CVC Members,
The Gravel Ride Survey results are attached. Thank you to everyone who participated. We ended up with 27 responses, which indicates that there is significant interest in gravel cycling. Based on what we learned, the club will take the following actions:
*TWO GRAVEL RIDES EACH MONTH* There will be two Sunday gravel rides each month. One will be an easier ride on the *first Sunday*, and the other will be a more challenging ride on the *third Sunday*. By offering these on a consistent basis, we hope to make it easier to plan ahead and participate.
*EASIER RIDES* These will take place on the *first Sunday* of every month. They will be tailored for people with little gravel riding experience, but of course everyone is welcome to join. These will be no-drop rides with frequent re-groups as needed. No singletrack! The routes will remain relatively close to paved roads in case someone wants to bail out.
*MORE CHALLENGING RIDES* These will take place on the *third Sunday* of every month. They will be suitable for intermediate or advanced gravel riders. These may have singletrack sections as well as steep climbs and more difficult surface conditions.
We will try to make these gravel rides more apparent on the weekly ride announcements.
*GRAVEL BIKES* Several people asked about gravel bikes. In essence, they are road bikes with fatter tires and lower gearing. But it's no surprise that there are many variations. Rather than give recommendations, we suggest you visit one of the many bike shops in our area. In addition, there are many introductory videos on Youtube and the internet regarding gravel biking. You can also ask other club members, especially our gravel ride leaders.
Mountain Bikes are welcome on all our gravel rides.
Thanks to all who participated. Hope to see you out there joining these rides. As you continue to ride the gravel rides, please feel free to provide feedback. Watch for gravel rides in the weekly ride announcements!
CVC-Gravel Captain -Paul Sterngold