Gravel Cycling
wheelMainstreamKansas, USA, 2006
Riding drop-bar bikes on unpaved roads, gravel paths, and mixed terrain over long distances. Gravel cycling is the frontier — road cycling's discipline married to mountain biking's spirit of exploration.
History
Gravel riding gained identity in the mid-2000s with events like the Dirty Kanza (now Unbound Gravel) in Kansas. It filled the gap between road and mountain biking, offering endurance challenges on forgotten roads.
Culture
Gravel culture prizes adventure, self-sufficiency, and community over competition. Events are as much social gatherings as races, and the "rules" are intentionally few.