Originally Posted by Marcus_Ti

From the flip side....Just to play devil's advocate. Much of the rising popularity of 'gravel riding' was in direct reaction to the ludicrous expense of road riding equipment and rides, and anyone could do it just about anywhere suitably rural enough.....which brings us to 2019 (last time most rides occurred), and the bikes have become as-expensive and the rides more-expensive than road rides while having less amenities, and the rides are getting filled with people who ride 40 hours/week. IOW, it has become exactly the thing it was a reaction against.

Last year Gravel World's was asking for $100USD to ride. For 1 day. With NO support, no SAG, no wrenching. On open public roads. $100 got you a bib and a bit of swag, and that is it. Which is nuts. Dirty Kanza is worse.

Which, ofc, to be completely fair....the bikes don't need to be that expensive...and organized rides are, well, what they are--and you can enjoy riding on your own.


I once heard a CXer characterize gravel riding as: as long as a road ride, on practically CX surfaces, without any amenities.