The Sound of Gravel

WildPaul

WildPaul

Active Member
Region
USA
Anyone else out there who just really enjoys the *sound* of gravel?

Not sure why… there’s just something supremely satisfying about that soft continual *crunch* I feel and hear on a great gravel trail. I’m not typically someone who pays a lot of attention to such things, which is why I mention it… for me, a good part of the appeal of gravel is this sensory aspect.

Or maybe it’s just me?

Speaking of - here’s some photos from today’s ride on some lovely gravel trails here in Litchfield County Connecticut, courtesy of the new Specialized SW Creo 2 (I absolutely *love* this bike 🥰)

Happy fall riding everyone!

Paul

IMG_0746.jpeg
IMG_0755.jpeg
IMG_0783.jpeg
IMG_0778.jpeg
IMG_0794.jpeg
IMG_0800.jpeg
IMG_0802.jpeg
IMG_0932.jpeg
 
Last edited:
WildPaul said:
Anyone else out there who just really enjoys the *sound* of gravel?

Not sure why… there’s just something supremely satisfying about that soft continual *crunch* I feel and hear on a great gravel trail. I’m not typically someone who pays a lot of attention to such things, which is why I mention it… for me, a good part of the appeal of gravel is this sensory aspect.

Or maybe it’s just me?

Speaking of - here’s some photos from today’s ride on some lovely gravel trails here in Litchfield County Connecticut, courtesy of the new Specialized SW Creo 2 (I absolutely *love* this bike 🥰)

Happy fall riding everyone!

Paul

View attachment 165504View attachment 165505View attachment 165506View attachment 165507View attachment 165508View attachment 165509View attachment 165510View attachment 165511
Click to expand...
Definitely not the only one. Gorgeous final pond shot.

Not wild about traffic noise, the hiss of air escaping a tire, and the incessant clicking of a bad bottom bracket bearing. But I love the sounds of cycling in general — especially the crunch of gravel, the snick of a crisp gear change, and even the faint whirr of my motor. And of course, the birds.

Not sure what's so magic about the gravel sound, but it does celebrate your progress in a way that hard surfaces do not. Could be part of why it's so satisfying.
 
Great and happy photos, Paul!

Whenever I see a gravel road ahead, I utter the angry 'Argh! Gravel again!' with the afterthought 'You are expected to be a gravel cyclist Mikeš so let's have some little practice again!' 🤣

Yes, I do love the gravel crunching, too!
 
WildPaul said:
Anyone else out there who just really enjoys the *sound* of gravel?

Not sure why… there’s just something supremely satisfying about that soft continual *crunch* I feel and hear on a great gravel trail. I’m not typically someone who pays a lot of attention to such things, which is why I mention it… for me, a good part of the appeal of gravel is this sensory aspect.

Or maybe it’s just me?

Speaking of - here’s some photos from today’s ride on some lovely gravel trails here in Litchfield County Connecticut, courtesy of the new Specialized SW Creo 2 (I absolutely *love* this bike 🥰)

Happy fall riding everyone!

Paul

View attachment 165504View attachment 165505View attachment 165506View attachment 165507View attachment 165508View attachment 165509View attachment 165510View attachment 165511
Click to expand...
The sounds of cycling do contribute to the joy.

I especially appreciate what the road sounds say about the conditions of the ground. On gravel the sounds say whether the trail is firm or soft. Whether taking a turn at speed will be safe or result in a skid. Whether the straight road can be ridden straight or zig zags are needed for safety.

The Connecticut scenery is beautiful, btw.
 
I grew up on gravel roads. What is cool is locking your rear brake and sliding. I still do it to impress my wife. She says it is not working. I ride GravelKing tires and surprisingly only get a couple of thousand miles out of the rear tire. Gotta start locking up the front tire too to wear them out more equally.
 
Thanks for the photos @WildPaul. Nice bike. I grew up just S.W. on 44 in Dutchess. That brings back memories. I like it in the mornings when you see the lace over a puddle just begin to melt at first light on a gravel trail in an orchard with the smell of maple leaves. And when the long shadows are white with frost in contrast to the golden morning light.
 
Last edited:
Where you live there is a divide between Yankee fans and Red Socks fans. Are you more culturally oriented to Boston than to NYC? WNYC or BUR? As I am working on a bike right now I am listening to BUR. Both are cycling centers. I am in Coastal N. Cal. I will bet on the Socks. The founders of my town came from New England. It is culturally very different from towns further inland settled by people who arrived overland and this is a cycling town.
 
The Central Mazovia (the area around Warsaw in Poland) is highly developed, and finding a gravel road is difficult there. However, Mazovia (the biggest and richest province of Poland) is huge, almost touching the Belarussian border. Yes, you can find gravel roads even in Mazovia :) (That's why we have an organization called Mazovian Gravel to organize gravel group rides and ultramarathons),

1698706641730.png

A Mazovian place called Garwolewo, which I jokingly re-christened to Gravelovo :) A long way off Warsaw!

1698707119306.png

Mazovia in the map of East Europe.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Doggyman1202
Evelo Omega and Priority Current compared
Replies
3
Views
1K
tgianco
tgianco
Koi Fish
Utah Trikes Fat Cat V3 with Bafang Ultra
Replies
3
Views
3K
Kerrith
Kerrith
Muso
New Riese and Müller Delite Review
2 3
Replies
56
Views
8K
Stefan Mikes
Stefan Mikes
AtomicSans
A very disorganized, 9-month, 700-mile, Ride1Up Series 700 Review
Replies
18
Views
7K
EmotionLynx6Pro
E
RickyBikes
Watt Wagons CrossTour Reviews
2 3 4
Replies
60
Views
11K
Deacon Blues
Deacon Blues
Back