In recent years, the popularity of gravel biking has significantly surged. For many, it has evolved into a lifestyle, and surpassed the boundaries of being just another sport. As per Steven Rindner, as opposed to the technical demands of mountain biking or the road cycling’s focus on speed, gravel biking largely celebrates exploration, making it a very appealing sport for young cyclists of today. While the popularity of gravel biking has expanded over the last two decades or so, this activity is much older than that. Its journey started from necessity-driven rides on dirt paths, and today it is celebrated as a global movement.
Steven Rindner briefly talks about the history of gravel biking
Paved roads were rare in the 1900s. The majority of cycling routes in North America and Europe comprised of cobblestones, gravel or dirt. Hence, earlier cyclists did not have any choice but to ride on surfaces now called “gravel.” In fact, races like the Paris–Roubaix, first held in 1896, were pretty famed for their brutal, uneven terrain. These were not the speciality gravel events like the ones held today. They were simply bike races on the roads of that time. Gravel biking was not a trend in the yesteryear. It was the standard.
Fast-forward almost a century, the spirit of gravel biking started to re-emerge. But this time it was not out of necessity but rather from a renewed sense of curiosity, adventure, and challenge. This spirit was ignited largely somewhere around the early 1990s, a prime example of it being the Paris to Ancaster Bike Race, established in Ontario, Canada, in 1994. While this event was held outside the United States, its influence resonated widely among American cyclists. This event drew inspiration from some of the toughest bike races of Europe, but deliberately blended diverse terrains, like tarmac, gravel, mud, and farm fields. The unpredictable and thrilling nature of the race made it instantly popular, and marked a significant turn in gravel biking history. In many ways, it signaled a shift towards embracing more mixed-surface challenges.
Gradually, cyclists in the United States started to seek out unpaved roads for both challenge and exploration. Events like the Trans Iowa gravel race, which was held in 2005, attracted cyclists to vast, desolate gravel roads. Such early events were generally organized by local communities and played a pivotal role in fostering a unique culture that valued camaraderie and grit over traditional racing rules.
As per Steven Rindner, as more cyclists wanted to ride beyond pavement, traditional road bikes fell short. They lacked the clearance and control needed for gravel. Mountain bikes, on the other hand, were too heavy for long distances. This led to the emergence of the modern gravel bike. Gravel bicycles allow cyclists to ride on a wide variety of surfaces, with confidence, speed and comfort. These bikes have longer wheelbases and slacker geometry that allows for better stability on uneven roads, along with wider tire clearance, generally accommodating 38 mm to 50 mm tires. Gravel bikes also come equipped with mounts for racks, bags, and extra bottles, making them ideal for bikepacking and endurance riding.
