In this episode of the COVID Bike Diaries we check in with cycling apparel brand Velocio on the launch of the 2020 Unity Project that aims to give aid to those who need it most in the wake of COVID-19.
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Looking back on it, we never expected The Mid South to be one of the last races "for a while." This makes it all the more meaningful that Payson and Hannah were able to persevere through some of the toughest conditions ever served up by the roads of Stillwater Oklahoma and take the top step of the podium for pro men and women. We're proud of the efforts they made in the preparation and on race day, and celebrate their spirit of toughness as we hunker down and ride out the COVID-19 storm. We'll come back to racing as soon as we can, and until then we'll keep chronicling the adventures of team riders Payson McElveen, Hannah Finchamp, Kye Cordes, and Dennis Van Winden as they navigate the strange new landscape of training for an uncertain season during social isolation.
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This week we hear from Jim Santos of San Francisco’s Outer Shell Adventure on life and business in the cycling industry under the Bay Area’s stay at home order due to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
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With the infrastructure in place and some creative thinking, both Breadwinner Cycles in Portland, OR and Orucase in San Diego, CA have quickly transitioned their spaces to remain open. We heard from both of them and share their stories below.
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Alighting the Sleeper Train at the highest, remotest station on the West Highland Line, a group of cyclists head off on an opportunistic wintry journey to ride the old-established network of gravel drove roads, only to find themselves bogged-down exploring the alluring voids in between.
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We’re big fans of gravel and adventure cycling podcasts here and gathered up a few that have recently been released in this new world of social distancing and home isolation. We hope you are all safe and doing well wherever you may be. Here in California the restrictions have only increased. Originally on March 19, the governor gave a shelter in place order, requesting that all citizens stay at home with the exception of any essential activities. While the order was mostly followed, here in North County San Diego people continue to go outside and enjoy the local parks, trails and beaches. Unfortunately social distancing can be difficult on our narrow trails, sidewalks and beach breaks, forcing the county to and local governments to further restrict access by temporarily closing these public areas starting March 23 to help slow the spread of the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. If you do go outside please be responsible and follow good pandemic practices. Now for your quarantine listening pleasure, here are 5 podcasts to check out.
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It’s winter here in Southern California and that means training season for upcoming bikepacking adventures and races. In preparation, I’ve been trail testing some tires from Teravail, the QBP brand, that is well known for off-road tires. I was keen to try the Sparwood 29 x 2.2” tires on my Salsa Cutthroat for the last three months on mostly local gravel, mountain single-track, desert sand, and multi-day bike packing routes in varied terrains.
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CA State residents to remain in place at their homes except for essential activities, essential business, and essential government functions. But what does this mean for outdoor activities like cycling, running or hiking? Is riding your bike an essential activity?
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In this episode, we connect with Pete Stetina about transitioning into gravel racing from the World Tour Road Racing scene. Pete won Belgian Waffle Ride last year and it was a sort of switch for him that this could be a real possibility for him. One that brought him back to his roots of why he rides his bike and what motivates him to get out every day.
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Inspired by the mud-laden conditions often observed at The Mid South gravel race in Stillwater, OK, Salsa Cycles has introduced the Stormchaser, an aluminum frame / carbon fork single speed gravel bike designed to withstand the worst conditions imaginable. Starting from the aluminum Warbird as a point of reference Salsa Engineers gave the Stormchaser a slacker head tube angle and longer wheelbase centers rider weight for more stability.
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Jeff Kerkove of Team Topeak-Ergon took 1st place at the 2020 Stagecoach 400, a multi-day Southern California bikepacking adventure race that was organized by Brendan Collier and Meg Knobel. Starting from Idyllwild CA, Kerkove took an early lead on Friday, March 14 and stayed out front for the entire course only stopping for food and gear adjustments.
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As the 2020 Stagecoach 400 rolled out of Idyllwild, CA this morning the rain had subsided for the 50 or so riders starting the Southern California bikepacking race. But while the air may have been dry at 8AM on Friday, March 13, the trails had little time to recover from the storm that came through for a few days before. The race organizers were told just hours before that some dirt sections were off-limits, forcing them to ask riders to ignore the previously supplied GPS route in some sections.
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The Stagecoach 400 stands out among peer events for highlighting Southern California’s geographic and cultural diversity, with a 2020 course that features the area’s unique proximity to mountains, desert, and ocean. You can follow along on the adventure via our embedded SPOT Live Tracker below.
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Easton Cycling is has announced its 2020 Overland gravel race team. With an expanded roster for the new year, a few new faces will join an impressive lineup of race-winning athletes including Amity Rockwell.
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In the process of writing up the Top 12 Most Influential Gravel Events of 2020, we came across so many other great rides and races from across the gravel universe. And while many of them are well established, for others this will be their first year. These yet to be experienced races have the potential to take our sport into new territory with innovative new formats and uncharted host locations. So as a follow up to our previous list, we bring you the Top 5 New Gravel Events we’re most excited about for 2020.
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We call it Gravel Camp, but when you combine a few industry brands, cycling journalists, top athletes, and promoters from some of the most noteworthy gravel events, it really turns into a gravel party. After the deluge of rain at last year’s event in Calabasas, California, we decided to go with a location that guaranteed warm winter miles and copious amounts of buff singletrack; that spot was Scottsdale, Arizona.
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Just when you thought the TOC was dead, the powers that be have enlisted the support of the original gravel company to carry California cycling into the future. In partnership with their Development Team, Gravelstoke announced this week the 2020 Tour of Gravel California, an untold number of adventures that will explore parts unseen throughout the Golden State, with each stop featuring its own unique challenges.
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On the beautiful Saturday morning of February 8, 2020 in Bakersfield, California, riders pushed east through bare hills, grassy slopes and sandy slots to the entrance of Kern Canyon.
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Sierra Nevada Conservancy awards $360,525 planning grant linking 15 communities by 300 miles of new trail.
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All new gravel tire review from Eric with the Ultradynamico CAVA, a smooth tire for fast conditions with a unique look.
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