the overwhelming problem with professional endurance athletes (in my opinion) is the notion that the sport is there to serve them. that whatever the sport is - triathlon, bicycle road racing, gravel racing - it's got to evolve in their direction or they take issue.

in each of these sports the pros need to carve out their own place. this is what the PTO is doing. or, what it's doing now. even in the earlier moments of the PTO, that org unfortunately set itself against IRONMAN, instead of realizing that IRONMAN could be its most important strategic ally. that's still a bridge that needs to get rebuilt.

i don't see anything in lea's piece that credits these races for what they are, only criticizes these races for what they aren't. and what they aren't is what they aren't for her.

i agree with her that gravel suffers from the same problem as IRONMAN: you have to compete in a survivathon to make a living. or, this was IRONMAN's problem. about 25 years ago IRONMAN solved this by popularizing, and funding, the 70.3 distance. if i ever do produce a gravel race, the longest course will be less than 100 miles.

but i don't whine about unbound's 200 mile event. i just choose not to race it. if lea or seth or anybody else has an issue with gravel - and in both their cases the "problem" is that the pros are not sufficiently catered to - then, where's your race? show us the race you produce? when i looked around and saw races disappearing at an alarming rate, back in the mid/late 1990s, i didn't complain, i bought a truck and trailer and sent drivers around the country producing a dozen races a year, where i felt those races were needed.

less complaining. more fixing.

Don't know if anyone else noticed this trend but it seems gravel racers believe it to be cool looking to wear "jorts" (jean shorts) and button up hiking shirts when they ride. I saw a few people kitting up like this last year, but saw a lot more this year.

Maybe gravel cyclists are taking a page from the motorcyclist handbook......don't dress for the ride, dress for the crash.

There was a little more technical terrain, plus a very small water crossing on the 100/142 courses. Two sections with single and double track. Last year, I handled these with ease. This year, a deep hole took me out (for a few seconds) and I ended up with a broken rib (or two)....that hurt to finish.

The SBT GRVL initiative of All Bodies on Bikes was neat. I saw some of these folks really struggling on the hills on the course. Every time I saw one, I tried giving them encouragement. I love to see people giving it their best shot.

I was in the group with Reggie Miller for a bit. He is a strong rider.

exactly. i raced the 60 at steamboat last weekend. i don't ever race the longer races in these gravel events. i don't mind that they exist. and this is the point. i don't complain about the races other people put on. i don't complain about the distance, the money, or any of it, unless there's some obvious breaking of the social contract (it's a scam, it's unsafe). if the race is as advertised, barring an act of god, then the RD can produce what he wants and customers will vote with their feet.

me? i don't like contrived races, so, i don't like contrived features in a race to make it more difficult. but i don't mind that some RDs roll differently. i enter the races i want to enter, i don't enter those i don't want to enter, and i don't complain about the races i don't enter. if the race i want doesn't exist, i'm free to create it.

When is this happening and where can I sign up? I'll get my out of shape butt back on the bike for this.

Nah, they are doing it to be trendy. I'm old so I don't get it.

exactly. i raced the 60 at steamboat last weekend. i don't ever race the longer races in these gravel events. i don't mind that they exist. and this is the point. i don't complain about the races other people put on. i don't complain about the distance, the money, or any of it, unless there's some obvious breaking of the social contract (it's a scam, it's unsafe). if the race is as advertised, barring an act of god, then the RD can produce what he wants and customers will vote with their feet.

me? i don't like contrived races, so, i don't like contrived features in a race to make it more difficult. but i don't mind that some RDs roll differently. i enter the races i want to enter, i don't enter those i don't want to enter, and i don't complain about the races i don't enter. if the race i want doesn't exist, i'm free to create it.

The only thing that bothers me about the gravel culture is the flask thing. I was at one gravel race pre-ride and there were a group of gravel racer cool kids passing around a flask. And at least one high profile pro loves to show off drinking from a flask.

I'm not anti-alcohol. I totally get the gravel-beer connection, enjoy the post-race beer gardens, etc. Would have no problem with a post-race cocktail garden.

I just don't think drinking from a flask pre-race or mid-race is cool at all, particularly for pros.

Just wait until you see what we’re putting together for FNLD GRVL. It’s the most fun and unique gravel route I’ve ever ridden.

I think the best winery option near you is the White Horse Winery in Hammonton.

I'll see myself out now.