Vibe Shift: Extreme Gravel Events (for Mortals) Losing the Plot?
Are Gravel Events Getting Too Hard?
Vibe Shift: Extreme Gravel Events (for Mortals) Losing the Plot?
We’ve ridden them. We’ve raced them. We’ve even hosted a few. So we say this with love: the ultra-hardcore gravel event bubble might be reaching its limit…at least for the “non-pro” 99% of participants.
We did The Traka in Girona last month. The terrain? Stunning. Also? Staggeringly difficult and borderline dangerous. The number of serious crashes we saw firsthand was hard to ignore. Just regular dudes and dudettes trying to hit a personal goal… mangled. It gave us pause. And we’re not alone. Scroll through social media after any marquee event, and you’ll see as many broken bodies and bikes as you will podium shots.
Many of these events have become survival missions disguised as races. What started as a celebration of backroads and community has morphed into something else. Riders check the box once, then wonder if they’ll ever return.
Most people don’t want to suffer that hard and risk serious injury that often. Add to that a rising tide of riders with impressive indoor fitness (thanks to smart trainers) but limited pack-handling or descending skills. These don’t come standard with FTP gains on TrainerRoad. They develop through time in the road racing ranks. So when you mix that combo into mega-aggressive pack starts and high-speed gravel descents, the outcome is... predictable. And dangerous. Even Velo is reporting that the pros are nearing their limit with how sketchy it’s all become.
Meanwhile, events like SBT GRVL are actively rethinking the experience. We were lucky to have co-founder Amy Charity on the Culture Edit Podcast this week, where she shared how they’re experimenting with a new format this year. Some of that is driven by local interests, but we think they’re onto something. Saturday’s the ride, Sunday’s the race.
Next week, we’re making our annual pilgrimage with a big +SpeedStudio crew and other friends from ATL. And for the first time in four years, we’re switching things up: staying together, regrouping at the tops of climbs, and just having a damn good day out. It’s the same approach we’ve taken many times at the Ronde van Vlaanderen Sportif. So why not gravel? RVV was never considered a “race” for amateurs. Gravel wasn’t either…until it was.
We know what you’re thinking: “Wait, weren’t Nikki and Chad doing BWR San Diego on road bikes in the early days?” Yes. Yes, we were. And we’re well aware of your perceptions. We’re not anti-hard. In fact, we’re about to do something wildly contradictory in our annual “For No Reason” sufferfest soon. We love a good Type-2 weekend.
But the fringe is not sustainable. And we’re just saying there’s a vibe shift happening in the endurance world. Less “How hard can it be?” and more “Let’s have a great weekend in a spectacular place with our friends.”
Also, let’s watch Michael and the pros suffer on Sunday.
Now that’s fun. Pedal harder, MG!
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MGR CORNER
Hey everyone!
It’s been a great week back home—“relaxing” in that post-Tulsa way where recovery still feels like a full-time job. I got the body reset, the legs flushed, and just like that… we’re back on the move.
Next up: ToAD! That’s Tour of America’s Dairylands, an 11-day crit series centered arond Milwaukee Wisconsin. I’m jumping in for five days before heading straight west to Colorado for the yearly adventure that is SBT GRVL.
ToAD was a real highlight for me last season—great racing, nonstop energy, and best of all, I got to stay with a host family who’s become something like extended family. I’m beyond excited to see them again and settle into a familiar rhythm while we throw down in the evening races.
It’s definitely a logistical puzzle—stacking a crit series right into a major gravel race isn’t exactly plug-and-play. My gravel bike is shipping straight to Colorado, and I’ll be flying with my road setup. I’ll be getting in some longer morning rides around the crits to keep the engine burning and metabolism moving.
ToAD is the perfect run-up for me—fast, fun, and low-pressure. I don’t stress about racing perfectly here. It’s all about rhythm, sharpening the legs, and having a blast in the process. SBT, though? That’s a big one. This year’s course has a little less elevation, and with the race not until Sunday, I’ll have a few days to perfectly reset and refocus.
I’m really looking forward to seeing what I’m capable of out there—I truly believe it’s a course that suits me well. And while I’ll never say it too loud, this one is always in the back of my mind.
Catch you out there,
MG
+SPEEDY UPDATES
Ep. 095 - Amy Charity, SBT GRVL
On this episode, we talk all things gravel and business withCo-founder and Owner of the iconic SBT GRVL (Steamboat Gravel) Race. We discuss the new race format, the inclusion of more juniors and women in the pro fields and the debate of mass starts in the pro race. Covering everything from sea dwellers at altitude to oxygen cans, lessons from the adversity that almost ended SBT, and how she and her team rallied to come out stronger on the other side. You don't want to miss this episode, especially if you will be at SBT GRVL next week (hint, hint, she drops her favorite food spots)!
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