Gravel Grinder Ride
Gravel grinders are gravel road races and rides that combine riding on surfaces such as asphalt, gravel, dirt, some singletrack trails and maintenance or B roads. The courses vary from hard-packed dirt to softball-sized rocks. The distance usually ranges between 80 and 250 kilometres, but can be longer.
As we’re always endeavouring to try new things and expand our community we will be giving ‘gravel’ riding a go. A few in the club have already been doing it but to the people who aren’t familiar with the concept it’s basically riding a modified road bike, called a gravel bike, on dirt roads and mild single track. You can also use a cyclocross bike and of course a mountain bike but with skinnier tyres and a less aggressive tread pattern to better suit the surface/distance.
We’ll be starting off with a shorter 40km ride (not a race!) which will be at the same time as the Yandina/Cooloolabin ride (28th August) and following a similar route. Because we’re quite familiar with the area we can focus how a gravel grinder ride works and take note of what works and what doesn’t – very much a learning exercise.
We’ve invited the Sunshine Coast Cycling Club along too as this is something they’re interested in – so expect to welcome some new faces at the two meeting points.
If the ride format proves successful then we’ll be sure to organise more and depending on interest from riders and other clubs we might even go for a proper gravel grinder race!
If any of our regular gravel loving members would like to help out please let us know – info@bushrangers.org .
