Categories: Accessories and GearBreaking The RulesLe GraveurTechnique

Le Graveur: The Margins

I just got turned back from a ride. 5k from the house I realized my bits were getting too cold not only for comfort (in which case, apply Rule #5 and move on) but safety (i’ll take my vasectomy in the hospital, thank you very much). It’s a lovely sunny day, the only problems being the minus 12C temp, biting headwind, and leg warmers that stop mid-thigh. Having to pull the plug on a ride is a bummer. Thankfully, it doesn’t happen all too often and I’ve still got the rollers set up in the house. But the silver lining here is that it was only my 4th or 5th training ride of the year for the Heck of the North which is still 7 months away.

Some would say gravel riding is here to stay. Others would say gravel riding has always been a part of cycling and all we’re doing now is applying intention to it. It’s undeniable though that the gravel scene has taken on a prominent role in cycling of late. From open-registration races all over the world to the Strade Bianche, graveling has ignited a passion in many of us. Riding dirt roads has a certain unique aesthetic, an aesthetic that is best described as taking place on the margins.

The tarmac, as we move further from the center of town, gives way increasingly to gravel. As the rider begins to stitch together longer gravel stretches of road he needs to go further out on the margin of the city until finally, any reminders of the city are gone. This is where the margin is blurred between “civilization” and “wilderness”. The Graveur’s bike is marginally a road bike. Road bikes can be fitted with wider tires but are limited by frame and fork design as well as clearance at the caliper. Cyclocross bikes can run with skinny tires which is usually preferred and then we’re left often with a higher BB, heavier bike, and a position that’s closer to sit up and beg. Only just recently have bicycle companies begun to manufacture equipment intended specifically for the booming gravel scene. But even still, the rider has to select a hodge-podge of gear from road, cross, and even MTB that will suit his needs and the particulars of the course.

This year, I’m experimenting with new bars. I’ve decided to give the Salsa Cowbell a spin. Maybe you’ve seen bars like this on Randoneur and drop-bar 29er’s common in the adventure bike and UltraCX scene. I’m trying to achieve a few things with these flared bars: flat hood-to-top area while maintaining horizontal drop, more upright position with a shallow drop, lot’s of drop for secure grip, and leverage provided by wider-than-Lampre-Man 46mm span. Gianni recently referred to the geographically curated bike as a “Terroir Bike”. I like this turn of phrase.

Toeing up to the start of a gravel race can result in sensory overload of Rule-breaking gauche. Riders operating on the margins of The Rules show up with frame bags and EPMS’s, Camelbaks, zero saddle/stem drop, facial hair, MTB shoes, and even aero bars. The list goes on of Rule violations. Be mindful though that Rules are often bent consciously and broken for geography, practicality and self-reliance. The most Rule compliant of Velominati on the road may seemingly be found out on the margins of decorum riding gravel. Don’t be too quick to judge.

It is the margins that attracted me to gravel riding and is partly what keeps me excited about it. For one, I have little choice in terms of the roads I have to ride. I live on a gravel road that mostly leads to other gravel roads. I’m closer to the margin of wilderness than civilization. Graveling is a necessity if I want more places to ride. Keeper status aside, I’ve always been one to eschew rules and authority and go against the grain. Gravel riding allows me a damn good reason to blur the Rules from time to time to see what works. Here are a few Rules worth breaking when it comes to gravel road riding:

Rule #29. If you’re way out on the margins you just may need the extra space for tools or food.
Rule #32. Two bidons won’t cut it often times. So unless you have the ability to filter or treat water, try a hydro pack or frame bag.
Rule #34. You will find yourself walking or running out there. Wear shoes that allow this.
Rule #44. I’ve found, especially on technical trails and ultraCX, that less drop reduces fatigue and improves visibility over a long ride.
Rule #50. I live in the woods, hipster. I’m growing a fucking beard and riding my bike if I damn well please.
Rule #52. Pfft.
Rule #54. I haven’t done this and won’t. But the guy that won the Heck in 2012 had aerobars and used them. Just sayin’.
Rule #61. I ride a Fizik Antares VS on my gravel bike and appreciate the extra padding (although the saddle is compliant).
Rule #68. It’s been said riding gravel saps an additional 10% of energy and thus requires an additional 10% of V over a course of the same distance of tarmac. Therefore, the quality of your ride will be 11% more on gravel. That’s one higher.

Vie la vie Velominatus

Marko

Marko lives and rides in the upper midwest of the States, Minnesota specifically. "Cycling territory" and "the midwest" don't usually end up in the same sentence unless the conversation turns to the roots of LeMond, Hampsten, Heiden and Ochowitz. While the pavé and bergs of Flanders are his preferred places to ride, you can usually find him harvesting gravel along forest and farm roads. He owes a lot to Cycling and his greatest contribution to cycling may forever be coining the term Rainbow Turd.

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View Comments

Endurimil says:

Mar 29 2014 at 7:51 pm

@Marko

@Endurimil Like this?

Kind of . But picture it on a 85 Stumpjumper with gleaming bull moose bars. Around blind corner of no longer active logging road. Back in the classic days .
G'rilla says:

Mar 29 2014 at 10:15 pm

The three most beautiful words in the English language:

Bike Race Tomorrow.
Teocalli says:

Mar 30 2014 at 1:50 am

@gaswepass

@Endurimil

One hasn't lived till they tried to T Bone a bear at 14 bombing down a logging road.

Isnt that kind of a moot point?

I guess the key to it is doing it and living to tell the tale!
Teocalli says:

Mar 30 2014 at 1:59 am

@G'rilla

The three most beautiful words in the English language:

Bike Race Tomorrow.

Bike Ride Today?
Endurimil says:

Mar 30 2014 at 7:54 am

@Teocalli

@gaswepass

@Endurimil

One hasn't lived till they tried to T Bone a bear at 14 bombing down a logging road.

Isnt that kind of a moot point?

I guess the key to it is doing it and living to tell the tale!

Yep.

Last year had a Turkey fly head height across the road and try to take me out here in Kingston.
G'rilla says:

Mar 30 2014 at 1:52 pm

3rd from last. Two places better than last year!
Puffy says:

Mar 30 2014 at 7:20 pm

@frank

Riding gravel roads out in the cascades is so incredibly awesome. You're basically on a road bike with wide tires, no cars, no assholes throwing shit at you. You see a moto come by every now and again and give eachother a nod.

One of my all time favorite shots from a ride I did last summer. You can't find this shit on tarmac. (click for enlarged photo)

Can, and do. But I hear ya.

Eg, Victorian High Country
Puffy says:

Mar 30 2014 at 7:37 pm

@Marko

@Ccos Perhaps another way to look at this is that some Rules just don't apply given the circumstance of the terroir. Shorter, less marginal rides will find me totally Rule compliant on the gravel bike. Two small bidons, road shoes, and everything packed nicely in jersey pockets. But when required for self-reliance and certain trails on farther flung rides those lines start to blur.

I way I understand it, The Rules only truely apply to road racing (style machines, maybe you don't race) anyway. A commuter, My Mrs and her flat bar for riding to the park with the kids, MTB etc aren't the disciplines where the rules are aimed, nor intended. It makes perfect sense that with road bikes one end, and MTB the other end of the scale, the more you move toward MTB, the less and less The Rules apply. Long range/remote area Gravour-ing... one would be forgiven for rule violations that are taken in order to permit the activity to be conducted in a safe manner.
Endurimil says:

Mar 30 2014 at 7:47 pm

@Marko

@Ccos Perhaps another way to look at this is that some Rules just don't apply given the circumstance of the terroir. Shorter, less marginal rides will find me totally Rule compliant on the gravel bike. Two small bidons, road shoes, and everything packed nicely in jersey pockets. But when required for self-reliance and certain trails on farther flung rides those lines start to blur.

Don't know if this qualifies as a EPMS so will leave it to you. However the guys at Backcountry Research came out with this this year.

http://www.backcountryresearch.com/CAMRATBRROAD-SADDLE-MOUNT_p_70.html

Which is a downsized version of their XC racing version. Use last years version on the MTB and no problems yet. Even tried it on the Kaffenback to see what happened And held everything in place no prob.

http://www.backcountryresearch.com/RACE-3BRMTB-SADDLE-MOUNT_p_36.html

The road version I believe only fits a 700c tube and maybe a CO2.
The Grande Fondue says:

Mar 31 2014 at 4:09 am

@Ccos

@frank

@Ccos

Well since the door's been opened: Can rule violations be given some sort of hiarchy? For example those determining rider behavior trump those governing rider aesthetics which then trump those governing bike aesthetics. Violations of the rules could then only be entertained if done in order to preserve a higher rule. There are sins and there are cardinal sins after all. Not hardening the fuck up will still have dire consequences.

I for one will restrain, but you know, on those rare occasions...

Let me see here, what's the phrase I'm looking for? Oh, right: FUCK OFF!

I reject the premise and the question; this sort of thing can result in excommunication, you know. Even just asking these sorts of questions.

I done some more thinking on this (re: just had a beer). What is needed here is some guidance. Now I have a riding buddy who, save for garishly colored and inappropriately long brake cables, is rule compliant and 100% badass (he bought a snow bike just to match the insulated boots his wife got him for Christmas and routinely puts in 16k/year in New England). Last year on a ride he flatted and didn't have a repair kit (ours were neatly stowed in our back pockets). Rather than use ours, he phoned his son who in three minutes was on the scene with a replacement bike (100% true story). Now this bike was a complete freak show of rule violations. Because he is a badass and because both his behavior and appearance were rule complaint we continued to ride with him (although we offered profusely to repair his tire in some degree of despair). Had he also taken the opportunity to change into Daisy Dukes and a cut-off t-shirt, we would have bailed on him for sure. Were we wrong?

Imagine this as George Carlin's "would dat den be a sin Fahda?" routine.

The rules are in order for a reason.

Rule #6 explains exactly what to do in these circumstances.