The roads in Idaho are drying out and it's finally stopped snowing (I hope). I'm fresh off the plane from the Italy Divide and Dirty Kanza XL is just around the corner. That's got me thinking about the Gravel Pursuit. Yeah, it's still four months out, but it'll be here before you know it.
This is the fourth year I'll be putting on this 60/120 mile event, in a place that's near and dear to my heart. Island Park, Idaho is a stone's throw from Yellowstone National Park, with all the same terrain, rivers, wildlife and views--just add hundreds of miles of primo gravel and doubletrack roads. I always encourage racers and their families to show up early to the Pond's Lodge and stay late, because fall is without a doubt the best time of year to enjoy the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The national park crowds have gone home, the aspens are turning gold, the dirt is great, and the fishing is world class. Make the trip--you won't be disappointed.
I'm stoked to announce that this year, the Gravel Pursuit is the last stop in Salsa Cycles' Chase the Chaise series that celebrates the awesome world of gravel where everyone is welcome. From Salsa: One luxurious lounge. One photographer. Five different gravel family rooms. Dirt, sweat, and tears from thousands of riders across the land. Photographic portraits to capture it all.
I get a lot of people asking me what's the right bike for the Gravel Pursuit. It's not your standard midwestern gravel time trial--you've got ten-mile climbs, technical descents, and every surface from asphalt to remote, chunky doubletrack just outside of Yellowstone.
The 120-mile course travels on roads that aren't as well maintained as those on the 60-mile course. For the seasoned gravel rider racing the 120, I recommend the Salsa Warbird with Teravail Cannonball 38s and for someone who is less comfortable on 4x4 roads and rutted descents I might recommend the Salsa Cutthroat with Teravail Sparwood 2.2s. In the 60-mile riders have gotten by with 32/35mm tires and we have even had some people on pathways bikes complete the ride. For the 60-mile I recommend riding whatever you're comfortable with. The important part is that you join us all for the 2018 Gravel Pursuit to ride in an amazing area. |
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