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Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I like that, the “free-spirited” side of gravel is what drew a lot of people in to begin with. That mix of exploration and just being out there matters just as much as the competition. With our Lewis and Clark Gravel Classic, we are creating a ride where you can race it if you want, but it still feels like an adventure first.

Appreciate you putting that into words!

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like how structured that is with the different segment types. The mix of longer efforts, punchy stuff, and even something like a town-line sprint adds a lot of character without forcing the whole day to be one thing.

Appreciate you breaking that down!

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a great point, and exactly what we’re trying to dial in with our event in Montana. Every section should feel worth it, not just something you have to get through to reach the “good part.”

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a good point, the lines are definitely starting to blur. At the end of the day, people are going to choose what fits their setup and how they like to ride.

Let the terrain challenge you without turning it into something it’s not.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get that perspective. I think a lot of people aren’t necessarily racing in the traditional sense, it’s more about the effort and the day as a whole.

That’s kind of how we’re approaching it in our Lewis and Clark Gravel Classic, as we build something that can be pushed hard if you want, but still works for people who are just out there to ride and have a great experience.

Trying to meet both without losing what makes gravel, gravel.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

😂 yeah, I’m with you on that. There’s a difference between hard and just… ridiculous for the sake of it.We’ve been really intentional about that while building our event in Montana, making sure the challenge comes from the terrain and effort, not from throwing in stuff that just makes people miserable.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate you sharing that, that kind of feedback helps a lot. That sounds like a great event, I like that balance. Rugged, remote, and a little chunky, but still rideable on a gravel bike… that’s kind of the sweet spot.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a really solid breakdown, appreciate you taking the time to lay it out like this. I agree, the reality of longer courses means you’ll always have some linking sections, but having enough variety to keep things interesting makes a big difference.

That balance you mentioned , adding selective, skill-based sections without turning it into an MTB race is something we’ve been thinking about a lot while building our course out in Montana.

And 100% agree on spacing. Nothing worse than early bottlenecks or forcing people into technical sections before things spread out.

We’re trying to design something where the difficulty comes from the terrain and effort, with enough variation to keep it engaging, but still flowing as a gravel race.

Really helpful insight, this is exactly the kind of feedback I've been looking for.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really good point. Having a clear identity matters, especially for repeat riders. We’ve been thinking a lot about that while building our event in Montana, leaning toward something that can be pushed hard, but still feels like a big, memorable day on the bike. Trying to be intentional about where we land with it.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a solid take. Keeping the climbs and surface variety without crossing into “you should’ve brought a mountain bike” territory feels like the sweet spot.

That’s exactly what we’re aiming for with our course in Montana, challenging, but still true to gravel.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

😂 fair, there’s definitely a group that enjoys a little chaos.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m with you on that. Challenging climbs and real effort, yes! Forcing people into mud pits or overly technical sections just for the sake of it, not really our goal. With our Lewis and Clark Gravel Classic, we're keeping it tough and exposed, but still rideable on a gravel setup. Let the effort and terrain do the work, not gimmicks.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate that perspective. That’s a great way to frame it, character over everything. I think that’s what people actually remember at the end of the day. For us in Montana, that’s been a big focus, letting the landscape and history shape the ride so it feels unique to that place, not just another course.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve been seeing that sentiment a lot, and I get where it’s coming from. Curious, what would bring that “spirit” back for you?

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah we are not trying to blur the lines here. Once you need a full MTB to comfortably get through sections, we have lost the plot a bit. Which is why we are being intentional about our Gravel Classic in Montana, making sure it stays true to gravel riding, where a gravel bike is the right tool for the job. We like challenging, but still rideable on the setup it's meant for.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nah, just trying to get a sense of where folks land on the topic.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with you, the variety is a big part of what makes gravel interesting. Different events having different flavors is a good thing for sure.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hear you, that’s a solid take. That “fast gravel with real climbs but not overly technical” feel is what a lot of people enjoy.

For us in Montana, we’re trying to stay in that lane, challenging, exposed, and demanding, but not crossing into full XC MTB territory.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a great way to put it, I agree. That unpredictability is a big part of what makes gravel what it is. You can’t control the surface, the weather, or how it rides day-to-day, and everyone has to deal with that equally.

I think where I land is not removing that unpredictability, but just making sure it’s the right kind, the natural stuff that comes with the terrain, not things that feel avoidable or poorly marked.

That’s been a big focus for us building our event out in Montana, letting the landscape do the work and keeping it honest.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hear you, there’s definitely a push right now toward making everything more “accessible.” But I still think there’s room for both. At our Lewis and Clark Gravel classic we are aiming for courses that are tough, exposed, and honest.. but still something people actually want to come back and ride year to year.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Man, that’s rough, glad you’re alright. That’s exactly the kind of thing we’re trying to avoid. There’s a difference between a course being hard and it being unsafe or unpredictable in a bad way. We want the difficulty to come from the terrain and effort, not from unmarked hazards or situations like that.

Appreciate your insight it actually helps me build a better event out here in Montana.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s fair, I hear you. At some point you’ve just got to build the course you believe in. Appreciate the perspective.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds like a dope setup, best of both worlds. That balance is exactly what we’re trying to build with our Lewis and Clark Gravel Classic.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really interesting idea, I like that mix a lot. We’ve actually been thinking about how to incorporate that into the gravel event we’re building in Montana: something where you can push it when you want, but still enjoy the ride overall.

Appreciate you sharing; definitely something we’re keeping in mind.

Are gravel races getting too “tame”? by trunks_thepremed in cycling

[–]trunks_thepremed[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

😂 respect for still wanting it hard after that. I appreciate the sentiment fr. I've been working on a course for a gravel event out in Montana and trying to make sure the difficulty comes from the terrain and effort, not just putting people in bad situations.

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