dwmckee

Wow, there is a shortage of new threads here lately so I'll propose a new topic. With all of the cancelled gravel rides this season, what large ride are you most looking forward to next year when things [hopefully] get back to "normal?" I am in the northeast so it will be the spring rides next year including the Hilly Billy, Whiskey Rebellion and Black Fork Gravel Grinder...

pbass

Grinduro California.

Lemond1985

Never heard of it, so I looked it up. I like what I'm seeing



That whole Mt. Shasta area has some great potential as a cycling mecca.

pbass

I've never done it. But I was hoping to this year, for the first time!

DeadGrandpa

GDMBR, of course, but before that I think the TNGA with maybe the northern extension that originates in Virginia. I forget what they call that. And so much more in between.

spdntrxi

BWR the original one

Hondo Gravel

Tour De Hondo from my garage. The pandemic hasn’t stopped the tour


Miles of gravel roads. I’m lucky they are so close by.

Rides4Beer

Thankfully, I was still able to get to race, only had one race of the five race series cancelled. But I did get into DK200, which then got canceled, so maybe that will happen next year. Our BWR got pushed to May.

First race in next year's series is in Feb, come down to SC and get your groove on.

unterhausen

TransVirginia. There was a fall grand depart, but I wasn't ready and wouldn't feel comfortable doing it.

mstateglfr 

24 Hours of Cumming and the MADCO100.

Both are popular regional events that were cancelled this year and i havent done either yet.
I am signed up for the 100k of 24 hrs because I cant even fathom riding in the 400k race.
And the MADCO100 is just one route 100mi of hilly rural gravel.

trailangel

Ya'll are dreaming if you think there will be a post covid. Our daily lives are changed for years to come. I hear solo rides are popular.

walnutz

I’m not too far from you (ATX). Any specific routes you can recommend?

mstateglfr 

Its a common, easy, and well understood way to describe the time when daily life further opens to the point where things aren't cancelled/postponed far in advance due to the pandemic.

Of course there will be a time when this happens. It may be 8 months from now or two years from now- who knows. But i haven't seen anything that would make me think it will never happen.

Right now gravel races are taking place, so its reasonable to discuss a time when rides that cancelled this year will come back in future years.

shoota 

It'll be three weeks from now, when the election is over. I'm looking forward to the usuals, Mid South being the highlight. There have actually been quite a few rides happening this Summer, it's only the big name ones that needed to cancel for some reason.

tdilf

Gravel Grape Crusher and Middle Creek Gravel Grinder are two local ones that come to mind.

Koyote

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstateglfr

Its a common, easy, and well understood way to describe the time when daily life further opens to the point where things aren't cancelled/postponed far in advance due to the pandemic.

I think these perspectives are both correct.

Regardless of some politicians' promises (well, one politician in particular), the vaccine is not "almost ready" -- and, even when there is a vaccine, it won't be immediately available to all 330 million people in the US. If it is distributed rationally, the sorts of people who race bikes - i.e., people who are healthy and relatively young - will not be among the first to receive it. So, we'll still be living in a Covid world well into, and perhaps through, 2021. However, some race directors are already figuring out how to adapt and hold safer events through staggered starts, distancing and face-covering, etc. So, I do think there will be more events in 2021. (Though I don't know if I will attend them, being 58 years old and mildly asthmatic, and just generally risk-averse.)

When it IS safe to race, I'm looking forward to the Mount Davis Gravel Grinder and a handful of others out here in the Western PA/Eastern OH area.

unterhausen

Moderator note: Please, let's not make this covid 19 forum fodder. Stick to naming rides or we are going to close the thread.

dwmckee

I rode Mount Davis last year and can verify that east coast gravel may not be as glamorous as some of the western rides, but the grades here are killer and I was pretty whooped afterwards...
Have you done Black Fork, Whiskey Rebellion or Hilly Billy? They cover the tristate area (West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio) pretty well.

Koyote

Don, yep, we have done some of the same rides -- I did Mount Davis last year, too, and Hilly Billy. Think I saw you at Keystone Gravel, too - that was a killer. Did your Whiskey Rebellion ride in '18, but couldn't make it in '19 - it's on my wish list for '21 if things are safe by then!

unterhausen

Also should note that I'm looking forward to riding dwmckee's cross Pennsylvania route.

Koyote

Crush the Commonwealth, Gravel Edition!

mack_turtle

Castell Grind
Hill Country Hundy

walnutz

I just go and ride this on my own throughout the year. Kinda more enjoyable for me (and cheaper), but I’m not a racer. I could see how it would be fun to compete though.

mack_turtle

I don't "compete" in any of those events, but I participate whenever possible for the social/ party aspect. I could also go ride those routes solo, but it's not so fun to drive from Austin to Llano and ride alone. might go do it with a few trusted friends some time. if I can find a really good map of more of those routes, I think my wife would join me for a 30 miler.

walnutz

Yeah that makes sense. A friend and I drove out there separately but rode together. Long drive for sure, but not riding solo makes it a little better.

you ever do the Holy Roller route? Less gravel/dirt, but shorter drive. There’s some good gravel riding in Lockhart too.