some great roads and see some beautiful scenery (or a red mist, depending on your perspective of racing or riding).

The gravel race format is going to expand and offer up a whole new array of ways to race a bicycle, and the summer will see the explosion of events and larger numbers of riders trying out this ‘new’ format, much like Enduro did for the mountain bike scene a few years back now. This is a good thing, and I’m along for the ride. Maybe even the race.

Look for a full story in the next issue of New Zealand Cycling Journal.

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