Welcome to RECON where you will find all of our latest stories including gear reviews, ride recaps and industry news.
With loads of cool new bags being launched in recent weeks we sorted through them all to bring you our top five hip packs for the adventure cyclist. All of these bags are extremely versatile and handmade in the USA from high quality materials.
Read MoreThere are still a couple of spots left for next weekend’s BWR Survival Camp, hosted by our friends at Source Endurance. This weekend long event is hands down the best training experience available for upcoming 2020 Belgian Waffle Ride, and a heck of a great time. We’ll be joined by some insanely talented coaches and riders including Adam Mills, Colin Strickland, Peter Stetina and the creator of the BWR, Michael Marckx.
Read MoreWhile 2019 was certainly a landmark year for gravel with loads of new bike launches, big event turnouts and pros leaving the tour for the “supple life”, 2020 is set to be an interesting year for our beloved sport. Events have always been at the heart of gravel, giving riders unique challenges along with the strong community aspects we all love.
Read MoreEntering into our second year, the Gravelstoke Development Team is an active community of cyclists with a passion for exploration, camaraderie and doing good. Created as our ambassador team, we set out to support the riders who uphold the values and ethos of our brand. We invite you to join us.
Read MoreIt was earlier this year that I first became aware of Chumba USA, a bike company based out of Austin, Texas. Besides the fact that all of their bikes are handmade in the USA, the more I learned about the folks behind Chumba and the products they stand behind, the more I found myself admiring the brand. The company is owned and operated by 2 men and 2 women, build frames from only the highest quality materials and approach their work with an intentionality and pride that is immediately evident if you get a chance to meet them.
Read MoreThe Chamois Hagar defies classification and exudes stoke, taking what we knew gravel to be, and redefining it. 700 x 50c tire clearance, 430mm chainstays, a 66.67-degree headtube angle, 80mm of BB drop, real reach and wheelbase measurements, and a mind-numbing array of customizable configurations.
Read More
Just like last year, for the 2019 holiday season we crafted a special gift guide that includes some of our favorite hard and soft goods from the year that are sure to please all the gravel cyclists in your life. This year we focused on smaller items that we feel offer a uniquely good value, while still meeting our standards for quality, design and/or proven durability.
Read MoreRide with GPS, our favorite platform for planning gravel routes announced today their first major update in some time. Most notably, their flagship route planner is now available in the Ride with GPS app for iOS and Android.
Read MoreGrinduro, brought to life by founding sponsor Giro Sport Design, has drawn the curtain on a hugely successful 2019 season with the support of global partners Fabric, Maxxis, and Rapha. For 2020, Grinduro’s growth will continue, with six events planned between June and December. Riders around the globe will get to indulge their party-to-race ratios with individual events hosted by world renowned bike brands and supported by Giro and global partners.
Read MoreAfter years of being underwhelmed by existing phone case solutions for cyclists, we decided to make our own. Today we're thrilled to announce our very first original product, the Explore Wallet. Designed and handmade in collaboration with Orucase, we set out to create a minimal phone case without compromising on function or durability.
Read MorePeter Vollers and the crew over at The Vermont Overland just launched their short film from The Overland 2019. Looks like a great time in the Green Mountain State! Registration for the 2020 Overland opens on January 1st at 10am EST.
Read MoreFounded in 2012, Sage Titanium Bicycles may be a relatively young brand in the bike industry, but has steadily grown a solid array of MTB and drop bar bikes in its lineup. Based in Portland, Oregon, a region well known for its cross culture and love for adventure, it’s not surprising that Sage has excelled at bringing premium drop bar gravel and cross bikes to the market.
Read MoreIn an exclusive interview between Craig at The Gravel Ride Podcast and Crusher in the Tushar founder, Burke Swindlehurst talks about his 10 year journey around one of the original great gravel events and the latest development involving its sale to Life Time.
Read MoreUltra-endurance bike rider and racer Lael Wilcox and 2019 FKT attempt on The Tour Divide Gravel Race. Even if you don’t follow this bike race across the Great Divide, a 2750 mile route with 200,000 ft of elevation, this is a great video that captures the experience and controversies around this year’s event.
Read MoreWe were deeply saddened to learn that our friend Kevin Lentz died in a terrible accident this past weekend while doing what he loved. I first met Kevin on a trip to Sedona in 2018. He had a remarkable smile and an even bigger motor. We lost a friend, a father, a husband and one of our community’s finest.
Read MoreAfter getting multiple requests we finally put together a list of some of our favorite gravel routes in North County San Diego. These are all moderately difficult routes ranging from about 40-50 miles. Terrain is a mix of road, hardpack gravel, singletrack, bike path and fireroad. As such, we recommend a cross or gravel bike with tires at least 40mm in width. In most cases we’ve marked at least one water stop on course, and the dirt sections are labelled in blue. In general, these rides can take anywhere from 4-6 hours.
Read MoreA fantastic presentation all around, this Tire Ted Talk goes super deep into all things tires. Moderated by tire fetichist Ultra Ronnie Romance, and joined by industry pros from Schwalbe and WTB, this panel talk was recorded at the Philly Bike Expo. Learn all about carcass thread density, casing, puncture protection, tire pressures, the new Ultradynamico tire brand, and how to support drugs in cycling.
Read MoreAfter the last couple of years I’ve steadily increased the volume of my tires, following the trends of wider offerings while seeing where I might land in terms of personal preference. The hesitation for many of my friends to try 650b is understandable, requiring a new set of wheels while also potentially moving away from what their bike was designed for. Thus far we’ve reviewed two 650b gravel tires, the Panaracer GravelKing and WTB Venture at 48 and 47mm respectively. Slightly wider, while still well within the the clearance limits of the 3T Exploro, we now offer a long term review on the Donnelly Strada USH in 650b x 50mm.
Read MoreAmity Rockwell is a pretty special human being, and knows her way around a cup of coffee as much as a long gravel climb. Check out the latest Rollout video from Easton Cycling, which takes a closer look inside Amity’s head.
Read MoreHere at Gravelstoke our dedication to finding, testing and sharing the best gravel cycling gear and bikes remains at the core of who we are. 2019 was a busy year for us on all fronts, with new opportunities and connections that bring us closer to the original vision for the site. Creating original and inspiring content for the adventure cyclist, with a focus on high quality goods from the brands we love. We’re excited to share with you our top 10 gravel cycling gear picks from 2019. As always, thanks for sharing and subscribe here for more content like this in the weeks to come.
Read More
