Just seen a post on IG from Lauf saying that the UCI are to get involved in gravel racing. It states that they(UCI) shares riders passion for freedom of riding, experiencing and racing gravel. Something of an oxymoron no?! I don’t, or have ever raced, but reading various comments over the years I get the impression that “freedom” is not always considered synonymous with the UCI. Ironically I imagine that one of the first thing they’ll do is ban the use of Lauf forks for racing:)

https://cyclingtips.com/2021/09/the-uci ... s-in-2022/

After a few years of hinting at the possibility, the UCI will take a big step into the gravel racing scene in 2022. In a press release on Wednesday that touched on a wide variety of topics, the governing body said that next year would see the launch of “a UCI Gravel World Series consisting of events enabling athletes to qualify for the UCI Gravel World Championships.”

In other words, the UCI has announced both a pro gravel race series and a World Championships for the discipline. The events will be run in partnership with organizer Golazo.

But WTF is 'gravel'? I imagine they'll need to address that first.

Good point. Certainly I don’t imagine them accepting the answer “whatever I want it to be!!”

Expect a UCI sanctioned race in Galloway next year then, as Golazo are putting on the gravel weekender thing from Newton Stewart in October, for those who can afford it.
I guess if you don't race, it don't matter. You can run, jump, swim and throw things without getting the IOC involved.

So this is essentially taking the current UCI Gran Fondo series and copying it to become off-road.

It will be run and overseen by Golazo and for any event that signs up to be a "national round" it will cost ~€20,000-30,000.

They claim no racing license is needed. Rules are claimed to be limited. But this is certainly more about commercialising gravel, rather than showing any form of athletic achievement. The "World Championship" will go to a country/organiser that pays more.

The British Gravel championships were the weekend just gone. Looks like they went round a wood called the King’s Forest nr Bury St Edmunds 3 times. The bits I saw looked very flat and a combination of grassy track, forest paths and a farmers field.

PaulB2 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 23, 2021 1:41 pm The British Gravel championships were the weekend just gone. Looks like they went round a wood called the King’s Forest nr Bury St Edmunds 3 times. The bits I saw looked very flat and a combination of grassy track, forest paths and a farmers field.

Self-proclaimed, unofficial "British Championships"

No connection to British Cycling or UCI for this one, although given it was also organised by Golazo, it might become a little more official but the last I heard British Cycling had no plans to have gravel as a discapline.

that means the UCI will have to formally classify gravel - max, min and average particle size, distribution. compaction etc. etc. this will be really helpful for us poor folk who can't grasp the whole gravel ethos! Never again will we have to ask the question "can I ride this on a gravel bike?" as the UCI will have an instant answer
Good luck to them it won't detract one jot from anybodies bike riding and will allow some racer heads an opportunity to win things without pretending they are only doing a social ride that happens to be timed and runs with a load of other folk.

No sitting on the top tube on descents mind!

And so it begins….

Plenty more where that came from!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUJJA4qJ5nZ/

Hey this came up on Google books..
chapter including
race prep,
feeding stations
and showers & bike washes,
(well they got our weather right! )
https://play.google.com/store/books/det ... hIDwAAQBAJ

chapter including
race prep,
feeding stations
and showers & bike washes,

I've just written something which outlines why I think gravel is perhaps a bikepacking cul-de-sac and the above kind of reinforces that. Book's called 'The complete guide to gravel racing and adventure bikepacking' and at first, it seems that the two go hand in hand. Yet, 'adventure' doesn't really gel with showers, feed stations and bike washes ... the two things are pretty much separate with little to tie them together other than bikes.

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 8:37 am ... showers, feed stations and bike washes...

Maybe it's just marketing speak for rain, Spar/petrol stations and more rain?

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 8:37 am

chapter including
race prep,
feeding stations
and showers & bike washes,

I've just written something which outlines why I think gravel is perhaps a bikepacking cul-de-sac and the above kind of reinforces that. Book's called 'The complete guide to gravel racing and adventure bikepacking' and at first, it seems that the two go hand in hand. Yet, 'adventure' doesn't really gel with showers, feed stations and bike washes ... the two things are pretty much separate things with little to tie them together other than bikes.

we have outside showers, but you can't turn the weather off.
Bike washes also at the wrong time, in local ford/river etc.
Feed station, bring your own/find it on route.
we have the quiet satifaction of knowing we have finally finished
so all in all we have more adventure, less hygiene, but support the local economy

[edit] Stu beat me too it...

atk wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 8:48 am

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 8:37 am ... showers, feed stations and bike washes...

Maybe it's just marketing speak for rain, Spar/petrol stations and more rain?

will they be a BearBoners Spar Jersey?
'Go Far with Spar'
or 'Go Far T' Spar'. .
... or has this already been done?
* i'm sure they want to sponsor it

atk wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 8:48 am

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 8:37 am ... showers, feed stations and bike washes...

Maybe it's just marketing speak for rain, Spar/petrol stations and more rain?

Actually a guide to spar shop tactics would be very useful as I tend to wander in then spend 20 minutes wandering around aimlessly wondering what to buy and trying to peer at the packets to see how many calories something has, which is impossible without my specs...

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 10:32 am

atk wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 8:48 am

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 8:37 am ... showers, feed stations and bike washes...

Maybe it's just marketing speak for rain, Spar/petrol stations and more rain?

Actually a guide to spar shop tactics would be very useful as I tend to wander in then spend 20 minutes wandering around aimlessly wondering what to buy and trying to peer at the packets to see how many calories something has, which is impossible without my specs...

So the biggest tip - decide what you want before you go in and choose stuff you know will be there.
Have tunnel vision - get in, spot it, grab it, pay for it, don't get tempted by the stuff on the till and get out. Don't look at prices and see what is cheapest, or has the best value £ to gram carbs or the cost per ml.

The only problem is what to do when there is a queue and you spot something else you want while waiting

Gotta love a good smash and grab.

We did once run a winter event where all the GR were Spar. I actually find the Coop more dangerous as they usually have a greater choice ... I once came out with a full cooked chicken, 4 muffins, a big block of cheese, 2 pints of milk and a box of cereal

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 1:45 pm We did once run a winter event where all the GR were Spar. I actually find the Coop more dangerous as they usually have a greater choice ... I once came out with a full cooked chicken, 4 muffins, a big block of cheese, 2 pints of milk and a box of cereal

Oh and there I was putting you down as an M&S guy!

Spar do great overshoes, waterproof sock liners and glove liners.

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 1:45 pm We did once run a winter event where all the GR were Spar. I actually find the Coop more dangerous as they usually have a greater choice ... I once came out with a full cooked chicken, 4 muffins, a big block of cheese, 2 pints of milk and a box of cereal

Reminds me of that time where I emptied the stocks (cereal, sausages, bars, nuts) of both stores in Tolar Grande for roughly 5 weeks of self suffuciency.
Adventures come in many shapes, but tend to become bigger the more food you need to carry and the less showers you find en route. Causation and correlation.

mattpage wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 1:20 pm
So the biggest tip - decide what you want before you go in and choose stuff you know will be there.
Have tunnel vision - get in, spot it, grab it, pay for it, don't get tempted by the stuff on the till and get out. Don't look at prices and see what is cheapest, or has the best value £ to gram carbs or the cost per ml.

The only problem is what to do when there is a queue and you spot something else you want while waiting

Gotta love a good smash and grab.

I try to do that but it all goes out the window when I walk through the door.
To be honest I'm a Co-op man really as I only need to go to the bakery counter after grabbing a bottle of coke, and then ordering one of everything.

Shame there aren’t more rural Waitrose. I do find the partners extremely helpful, and sometimes all you want mid ride is a good helping of yellow fin tuna sashimi to go with your San Pellegrino water.