With increasing traffic on the roads and a growing desire to venture into more quiet, remote areas, gravel cycling is on the rise nationwide and the Roaring Fork Valley is the perfect place to try it out. This guest blog comes from the Aspen Cycling Club, which encourages participation in cycling at all levels in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley,
Gravel essentially blends road cycling and mountain biking, and several of the local bike shops in Aspen are beginning to stock this style of bike. The bikes feature geometry and drop bars like road bikes, but with the wider, knobby tires of a mountain bike. Even without the shock-absorbing suspension of a typical mountain bike, gravel bikes still allow plenty of access to dirt roads and crushed gravel paths with a more comfortable, stable base.
The gravel scene has become known in the U.S. for being the most inclusive sector of cycling with people of all genders, body types, abilities and fitness levels coming together at events to take on their own new challenges. With this inclusivity there are fewer “rules” about how you should look, dress, or act. This inclusivity translates to the surface as well, as riders come together to explore paved roads, dirt roads, single-track, grass, bike paths, double track and more! This is the fun and inclusive spirit of gravel riding that has fueled its steep rise in popularity.
The typical apparel for gravel riding blends that of road cycling and mountain biking. Spandex road chamois with baggy t-shirts are a staple, as are handlebar and seat bags to hold your flat kit and snacks, as well as padded shorts with cargo pockets for additional carry options. Jorts have always been a staple in gravel and its drop-bar off-road predecessor, cyclocross, and Roaring Fork Valley locals love their Ripton jorts. Mountain bike baggy outfits are not uncommon in gravel, and the same goes for full spandex kits. This is all to say, you can’t do it wrong, which is another nod to the inclusivity of gravel. Just please, wear your helmet every time you ride your bike.
Terrain selection is ultra-inclusive as well. The most classic rides and events combine paved road, dirt road, and single-track for an exhilarating mashup of speed, flow, and technical focus. We are lucky to have many options for smooth dirt backroads in the Roaring Fork Valley, such as East Sopris Creek near the town of Basalt or the road to Lenado near Woody Creek. The fun begins where the pavement ends! There are excellent Aspen-based cycling guide services available to help, including Aspen Pro Cycling or Aspen Cycling Tours.
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