From its humble beginnings in 2014 with 50 riders, to the 6.0 installment on February 9, 2019, the Rock Cobbler has become one of the must-do gravel events of the year. Originally inspired by some of the first great ‘gravel grinders’ like Dirty Kanza and the Crusher, the Cobbler is certainly a great one with its own unique style.

For 2019 two courses would set the stage, an 85 mile Cobbler with 6000 feet of climbing and the Pebbler, a 60 mile course with 3000 feet of elevation gain. The ride started and finished at Lengthwise Brewing Company in Bakersfield, CA. The course was well marked and SAG stops fully loaded with Bonk Breaker nutrition and Fluid Hydration.

With Southern California undergoing an unusually formidable wet spell, conditions became a key factor in the ride even as a light rain started just as morning began. Fortunately, the first several miles would include mostly road and bike path, with clear skies approaching just in time for the dirt. However with little time to dry out, equipment choice became incredibly important as the day wore on.

The Rock Cobbler may be know best for its single family home sectors, tire obstacle courses and storied hike-a-bike sections. And while this year was no different with plenty of shenanigans, we were most impressed by the overall experience of the Cobbler. The ride itself was a memorable gravel adventure that included fun singletrack, rolling dirt roads, remote paved sections and plenty of beautiful sweeping views. The riders we met that day loved all of it, and we did too. Thanks Sam, we’ll see you again next year!

Links:

Sam Barn Promotions

Backmate

The Beaten Path

Thanks for reading and be sure to subscribe for more event news and gear updates. Watch for our next post on the gravel bikes of the Rock Cobbler, and how our equipment performed that day.