Why do you like gravel?

[Jeremy McCreary]

This video pretty much sums it up for me:

Additional reasons:
o Little or no traffic.
o Rode lots of gravel as a school kid 60-70 years ago.
o Love the sound of gravel crunching under my tires.

Back then, we just called it dirt, all bikes were gravel bikes until proven otherwise, and that crunch was the sound of freedom.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Gravel riding, mid 80s style... helmets optional.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Love it!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

This video pretty much sums it up for me:

Additional reasons:
o Little or no traffic.
o Rode lots of gravel as a school kid 60-70 years ago.
o Love the sound of gravel crunching under my tires.

Back then, we just called it dirt, all bikes were gravel bikes until proven otherwise, and that crunch was the sound of freedom.

I liked what the man in the video said. However, gravel cycling has many different styles depending on the country and the terrain.
The United States and Canada have more gravel roads than anywhere else in the developed world. It is the birthplace of the discipline—starting with events like Dirty Kanza (now Unbound Gravel)—so I completely understand why choosing gravel is the safer, more logical option there.
Where I live, on the other hand, we have plenty of low-traffic asphalt roads and bike paths. Here, we actually have to hunt for gravel, which usually means riding through the woods.

In Poland, we define gravel cycling:

• Ride anywhere except asphalt or bike paths (whenever you can avoid them).
• A true gravel cyclist is someone who occasionally crosses a paved road
• The harder the terrain, the less boring the ride.
• Group riding is big. It builds a sense of community, and it is always nice to have a riding partner to help if things go wrong.

Finally, there is a split between leisure and racing. Gravel cyclists love to go fast. While some compete in races and rallies for the podium, many others ride purely for the adventure (I'm of the latter type).

A friendly 3 people ride this Sunday. Not a wide American gravel road, certainly.

A big winter group ride. (Many riders chose MTBs for that day).

"Not boring at all!"

There are some regions of Poland with true gravel roads!

A sense of community.

 

[Gionnirocket]

The few biking areas near me aren't necessarily preferable as they are often dry and dusty with a very fine powder that's abrasive.
But gravel is great for landscaping accents, in an aquarium as a substrate or even as a filter medium and I use it in potted house plants at the bottom to keep the weep hole from clogging and as a surface layer to keep dirt from splashing when watering.

 

[6zfshdb]

The main reason I ride gravel is, there is no vehicle traffic to worry about.

 

[Aushiker]

The United States and Canada have more gravel roads than anywhere else in the developed world.

Australia would like to have a word

One of my shorter bikepacking rides - 702 km, 80% gravel


Which way? That way. by Andrew Priest, on Flickr

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Australia would like to have a word

Only 7th worldwide overall Australia may have the longest gravel roads though.

This year's UCI World Gravel Championships were held in Australia.

 

[Aushiker]

Only 7th worldwide overall Australia may have the longest gravel roads though.

This year's UCI World Gravel Championships were held in Australia.

Yes in Nannup. Only about 2 to 3 hours drive from me, so close by

 

[Stefan Mikes]

A huge country indeed! You are also a way closer to Europe by flight hours than, say, Sydney

 

[edobici_forza]

Sorry, no stats from me.
My top reasons for riding gravel:

- Access to beautiful views, away from obstruction
- Terrain diversity on a single ride
- Less vehicle traffic, though never devoid. But I have my rear radar.

Unfortunately, in my county, there are very few gravel or dirt access roads, double tracks, or farm roads. That said, e-bikes are not allowed on nearly all dirt trails or paths in my county, where regular bicycles are allowed. I have to say, in the video, those trails in British Columbia, seem endless! A beautiful area that I need to visit!

I had a pedal powered gravel bike before my Creo, so I was familiar with what was available for a gravel bike. Initially, with my first bike, some friends found places 30 miles away, but they moved away. So where I can ride my analog gravel bike is the same that I would ride on my MTB, so they are hilly and steep climbs. I found the Hakka’s gearing was inadequate, as were the tires for those trails. So the Creo helped solve those issues and gave me extra distance for reaching trails. But still true gravel is tough to find nearby.

 

[Chargeride]

Australia looks good, but there are issues.