Gravel cycling or biking is a growing trend that involves riding on gravel paths, unpaved roads and dirt trails on road or gravel bikes. As Steven Rindner mentions, gravel biking is steadily gaining popularity across many parts of the world. After all, it provides a unique and challenging experience to the cyclists, and allows them to explore new landscapes and routes. It also provides a great way to escape crowded city roads, and enjoy the peace of nature.
Steven Rindner sheds light on the types of roads and landscapes where cyclists can go gravel biking
Gravel biking opens up a whole new world of exploration for cyclists. It allows them to venture beyond the traditional paved roads, and ride on diverse landscapes. Here are a few of the popular places where one may go gravel biking.
- Gravel roads: The most common terrain for gravel biking, gravel roads can be found in countryside, rural areas and even in urban outskirts at times. A number of regions have extensive networks of gravel roads that offer a good mix of challenging terrain and scenic views.
- Dirt trails and forest paths: Gravel bikes have the capacity to seamlessly handle forest paths and dirt trails, thereby allowing for a more adventurous off-road experience. Nature reserves, national parks and mountainous areas typically have trails ideal for gravel biking. One just has to make sure to bike on trails that are marked for cyclists to use.
- Rail trails: Former railway lines that are converted into recreational trails, also known as rail trails, can be perfect for gravel biking. Such paths are generally well-maintained, flat and pass through scenic landscapes. Even though many of these rail trails do get paved if they pass through populated areas, many rural rail trails stay unpaved.
- Country and farm roads: One can take a gravel bike to explore the farmland and countryside on gravel roads that wind through agricultural areas. Such routes often provide a tranquil, picturesque setting for gravel biking.
- Bike-packing routes: Very often, bike-packing and gravel biking go hand in hand. Bike-packing routes would involve carrying essential gear on the bike for overnight trips, and often take cyclists through scenic and remote areas. They seamlessly combine the joy of gravel biking with the thrill of an overnight journey.
- Mountainous regions: The versatility of gravel bikes allows them to efficiently handle gravel and dirt paths in mountainous regions. While riding through mountain landscapes can be a physical challenge, it allows cyclists to enjoy truly breathtaking views.
- Coastal paths: There are certain coastal regions that have gravel paths that run along the shoreline. These paths provide a unique and scenic gravel biking experience which enables the cyclists to enjoy views of the ocean.
As per Steven Rindner, the word “gravel” in gravel riding has many meanings. It can be just about any type of terrain, from flat asphalt roads to rough, rugged mountain inclines. Overall, gravel riding allows cyclists to enjoy a ride with beautiful landscapes, and challenging but enjoyable conditions, without having to deal with the hassle of traffic.