Categories: Belgian AffirmationsCyclocrossLe Graveur

Anatomy of a Graveur

Photo via F&O Forgotten Nobility

I am a road cyclist, at heart. Even when I’m in a car, I’ll daydream about riding the same road I’m driving. I’ll imagine how the tarmac might feel as my wheels carry me across it, the wind, the smells in the air. I’ll imagine how my lungs are expanding and contracting, cleansing me a little with every exhale. In my mind’s legs, I’ll feel the pressure building as I imagine myself rising out of the saddle to power over a pitch. I know I would feel the pain of such a ride, but I can’t really imagine what it would feel like. I can never really imagine pain.

The paved road is where we are the closest we will ever be to achieving flight. To restrict ourselves to tarmac, however, is to restrict ourselves to those places in this world which are most travelled. The most beautiful places do not lie at the end of such roads; they are hidden away, where those with some element of imagination might venture to look for them. A two-lane dirt track, perhaps, or a forest road that winds off beyond the damp forest and on to places unknown.

On gravel and dirt, we find a completely different sensation from that on the road. Certainly, many of the elements are still there, but the terrain demands a different kind of harmony; we dart along from one side of the road to another, looking for the best bits where the holes are smaller and the gravel is held together more. The dust or mud kicked up by our tires hovers in the air about us and covers our lips, teeth, and tongue. Suddenly, we taste the road as much as feel it.

Being away from traffic and in the wilderness awakens something primal in our spirits. The smell of damp dirt, moss, and bark or the baking scent of dry pine needles flushes the city from your senses and immediately awakens a calmer Self. My soul is at peace when I return home from such a ride.

The road is where my heart lies, but gravel is where I find my soul.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

frank says:

Aug 18 2013 at 10:34 am

@Nate

Can we talk about tires? What do people like in the 27-28 mm range?

FMB Paris-Roubaix.

@Weldertron

I mentioned it in "The Rides", but the Dirty 40 is coming up in VT in a few weeks. Looks like a blast. and it's a 10$ race!

Sounds awesome! There's also one in Montana that I can't remember the name of. One year, I'd love to do them all. There are some in Oregon as well. And, of course, two at least in Minnesota; the Almanzo even got it's own tire made by Challenge, which is basically a clincher version of the Dugast Pipisquallo I ride on gravel.
frank says:

Aug 18 2013 at 10:39 am

@MattS

Having grown up on mtbs, it's no surprise I developed a love for unpaved roads after a few years of 'road.' In my area, most of the best roads are unpaved. I love 35mm tires for them, like Clement USH, tubeless. But for exploring new terrain, especially solo, I am digging my Niner MCR with drop bars and 2.0 Schwalbe Furious Freds. It's a gravel grinder on roids. I can ride it fast enough everywhere to make it ideal Velo Tout Terrain (VTT). It was in fact inspired by a dented rim during last year's D2R2.

I'm hitting the Dirty 40 with a couple teammates; can't wait!

For 28s, my answer depends on surfaces. The Grand Bois and Challenge offerings are very fast, but can't handle pointy stuff. Vittoria's 27 is a bit more durable. Hutchy has a new tubeless 28, the Secteur 28, which I am most keen to try for races like Battenkill.

A 29er with drop bars you say? Now that's a mountain bike I can get behind! Johnny T - the closest thing Cycling will ever have to a Rock Star - was the coolest cat ever to roll fat tires.

[dmalbum: path="/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2013.08.18.10.38.44/1//"/]
RedRanger says:

Aug 18 2013 at 10:42 am

@MattS I would love to see pictures of that
frank says:

Aug 18 2013 at 10:46 am

@gregorio

@Weldertron

@gregorio

During the last year I've collected enough parts from upgrading my road bike to assemble a build kit. My VMH has decreed that I MUST build my gravel machine with a frame that is less than $1000 - which to my mind means steel. Anyone out there in V - Land have some ideas for a steel frame of this price point?

Any particular reason to stay away from Alu?

Not especially. I'm open to that possibility, but also remember the ride quality of my first steel racer 30 yrs ago. I've read about recent innovations in forming and manipulating alu that have resulted in improved ride quality. Suggestions?

I think weight is a bigger concern than people give credit both on gravel and on CX; you're lifting your bike a lot in CX and on gravel you want it light enough to bounce over the terrain. Its not very romantic, but I've heard people actually have had great luck with the Performance brands of Carbon frames - and Nashbar does a no-brand carbon frame that is actually an unbranded Ridley. Those can be had in your price point for sure, Rule 58 notwithstanding.
frank says:

Aug 18 2013 at 10:50 am

@ChrisO Keep this shit up and you are on the path to banishment, Mr. You know this kind of posting only results in Marcus posting pictures of his prosthetic todger.
revchuck says:

Aug 18 2013 at 11:34 am

@Nate I've used Conti Grand Prix 700x28s twice for Rouge-Roubaix. They worked fine, and have the advantage of being decently fast on pavement.
revchuck says:

Aug 18 2013 at 11:45 am

@frank

@gregorio

@Weldertron

@gregorio

During the last year I've collected enough parts from upgrading my road bike to assemble a build kit. My VMH has decreed that I MUST build my gravel machine with a frame that is less than $1000 - which to my mind means steel. Anyone out there in V - Land have some ideas for a steel frame of this price point?

Any particular reason to stay away from Alu?

Not especially. I'm open to that possibility, but also remember the ride quality of my first steel racer 30 yrs ago. I've read about recent innovations in forming and manipulating alu that have resulted in improved ride quality. Suggestions?

I think weight is a bigger concern than people give credit both on gravel and on CX; you're lifting your bike a lot in CX and on gravel you want it light enough to bounce over the terrain. Its not very romantic, but I've heard people actually have had great luck with the Performance brands of Carbon frames - and Nashbar does a no-brand carbon frame that is actually an unbranded Ridley. Those can be had in your price point for sure, Rule #58 notwithstanding.

Something to note in using a road frame for this is that you may run into a problem with either the frame or the brakes constricting the size tire you can fit. I ran the above-mentioned 700x28s on a Specialized Allez E5 frameset with Ultegra 6600 brakes, and they barely fit - the tires almost rubbed the underside of the brakes. Width was no problem.

Having written that, yeah, go with alu. It's lighter and doesn't rust.
Ron says:

Aug 18 2013 at 11:48 am

Very nicely put, Frank!

I've had a cx bike for two years now and I'm constantly reminded how wonderful it is to have the option to hit the woods or the fire trails. Nothing beats being in the woods at twilight or as the sun comes up. And, wow, it is so damn nice to not have to deal with cagers.

Road cycling is wonderful, but I love having a second option of where to turn the cranks.
Ron says:

Aug 18 2013 at 12:00 pm

@frank

@gregorio

@Weldertron

@gregorio

During the last year I've collected enough parts from upgrading my road bike to assemble a build kit. My VMH has decreed that I MUST build my gravel machine with a frame that is less than $1000 - which to my mind means steel. Anyone out there in V - Land have some ideas for a steel frame of this price point?

Any particular reason to stay away from Alu?

Not especially. I'm open to that possibility, but also remember the ride quality of my first steel racer 30 yrs ago. I've read about recent innovations in forming and manipulating alu that have resulted in improved ride quality. Suggestions?

I think weight is a bigger concern than people give credit both on gravel and on CX; you're lifting your bike a lot in CX and on gravel you want it light enough to bounce over the terrain. Its not very romantic, but I've heard people actually have had great luck with the Performance brands of Carbon frames - and Nashbar does a no-brand carbon frame that is actually an unbranded Ridley. Those can be had in your price point for sure, Rule #58 notwithstanding.

My cx bike is an Al/carbon frameset, very nice ride and darn light.

Yes, definitely not romantic but I have a 'bar steel cross bike that I use as my commuter. I had the 2011 model until the ST cracked. Now I have the 2013 and it's actually a nicer bike and the ride on 28s is pretty darn smooth and nice. Crappy wheels but mine gets locked up. A nice bike for the price, especially with the 5700 105 parts. Also, if you toss on some better parts in the cockpit you can shave a bunch of weight. Added bonus for me - the dark red color is the same as the Giant Boulder that I bought with my own lawn mowing money in 7th grade.

Despite my inclination towards beautiful bicycles, it is nice to have at least one so-so bike that I don't have to worry about banging, nicking paint, etc.
Weldertron says:

Aug 18 2013 at 12:02 pm

@frank

@gregorio

@Weldertron

@gregorio

During the last year I've collected enough parts from upgrading my road bike to assemble a build kit. My VMH has decreed that I MUST build my gravel machine with a frame that is less than $1000 - which to my mind means steel. Anyone out there in V - Land have some ideas for a steel frame of this price point?

Any particular reason to stay away from Alu?

Not especially. I'm open to that possibility, but also remember the ride quality of my first steel racer 30 yrs ago. I've read about recent innovations in forming and manipulating alu that have resulted in improved ride quality. Suggestions?

I think weight is a bigger concern than people give credit both on gravel and on CX; you're lifting your bike a lot in CX and on gravel you want it light enough to bounce over the terrain. Its not very romantic, but I've heard people actually have had great luck with the Performance brands of Carbon frames - and Nashbar does a no-brand carbon frame that is actually an unbranded Ridley. Those can be had in your price point for sure, Rule #58 notwithstanding.

I'm still wary of carbon frames in cross for the non-sponsored rider. One trip up on a barrier and you could be looking at a broken frame. I know aluminum and steel can dent, but I think it's been proven a lateral impact to a lightweight carbon frame might have some adverse affects.

That nashbar frame isn't a bad deal for the starter. At that price it's almost disposable.