Gravel Rides

[oliver1850]

I've been thinking about putting some of the local gravel roads together into a loop route for a couple of months. Around here you can't go a tremendous distance on gravel without eventually running into an oiled road. In the 36 miles I rode Thursday, 5 or 6 miles of oiled roads connected the gravel, with the longest continuous gravel section being 13 miles. The surfaces varied from safe for 20+ mph to barely passable. I walked a bit of the section with the boulders, not feeling safe clipped in with Look delta pedals, and not able to pedal effectively unclipped. It's been very dry all spring, some of these roads would be nicer to ride if they were moister and more packed down. Hay making is unheard of in April, June is more usual, but I saw some baled today. Feel free to add your gravel road pics.

[oliver1850]

a few more

[maxn]

looks like fun! Last picture on the first post looks ... exciting

[thinpin]

Nice, all very straight though. Any windy bits?

[jerome]

where is that ?

I have hear of the Trans Alabana and another event in Utah on July 14th.
I would love to participate.
Will need a team for that.

best

[oliver1850]

Most of the roads around here are layed out in a grid, often at 1 mile intervals. There are a few that follow trails that predate the grid, and some detour around natural features, but most are straight. Not much wind today. Three of us were supposed to ride Tuesday, but no one did due to high winds.

Max: I rode that section. Ended up walking 100m or so on the uphill section in the background.

Jerome: All the little creeks I crossed are the headwaters of the Spoon River in Illinois.

[jpw]

Nice terrain.

What sort of bike, wheels, tires, do you favor for that type of surface?

[Liv2RideHard]

Thanks for sharing man. I wish I had roads like that around me. What kind of machine were you on?

[Matt-H]

Beautiful pics. Those are some roads to clear the mind for a while and enjoy the countryside.

[FastVegan]

Great pictures. We should organize a ride out there.
Illinois is more than da' bulls and corrupt governors.

[redir]

Thats some nasty looking gravel, even the smaller stuff. I often ride gravel where I live as it's the only way to connect to other roads but it's typically packed well, at least where the car tires go, and could be better described as dirt roads. That is of course till the come in once or every other year and lay the fresh stuff down.

It's those occasional loose bits that give you the snake bites.

[Bob Loblaw]

Great pictures! Looks like an awesome day.

BL

[Fixed]

Thanks for sharing man. I wish I had roads like that around me. What kind of machine were you on?

+1
cheers looks like fun :)

[skijoring]

Great photos and report. You have a spare bedroom, right?

[David Kirk]

I love riding dirt and gravel and would say that about 30% of my mileage in on backcountry dirt. The best time of year to ride the dirt here is in the spring and fall when it is damp and smooth as mid summer tends to get too dry and dusty and the roads can get washboarded.

We are luck to have some great dirt just a few miles from the house and i almost always have a few of my own 'spring classics' moments when hammering on them. For some odd reason I can push myself harder and go deeper on a dirt road that I can paved. No idea why but I like it.

Here are a few shots from this past winter.

Dave

http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/IMG_6811.jpg
http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/IMG_6818.jpg
http://www.kirkframeworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/IMG_6821.jpg

[jr59]

Dang Dave,

I thought I was going to see the deer and the cat photo again! :mad:

Besides the hills and snow. :p It looks like fun.

[reidbeloni]

Beautiful, thanks!

[chwupper]

Wow -- awesome pics. Makes me want to get out of Chicago and get some country air in my lungs. Who needs Tuscany? :p

[gomango]

Nice pics everyone!!!!

Until a recent fall which resulted in three cracked ribs, I had been planning on doing the Almonzo 100.

The Almonzo 100 is a gravel road race/event that takes place in southern Minnesota in May.

http://www.almanzo.com/

I don't have permission to use Chris's pics, so you'll just have to dig through his outstanding blog.

If you are into gravel, and you should be, a trip to his site is well worth your effort.

[David Kirk]

Dang Dave,

I thought I was going to see the deer and the cat photo again! :mad:

Besides the hills and snow. :p It looks like fun.

Dis one?

dave

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/457413_337053436356042_100001541648675_953305_4685 6567_o.jpg

[jr59]

Dis one?

dave

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/457413_337053436356042_100001541648675_953305_4685 6567_o.jpg


Now we talking!

I really do like this pic. Not sure what it has to do with bikes, but worth showing!

[GRAVELBIKE]

Gravel riding is a waste of time. Don't do it. Honest. Move along, nothing to see here. ;)

[oliver1850]

thanks for all the comments.

jpw, Live2RideHard: I rode my steel Primus Mootry CX. I built it with stuff that was lying around, Record crank, Veloce 9 levers, Mirage 8 RD, New Success FD, Kenda Kommando 35c tires. It was about right for this ride, but would have liked a lower gear than the 39/23 and less saddle to bar drop. I would have preferred my (better fitting) Cannondale but the Mootry was ready to go and the Cannondale had no wheels on it. Site won't let me upload a pic.

Dave K: thanks for the pics. Everyone should check out Dave's blog occasionally as there's always something interesting posted there.

Dave P and chwupper: you guys are always welcome to come out and ride, even on short notice. It's a 2 hr. train ride if you don't want to drive. I can always come up with a loaner bike.

Grady: Sorry to hear about your fall, hope the Kvales are unscathed.

skijoring: sure do, you are welcome to share it with the bikes that are the regular occupants

redir: The roads would normally be packed better. Some of them had just been dragged, which brings up more loose stuff. It's so dry that vehicle traffic won't pack that loose stuff right now.

[gomango]

I rode my steel Primus Mootry CX. I built it with stuff that was lying around, Record crank, Veloce 9 levers, Mirage 8 RD, New Success FD, Kenda Kommando 35c tires. It was about right for this ride, but would have liked a lower gear than the 39/23 and less saddle to bar drop. I would have preferred my (better fitting) Cannondale but the Mootry was ready to go and the Cannondale had no wheels on it. Site won't let me upload a pic.

Dave K: thanks for the pics

Dave P and chwupper: you guys are always welcome to come out and ride, even on short notice. It's a 2 hr. train ride if you don't want to drive. I can always come up with a loaner bike.

Grady: Sorry to hear about your fall, hope the Kvales are unscathed.

Thanks!

The Kvale's were home tucked away safely.

I was on my Colnago Elegant when the guy ran the red.

The bicycle landed on me after the flip.

Lucky, I think.

Just ripped up a really nice Record ti Ergo.

.and cracked a Bell Volt.

Not to mention the dents on a 53 year old rider.

[Scuzzer]

All the little creeks I crossed are the headwaters of the Spoon River in Illinois.

So you're not far from where I grew up riding. Back then (25-30 years ago) the biggest hazard was farm dogs and figuring out which ones were chasers and which ones were biters.

The second biggest hazard was rednecks in pickups who enjoyed messing with the guy wearing lycra.

[oliver1850]

I think people are more aware of liability, so not so many bad dogs running loose these days. I didn't have any chase on this ride, but have one about 3 miles from home that's a real problem. You don't need to be wearing lycra to be considered weird, just being on a bike is enough. I had a p/u follow me for 7 miles on a ride last winter. The sun had set and I had lights on the bike, but maybe they thought they were helping me out with their headlights. No contact other than following, and they eventually went around me. It's really not much of an issue in general, people are usually courteous and often give me the whole lane when passing.

[chwupper]

thanks for all the comments.

Dave P and chwupper: you guys are always welcome to come out and ride, even on short notice. It's a 2 hr. train ride if you don't want to drive. I can always come up with a loaner bike.



Might in fact take you up on this closer to summer!

[oliver1850]

chwupper: Company is always welcome. We're having a thunderstorm right now, so I'm hoping the roads will be packed a bit better in a couple of days.

Here's the Mootry. Pic taken on last Sunday's ride. It's a lot dirtier now.

[RFC]

I have been doing a good deal of gravel grinding lately. Here are photos, posted elsewhere, from one of my grinds about two weeks ago in the northeastern outskirts of the Phoenix Metro area.

Yesterday, late afternoon/early evening, I had a chance to do a 42 mile gravel grind (12 to and from trail head and 30 on the gravel) from Pima Road east along the Salt River Project canal through the Pima Reservation agricultural lands to Granite Reef Dam. There are gravel roads on both sides of the canal. The road on the south is the SRP access road and in fairly good consistent shape. The north road is for access to the adjoining fields and in varying condition, including fast packed dirt and small gravel, washboard and washouts, a few small steep hills, and moderately technical deeply rutted rocky road with piles of cobblestones, not to mention a few gates that have to be jumped.

It was a perfect day. I decided to take the more difficult north out and the south road back when my ass hurt. A good decision.

For someone like me who is a road biker first, this is a great way to see the countryside while getting an excellent workout. And my grinder 1.5 inch Avocet Cross tires did just fine. I only had to get off the bike once when I washed in the piles of loose gravel on one of the small hills.




http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/RCopple/SRPCanel4r.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/RCopple/SRPCanel18r.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/RCopple/SRPCanel12r.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/RCopple/SRPCanel13r.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/RCopple/SRPCanel22r.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/RCopple/SRPCanel29r.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/RCopple/SRPCanel27r2.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/RCopple/SRPCanel40r.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/RCopple/SRPCanelr1.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/RCopple/SRPCanel34r.jpg

[Matt-H]

This thread was an inspiration to put together some gravel/dirt sectors of one of my favorite areas to ride. After a bunch of the typical short, steep climbs the area has to offer, the last 25 miles of the ride was along the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers' canal paths. Unfortunately, the camera sat back at the house where I had left it. Gorgeous ride, though!

[Gummee]

Sadly, lots and lots of the gravel roads in the greater DC area are paved over. There's some out west of Gainesville, a few west of me outside Nokesville, more in Culpeper Co. Unfortunately, lots of the gravel is a hike from me. :cry

That reminds me... I need to to explorating in/near Bull Run Mtn. Anyone in the DC area wanna go out next Sat?

M

[GRAVELBIKE]

Portions of Saturday's ride:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5159/7078164891_c73ac86b62.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/justridingalong/7078164891/)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/7078165211_cf5db73c18.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/justridingalong/7078165211/)

[singlecross]

Beautiful day today to go to the gravel... especially when they are closed fireroads through a National Park... had the place all to myself.

singlecross

[Ken Robb]

I wouldn't mind gravel roads getting paved if they still had the same low volume of motorized traffic as before they were paved.

[singlecross]

I wouldn't mind gravel roads getting paved if they still had the same low volume of motorized traffic as before they were paved.

The nicest thing about gravel roads (other than the low traffic volume) is how nice they are to ride in the rain. Pavement pools the water on top while gravel lets it soak in. I get a lot wetter riding on paved roads during and after a rain than on gravel... even with fenders.

singlecross

[csm]

we're planning a ride down the pa grand canyon on the rail trail. turns out there's a motel about half-way....

[palincss]

I wouldn't mind gravel roads getting paved if they still had the same low volume of motorized traffic as before they were paved.

I would. People don't ride horses or exercise packs of fox hounds on paved roads the way they do on the gravel roads in NoVA horse country.

And besides, once they're paved you know the volume of motorized traffic is going to go up.

[witcombusa]

I would. People don't ride horses or exercise packs of fox hounds on paved roads the way they do on the gravel roads in NoVA horse country.

And besides, once they're paved you know the volume of motorized traffic is going to go up.

Speaking of dirt/gravel roads in VA, are you going to ride...

Le Cirque du Cyclisme Cyclosportive in Leesburg come June? It promises 50% of the good stuff on 35, 65 or 100 mile loops.

See more here;

https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15915

[tiretrax]

I have done some gravel rides recently organized by the Spinistry.com. Great stuff. I agree that they are more enjoyable than road riding - less traffic to fight, more scenic, and the riders seem to be more laid back, even though they are organized as races. Unfortunately, my son woke up in the middle of the night last week, so I missed the most recent ride.

If you're in a few hours of the Dallas/Fort Worth area (central or north Texas, Oklahoma, western Louisiana), check 'em out. It's worth the trip.

[oliver1850]

RFC: what's growing in those fields?

Matt-H: Glad you had a nice ride, next time take your camera.

Gummee: I noticed the same thing here when I went looking for gravel, so much of it has been paved. There's a road near me that I remember getting stuck on in high school. The car sunk up to the floorboards. It's a 78,000 lb semi road now. As has been mentioned, lots more traffic and moving a lot faster.

Gravelbike: Tell us about that trail in the 2nd pic. It looks like it was gravelled just for bikes, was it? How long is it, and how much of that is around Boulder?

Singlecross: That looks great. I assume Acadia will have a lot more traffic in the summer during family vacation time. How many miles of fire road are there?

[rounder]

Good story. Good pictures. It is nice here where i ride, but there are no roads here like that.

[GRAVELBIKE]

Gravelbike: Tell us about that trail in the 2nd pic. It looks like it was gravelled just for bikes, was it? How long is it, and how much of that is around Boulder?



That's the Mayhoffer Singletree trail. It connects to several miles of trails around Boulder and Superior. It's a regular part of my commute:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7232/6863945160_f7d331b0ee.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/justridingalong/6863945160/)

[RFC]

RFC: what's growing in those fields?

Matt-H: Glad you had a nice ride, next time take your camera.

Gummee: I noticed the same thing here when I went looking for gravel, so much of it has been paved. There's a road near me that I remember getting stuck on in high school. The car sunk up to the floorboards. It's a 78,000 lb semi road now. As has been mentioned, lots more traffic and moving a lot faster.

Gravelbike: Tell us about that trail in the 2nd pic. It looks like it was gravelled just for bikes, was it? How long is it, and how much of that is around Boulder?

Singlecross: That looks great. I assume Acadia will have a lot more traffic in the summer during family vacation time. How many miles of fire road are there?

Believe it or not, I think it is rice grown in the Desert. The Tribe has an enormous water right. They also grow cotton.

[ckamp]

Mark, those are some great gravel photos. Some of the roads look more like gravel to cobble in size.

Next time I hit the gravel I will take some photos. Good work!

[kceb_cire]

These rides look like so much fun!
There are a few gravel paths on my commute to work and I always take those over the paved bike lane right next to them. Much better.
A few shots from I can't remember where in the back country of Orange County, CA. Could be Blackstar? Some people looked at me strange since I was on a road bike.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/197411_10150121180914855_511879854_6307570_6725178 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/190277_10150121181339855_511879854_6307573_2001686 _n.jpg

[singlecross]

Singlecross: That looks great. I assume Acadia will have a lot more traffic in the summer during family vacation time. How many miles of fire road are there?

Acadia has 51 miles of gravel carriage roads on the East side of the Island and another 15 miles of fireroads on the west side. The Island is busiest between July 4th and Labor Day but I've never found it to be unrideable. The Eagle Lake carriage road loop and Cadillac Mountain are the two exceptions during peak season.

singlecross

[majl]

I look forward to this trip every year.

http://majl.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v28/p923125386-4.jpg

http://majl.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v19/p1018179541-4.jpg

http://majl.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v28/p668846569-4.jpg

http://majl.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v19/p674702857-4.jpg

http://majl.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v30/p55860636-4.jpg

http://majl.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v37/p46984914-4.jpg

http://majl.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v36/p468778405-4.jpg

http://majl.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v35/p518793730-4.jpg

[oliver1850]

great roads, where are they?

[tiretrax]

That is rice. Crazier things happen in agriculture.

For the DC area, ride the C&O canal pathway. Nothing exciting, but it's fun to ride up to Great Falls and beyond and picnic.

[majl]

great roads, where are they?
Uruguay, in the countryside north of Maldonado.

[RFC]

I am definitely going to get up to the the AZ high country this spring for grinding. Great gravel up on the Mogollon Rim.

[mtb_frk]

I find myself riding my local dirt roads more than anything else. We recently moved out into the "country" and have miles of low traffic roads to explore right out my door.
On one ride it was right around freezing and I was having problems with mud collecting between my tire and fender. I stopped to clean it out, and as I was working on it a car went past. I didn't really pay much attention to it though. Then a couple minutes later I hear a car coming from the other direction so I look up and it was the same car. So I move a bit more off the road and the woman driving the car pulls along side of me and asks if I need any help. I told her I was ok and she turned back around and went on her way. That was the first time that has ever happend to me. Usually it is someone being a jerk.

I am also enjoying the increase in dirt road races of late, and starting to think about how nice a dedicated dirt road bike would be.

[tiretrax]

I am ... starting to think about how nice a dedicated dirt road bike would be.
Money well spent. I suggest a Ti CX bike. I love my Seven.

[Gummee]

I am definitely going to get up to the the AZ high country this spring for grinding. Great gravel up on the Mogollon Rim.There's a metric s-ton of gravel roads around Flag. I did lots of mixed surface rides living there.

Much better than the road riding!

M

[RFC]

There's a metric s-ton of gravel roads around Flag. I did lots of mixed surface rides living there.

Much better than the road riding!

M

Yes! Flag will also be on the list for spring rides.

[esldude]

So what makes a great gravel road bike? My obvious guess is a CX bike. Any other things you guys on gravel can chime in on?

When young I rode lots of gravel and game trails with a Murray bananna seat bike (3 speed). Seems a singletrack type bike might be good. But my love is road bikes and CX seems like the closer fit.

My other guess would be cross country type mountain bikes.

[rwsaunders]

we're planning a ride down the pa grand canyon on the rail trail. turns out there's a motel about half-way....

I've canoed from Ansonia to Waterville a few times...that route should make for a great bike ride.

[RFC]

So what makes a great gravel road bike? My obvious guess is a CX bike. Any other things you guys on gravel can chime in on?

When young I rode lots of gravel and game trails with a Murray bananna seat bike (3 speed). Seems a singletrack type bike might be good. But my love is road bikes and CX seems like the closer fit.

My other guess would be cross country type mountain bikes.

A very erudite question.

Conceptually, you are looking for a setup that gives you performance and comfort for the long haul. The definition is broad. The answer is what works for you and the chosen terrain.

I have ridden gravel on:

1) Bianchi Volpe SS with 30mm Panaracer tires (mixed surface and moderate/groomed gravel)

2) Trek 660 criterium geo with 30mm cross tires (same as above)

3) 2000 Litespeed Appalachian CX with 37mm Pasela tires

4) 1990 Ti MTB with drop bars and bar ends and 1.5 Avocet Cross tires

Then, there are the questions of:

1) 26 MTB v. 700 CX v. 29er (the same as 700)

2) Drop bars v. straight bars

3) Compact crank v. triple

4) etc.

[Liv2RideHard]

Seeing all y'alls pics is making my mouth water. Where I live (east side of Orlando) those types of surfaces and terrain just do not exist. Man I really wish we had wide open space like that. Another reason we want to move!

[mtb_frk]

I was thinking a cross frame made from stainless steel, disc brakes, fender mounts and the rear spaced at 132.5 or whatever it is so I can run either road or mountain wheels. I ride all winter so the stainless frame would be nice. Also as muddy as it was this year I think the disc brakes would be good. I hate the sound of pads grinding on my rims.

For now though it is my orbea cx bike with home made fender mounts.

[RFC]

You need the Salsa Ti Vaya

[nighthawk]

Yes! Flag will also be on the list for spring rides.

I used to live just west of Flag in a town called "Parks"... Check out the dirt Forest Service roads around there... Kaibab and Coconino National Forest... golden prairies and rolling hills.. truly exceptional landscape... and you'll undoubtedly run into Elk, Antelope.. and I've even seen tarantula and bear out there. Crazy country.

[tiretrax]

I used to live just west of Flag in a town called "Parks"... Check out the dirt Forest Service roads around there... Kaibab and Coconino National Forest... golden prairies and rolling hills.. truly exceptional landscape... and you'll undoubtedly run into Elk, Antelope.. and I've even seen tarantula and bear out there. Crazy country.

That's a beautiful area. I had the pleasure of visiting a ranch just north of the Twin Arrows for a few days.

[tiretrax]

I was thinking a cross frame made from stainless steel, disc brakes, fender mounts and the rear spaced at 132.5 or whatever it is so I can run either road or mountain wheels. I ride all winter so the stainless frame would be nice. Also as muddy as it was this year I think the disc brakes would be good. I hate the sound of pads grinding on my rims.

For now though it is my orbea cx bike with home made fender mounts.

The cx bike should be good - just put 32 or 35 mm tires on it. I have some Ritchey Crossmax, and they do the trick very well.

[efuentes]

Some Mexican gravel roads, I live in the middle of 3 big agricultural valleys in northern Mexico, plenty of miles of dirt roads and my cycling buddies dont really like them :mad:

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z111/mundofuentes/arideacrossthebays/DSC01447.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z111/mundofuentes/arideacrossthebays/S5030081.png

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z111/mundofuentes/Perros%20Lobos%20y%20Coyotes%20I/20069_101828669848015_1000006264673.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z111/mundofuentes/Perros%20Lobos%20y%20Coyotes%20I/20069_101828809848001_1000006264673.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z111/mundofuentes/Perros%20Lobos%20y%20Coyotes%20I/20069_101828796514669_1000006264673.jpg

[cnighbor1]

Many times flying across USA I seen the many of roads going thru many remote locations
Just the fire roads alone are huge
Than throw in the gravel roads that link towns to rural areas and you can ride nearly ever where .the big problem is when your finished riding at the end of the day are you anywhere that you can get some food or lodging if out for many days

[bismo37]

Some Pacific NW gravel...

[krhea]

Some Pacific NW gravel...

Is that Otto Miller Rd. outside Scappoose OR?

[bismo37]

Is that Otto Miller Rd. outside Scappoose OR?

Yup!

[GRAVELBIKE]

This morning's commute:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8454/8032956586_f2d736c7f1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/justridingalong/8032956586/)

Total hero dirt.

[BumbleBeeDave]

This morning's commute:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8454/8032956586_f2d736c7f1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/justridingalong/8032956586/)

Total hero dirt.

Wide open space . . . BEAUTIFUL!

BBD

[bluesea]

A very erudite question.

Conceptually, you are looking for a setup that gives you performance and comfort for the long haul. The definition is broad. The answer is what works for you and the chosen terrain.

I have ridden gravel on:

1) Bianchi Volpe SS with 30mm Panaracer tires (mixed surface and moderate/groomed gravel)

2) Trek 660 criterium geo with 30mm cross tires (same as above)

3) 2000 Litespeed Appalachian CX with 37mm Pasela tires

4) 1990 Ti MTB with drop bars and bar ends and 1.5 Avocet Cross tires

Then, there are the questions of:

1) 26 MTB v. 700 CX v. 29er (the same as 700)

2) Drop bars v. straight bars

3) Compact crank v. triple

4) etc.



Am I the only one who would choose the tighter q-factor of a road (or CX) frame, unless its a necessity? Same with compact and triple.

[christian]

Am I the only one who would choose the tighter q-factor of a road (or CX) frame, unless its a necessity? Same with compact and triple.No, you're not alone. I run Record alloy 53/39 cranks mostly because I love the low Q. Even D-A 7700 and Centaur CT don't match it.

[weisan]

Had great memories and loads of fun riding on the Katy Trail in Missouri with my graduate school professor cum cycling buddy Jimmy Agan. Got on the train from St. Louis and met up with Jimmy at Sedalia, then took us three days to go from
Sedalia to Columbia (day 1), Columbia to Hermann (day 2), Hermann to St. Charles/St. Louis (day 3). Rode on very nice, smooth, straight gravel roads for the most part, with a few exceptions of major potholes created by torrential rain part way of the ride and a short section where we had to make a detour into some very rocky path because of unpassable mud tracks.
A great variety of scenery, landscape and different sights to stop and see along the way, well supported by convenience stores sprinkled all over. Super-highly recommended. Every year we talked about doing it again because it is so much fun but never got down to it....kinda wished we did before I left the North America continent, oh well...

Full story reported here:
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=75865

Bike setup:32 pasela - perfecto.
http://alicehui.com/pics/nc/img/2.jpg
http://alicehui.com/pics/katy/img/2.jpg
http://alicehui.com/pics/katy/img/24.jpg
http://alicehui.com/pics/katy/img/35.jpg
http://alicehui.com/pics/katy/img/27.jpg
http://alicehui.com/pics/katy/img/12.jpg
http://alicehui.com/pics/katy/img/18.jpg

[tuscanyswe]

Lots nice bikes and roads in this thread.

Hey Weisan, are you trying to tell us you prefer shimano to campy? What happend :)

[Fixed]

Great post Weisan pal
Bike looks great
Cheers :)

[weisan]

no, tuscany-pal. My preferred choice these days is less sophisticated, it's one of pure economics. With five mouths to feed and one more coming :help:...I will ride whatever I can afford. :cool:

Still on the 9-speed Ultegra...coz' it just won't die ;)

Thanks for your comment, fixed-pal, really appreciated the fact that we can be together here on this forum even separated by thousands of miles. My heart smiles every time I think or read of you here on the forum. Keep spinning on that trainer, you will be back on the road or maybe a trail would be better soon enough

[jerome]

France ... not as wide ...

I would love to have your daily commute very nice landscape

I do not complain much living now at the bottom of Mt Ventoux and moving next week to Annecy where there I have awesome CX rides taking me in the mountains where cows are grown and where you can eat your cheese right from the farm and have a big bottle of raw milk !
something I know Americans love. (here it is safe - you see the cow, and it is just right in the grass field no need for antibiotics, GMO and no risk of overpopulation disease)


MOOTS ROCKS !!!!

[Fixed]

Bonjour,I agree moots rocks ..cows a beautiful my mood always is lifted when I see them
Those big brown eyes .enjoy the food I bet there is wonderfully fresh veggies nearby too
Cheers :)

[GRAVELBIKE]

Just another 70-degree November day in Colorado:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8205876463_6f5db8e904_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/justridingalong/8205876463/)

http://www.gravelbike.com/?p=1445

[oliver1850]

Good for you. I happened across this promising looking road yesterday, but was headed the other direction. It's probably only a few miles long, but on the list for future exploration. Later got a few miles on gravel, avoiding traffic after sundown.

[William]

My last "Gravel" ride....

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=118980


Planning on hitting some more this weekend.:banana:






William

[buldogge]

Mark...Keep all those notes handy...sooner or later I'll make it up for that gravel ride!

-Mark in St. Louis

Good for you. I happened across this promising looking road yesterday, but was headed the other direction. It's probably only a few miles long, but on the list for future exploration. Later got a few miles on gravel, avoiding traffic after sundown.

[BryanE]

In northern Michigan
Off a gravel road,down a 2 track.

[Gummee]

My buddy B's birthday is today. So we went out for a 45mi ride. Ended up at 51.5mi, but who's counting?!

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/28036_3993820888439_690324940_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/481672_3993821248448_1075232455_n.jpg

There's a few more, but those are the only 2 w/ me in em. Lots of pics of his Gin and Trombones. We ended up on a few stretches of tarmac, but most of the ride was gravel.

M

[buldogge]

Anywhere near the Manistee (wanna check it out)...or...further north???

-Mark in St. Louis

In northern Michigan
Off a gravel road,down a 2 track.

[BryanE]

Anywhere near the Manistee (wanna check it out)...or...further north???

-Mark in St. Louis

Old US-131 between Cadillac and Manton
3 miles north of Cadillac heading towards Manton turn right at the Long Lake campground sign for 9 miles of gravel road and many more 2 tracks to explore.

[pinkshogun]

C & O Towpath 2009

[gomango]

We are doing about 2/3rds of the Almonzo 100 route on Saturday.

Starting in Spring Valley, MN and ending when we either get too cold or run out of gas.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/23419008

[buldogge]

Color me jealous...

You and Mark and I should meet up in NW IL or SW Wisconsin and ride some gravel!

-Mark in St. Louis

We are doing about 2/3rds of the Almonzo 100 route on Saturday.

Starting in Spring Valley, MN and ending when we either get too cold or run out of gas.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/23419008

[gomango]

Color me jealous...

You and Mark and I should meet up in NW IL or SW Wisconsin and ride some gravel!

-Mark in St. Louis

I would really like to do that.

Are you talking spring or this winter. :)

BTW When we rode here yesterday morning it was about 55-60 degrees, blue skies and a light breeze.

Then the cold front blasted through.

Snow, sleet and cold.

Current temp is 19 degrees and we are under a winter weather advisory.

Wind chill is in the single digits with thirty mph winds.

I decided to leave the road bike at home for tomorrow's ride and will take a buddies' Niner Air 9 mountain bike.

We'll have to see how far we get with the snow and ice.

[William]

That sign means Gravel!!!!



.

[William]

Where the pavement ends....the hard pack begins....


.

[William]

Oh yeah, I know what that sign means.....




.

[William]

...A rough steady climb....


.

[William]

I had to shoulder it on a few sections. Rough, steep, and loose...



.

[William]

Hard to tell but that rut comes up past the hubs....



.

[gomango]

Hard to tell but that rut comes up past the hubs....



.

Great pics.

Looks just like the fire roads I ride up in northern Minnesota near the cabin in Ely.

Cool bicycle as well.

[spiderman]

Crosses into Minnesota
With a nice welcome sign...
Prettiest view of the lakes area I know
...you just get a shot of the deltas for now...

[Scuzzer]

A neighbor and I finally made it up to the cabin for some December gravel riding. We're above 11,000 ft, temps in the upper 30s with wicked wind gusts around 25-30 mph. Not much snow down this low but it was a good 3 hours on Sat. and just less than 2 on Sun. The first picture is more indicative of the typical road conditions around there with plenty of opportunities to taste iron while riding uphill in our smallest gear combo.

Traffic was light with only one car passing us on Sat and three on Sun but the increase was because we used the main access road to get back to the cabin on Sunday. All in all a really good trip.

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee168/lamamandemma/120112cabina.jpg

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee168/lamamandemma/120112cabin.jpg

[William]

A neighbor and I finally made it up to the cabin for some December gravel riding. We're above 11,000 ft, temps in the upper 30s with wicked wind gusts around 25-30 mph. Not much snow down this low but it was a good 3 hours on Sat. and just less than 2 on Sun. The first picture is more indicative of the typical road conditions around there with plenty of opportunities to taste iron while riding uphill in our smallest gear combo.

Traffic was light with only one car passing us on Sat and three on Sun but the increase was because we used the main access road to get back to the cabin on Sunday. All in all a really good trip.

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee168/lamamandemma/120112cabina.jpg

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee168/lamamandemma/120112cabin.jpg

Awesome!!:cool:



William

[Scuzzer]

It appears I forgot to mention where we were. We were southwest of Alma, CO and the lowest of the 14ers, Mt. Sherman, is peeking through the dead tree on the left of the second photo.

[cachagua]

Oh, you're KILLING me! Those photos make me think of a road near me I've always wanted to check out...

Anyone else live in the Seattle area? You go out to Quilcene on the peninsula and turn inland, and there are fire roads that lead up over a shoulder of one of the larger peaks, and (I believe) back down in a northerly direction towards Sequim. I've ridden over the "pass" and a couple of miles down the other side, but the prospect of hitting a dead and having to come back out the same way made me turn around. (Uh, yeah, it was, uh, late in the day, and, I ran outta water, and, had to get back home and defrost the fridge, yeah!)

Tried to see it on Google Maps, can't make sense of it. Probably have to wait 'til the days are long again, and get a nice early start. But if anyone has ridden the whole thing and knows where it ends up, I'd sure like to hear about it!

[Tandem Rider]

Got out for about 3 hours on Sunday, started out in the 40's ended in the 50's. Headwind on the way out, tailwind back. Rode by myself, just an endurance ride, getting in some miles.

106898
Heading out and warming up.


106899
Starting to get a little hillier.


106900
More rollies, I love this ride, and do it as often as I can.

[ecsnsmb]

Awesome thread. More please!

[Gummee]

I just got from 3:40 on my Crosshairs. Over to Busthead Rd then up and over Bull Run Mtn road, then up and over Busthead (another section) to Waterfall. Instead of coming back the way I went out, I went up and over Waterfall to Antioch and back thru Haymarket. Total distance was the same, just one less big hill in the way. :ricky

Bull Run Mtn Rd was all kinds of gravelly. Last time I was there it was pretty smoothed out. This time? Not so much. :nah Made for a MUCH slower descent!

Conversely, Busthead was smoother. ...which is good cause there's one pitch (appx 50m long) that's a steep SOB. Up till this time up, there was a really soft spot about halfway thru the steep pitch that really sucked the energy out of your legs.

Was out in shorts, light base layer, and a summer weight jersey. :clap ...and I got to pay for all that fun with a headwind the whole way home. :bluduh

Screw the training schedule! I'm taking advantage of the opportunity to work on my tan lines s'more! :D

No pics. I refuse to take the electronical leash with me.

M

[Stinkydub]

These are winter photos from a couple of years ago in the North Ga mountains. This loop goes around Unicoi Gap (one of the "Six Gaps") mostly on forest service roads at the beginning of the Chattahoochee River. The loop is about 28 miles with quite a bit of elevation change - the dirt roads climb higher than the paved Unicoi Gap.

[Stinkydub]

These are photos of the same loop above from around May of 2011 after some serious tornado damage in the area. Made my adventure a real challenge - miles of downed trees on the forest service road making it next to impossible to pass.

Maybe someone will post some photos of thee Southern Cross route including Climbing Stair.

We also do some gravel grinding South of Atlanta in the Silk Sheets / Serenbe area.

[oliver1850]

Those GA roads look great. I haven't been to GA in years but remember from my last trip how nice it was in late March when we were still having winter in the midwest. Thanks for the pics.

[rfj1862]

I've started to collect all my routes in the Catskills here:

http://ridingthecatskills.com/

Lots of gravel here!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8227315661_35e9a6969d_c.jpg

[oliver1850]

Great, just what I needed, another destination.

Nice site. I looked at the first route. Do you do it as an out and back?

PS: Welcome to the forum. :banana:

[fiamme red]

I've started to collect all my routes in the Catskills here:

http://ridingthecatskills.com/

Lots of gravel here!Nice website. I love riding in the Catskills. I'd be glad to show you some nice dirt roads in Sullivan and Delaware.

[rfj1862]

Fiamme Red...I will definitely take you up on your offer! We actually just moved out here, although I've been riding here for years, taking the train out of Grand Central to Poughkeepsie.

I've been here two months, and the only other person I've seen out on a bike was an old lady on a 3-speed, so I'm definitely looking for people to ride with. Contact me via my website and we'll set something up...I ride all winter.

Oliver, the first route is just a way to get from Poughkeepsie out to the foothills of the Catskills. I don't ride it often any more, because I now live in the foothills!

I have dozens of routes that I've developed over the years, mostly in Dutchess and Ulster, and more all the time. I'll get them posted at some point.

[sevencyclist]

For those on the peninsula in Bay Area. Other than the Baylands, any good gravel roads for riding without lots of climbing? I know of good MTB places, but can't seem to recall lots of gravel roads for riding without harder climbs.

[don compton]

Would you consider using a Michelen 18-23 tube in a 33mm tire?
Don

[Tandem Rider]

Would you consider using a Michelen 18-23 tube in a 33mm tire?
Don

I've been doing just that for years, no issues. I have a box of patched ones that I just keep patching and using. Same box of tubes for road or gravels.

As a bonus, Michelins have threadless stems, works with Silca pumps perfectly. Stops the stem from being pulled out of the tube during inflations. After training (and sometimes racing) on gravels for the coldest 6 months every year you figure out what is important and what isn't. Avoiding flats when it is 28deg. out and I'm sweating is important.