Is a gravel road stage race viable?

[Pulse]

Maybe you should explain Tonteldoos.........

http://www.c2tmtb.co.za/

[V12man]

I think there is definitely potential for events like this...

 

However I still miss what got me into racing and riding, an event where you rock up, pay your R50 and race...short track xc/cyclocross in a vlei...no big branding, no online entries, no BS just pure racing.

 

The winner takes home half of the kitty from the entries, so the more entries the better - all word of mouth...

Sounds like winter Sunday afternoon spruit cx races... ride what you bring..

[EmptyB]

This is what the original Crater Cruise was. Literally a cruise around the Vredefort Dome crater.

 

The first one was great. Dirt roads all the way, seeing the countryside. a lekker park-off at the halfway mark along the river with a swim encouraged. I seem to recall that they even advertised that you could do it on a road bike.

 

Then the need for it to have single track otherwise it was not a real MTB race started intruding, and because the terrain does not lend itself to it, it just became a k@k MTB slog fest. It lost all of its charm and uniqueness and ultimately it was cancelled this year because of land-access issues.

 

I recon take it back to its roots. A good Gravel cruise without any "hey wow, we found a sandy footpath so we can call it single track" affectation.

 

I'd love it.

100% agree with this. Well put!

[Matchstix]

Hell and back is very doable on a gravel grinder, so is K2C.

True! Not sure about the gearing though.

[Patchelicious]

This is what the original Crater Cruise was. Literally a cruise around the Vredefort Dome crater.

 

The first one was great. Dirt roads all the way, seeing the countryside. a lekker park-off at the halfway mark along the river with a swim encouraged. I seem to recall that they even advertised that you could do it on a road bike.

 

Then the need for it to have single track otherwise it was not a real MTB race started intruding, and because the terrain does not lend itself to it, it just became a k@k MTB slog fest. It lost all of its charm and uniqueness and ultimately it was cancelled this year because of land-access issues.

 

I recon take it back to its roots. A good Gravel cruise without any "hey wow, we found a sandy footpath so we can call it single track" affectation.

 

I'd love it.

Couldnt agree more. I have started doing less and less MTB rides because there is this obsession with single track.

 

Every race now sells itself on "we have sooo much single track".

 

Now I can appreciate that people like riding it, but it's not conducive to an event where hundreds of people are trying to share the same bit of 30cm wide track at the same time..... I believe that it is starting to cannibalize itself. Not that I mind, this obsession with ST is creating this need for gravel grinds, and I couldn't be happier.

 

Rant over

 

Now: which are the current cool gravel grind races?

Swartberg is definitely on the list next year! What else??

[Pulse]

Could agree more. I have started doing less and less MTB rides because there is this obsession with single track.

 

Every race now sells itself on "we have sooo much single track".

 

Now I can appreciate that people like riding it, but it's not conducive to an event where hundreds of people are trying to share the same bit of 30cm wide track at the same time..... I believe that it is starting to cannibalize itself. Not that I mind, this obsession with ST is creating this need for gravel grinds, and I couldn't be happier.

 

Rant over

 

Now: which are the current cool gravel grind races?

Swartberg is definitely on the list next year! What else??

Couldn't agree more

[Patchelicious]

Hell and back is very doable on a gravel grinder, so is K2C.

Not sure about K2C?

 

I didn't ride it this year, but from memory of previous years, the 2km decent after the first climb pretty much rules out a CX bike? Pity because the rest of the 90km is perfect for it.

[GLuvsMtb]

Not sure about K2C?

 

I didn't ride it this year, but from memory of previous years, the 2km decent after the first climb pretty much rules out a CX bike? Pity because the rest of the 90km is perfect for it.

I've seen a few on the course in previous years. Just pop on 35c tyres with a bit of a tread and you're good to go.

[Patchelicious]

I've seen a few on the course in previous years. Just pop on 35c tyres with a bit of a tread and you're good to go.

I crash on the grass in the Spruit, not even if use Fattie tyres would I go down that decent on a CX bike ????

[GLuvsMtb]

I crash on the grass in the Spruit, not even if use Fattie tyres would I go down that decent on a CX bike [emoji23]

Not much different than a rigid HT.

[Underachiever]

Maybe you should explain Tonteldoos.........

Unless there are bad corrugated sections.  Cx bikes don't like them a bit.  Shod with a Lauff will bring a tad relief.

[DJR]

...........Now: which are the current cool gravel grind races?

Swartberg is definitely on the list next year! What else??

I know that it's not quite what you are talking about, but the best gravel grind I did this year, was without a doubt Eroica South Africa at Montagu. You have to ride an old classic road bike though. I did the 90 km, but the true heroes did the 140km. Besides for the fantastic route and the scenery, the race just had a seriously cool vibe. Mix some young hipster, bike collector, history buff, a bit of old ballie, a smidgin of tough guy and a dollop of the coffee shop crowd and you get Eroica SA.

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/157572-event-eroica-south-africa/

[Patchelicious]

This thread got me so excited about gravel grinds, that I might have slipped, tripped and bought a CX bike by accident..... ????

[Warthog]

Tour of Ara is a little different though as you have to use a road bike... whereas something where the use of gravel bike or CX bike would be quite popular I think. 

 

I am planning to do Cullinan to Tondeldoos next year where I think a gravel bike would work quite well

 

Let me know when, would love to join in that.

[the nerd]

Let me know when, would love to join in that.

 

http://www.c2tmtb.co.za/

['Dale]

This thread got me so excited about gravel grinds, that I might have slipped, tripped and bought a CX bike by accident..... ????

Pics or it didn't happen ????