Difference between adventure and touring cycling?

[Jeremy McCreary]

View attachment 158607
However, the title has been "Difference between adventure and touring cycling?". The answer is: "The adventure cycling is the synonym of so-called gravel cycling". Anybody disagrees?

I disagree. I see no strong consensus on what "adventure cycling" means — not on the internet at large, and certainly not in this thread. Maybe the meaning's better constrained in Polish usage.

As used on the internet, it often seems more akin to touring or trekking than to day trips on gravel roads.

As stated in my last post here, I'm just ignoring "adventure cycling" as a category now. If someone tells me that they do adventure cycling, I'll just say, "Please elaborate."

 

[peterh_nz]

PDoz you may quarrel as much as you want but the "adventure bike" is synonymous with the "gravel bike"

On the comprehensive Wikipedia Gravel Cycling page, I think the word "adventure" only appears once and that is in relation to bike packing, in the reference list.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

On the comprehensive Wikipedia Gravel Cycling page, I think the word "adventure" only appears once and that is in relation to bike packing, in the reference list.

Post #57

 

[peterh_nz]

Post #57

From that article "Salsa created the first gravel bike ever in 2012." History suggests otherwise.

If the terms are synonymous then why no mention in Wikipedia? Local terminology?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

From that article "Salsa created the first gravel bike ever in 2012." History suggests otherwise.

If the terms are synonymous then why no mention in Wikipedia? Local terminology?

Because gravel cycling is a relatively new, unregulated sport. The closest to the "freedom" as possible. It has exploded just recently. Is there any gravel cycling club in your area? Go and talk to the guys.

Although the word "adventure" is not used here, a good reading:

Gravel cycling - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I think equating "adventure cycling" with "gravel" is kind of mistaken.

If you look at a lot of the routes (especially in North America) on bikepacking.com you will see that most of the serious epic rides have a mixture of pavement, gravel roads, and singletrack. I'd put most of their "freakout" trips in a hypothetical adventure cycling category.

Also "gravel" covers a lot of variation. Technically most "paved" roads in a lot of the rural West (and Australia, so I hear) are actually oiled gravel (what we locally call "chip seal"). But it sure looks and feels like rough pavement. And a lot of the Forest Circus trunk roads are in pretty good shape (with a bit of washboard) that we call "luxury gravel"). But you can also blunder onto jeep tracks, ranch access roads, and decommissioned logging roads which are still "roads" and still passable in a stout motor vehicle but can be ugly and challenging on a classic "gravel bike".

Also, it should be pointed out that a lot of trips that qualify as an "adventure" might not be that technically difficult or challenging cycling, but getting there and making the trip happen at all might be the big struggle. If you have complicated trip logistics, difficult travel to or from the trip, or a very narrow window with good conditions even a fairly "easy" ride might be a real challenge. One bucket list trip in this category for me is to visit Haida Gwaii.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

you will see that most of the serious epic rides have a mixture of pavement, gravel roads, and singletrack.

This is still called "gravel cycling". At least in my country.

"Adventure cycling" describes that far better. Can you see any gravel here?

 

[6zfshdb]

Trying to understand how adventure and touring cycling differ.

Familiar with touring, but the adventure category is a new one on me, having been under a cycling rock for the last 25 years. Did some web searches without a clear answer.

If you do adventure e-cycling, what draws you to it, and what kind of ebike do you use?

Thanks!

At my age, every ride is an adventure.

 

[PDoz]

Stefan, can you review the responses on this thread and reflect on your insistence that adventure cycling is synonymous with gravel bikes. My count is 1.5 people agree withyou ( I'm not entirely sure pedaluma agrees, mrobinson made an early comment)

There are LOTS of people who equate adventure with multi day / adversity etc

As I have said, MY adventure travel has been on motorbikes, I'm not an adventure cyclist . Although what I haven't bragged about is the longer day trips I've done - 6-12 hour alpine day trips through truly remote areas, well outside of eg, mobile reception. Adversity experienced, including both mechanical and human failure , a medi evacuation etc. Those were day tours, but arguably more adventurous than your " ultra marathon" .

Oh, and some of my regular cycling friends use gravel cycling for some diversity. In fact, the 18 yo on an adventure ride from Mongolia through the stans rides gravel cycles on his easier tours, races national level cross country mountain bikes . He'd laugh in your face if you tried to call a day of gravel cycling an adventure.

PDoz you may quarrel as much as you want but the "adventure bike" is synonymous with the "gravel bike". It is the definition coined by the industry and media. And no, it is not for Poland only. You simply know nothing about modern gravel cycling, as it is relatively a new fashion with new rules (I remind you I have completed a gravel ultramarathon when you were bringing your e-MTB to the trail with your car). I'm surprised the UCI has not laid their dirty hands on the sport yet, and all gravel cycling events are organized by enthusiasts.

There are so many new things in this world. Like craft beer, for one. You can quaff your lager and argue nobody needed craft beer 50 years ago but many hop-heads would laugh at you (craft beer is yet another great American invention adopted worldwide since early 1980s).

Poles are just good at adopting new trends. It is a famous early 19th c sentence of our great poet Adam Mickiewicz:
"Paris is famous of frequent changes in fashion
And what a French invents, a Pole will like".
Just substitute it with Seattle and American

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Those were day tours, but arguably more adventurous than your " ultra marathon" .

Try riding it yourself. I am sure gravel cycling is known even in your backwaters (Although forests could be scarce).

NB: it is a group sport. Like, riding in a club.

 

[PDoz]

Try riding it yourself. I am sure gravel cycling is known even in your backwaters (Although forests could be scarce).

NB: it is a group sport. Like, riding in a club.

When did gravel cycling need to be a group sport?

Oh, and for what it's worth. The gravel starts at my front door. Some people consider my driveway an adventure ( a low clearance SUV isn't getting up it) . If I then turn right, I can ride gravel +/- 4x4 tracks for a couple of thousand km through forrest without crossing any butumin roads. Except I'd have to get through some snow at the moment

Now, THAT would be an adventure ride!

 

[Prairie Dog]

As others including myself have said, adventure in cycling could be interpreted differently on so many levels. I don’t believe you can definitively say that one category of cycling rules above the rest in this respect. I sense an extreme bias on your part Stefan simply because gravel riding is something you get much enjoyment and challenge from and therefore continues to be (for the most part) your primary diversion. I respect that and also believe there’s a lot to be said about the endeavor. However, there are differing opinions of what many consider adventure cycling to be but there’s also much to be said about maintaining an open mind on the subject. How many members here do you see raving about how their specific choice is bound to be more adventurous than others? I’m sure that some of your gravel riding buddies would agree.

I think most here would concur with @PDoz when he states that adventure in cycling is likened to multi day/week or even longer trips not necessarily limited to just a single day of riding. With that said, there seems to be plenty of adventure in this fellow’s past trips including one in the dead of winter.

Tom Allen's Bike Trips: A Full Chronological List (So Far)

I've done at least one big bike trip every year since 2006, pedalling in more than 50 countries so far. Find out more on this summary page.

tomsbiketrip.com

 

[Stefan Mikes]

When did gravel cycling need to be a group sport?

It is a group sport. Have you met your local gravel cycling club yet?
(It is far better when you have some buddies around when you have been met by a misfortune -- not adventure-- in the wilderness and without a mobile network coverage). Gravel cycling means a great camaraderie among the riders as they are more focused to reach the finish line than to win.

I have no hopes for PDoz but you Art might simply be not aware what gravel cycling means.

This is how we do it in Poland. January 1st, 2023.

 

[Art Deco]

Most of the multiuse trails I've been on are gravel, but definitely not adventurous...typically short (a few miles), wide, flat, full of pedestrians, little kids, and dogs.
The only adventure is trying not to get run over by a pack of teenage gravel grinders trying to race each other right through the knots of slower moving traffic.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The only adventure is trying not to get run over by a pack of teenage gravel grinders trying to race each other right through the knots of slower moving traffic.

Now fancy that:
There is an extremely long Vistula embankment in Warsaw with a rough bike path on the top. A Saturday morning. A plump lady in beige walking her dog there (she should not be on a bike path!). Now, what she can see is a never-ending avalanche of gravel bikes She only could utter: "THEY REALLY OVERDID IT!"

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

When did gravel cycling need to be a group sport?

(emphasis above mine)

It is a group sport. Have you met your local gravel cycling club yet?

Not sure how I'll break it to my friend E that he's not really a gravel cyclist after all.

E's been riding a bona fide unmotorized gravel bike on gravel roads through the high, rugged mountains east of Taos, NM for years — mostly solo. By now, for thousand of miles.

All of which somehow gave E the false impression of himself an avid gravel cyclist. Boy, will he be surprised!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

A gravel cycling friend who has just returned from Australia sent me this photo with this caption:

"Gravel cycling fares well in Australia".
/His recent photo from Tasmania/.

E's been riding a bona fide unmotorized gravel bike on gravel roads through the high, rugged mountains east of Taos, NM for years — mostly solo.

Has your friend already participated in a gravel ultramarathon?

 

[Prairie Dog]

I have no hopes for PDoz but you Art might simply be not aware what gravel cycling means.

As luck would have it, my Creo is shod with gravel tires Stefan so transitioning would be a relatively simple task. However, at this point in my life, between road and singletrack, I have enough rides to occupy my time in the saddle. Quite honestly, I’ve had my hands full with my own version of gravel riding albeit on a slightly larger scale.

I do admire the comradery of riding in a group but then again, a solitary trail ride or road outing with my better half is really all I can ask for.

I did take time to look into what gravel pursuits are available in my general area and it appears that there are a few that seem quite intriguing. I guess this is how they do it in Alberta.

Alberta

Premier Gravel Cycling Rides and Routes in Alberta

thegravelexperience.com

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Has your friend already participated in a gravel ultramarathon?

Another prerequisite to be a true gravel cyclist in your eyes? Bet a lot of your gravel buddies wouldn't make that cut. Do they know that you think of them as posers?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Another prerequisite to be a true gravel cyclist in your eyes? Bet a lot of your gravel buddies wouldn't make that cut.

Your friend E has no riding friends? How sad.

Do they know that you think of them as posers?

On contrary. I admire their dedication, strength, and endurance. Like that man who has organized the latest "set-up" (a gravel group ride):

He said: 'You see, I need to commute to work that is far away from where I live"

I only regret my deteriorating health has started eliminating me from group rides with such strong people, involving women (some of them even around 40).

Please do not put words I did not say in my mouth.

112 km/70 miles of adventure, men & women.

Right: Jan (the man I have mentioned).