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Gravel riding is fast becoming cycling’s most popular discipline. While you can debate the reasons behind what’s driving that, there’s no denying the fact that the ample gravel roads across the United States, and the world beyond, is a major factor.
Most people aren’t too far from finding gravel roads, but some locations are blessed with better access to them than others. When you want endless roads to explore, these towns are great base camps for a gravel getaway.
Emporia, Kansas
Gravel fans and Emporia locals came out to cheer on the riders. Photo: Brad Kaminski | Velo
The most important gravel race in the world is held in a small city in eastern Kansas. Debuting in 2006 as the Dirty Kanza, the race now called Unbound Gravel has put Emporia, Kansas squarely on the cycling map. Every year, over 3,000 riders plus their friends and family descend on the university town for the ‘Super Bowl’ of gravel. But the race’s success has created a legacy of gravel riding outside of the race.
(Photo: Marc Arjol Rodriguez | VeloPhoto)
People travel to Emporia year round to sample the gravel that made the area so famous. Dirt roads begin less than a mile out of town, and travel through some of the state’s most beautiful countryside — the Flint Hills. Home to some of North America’s last remaining Tallgrass Prairie, the Flint Hills are a gravel cyclists’ paradise. Long stretches of gravel roads undulate into the horizon, and riding the same route twice is never necessary. Back in town, the folks at Merchant Cycles can get your bike ready for more riding, and the staff at Mulready’s Pub can share their own stories of riding in Emporia way back when.
Patagonia, Arizona
Gravel riding around Patagonia, Arizona.
Wait, you’re going all the way to Patagonia to ride gravel bikes? No, not the South American one. Patagonia, Arizona is a tiny town just a few dozen miles north of the Mexico border. Once known as an enclave for hippies, artists, and bird watchers, Patagonia now supports a vibrant gravel cycling scene.
Heidi, Zander, and Big Sky Ault in front of the Patagonia Lumber Co bar and cafe. (Photo: Courtesy The Cyclist’s Menu)
Local couple Heidi and Zander Ault first welcomed gravel riders to their community in 2019 with the Spirit World 100, a hyper-local, low-key gravel event. Since then, the couple has opened various rental properties, a small bar and cafe called the Patagonia Lumber Company, and a micro-bike shop to support the steady trickle of riders that pass through town. The gravel roads surrounding Patagonia are rolling and remote and offer riders a glimpse into the magical borderlands ecosystem. The region is so special we almost want to keep it secret.
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
SBT GRVL (Photo: Dane Cronin)
For decades, Steamboat Springs’ claim to fame was the ‘champagne powder’ that made skiing there such a blast. Now, there’s ‘champagne gravel’ to entice visitors in the spring, summer, and fall. Steamboat Springs is nestled in northwestern Colorado’s Yampa Valley, where it’s surrounded by hundreds of miles of pristine gravel roads. The mountains aren’t as steep as in other Colorado ski towns, so ticking off dozens of miles is easy.
Reggie Miller basking in the finish line glow after Swenson and the other sprinters have blasted by. (Photo: Dane Cronin)
There are cute nearby towns like Hayden and Oak Creek for re-fueling, but other than that, expect curious cows and twittering birds to be your only distractions. Locals have long known about the area’s amazing riding, but the SBT GRVL race helped popularize it outside of Colorado. Held every year in late August, the event transforms downtown Steamboat into a mini bike industry expo, where riders and locals alike can mingle before hitting the dirt outside of town.
Bentonville/Fayetteville, Arkansas
Alison Tetrick leads the way through a water crossing during the Big Sugar Gravel recon ride in Bentonville, Arkansas.
At this point, what kind of riding isn’t northwestern Arkansas known for? The cycling mecca is surrounded by amazing singletrack, buttery smooth pavement, and hundreds of miles of gravel roads. In the past five years or so, the local and regional tourism chambers have made a big push to draw cyclists to the area, where they can finish off a ride and choose between dozens of restaurants and bars, and then hit an art museum or concert to end the day. Northwest Arkansas has also pioneered a program called Rural Recreational Roads, which designates gravel routes and encourages partnerships between visitors and locals. The most difficult thing about visiting the region is deciding which bike to bring!
The most difficult thing about visiting Northwest Arkansas is deciding which bike to bring! (Photo: GH-Studios)
Source link : https://velo.outsideonline.com/gravel/the-top-4-gravel-cycling-towns-to-base-your-next-bike-adventure-from/
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Publish date : 2024-08-13 00:09:23
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