No need to stop having fun when the pavement ends! Many riders, especially those who are new to cycling, have a misconception that road bikes should only be ridden on pavement. But the truth is, road bikes can be safely ridden on all kinds of road surfaces, including cobblestone, dirt and gravel.
Gravel riding, for those who may not be up on the latest trends, is all the rage in the world of cycling. It's the friendly pairing of road and mountain biking where enthusiasts abandon pavement for unpaved roads where vehicle traffic is rare, if not altogether absent.
This year’s inaugural SBT GRVL (Steamboat Gravel) did not disappoint. Steamboat Springs was host to an amazing addition to the gravel calendar and they pulled it off in style.
In 2018, Dirty Kanza organizers added a more extreme option to the event: the 350-mile DKXL. This feat of endurance pits riders against rough roads and weather that can swing from oppressive heat to hailstorms and headwinds. Participants ride through an entire day and night with no support other than what they can carry or find at stores along the route.
