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THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO GRAVEL RACING AND ADVENTURE BIKEPACKING

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Legan, Nick, author. Gravel cycling: the complete guide to gravel racing and adventure bikepacking / Nick Legan. Boulder, Colorado: VeloPress, [2017] | Includes bibliographical references and index. LCCN 2017021191 | ISBN 9781937715700 (alk. paper) LCSH: Cycling. | Bicycle racing. | Gravel roads—Recreational use. LCC GV1041 .L435 2017 | DDC 796.6—dc23

This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper).

17 18 19 / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

CONTENTS

1 Getting Started 1 2 Race Prep 9 3 One-Day Domestic Events 21 4 One-Day International Events 93 5 Multiday Adventures 139 6 Outfitting Your Bike 207

7 Bikepacking Gear for Multiday Adventures 233

8 Building Your Gravel Dream Machine 259

Epilogue 275

Resources 277

Index 279

Acknowledgments 285

About the Author 287 GAVEL GINDES

DOMESTIC 3 Grasshopper Crusher 1 7 6 Adventure Series in the Tushar 5 Sonoma County, CA Beaver, UT 10 5 2 7 January–June July 8 3 11 6 4 9 4 PAGE 22 PAGE 58 1 7 2 INTE NATIONAL 2 Land un 8 Gravel Worlds Stillwater, OK Lincoln, NE Great Otway 5 La esistance March August 1 Gravel Grind Talloires, France PAGE 28 PAGE 66 Forrest, Victoria, Australia September February 3 Deerﬁeld Dirt oad PAGE 118 Barry-oubaix 9 andonnée PAGE 94 Hastings, MI 6 Gravel Fondo Deerﬁeld, MA April 2 La Gravel66 August Black Forest, Germany PAGE 34 Pyrénées-Orientales, France October PAGE 72 March 4 Trans Iowa PAGE 126 PAGE 100 Grinnell, IA 10 ebecca’s April Private Idaho 7 Gravel oc 3 Dirty eiver Fréjus, France PAGE 40 Ketchum, ID September Kielder Castle, United Kingdom October April 5 Almanzo PAGE 78 PAGE 134 Spring Valley, MN PAGE 106 May 11 Grinduro Pirinexus 360 PAGE 46 Quincy, CA 4 October Challenge 6 Dirty Kanza PAGE 84 Girona, Catalonia, Spain June Emporia, KS May or June PAGE 112 PAGE 52

1 GAVEL GINDES

1 ADVENTU E BIKEPACKING ALBE TA WA

ME MULTIDAY OUTES MT ND 4 O Great Divide VT 1 MN NH Mountain Bike oute 2 ID Ban, AB to Antelope Wells, NM | 2,768 miles SD WI NY MA PAGE 142 AK I 1 WY MI CT 2 Denali Highway 3 NJ Paxson, AK to Cantwell, AK | 135 miles IA PA NV NE PAGE 158 6 MD UT IL IN OH DE 3 Trans North California 1 eno, NV to Mendocino, CA | 400 miles WV CO 5 PAGE 164 CA KS VA MO KY 4 Oregon Outback Klamath Falls, O to the Deschutes iver | 364 miles AZ NC PAGE 170 SINGLET ACK TN OK MULTIDAY OUTES NM 5 Katy Trail 2 A SC Clinton, MO to Machens, MO | 237 miles 1 Colorado Trail Waterton Canyon, CO to Durango, CO | 525 miles GA PAGE 176 MS AL PAGE 190 Great Allegheny Passage 6 and C&O Towpath 2 Arizona Trail LA TX Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, D.C. | 335 miles Sierra Vista, AZ to Kaibab Plateau, AZ | 739 miles PAGE 182 PAGE 198 FL ADVENTU E BIKEPACKING ALBE TA WA

Paused at the side of what few would Returning my bottle to the cage after a consider a road, the morning sun still swig of water, my eyes fell on the number low on the horizon, I was struck by the plate attached to my handlebars. This beauty of the setting I had just entered. served as a helpful reminder that despite Rolling green hills covered in tall grass the idyllic setting and friendly nature of the were bisected by a narrow brown path of other cyclists nearby, I was in a race, my dirt and gravel. Clusters of cows dotted first gravel race. My first double century, the land, while small white clouds floated or 200-mile ride, in fact. Somewhere in through a brightening blue sky. The humid the beautifully brutal Flint Hills of Kansas, air carried a sweetness that would soon a couple hours into the 2011 Dirty Kanza burn off in the Midwest’s intense summer 200, I fell in love with gravel racing. heat. An ant-like procession of multicolored In the ensuing years, having made my Lycra-clad cyclists labored their way out way to other events around the United of view ahead. Looking back, hundreds States, the love affair has only grown more more bobbing cyclists made their way in intense. I’m certainly not alone, and that’s my direction. As they approached me, they the whole point. In searching for your own called out to ask if I needed anything. limits at gravel events, you find a family

1 of people seeking untapped abilities. The For new cyclists, riding gravel and shared suffering of trudging through miles solitary dirt roads is a natural solution to of mud and hours of chilly progress against the problems of road riding or mountain headwinds brings cyclists together. biking. Traffic on paved roads scares many And just as social media makes new cyclists, and the absence of a safe discovering new gravel events easier, it shoulder or the threatening presence of a also makes staying connected with your gutter strewn with broken glass and debris new gravel brothers and sisters more can be paralyzing. The technical skills convenient. Online, just as at the starting required for mountain biking are also an line or when out on nearly forgotten dirt impediment for many. Riding gravel and roads, the gravel community supports dirt roads, on the other hand, offers a quiet its members, inspiring them to gather cycling experience with only a minimal repeatedly for new adventures, new terrain, amount of cycling prowess required. new vistas. It is a self-perpetuating circle of The remoteness of gravel roads also curiosity, preparation, testing, dissecting, helps produce better cyclists, riders with and trying again. a sense of self-reliance. Many gravel races For those who prefer solitude to reinforce this by requiring competitors competition, gravel roads offer escape from to self-support using convenience stores the increasingly busy paved roads around found along the race route. This is a far cry the world. Cyclists are discovering that from the world of Tour de France racing, riding on dirt lanes and gravel roads is the where a team car is ready at a moment’s calmest form of cycling, a way to escape the notice to deliver food, clothing, even a hustle and bustle of daily life. Jim Cummins, spare bike if needed. In contrast, gravel the founder of the Dirty Kanza 200, race promoters borrow race rules from embraces the term gravel grinder, but for a the roots of mountain bike racing, where different reason than you might think. It’s making it to the finish line requires fitness not because the ride is a grind—not at all. It’s and self-reliance, as well as thoughtful because going out and riding gravel allows riding to preserve your bicycle. In addition him to leave the grind of daily life behind. to making the organization of an event Bikepacking offers even more joys, a a much simpler affair, this approach long-form escape into a world you may not creates cyclists who are unlikely to find have seen before. Imagine extending your themselves marooned by mechanical or gravel ride with some nights under the nutritional problems. stars, and you will discover a joyous time In short, gravel riding has a lot to offer in nature—self-supported, self-reliant, and to cyclists of any ilk. A full day exploring richly fulfilling. farm roads or mountainous miners’ paths

2 GRAVEL CYCLING Bailey Newbrey and Allison Zmuda kick up dust as they power through an early morning section of Dirty Kanza. GETTING STARTED 3 Fast-rolling tires are the way to go for Almanzo, held in Spring Valley, Minnesota, every May.

4 GRAVEL CYCLING will bring highs and lows, flat tires and new taking advantage of the miles and miles of friends. These roads are much more than remote farm and mountain roads they had a venue for cycling. They serve as romantic on hand. A pragmatic sense of using what reminders of bygone eras while also you have at your disposal is the very heart inspiring an adventurous future for of gravel riding. Seeking out unpaved routes the sport. allows riders to avoid increasingly busy paved roads, where many only find anxiety Where did gravel riding and motorists intent on texting. Depending come from? on your location, riding gravel also bypasses Gravel cycling is the original form of the need to build a trail network, which cycling. Modern gravel riders are simply mountain biking often requires. rediscovering the sport’s roots. When bicycles first became popular in the mid- What is a gravel bike? 19th century, almost all roads worldwide Simply put, a gravel bike is a bicycle were dirt. Although asphalt roads existed that you ride on gravel. This definition as early as 615 B.C.E. in Babylon, they is intentionally vague because riders all didn’t become common outside of city over the world enjoy riding dirt and gravel centers until the 20th century. In the on bicycles as different as lightweight United States, much of the impetus to carbon-fiber road race bikes and heavy- pave roads came from the League of duty dual-suspension mountain bikes. American Wheelmen (now known as the Because surfaces and terrain differ so League of American Bicyclists). Formed in greatly, what’s best for you in your area can 1880, the group advocated for improving require a bit of experimentation. As you’ll road conditions, and its efforts led to the see in this book’s photos, the diversity of creation of the National Highway System. bicycles used for gravel riding is startling Fortunately for modern gravel riders, and inventive. the league was not 100 percent successful. In many cases, buying a new bike is not The U.S. Department of Transportation, in required. At the same time, a new steed a 2013 report, noted that nearly 1.4 million may serve your needs better than what you miles of the country’s 4 million miles of currently own and add to your on-bike fun. public roads are unpaved. With well over a Later, we’ll explore how to upgrade your quarter of our public roads made of dirt and current bicycle for gravel as well as give you gravel, opportunities abound. a quick primer on what to look for if you As with many organic developments, decide to pull the trigger on a new bike. Rest the modern incarnation of gravel riding was assured, though, that a big investment is not simply a matter of cyclists in rural areas needed. The only requirement for gravel

GETTING STARTED 5 biking is your willingness to take on Because most dirt and gravel roads new adventures. are maintained annually by state and county agencies, we get to experience What skills do you need them anew after additional gravel is laid to go gravel riding? or grading work is completed. Rain, snow, A bonus to gravel riding is that it doesn’t wind, and traffic also continually evolve require a high level of rider skill like a gravel road’s surface. All this rewards mountain biking does. It has a low barrier the attentive rider and provides subtly of entry to a good time aboard a bike in a different roads week by week, keeping the beautiful rural setting. riding fresh for riders who have limited That’s not to say that gravel biking access to gravel roads. doesn’t require attentive and careful riding, especially when cornering. But you can Give it a go easily achieve those skills, and thanks to the With a strong emphasis on fun, gravel may quiet nature of most gravel and dirt roads, be the shining light in cycling’s future. It the classroom setting is not harried. Small mostly bypasses interactions with motorists bobbles don’t put you in a lane of constant and sidesteps the access issues associated traffic or careening off a narrow trail into with mountain biking. Riding gravel doesn’t rocks and trees. require special equipment or a high skill Riding on loose surfaces can be level. With so many opportunities to ride unnerving at first. But with some gravel and so few impediments to giving instruction and a bit of practice, riding on it a try, there’s no reason for the growth of gravel will raise your skill level across the gravel cycling to slow. board, with those skills then translating Our next chapter contains an to road and mountain biking. Much like introduction to gravel racing, but bear in a road rider on the lookout for glass mind that you don’t need to compete to and potholes, a good gravel cyclist is ride gravel. Cycling as a sport has a strong continually scanning ahead, looking for the tradition in competition, a tradition smoothest path, wary of deep patches of that sometimes overshadows the simple loose gravel, and aware of what little traffic pleasures of freedom and exploration that may be approaching. We become students riding a bike can deliver. of roads, judging if standing over a rise is Make no excuses for how you ride, be it a good idea or if it will result in a spinning fast or slow, long or short. Just ride. rear wheel. We memorize the location of washboard sections and revel in mastering particularly rough roads.

6 GRAVEL CYCLING Pavement, dirt, singletrack: California’s Grinduro features a little bit of everything.

GETTING STARTED 7 Index

Note: Illustrations in italics; events/routes in bold. bags, 257, 262 accessories for, 222, 223, 224, 233, 264 bento box-style, 223, 241 joys of, 2 accessories, 14, 213, 217, 237, 241, 242 bikepacking, 221, 222, 222, 223, 224, setup for, 10, 246 bikepacking, 222, 223, 224, 233, 264 240 bikepacking bikes, 236–237, 262 electronic, 255 drop, 12, 17, 28 Birzman, 229 gravel bike, 216, 220–221 frame, 240, 241, 246, 264 Bishop, Chris, 260 Adventure Cycling Association, 140, 142, handlebar, 241 bivy sacks, 247–248, 247, 257 152, 176, 204, 205, 260 rear, 264 Black Diamond, 247 adventure riding, 221–223, 259, 275 saddle, 140 Black Sheep, 260 multiday, 139, 141 sleeping, 248, 250, 251, 251, 257 Blackburn, 224, 228, 241 Advocate Cycles Hayduke 27.5+, Colorado soft, 240 BMC Roadmachine, 213 Trail and, 260 tube, 241, 260 Boatman, Jeff, 221 aerobars, 19, 51, 223, 235, 235, 237 Banjo Brothers, 19 bolts, 221, 231, 257 aerodynamics, 51, 216, 235 Barcheck, Aaron, 270 checking, 12–13 Almanzo 100, 46–51 Barry-Roubaix, 34–39 Bontrager, 226 Aloksak, 19 Basinger, Pete, 152 Borah Gear, 248 Alpkit, 224, 237 batteries, 40, 150, 241, 242, 253, 255, 257 Boucher, Jason, 218 Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), 134 charging, 270 brake pads, 12, 14, 230, 239, 257, 273 Anything Cages, 219, 246 bead seat diameter, 210 brake rotors, 235, 273 Apidura, 224, 241 Bedrock Bags, 241, 266 brakes, 233, 235, 238 Aquamira, 253 Beltchenko, Neil, 190, 198, 262 adjusting, 230 Aquatabs, 253 Bergman, Adam, 50 caliper, 230, 236 Arizona Trail, (AZT), 153, 189, 198–203 Big Agnes, 245, 247, 248 cantilever, 220, 230, 236 equipment recommendations for, 239–240 bike fit, importance of, 208, 213 disc, 230, 230, 236, 273 Avid, pads from, 230 bike setup, planning, 10, 246 hydraulic, 230, 230, 270, 273 bike washing, 13, 14 maintaining, 230–231 backpacking, 221, 243, 247 BikeOvernights.org, 205 mechanical, 230, 273 backpacks, 216, 240, 244, 245 bikepacking, 140, 217, 218, 220, 221, 236, 237, Bridgestone Bicycles, 148 245, 250, 255–256, 262, 266, 268, 273 brushes, 14, 32, 257

279 CamelBak, 253 daily rides, checklist for, 231 filtering, 252–253, 252 Caminade, 100 Dains, LeLan, 275 fire-making kits, 257 Camo Wanderlust bags, 262 Deane, Ali, 99 first-aid kits, 257 Campagnolo, parts from, 229, 268 Deerfield Dirt Road Radonnée,72–77 flats, 10, 150–151, 224, 226, 228 Cane Creek Thudbuster, 239 degreasers, using, 13 food, 12, 15, 16, 93, 223, 231, 257 Cannondale Slate, 27 dehydration, problems with, 204, 216 carrying, 216, 224 Cantal, Jordi, 112, 117 DeLorme, 205, 242, 257 dehydrated, 255 CO2 cartridges, 12, 226, 228, 228 Denali Highway, 158–163 forks (bike) Carman, Nicholas, 153, 262 equipment recommendations for, 239 carbon, 264 Carousel Design Works, 221 derailleurs, 229, 230, 231, 235, 273 suspension, 238, 239, 262 cassettes, 229, 230, 231, 233, 235, 270 Dial, Roman, 245 frames Cassidy, Butch, 58 Dirty Kanza, 1, 2, 15, 52–57, 71, 78, 228, 275 carbon fiber, 260 chainrings, 229, 230, 231, 233, 235, 238 Dirty Reiver, 106–111 components for, 264–272 chains, 235, 257, 270 District Bicycles, 28 TIG-welded, 260 cleaning, 13, 14 drivetrains, 213, 229, 230, 260, 266, 268, framesets, stock, 259 Chumba Stella 29er, 262 270, 272, 273 Frankenbike, 268 Clement, 39, 45, 125, 226, 227, 270 cleaning, 12, 13 fueling, 216, 223, 224 clothing, 11, 12, 221, 222, 233, 250 mountain bike, 238 Fuller, Steve, 45 repairing, 257 cogs, pie-plate-size, 229 Effetto Mariposa, 226 Garmin, 18, 51, 241, 242 Colorado Trail, (CT), 189, 190–197 energy gels, 126, 224 Gates Carbon Drive, 272 equipment recommendations for, Enlightened Equipment, 251 GDMBR. See Great Divide Mountain Bike 239–240, 260 ENO, 250 Route Compass Bon Jon Pass, 227 Enve Gravel Road (GRD), 270 gearing, 233, 266 computers, 14, 18, 19, 213 Epic Designs, 245 mountain, 272–273 cooking, 251, 254–257 Ergon, 239 setting up, 229 Crawford, Miguel, 22, 27 Errington, Paul, 106, 111 Geiss, Stephan, 126, 133 Crazy Guy on a Bike, 205 Esbit, 254 Genuine Innovations, 229 Crusher in the Tushar, 58–65 European Tyre and Rim Technical Gevenalle, 273 cue sheets, 18, 19, 34, 40, 44, 51, 52, 58, 66 Organisation (ETRTO), 210 Giant Defy, 213 Cummins, Jim, 2, 57, 275 Gleason, Greg, 44 Curiak, Mike, 149, 152, 217 Farnsworth, Philo T., 58 Godfrey, Corey, 71 cyclocross, 220, 236 fastpacking, 247 Gordon, Bruce, 226, 236, 237 cyclocross bikes, 24 fatbikes, 217, 220, 244 Gordon Rock ’n Road, 227, 236, 237 gravel riding and, 207 gravel riding and, 207 GPS units, 18, 19, 106, 152, 231, 237, 241, tires for, 210, 212 female riders, tips for, 154 242, 242, 257 Fenix, 241

280 INDEX GPX files, 18, 19, 28, 34, 52, 58, 66, 106 flared drop,237 King, Ted, 27 Grasshopper Adventure Series, 22–27 loop, 237, 262 King Ridge Dirt Supreme, 22 gravel bikes, 233 Hauswald, Yuri, 15, 57 knives, 257 building, 259–273 helmets, 11, 12, 51 pocket, 255–256, 255 described, 214–216 Hennessy, 250 Koziatek, Stan, 224–225 tires for, 210, 212 Hockman, Eric, 260 Gravel Fondo, 126–133 Holyland Challenge, 153 La Gravel66: 100–105 gravel racing, 6, 9, 10, 11, 215, 275 hub wires, dynamo, 242 La Resistance, 118–125 popularity of, 93 Hutchinson, 226 Land Run, 28–33 rules of, 13, 15 hydration, 71, 198 League of American Wheelmen gravel riding, 2, 5, 259, 275 focusing on, 12, 16, 216, 222 (League of American Bicyclists), 5 bikes for, 207 packs, 223 Lee, Matthew, 152 discovering, 9 planning, 10 Lewis and Clark Route, 176 race-distance, 10 race day, 15–18 Lezyne, 18, 228, 229 skills for, 6 hygiene, 257 lights, 237, 241, 242, 257 Gravel Roc, 134–137 Loctite Blue 242: 13 Gravel Worlds, 66–71 Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Route, 140 Loctite Green 290: 13 Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Iditasport Extreme, 148 lubrication, 12, 13, 14 Towpath, 182–188 IMBA, 260 chain, 231 equipment recommendations for, 239 Indian Pacific Wheel Race, 152 Great Divide, 44, 152, 153, 154, 155, 157, 189, international events, one-day, 93 Maffett, Sam, 99 237, 240, 270 maps, 19, 52, 231, 257 Great Divide Mountain Bike Route Jacks R Better, 251 Maxxis Rekon, 266 (GDMBR), 140, 142–147, 148, 151, Jetboil, 254, 255 McCoy, Michael “Mac,” 142, 204, 205 152, 204 Johnson, Mike, 45, 275 Meiser, Joe, 217–220, 218 equipment recommendations for, 238–239 Johnson, Whit, 262 Meriwether Cycles, 262 Great Otway Gravel Grind, 94–99 Jones, 241 MilesGear, 248 Grinduro, 84–91 Jones, Jeff, 237 Miller, Meredith, 83 GU Energy Labs, 15, 17 Jones Loop handlebars, 236, 237, 262 minimum maintenance road (MMR), Gypsy by Trade, 262 JPaks, 241, 260 217, 275 Montbell Breeze Dry Tec Sleeping Bag Hall, Mike, 151, 152 Kabush, Geoff, 27 Cover, 247 hammocks, 248, 250 Kammok, 250 Montezuma’s Revenge, 243 handlebars, 208, 216, 221, 241, 246 Katadyn, 253 Moots, 260 aero, 223, 235, 235, 237 Katy Trail, 176–181, 182 Morgan, Justin, 27 drop, 237, 272–273 equipment recommendations for, 239 Morris, Austin, 33 fiber, 231 King, Basil, 10

INDEX 281 Morris, Scott, 244 Orange Seal Endurance, 226 Quality Bicycle Products, 217 Mosaic, 260 Oregon Outback, 170–175 quilts, down/synthetic, 250–251 Mosaic Cycles GT-1, 270 equipment recommendations for, 239 Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, Stamstad Ortlieb, 241 Race Across America, 268 and, 148 Osmo Nutrition, 17 race days, 11, 13 mountain bikes, 213 Otway Odyssey, 94 planning for, 15–18 gravel riding and, 207 outfitting, bike, 207–231 Race Face, 266 tires for, 212 Oveja Negra, 241 Rebecca’s Private Idaho, 15, 78–83 Mountain Laurel Designs, 248 Oveja Negro, 266 Refsnider, Kurt, 198, 268 MSR, 248, 253, 254 REI, 247 MSW, 229 Palmer, 244 Reimer, Mike, 218 MTBR, 244 Panaracer GravelKing SK, 227 Renouf, Sylvain, 100, 105 mud scrappers, 231 panniers, 140, 240, 244 repair kits, on-bike, 12, 257 Muir, Ross, 125 Parsons, Eric, 218, 221, 243–246 Revelate Designs, 218, 221, 223, 224, 241, multiday routes, 140–141, 157, 189 Paul Component, pads from, 230 243–246, 268 checklist for, 257 pedals, 208, 213, 231 Ride with GPS, 19, 205 equipment recommendations for, 239 flat, 240 rim diameters, 210, 211, 212 planning, 204–205 Penn Cycle and Fitness, 46 rim strips, 226 People for Bikes, 260 installing, 225, 225 National Highway System, 5 Petersen, Grant, 233 rims navigation, 18, 19, 21, 242 Pinion, 272 mountain bike, 210 NEMO, 247, 248, 251 Pirate Cycling League, 66 road, 210 nesting pots, 255 Pirinexus 360 Challenge, 112–117 size, 210 New Mexico Offroad Runner, 266 Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, 182 tire width and, 211, 212, 228 Nishiki, 243 Planet Bike, 229 Ritchey, 237, 239 North American Handmade Bicycle Show, planning, 204, 204–205 Rivendell, 233 270 Plite, Rick, 34, 39 road bikes, 213 Norwil, Pat, 149 plus mountain bikes, tires for, 212 gravel riding and, 207 Nuclear Sunrise, 241 plus off-road touring bikes, tires for, 212 tires for, 212 nutrition, 21, 32, 71 Porcelain Rocket, 241, 264, 266 Rohloff, 272 planning, 10, 17 Porcelain Rocket Mr. Fusion, 262, 266 rolling diameter, 210 pre-race, 12 Portable Aqua, 253 rolling resistance, 224 race day, 15–18 Potts, Steve, 260 Roy, Matt, 77 Primus, 254 Rusch, Rebecca, 15, 78, 83 Old Caz, 22, 27 Princeton, 241 Ryan, Ira, 217–221 On-One, 237 pumps, 231, 270

282 INDEX saddles, 14, 140, 150, 208, 213, 216, 222, Skratch Labs, 16, 17 Tangle bags, 221, 223, 244, 245 223, 229, 237, 259 SKS, 229 tape, 208, 241, 257 Salomone, Frédéric, 137 Skurka, Andrew, 221 tarps, 248–250, 257 Salsa, 241 sleeping bags, 248, 250, 251, 251, 257 tents, 242, 257 Salsa Cowbell, 237 Slime, 226 pyramid, 248, 248 Salsa Cowchipper, 237 Small Fry, 78 two-person, 247 Salsa Cutthroat, 220, 221, 237 Snow Peak, 254 Teravail Cannonball, 227 Salsa Cycles, 217–220 Snowcat rims, 243, 244 Therm-a-Rest, 245, 251 Salsa Fargo, 218, 219, 221, 237 Soma, 237 thermal energy, sources of, 251 Salsa Nickless cage, 222 SOS button, 242 thread-locking compounds, 13 Salsa Redpoint 27.5: 268 SP, 241 tire plug kits, 227, 227 Salsa Vaya, 221 Specialized, 213, 227, 264 tire width, rims and, 211, 212, 228 Salsa Warbird, 219, 220 Spectrum Paint Powder Works, 270 tires, 21, 231, 233 Salsa Woodchipper, 237 spork, 255, 255 construction of, 227 Santa Cruz Chameleon 27.5+, New Mexico sports drinks, 16, 17 cyclocross, 228 Offroad Runner and, 266 Spot, 242 installing, 225, 225 Sawyer, 253 Spot Tracker, 164, 257 mini-mountain bike, 227 Schmidt, 241 Spring Valley Tourism, 46 mountain bike, 224 Schwalbe, 226, 227 SRAM, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272 preferences for, 213 Sea to Summit, 248, 251 brakes from, 230 pumping, 225, 225 sealants, 224, 225, 226, 227 parts from, 229 seating, 225, 225 SealLine, 19 Stamstad, John, 142, 148–151, 152 size of, 210–212, 227 shifting Stan’s NoTubes, 226 tubeless, 224, 226, 227, 270 bar-end, 273 stems, 45, 208, 216, 223, 224, 241, 259, 264, Titanium Goat, 248 drop bar, 272 266, 270 Tonsager, Joe, 260 electronic, 268 SteriPEN, 253 Topeak, 228, 266 mechanical, 270 Stevenson, Mark, 44 Tour de France, 2, 134, 207, 229 Shimano, 241, 266, 268, 270, 272 stoves, 251, 254, 254, 255 Tour Divide, 152, 153, 154, 155, 164, 189, 217, brakes from, 230 Super Skaggs Gravel, 22 221, 237, 262 pads from, 230 Super Sweetwater, 22 riding, 219, 220 parts from, 229 Surly, 217, 241 Trangia, 254 Shirley, Neil, 71 Surly Pugsley, 244 Trans Am Bike Race, 153, 154 shoes, 208, 231 Survive Outdoors Longer (SOL), 247 Trans Iowa, 40–45, 217, 220, 221 Shot Bloks, 33 suspension, 238, 240, 246, 260, 262 Trans North California, 164–169 Silca, 228, 229, 270 Swindlehurst, Burke, 58, 65 equipment recommendations for, 239 Skogen, Chris, 46, 50 Syntace, 239 tread patterns, 226, 227

INDEX 283 Trek Domane, 213 wheels Triple Crown, 189 aero, 216 TRP, pads from, 230 large-diameter, 238 tubeless tires, 224, 270 sizes, 210–212 installing, 225, 225 Wicks, Barry, 91 tips with, 226–227 Wilcox, Lael, 153–155 tubeless valves, 226, 227 Wintle, Bobby, 28, 32 installing, 225, 225 Wintle, Crystal, 28 tubes, 224 Wolf Tooth Tanpan, 272 spare, 204, 226, 231 Woodring, Mackenzie, 34, 39 tubeless, 226–227 Wren, Tyler, 65 tune-ups, pre-race, 12–13 WTB, 219, 227 24 Hours of Adrenalin, 243 24 Hours of Canaan, 148 Zinn, Lennard, 231 Tyvek, 250 ZPacks, 248, 250

Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), 66, 215 valve cores, unscrewing, 225, 225 Vargo, 254, 255 Velcro, 19, 228, 240, 262 Vittoria, 226 Wahoo, 18 waste, burying, 257 water, 15, 231 boiling, 253 carrying, 214, 216 filtering, 252–253 sports drinks and, 16 treating, 252–253, 252, 257 water bottle cages, 222, 223, 240, 262, 268 water bottles, 213, 222, 262 covering, 223 water filters, 252–253,252 water purifiers, 252, 253,253

284 INDEX About the Author

Born in Indiana, Nicholas Legan found cycling at an early age through the Boy Scouts and was racing by the age of 13, his parents lovingly shuttling him to races around the Midwest. Legan studied French and journalism at Indiana University and spent his junior year in the south of France. After a move to Colorado, he grabbed an opportunity to work as a mechanic for professional road racing teams. He traveled the world for the next seven years, working all three Grand Tours, the world cycling championships, and the 2008 Olympics. He then traded his wrenches for a laptop and began a career as a cycling journalist. He served as the technical editor for VeloNews and currently holds the same position with Adventure Cyclist while also freelancing for several additional cycling publications. Nick lives with his wife, Kristen, and their dog, Coriander, in Longmont, Colorado, a gateway to exceptional gravel.

287 Sports & Recreation / Cycling $24.95

MAKE YOUR ESCAPE Gravel cycling is a glorious La Gravel66. Bike setup, route return to the purest roots of tips, and hard-won advice from two-wheeled adventure. the world’s top gravel competitors From farm roads and miners’ make Gravel Cycling the paths to the high passes of the essential companion for aspiring Rockies and Alps, gravel cycling adventure racers. will set you free to explore, enjoy, persevere, and discover. Bikepacking Adventure For bikepackers heading into from bikepacking’s innovative NICK LEGAN'S road racing career Gravel Grinders the great unknown, Gravel equipment pioneers will help you began at age 13, but these days his heart If you seek the thrill of competition, Cycling details a wealth of select durable gear and assemble beats for the glory of gravel racing and Gravel Cycling will introduce you favored multiday adventure your own never-say-die adventure the fun of bikepacking. As the gear and to 18 spectacular events around routes across America, bike for unlimited exploring. technical editor for Adventure Cyclist, the globe, ranging from American and shares crucial packing tips, The wild ride of a lifetime his pursuit of stories has helped him classics like Dirty Kanza, Grinduro, equipment checklists, route awaits you in Gravel Cycling. discover adventure rides around the and Barry-Roubaix to exciting planning, and mealtime Get into gravel and discover a world. He’s a frequent gravel competitor newcomers such as Australia’s suggestions so you can ride whole new way to enjoy the great and a ride-hardened veteran of the Great Otway and France’s with confidence. Advice outdoors. 2,768-mile Great Divide Route.