T h i n k G r a v e l

From a small but amazing set of photos of Colombian cyclists in...

tassava — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:30:21 -0500

From a small but amazing set of photos of Colombian cyclists in the 1960s, found at Cycling Inquisition: http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2012/02/unpaved-part-2.html

NY Times video: "Grinding on the Gravel"

tassava — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:30:15 -0500

NY Times video: "Grinding on the Gravel":

This short video does a great job of showing why gravel racing is so much fun. #crushgravel

Cyclists looking for a challenge are testing themselves at events like the Dirty Kanza 200, one of a growing number of gravel grinder races on Midwestern country roads.

The photos of the Sturgeon 100 course in Michigan’s Upper...

tassava — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:30:28 -0500

The photos of the Sturgeon 100 course in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are making the race look awfully tempting. Bear tracks, abandoned mines, German POW camps, road-closed signs…

(Photo by bad decision skier.)

Almanzo Tires Survey

tassava — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 20:30:30 -0500

Almanzo Tires Survey:

A great idea from the folks at the Almanzo: a little survey into tires we used at the race. I can’t wait to see the results.

Almanzo Race Report - Lundeen at Cyclova XC

tassava — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 20:30:27 -0500

Almanzo Race Report - Lundeen at Cyclova XC:

A nice short race report by a single-speeder…

This will stoke some gravel lust - the Dirty Kanza Slideshow...

tassava — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 18:55:28 -0500

This will stoke some gravel lust - the Dirty Kanza Slideshow 2013 by the Adventure Monkey, Eric Benjamin.

Gravel Grinding in Italy

tassava — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 21:08:54 -0500

Gravel Grinding in Italy:

This here is a bucket-list race: a 100km gravel race in Italy. The poster is outrageously cool.

"Bit By Almanzo" at Rouleurville

tassava — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 20:30:24 -0500

"Bit By Almanzo" at Rouleurville:

This essay by Ed Rackley has is one part Almanzo race report, two parts overview of the gravel racing scene, and one part pean to free racing. #crushgravel

Almanzo 2013 Race Report from Bike for Fun

tassava — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 20:30:27 -0500

Almanzo 2013 Race Report from Bike for Fun:

Another good Almanzo race report - this one written by the only racer I’ve ever run over.

Almanzo Race Report from Bike Jerks

tassava — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 20:30:21 -0500

Almanzo Race Report from Bike Jerks:

A great race report from Bike Jerks - relatively few words, but lots of great pictures of muddy bikes.

"Sturgeon 100" - Gravel Grinding in the U.P.

tassava — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 11:37:43 -0500

"Sturgeon 100" - Gravel Grinding in the U.P.:

This new 62 or 100-mile gravel grinder in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan sounds amazing. All those miles in the woods! I need to put this on the calendar for next year…

Almanzo Face

tassava — Thu, 30 May 2013 20:11:14 -0500

Ten minutes after finishing the Almanzo.

Almanzo Face

via WordPress http://bit.ly/141F3Ho

Almanzo Creek Crossing

tassava — Thu, 30 May 2013 20:11:13 -0500

The 2013 Almanzo 100 was as fantastic a day on the bike as could have been imagined. I’ll recount the race in more detail in another post, but one of the best moments of the event came around mile 45 or so, when we had to ford a shallow but cold little creek. The water felt great, and everyone seemed to handle the obstacle with aplomb.

Willow Creek Crossing

via WordPress http://bit.ly/115Oq3o

Eric Thompson, Almanzo 2012 winner, handling the tricky Root...

tassava — Wed, 29 May 2013 20:30:25 -0500

Eric Thompson, Almanzo 2012 winner, handling the tricky Root River crossing like a champion.

Almanzo Race Report - I Bike Mpls ("Again, I Did Not Win - or - the year Almanzo got huge")

tassava — Tue, 28 May 2013 20:30:30 -0500

Almanzo Race Report - I Bike Mpls ("Again, I Did Not Win - or - the year Almanzo got huge"):

I didn’t win either!

Almanzo Race Report from "Of Vines & Velos"

tassava — Tue, 28 May 2013 08:53:12 -0500

Almanzo Race Report from "Of Vines & Velos":

to spend a day beyond common sense

Epic Alexander Race Report at "Subject to Revision"

tassava — Mon, 27 May 2013 22:09:18 -0500

Epic Alexander Race Report at "Subject to Revision":

I think the best thing about gravel racing is that every race has stories, and every rider has a different story. The races are usually memorable based on what went wrong, rather than what went right. And it’s those stories that make it worth taking the start line again and again. So it goes without saying that The Alexander, being almost four times the length of the Almanzo 100, deserves having a long-winded story told.

#265 wouldn’t have been grinning if he’d known what...

tassava — Sun, 26 May 2013 20:05:49 -0500

#265 wouldn’t have been grinning if he’d known what was on his wheel. GIDDYUP!
(“Almanzo2013-6792.jpg” by the great CraigLindner)

Almanzo Race Report from the Gravel Shark

tassava — Sun, 26 May 2013 19:03:50 -0500

Almanzo Race Report from the Gravel Shark:

This might be my favorite race report from the 2013 Almanzo, and this might be my favorite part:

Before departing I went to the water pump to fill up. As I waited for my turn a man next to me pulled a photo out of his jersey. “This is my son, Alexander,” he shared. It was a photo of an infant, he had bright eyes and a look of wide-eyed curiosity. “Chris named The Alexander after him.” The Alexander was the 381 mile route that came to fruition this year, the newest relative to Almanzo. I commented on how adorable the baby was and how neat that the race was his namesake. The man soberly replied, “He died in January.” The details that followed stung my heart. I felt a lump swell in my throat as I didn’t know what to say. This poor father, his pain. I had noticed this man earlier as we ate. He had been sitting at a nearby table, keeping quietly to himself. A fellow cyclist walked by him and asked him if he was going to finish the ride this year, to which he commented he didn’t know. As we stood holding back tears at the well I told him I was sorry he had lost his son. I deeply admired him for riding in memorial. “This is your year,” I encouraged, “You’re going to finish the ride for Alexander.” I never saw this man again, but he drifted into my thoughts invariably as the miles rolled on. Hundreds of other cyclists that day, but this was the man I met. His story was eerily familiar to the death my family experienced in January. Fate is a strange thing. I’m not sure why God put me in that moment, but I’m certain He is trying to break my heart for a cause and that I was meant to be there in that moment with that man.

Photo

tassava — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:36:12 -0500