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How to become a rockstar… Grab a bike and cycle 250-miles (400km) from Harrisonburg VA to Roanoke VA through incredibly challenging mountains, accumulating over 24600 ft (7500m), all with very limited re-supply options along the way. Easy, right!? Not at all. Somehow, this sounded like something that I should try, and as such, I signed up for the 2022 grand depart of the Rockstar Challenge. Yikes! Weeks of preparation and gear planning followed, finally leading up to the big moment when I would depart from Harrisonburg on my biggest bike adventure to date. Mountains, lots and lots of mountains, endless gravel roads, technical trails, river crossings, camping, survival, and flat-out awesomeness all awaited along the way. In this post and the latest Gravel Ride of the Week video I break down this unforgettable bikepacking experience. This is one of my proudest cycling accomplishments (and productions) and one that you surely don’t want to miss out on. Let’s get started!

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The logistics

Completing the Rockstar route requires a lot of planning, most of which relates to the logistics of how you’ll overnight and resupply along the way. Throughout this post, I'll cover my experiences with finding food and water along the route and I'll publish a follow-up post in the future where I'll discuss all the equipment I chose for this trip. Beyond these elements, there is however an additional logistical challenge with the Rockstar route, which presents itself before you even get to the start line. Since this is a one-way route that runs between Harrisonburg and Roanoke, there is the added challenge of getting back to your vehicle after completing the journey. Fortunately, this is a problem that Rockstar’s organizer, Rob Issem, has already considered.

Bag selection for this trip

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At the time of the annual Rockstar grand depart (usually late April), a shuttle service is offered by Roanoke Mountain Adventures that allows riders to park their cars in Roanoke and catch the shuttle to Harrisonburg the day before the event, meaning that their vehicles are waiting for them once the full route has been completed. This was a great service to have access to and one that greatly simplified the logistics of getting home after the ride. Getting to Harrisonburg the night before the grand depart had the added benefit that I could join for the pre-event social, which took place at Ruby's Arcade.

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The Route

The Rockstar challenge offers three options to riders looking to cover the distance between Harrisonburg and Roanoke. One option, suited to mountain bikes, is to follow the trail route that runs along a network of technical and mountainous backcountry trails in the area. The second option, the gravel route, is the one that I choose, and sticks predominantly to the gravel roads between the two destinations. The last choice is to follow a paved route, which places riders on a more direct course between the start and finish locations, as they travel along regular roads.

The name of this event provides a hint of where the route will take you. Harrisonburg, the starting point, carries the nickname of Rocktown. On the other end of the course in Roanoke, you'll find Mill Mountain which is home to a large man-made star structure that overlooks the city. This route essentially takes riders from Rocktown to the Roanoke star - Rockstar! Along the way, the route traverses over some significant uphill challenges, providing a whole other meaning to the word Rockstar and the accomplishment met by the riders who complete the route.

My route navigation device

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Anyone looking to complete this route can consult the official event information on the Virginia Endurance Series page. Contact details for Rob Issem, along with updated information about route links can all be found here. Rockstar is not an easy route to follow, but the terrain allows for some incredible sights along the way.

Careful planning is a must and in the next few sections I'll cover my breakdown of this trip to help shed some light on how this epic challenge can be completed. I opted to cover the intimidating 250-mile distance over 4 days, allowing for more time to soak in the surroundings and follow a more manageable pace. This pacing strategy can, of course, be altered with some (extreme) riders opting to make a straight shot from start to finish. Current men's and women's FKTs (fastest known times) stand at sub-19 and sub-24 hours respectively. Wow! If you value sleep, then my break down as listed below might be more appealing.

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Day 1: Harrisonburg to Braley Pond

(88 KM / 55 MI with 1730 m / 5675 ft elevation gain)

The grand depart to this backpacking adventure kicked off in downtown Harrisonburg at Black Sheep coffee. After rolling out from the start, we cruised out of Harrisonburg along the Friendly City bike path before heading through the Hillandale Park trails. Trail and gravel riders follow different paths through this park, but the bumpy trails provided a good opportunity to see if one's gear had been securely fastened to the bike.  The trail section is short-lived and before long, we were back on the bike path, as we headed past the Heritage Oaks Golf course.

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Next up, we made our way through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley and the amazing views of the farmlands with its mountainous backdrop. The terrain, however, changes quickly and the first major climbing challenge arrives in the form of Union Springs Road, taking us up and into the mountains. If you're in need of an early pitstop, then the Dry River Store located at mile-14 (~23km) is a good place to refuel before you get into the big climbs of the day. There are no more stores after this point, until you reach West Augusta.

Expect the climb up Union Springs Road to start out mild, but be warned that the surface level becomes increasing more difficult the higher you head into the mountains. A few river crossings await along this section, as the route winds its way to the two big overlooks of the day.  First, we made our way up to the Flagpole Knob overlook before following the ridgeline all the way through to the major attraction on this first section of the route...Reddish Knob! The ridgeline section is by far one of the more technical sections of the entire gravel route and one that provided several hike-a-bike opportunities as we made our way through rocky sectors and around large mud-holes. The views once at the top were, however, totally worth it!

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All the climbing would be rewarded in the form of a long downhill on the other side of Reddish that follows the gravel road known as the "dark side of reddish" due to the red color of the dirt. That downhill flows through the George Washington National Forest and eventually makes its way to the first overnight spot on my list, Braley Pond in West Augusta. Braley Pond offers a day-time picnic area, but dispersed camping is allowed along the road leading into the grounds. You'll find restrooms at the picnic spot, but note that no water or other facilities are available at Braley Pond. There is, however, a beautiful creek that runs behind the camp spots, and it was here that I could freshen up after a warm day on the bike.

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Food and other supplies are fortunately not too far away once you reach Braley Pond. About a mile away from this camp spot you'll find the Mountain View General Store. This is a critical resupply spot along the Rockstar route and one that must be on everyone's list for refueling. I pitched my tent at the camp area and then headed over to the store to resupply for the night. I was able to find some freshly prepared food here which can be ordered at a counter towards the back of the store. I really went to town and purchased 3 hamburgers, a bag of chips, bottles of water, chocolate milk and some energy bars. This purchase meant that I would be set for the night and the next day, but since the route runs right past the store, it could easily have been a first pitstop the next morning as well.

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I was joined by two other riders at my camp spot that night, Devin and Rouselle. My pacing was closely matched with theirs throughout the day and we leap frogged each other during certain sections of the route. Although I would not start with them on day 2, I would eventually catch up with them again throughout the day and join them at the second camp spot on the list later that evening.

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A list of items that came in super handy during my trip

Day 2: Braley Pond to Douthat State Park

(109 KM / 68 MI with 2067 m / 6780 ft elevation gain)

I started off the day with some oatmeal that I cooked on my mini camp stove before heading out of the incredibly beautiful West Augusta region. Soon after passing the Mountain View General Store, the climbing for the day began. A lengthy climb totaling 8.7 miles (14.2km) took me right back into the mountains. This is one of those climbs that really plays with one's mind, since the climbing doesn't end once you turn off the paved section, but instead the gravel portion of the climb offered more challenging sections as I headed to the top.

Descending from that highpoint was no easy task either. On the other side of this mountain, just to make things interesting, the route follows a single-track section that is very technical for a gravel bike. Fortunately, once at the bottom, we turned onto what must have been one of my favorite sections of the whole Rockstar route, an incredible country gravel road that offered a zippy riding experience on smooth gravel, all while enjoying amazing mountain views.  

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The next challenge was climbing back up the mountain, via the Sugar Tree road, an open and exposed gravel climb offering little shade during the hot mid-day sun. This mountainous gravel road lingers at higher elevation as it flows in and out of the mountain range for what feels like the whole day. Eventually the descent takes you into the valley below, where the long distance along the floor adds to the fatigue and ultimately catches up to you towards the end, when the rolling gravel climbs leading into the Douthat State Park begin to drain the legs. This day was one of the more challenging days on the trip and one that can easily break one’s morale to complete the entire route.

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What further complicates this day's ride is the remoteness of the stretch between Braley Pond and Douthat State Park, offering no resupply spots anywhere along the way. I highly recommend that everyone attempting this route should carry a water filter. Mine came in super handy, and I refilled my water at mountain streams on 3 or 4 occasions throughout the day. I also carried a reusable food container, which held pita bread, along with some packets of peanut butter that could be used together for a quick roadside snack.

There is a camp store waiting at the Douthat State Park that offers a good selection of food and snacks. However, it’s crucial to watch the clock during the day to make sure you don't miss the closing time of 6pm. I had to really turn up the pace towards the second half of my ride to ensure that I got to the store before they closed. I got there at 5:45pm! It was worth the effort, and I really enjoyed the lakeside view while consuming my 4 hotdogs (yes, 4!) that I bought for dinner that night. Douthat State Park, unlike Braley Pond, offers loads of amenities. This well-maintained campground (that needs to be reserved ahead of time) comes with a newly renovated bathhouse, where a hot shower was greatly enjoyed. Water spickets and electricity are also available at your camp spot.

Don’t leave home without it!

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I was once again joined by Devin and Rouselle at the Douthat State Park lakeside campground and since we were so evenly matched with the pacing, we stuck together throughout much of the remainder of the Rockstar ride.

Day 3: Douthat State Park to Primitive Roadside Spot (Stone Coal Rd)

(111 KM / 69 MI with 2014 m / 6607 ft elevation gain)

Along with my fellow riders, we set off on the third day of this bikepacking adventure. It required that we backtrack to return to the route from the campground, before heading into the mountains for some more gravel climbs. The route for the trail riders goes through the State Park's grounds, but gravel riders must duplicate a small portion of the route as they head in and out of the campground.

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After those initial gravel climbs, we made our way through to the first signs of civilization in the form of Covington. There we found two pit stops, one slightly off route, the BP/Subway and the famous Whitey's One Stop. Like the Mountain View General Store in West Augusta, the resupply options in Covington form a critical part to the successful completion of this route. There is even a Walmart in this town, which might just provide access to any urgent spares or camping gear that is required at this point in the journey. Be sure to restock fully in this town, as the next food & drink options will only be available again mid-way through the last day (60 miles after this point).

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As you leave Covington, you're immediately presented with a massive road climb, containing some super steep pitches. Climbing back into those mountains would, at least, have its rewards later during an incredibly fast downhill that passes by the Roaring Run Furnace area (another picnic area like Braley Pond). The route as listed for day three contained a fair amount of paved road sections, which had the advantage of faster travel, allowing us to cover the distance more easily throughout the day.

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One of the camping options to end off this day was to stay over at Rob Issem's friend's house in Eagle Rock. He was generous enough to offer riders the option to camp in his front yard as they made their way towards Roanoke. Unfortunately, this location in Eagle Rock comes a mere 40-miles after the Douthat State Park, making the distance covered on day three too short and leaving a challenging distance on day four.  As such, we opted to go further along the route to the next potential camping spot, the Patterson Creek area.  There were several good roadside camp spots along this stretch, but we reached this area with enough light left in the day and decided to push on even further. We knew that if we kept going, we could cover one additional big climb on day three, making day four slightly more manageable. That road climb was one leg sapping effort, but it put us on the other side, towards a primitive camp spot that I had scouted out from Kerry Werner's Rockstar video series. His videos about completing the Rockstar route were a great resource to consult before this trip and had it not been for his documentation, I would never have known about this potential roadside camp spot.

You’ll need this by Day 3…

 Day 4: Primitive Roadside Spot (Stone Coal Rd) to Texas Tavern

(98 KM / 60 MI with 1653 m / 5423 ft elevation gain)

The last day on this trip kicked off with a big challenge right from the get-go as we ascended a steep gravel climb starting from our overnight spot. I set off that morning with my two fellow riders as we headed back into the mountains, but I would unfortunately have to bid farewell to them after only a few miles, as an underlying headache turned into a full-out migraine. This left me inching along (by foot) in total discomfort. The best I could do was push up the hills and free-wheel down the other side. This day, on paper, wasn't all that challenging, but it turned out to be my biggest hurdle to get to the finish. I was in desperate need of the first resupply spot, which only came around 18-miles (29km) into the day's ride.

I suffered along Wildlife Road, a super remote road that runs parallel to the ridgeline of the mountains. The ridgeline of this North Mountain is known by local riders as the "Dragons back" and the name is derived from the shape of the contour lines when viewing it from an aerial perspective.  Rockstar trail riders had the challenge of riding all along the North Mountain trail that sits on top of the Dragon's back as they made their way through this part of the course.

After fighting my way through Wildlife Road, I eventually made it to the first pitstop on this day's route - Catawba Grocery. My physical state meant that I couldn't take in any solid food at this pit stop, but I was at least able to get some liquid calories into my body.  I also loaded up my bags with extra food for when I felt better later on. Fortunately, a building rainstorm rolled through shortly after my visit to the grocery store and as the air pressure dropped, so too the pressure in my head released. I was finally feeling better as I headed through to the last big climbing challenge of this event.

Carvins Cove and the climb up Brushy Mountain formed the last major uphill battle of this event. The long consistent climb through this natural area eventually turned back in the direction of Salem, which then connected with some trails in the area. First there was the Hanging Rock battlefield trail and later the Roanoke Greenway trail that follows along the Roanoke River. This Greenway passes right by Roanoke Mountain Adventure's store, but a few more miles awaited before I would be reunited with my car that was parked here.

Don't, however, think that you're going straight to the finish line like any other event. Nope, this is Rockstar! Riders had to finish off this route with a last climb around and up to the top of Mill Mountain before descending to finish at the Texas Tavern. Getting to the top of Mill Mountain delivered one last test for weary legs as the Virginia Pine Loop trail took us through last stretch leading to the Roanoke star. After taking the celebratory victory shot of the bike and the star, only the downhill back into downtown Roanoke awaited.

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I was greeted by Devin and some friends at the finish line. Shortly after my arrival, I watched Rouselle roll in. He overcame some earlier tire issues, to finish like a champ. I walked into that 24-hour diner to become the proud recipient of a custom Rockstar glass, which all finishers of the 2022 grand depart were given once they reached the Texas Tavern. It felt like the biggest trophy I've ever received!

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Wrap-up

One of the best parts of bikepacking is the people you meet along the way and a big thank you goes out to Devin and Rouselle for their company during this trip. What started out as a solo mission to complete the Rockstar Gravel route, later turned into an entertaining group ride after I jumped onto their train. And of course a major shout out goes out to Rob Issem for putting together this awesome event! Rob's mission to reveal and celebrate the very best backcountry cycling routes in Virginia really shines through. I am extremely grateful that I got to be a part of this experience.

Rockstar is a challenge, make no mistake, but it's one that delivers incredible memories along the way. I hope you enjoyed my look-back at this unforgettable adventure and that you feel inspired to seek one out for yourself. Rockstar might not be a recommended starting point, but it's always something to aspired towards.

Blue skies and sunshine as the backdrop to lush, green, rolling farmland divided by historic stone walls and smooth gravel. This is what we all expected when we signed up for the Gravel Grinder Nationals, set in gorgeous Bluemont, Virginia. But mother nature had the last laugh when the weather conditions dumped 1.5-inches of rain over the region in the span of roughly 48-hours. This race was wet, grueling and completely unforgettable! Check it out in the latest Gravel Ride of the Week video to see all the action from this event.

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While this event carries the name of Gravel Grinder Nationals, anyone who completed 100-miles of riding on wet and soggy gravel can claim any title they want at the end of the day! The route consisted of 2-laps, which made it pretty convenient for riders to bail after 1 lap, certainly an understandable choice, given the conditions. The event also offered the Mini-G, a 30-mile course, which was also a great option for folks who wanted a taste of the event, without spending hours getting drenched.

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For a 100-mile race in the rain, the pace during those first few miles was simply way above what I could handle. I tried to hang with the lead bunch as long as possible, but I had no choice but to drop back into a more sustainable tempo. Then, just as I settled into the second group on the road, I noticed that my front wheel was severely deflated after banging into a big pothole. With only 10-miles covered, this race was becoming more challenging by the minute. 

I pulled out my useless little pump and had to watch how just about every bunch disappeared up the road while I struggled to get some air back in the tire. Lesson learned! From now on, I'll be sure to take my C02 cartridges along to races. They sure would have been handy on this day! I was way back in the field and the bigger bunches had well and truly disappeared and I would not see them again for the rest of the day. Riding 100-miles solo is challenging on a day with perfect weather conditions. But riding solo in the downpour was flat out brutal! Staying in the game mentally was all I could do at this point and I sure would have loved some riding buddies to keep me company. 

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A massive thank you goes out to all the supporters and volunteers on the day. I was especially appreciative of the mechanical assistance at the aid stations. Aid station #1 gave me access to a proper pump and I could head back out on the road to grind out more miles after inflating the tire to the desired pressure. The first pothole was only the first of several that banged up my tire and I also stopped at the second aid station to pump it up, yet again. 

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This race kicked me to the ground multiple times throughout the day, but I was determined to get it done. And for me, that was the biggest victory. I would have loved to place well in my age category, competing on my home turf. But that wasn’t meant to be this time around. Gravel riding teaches us to persevere through whatever challenging and uncomfortable conditions may come. I’m very thankful that I stuck it out and got those 100-miles done!

A massive well done goes out to everyone who braved this weather to ride, support or volunteer. You are all champions!

-Wiehan

Here. We. Go! The 2022 gravel racing season has officially kicked off here at Mountain Road Ride and we can't wait to share all the action with you throughout the next few months. To kick off the season we headed to the Stokesville campground just outside of Harrisonburg, VA for the third event in their gravel series, the Gaps and Hollows race. Wow, what a route! This was an action-packed affair right from the get-go and with incredible mountain views throughout the valley floor, along with breathtaking overlook sights at the top of two major climbs, this one had no shortage of entertainment along the way. You certainly don't want to miss this Gravel Ride of the Week video! Follow along to see more from this challenging event.

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It was so great to be back at the Stokesville Campground for the Gaps & Hollows race. During the 2021 season, I competed in the Stokesville Strade and Little Switzerland races, but missed out on the final event in the series. This year I made sure to be there and used it as a leg-tester to gauge my fitness after the winter months. Winter was, however, still in the air for this one, as we were greeted with light flurries upon our arrival at the campground. Thankfully the dark clouds hovering over the Shenandoah Mountain moved away from us, leaving some crisp and windy conditions for us to endure on the day. 

 The 130km/80-mile route set out for the Gaps and Hollows event took riders along the Shenandoah valley as it rolled through small towns like Churchville and Swoope. Just outside of Swoope we even rode right past Joel Salatin's Polyface farm, a pioneering farmer who has supplied Mountain Road with meat on many occasions.

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The main attractions of this event came in the form of two massive gravel climbs up Troxel Gap and Hite Hollow, which the online event notes accurately described with words like "solid" and "soul crushing". Yep, that turned out to be very true! All that climbing was thankfully rewarded with some amazing views, not only from the top of the climbs, but also along the base of the mountains, as we made our return to the Stokesville campground. A short final stretch of gravel through the George Washington National Forest rounded off this route perfectly.

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The intimidating route profile meant that fewer participants signed up for this final event in the series, but with the likes of Kerry Werner, Total Civil Construction and District Taco racers on the start line, it was in no way going to be a Sunday cruise through the countryside. The route presented an interesting conundrum for the riders when it came to the choice of bike setup. Given that a large portion of the ride consisted of paved roads, one might easily lean towards a slimmed road tire. The challenge would, however, come when climbing, and especially descending, the two major gravel climbs. The chunky downhill following the Hite Hollow climb resulted in several issues for those who chose to underbike. Mountain bikes might even have been the best choice on that super technical descent. That said, once up and over the climbs, the route once again returned to a fast-flowing surface better suited to slick tires. Use a fast road setup and risk flatting on the descents or drag a heavier gravel tire over long sections of paved road? It's this sort of strategic decision-making that gives gravel racing a completely different dimension to traditional road racing, and I have to admit, I love it!

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In the end I finished a whole hour behind the winner on the day, Kerry Werner, but feel very satisfied with my overall performance on the day. The winter training miles have paid their dividends and I managed to make it through this ride without completely emptying the tank. There really were some incredible performances on this day and a massive well done goes out to everyone who finished, raced, or just flat survived this super challenging ride. The next few months are loaded with new and exciting upcoming gravel events and I'm really looking forward to share all the highlights from these adventures! Stay tuned... 

-Wiehan

Winter blues be gone, we’re back with another Gravel Ride of the Week! Yep, it’s been a long, cold winter, but the light is finally at the end of the tunnel and soon we’ll be back into warmer days. If you’re like me, then you probably spent more time than you wanted indoors on a trainer throughout the colder months. I know... that virtual Zwift terrain can only keep you entertained for so long! I felt the need to trade in the virtual for the real thing and decided to ride to the nearest IRL (in real life) Zwift course that I could find - the 2015 UCI World Championship course located in Richmond, Virginia. In the latest Gravel Ride of the Week, I document my 2-day bike trip from Washington DC to Richmond as I set out to explore this part of Virginia. This was a journey that contained lots of lessons. Let’s dive in to unpack it all! 

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The route

Christin and I live only 2 hours (of driving) away from Richmond, VA., but I’ve never had the opportunity to visit this city. I’ve ridden through the virtual streets plenty of times ever since Zwift released a replica of the 2015 UCI Richmond World Championship course on their platform. I’ve seen all the famous sights in the game so many times; the brick roads along Monument Avenue, the views of the James River as you ride alongside some train bridges and, of course, the famous cobble stone climb up to the top of Libby Hill Park. As interactive as the Zwift platform is, it can, however, only go so far to give you a feel of what the place looks like. Thus, after more than enough hours in the virtual Richmond world, the time was right to trade in the virtual for the real thing to see the real Richmond course for myself.

Given our close proximity, getting to the real-world Zwift Richmond course by car isn’t all that impressive. To make it more of a challenge I opted to cover the distance to Richmond by bike. What better way to travel along the Eastern side of Virginia, than by bike? Or so I thought! The idea was simple: Start at the US Capitol building in Washington DC and ride all the way through to the Virginia State Capitol building in Richmond. 

The route planning for this journey was a rather time-consuming task and I tried to set out the perfect route that would include the least number of busy roads. Hours were spent studying Strava Heatmaps, Google Street views, Gravel Map and any other sources that I could find.  You can read more about my route planning techniques here and here. In the end, I had a route set out that would start off in Washington DC, head along some trails through the busier metro area, through to Clifton VA for a lunch stop and then into the country as I made my way down to Fredericksburg. This town served as my overnight destination before I would continue further South towards Richmond the next day. The ride would, as mentioned, end off in Richmond as I covered some parts of the Richmond Zwift course. 

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What about the gravel?

The area between Washington DC and Richmond does not offer all that much in terms of gravel roads. In the planning phase, I tried to link up as many of the gravel roads that I could find. Only two places along my route truly offered anything in terms of gravel, a handful of short gravel sections outside of Clifton and The Old CC Rd that lies halfway between Fredericksburg and Richmond. Hardly enough gravel to justify a gravel bike, but I still opted to take on this challenge onboard my 3T Exploro. I even decided to make use of my more rugged Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M tires, since I had no idea what would await along this ride. Whereas a wider slick (32-35mm) would have done the job perfectly, I leaned towards the side of caution since there was no certainty about what might still be sitting on the edge of the road after winter. For this adventure, puncture protection and ride comfort superseded speed. Good thing I made this decision, since I was forced to ride in the gutter far more than I could ever have anticipated. Bottomline, the gravel bike was the perfect choice for this ride after all. 

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The ride

Where do I begin?! This ride simply challenged me on so many different levels. I won’t bore you by writing out the play by play from this ride in detail. You’ll see each bit of frustration, joy and suffering clearly in the Gravel Ride of the Week video that goes along with this post. You’ll see how I battled intense headwinds, fought my way through some of the craziest and most ridiculous traffic that I’ve ever encountered on country roads and how I had to dig extremely deep to push through knee pain to get to the finish line in Richmond. You’ll get to experience the ups and downs of a journey that took me from busy metro streets to hidden gravel roads tucked away in the middle of nowhere. You’ll see how this trip took me through some historic places, like the battlefields outside of Fredericksburg all the way through to the history that’s found in Richmond. Most importantly, you’ll see how a ride that started out as an adventure to seek out an alternative to the virtual world became a very intense reality in itself.

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It was a journey that tested my grit and the ability to stick out whatever came my way to get the job done. I’m very thankful that I pushed on. Getting to that Capitol building and the Zwift course in Richmond felt incredibly rewarding. I can now proudly say that I know what the real-world version of the Zwift course looks like, including riding up the famous cobble stones that you find at Libby Hill Park. What an amazing moment!

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Wrap-up

What didn’t make it into the video were the events that followed the ride. The challenges from this bike trip did not end after finishing off in Richmond. Turns out that there was one more hurdle that I needed to overcome to get this content created. One of the Micro SD cards in my GoPro was corrupted and I feared that I would lose all the shots taken on that camera. After a day or two of additional toil, I managed to recover about 70% of my videos and 30% of the photos from the card. This project really tested me on so many grounds. I have to give a big shout-out to Christin for all her support on this trip. She was there to help me through lots of the challenges, especially when it came to lighting the fire in me to get day two started despite the setback from a sore knee. So much of what we do here at Mountain Road never makes it into the final product and on this trip that was certainly the case. Now that the fitness from this trip is in the books, I’m ready take on the 2022 season of gravel. It should be a good one and I’m excited to share more rides in the near future. Until then, enjoy your ride!

Gravel bikes: the SUV of the bike world, excellent on gravel roads, plenty fast on paved roads. But what about those technical MTB trails? Can one bike really do it all? If you’ve been following along with Mountain Road Ride’s adventures, then you’ve seen tons of rides where I’ve put the gravel bike to good use on both tarmac and gravel roads, but it’s time that we filled in the blanks. In the latest Gravel Ride of the Week, I take my gravel bike for some proper off-road riding and hit some trails. If you’ve ever wondered what’s required to take your gravel bike over technical MTB trails, then this is a ride that you’ll surely enjoy. I mixed in a few of my top tips and recommendations to get you started. Let’s dive into the details!

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All-terrain adventure vehicle or marketing hype?

Visit any gravel bike manufacturer’s website and you’ll quickly learn how this bike category is being touted for its excellent all-terrain adventure capabilities. While these bikes have certainly lived up to the hype, in my opinion, it didn’t come without the need for a few modifications along the way. This is especially true when it comes to riding more technical trails that are filled with bigger rocks and tree roots. There are certainly many riders out there that can take their stock standard gravel bikes and put them through their paces under more technical conditions, but for the mere mortals among us, we might have to resolve to a few upgrades to make the going a little smoother. 

During the latest Gravel Ride of the Week, I walk you through some of the parts that I’ve fitted to my bike to make riding on trails just a little bit easier. While equipment can surely make a difference, the way that you use it largely dictates the overall riding experience. That’s why I’ve included a few of my top tips for how to approach MTB trails when riding on a gravel bike. Be sure to check out the video for the full breakdown. 

In this article I’d like to provide you with a quick overview of some of the upgrades that you might want to consider if you wish to enhance the all-terrain capabilities of your gravel bike.

1. Tire Choice

The most important factor, by far, when it comes to taking a gravel bike on MTB trails is the tire selection. Although some gravel bikes on the market come with suspension (think SRAM’s RockShox Rudy XPLR suspension gravel fork and Reverb AXS XPLR dropper seatpost), most bikes in this category still don’t offer all that much in terms of shock absorption. This means that the main way to eliminate harsh vibrations from ground surfaces, is through the part of the bike that takes the first impact from the surface: the tires. 

When taking a non-suspension bike (even a 90’s style mountain bike) over technical terrain, having a wider tire becomes critical to obtain a higher level of comfort on the bike. A tubeless setup is also a must, as this combination of a wider tire and no inner tube allows for much lower pressures to be achieved. Since the only shock absorption lies in the tire, vibration dampening can be achieved by lowering the pressure. Your bike’s tire clearance will obviously be the limiting factor when it comes to the maximum tire width that can be accommodated within the frame, so be sure to check this before buying a tire.  

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My 3T Exploro’s frameset allows for a fairly wide 2.1-inch (~53mm) tire to be fitted when using a 650B size wheel. I’ve been using the Mason x Hunt 650B Adventure Sport wheelset in combination with the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 50x650B tires for well over a year and the result has been a truly incredible experience when riding on the trails. If you want to see my full in-depth review of these tires, then you can find all the details here. This setup allows for the tire pressure to be set as low as 22psi, making for a much smoother ride over the bumpy and rocky MTB trails.

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2. Smaller Wheel Size

I hinted at the 650B size wheels in my previous point, so let’s expand on this a bit more. In mountain biking terms, the wheel size known to gravel riders as 650B, is stated as a 27.5 inch wheel. Both 650B and/or 27.5 inch wheels come with the same 584mm diameter, which runs slightly smaller than the regular 700C wheel size with its 622mm diameter. 

Why does this smaller wheel size matter? The first reason lies in the bigger tires that it can accommodate (see point number 1). Since the wheel is smaller, the tires can now be wider. Using my 3T Exploro yet again as an example, the tire width would be restricted to only 42mm on a 700C wheel, whereas a 53mm tire can be fitted when using the smaller wheel size. 

The second reason why a smaller wheel size might be desirable comes when dealing with the maneuverability of the bike. Many mountain bikers prefer the 27.5 inch wheel size for its quick and agile steering capabilities. The enhanced nimbleness of the bike is certainly an added advantage, especially when it come to bikes with a shorter wheelbase. In the case of my 3T Exploro, I can easily clip my toes with the front wheel when making sharp and sudden turns when running the standard 700C wheel size. This is a phenomenon known as toe overlap. Not all bikes suffer from the same issue, but when present, it can easily lead to unpleasant summersaults over the bars when the tip of your shoe clips the front wheel, while steering through tight corners. When using the smaller 650B wheels, I don’t experience the same toe overlap issue and can ride the technical trails without having to worry about clipping my front wheel. Check your bike for a similar issue. 

3.  Wider Handlebars

When riding over technical trails, bike handling becomes even more critical than on other surfaces. As such, any enhancements that you can make to your setup that improves the handling of the bike can only be beneficial when encountering rougher sections on the trails. This is where handlebar selection comes into the picture. Gravel handlebars, with their wider profiles, have taken off in popularity over recent years, and for good reason. The slightly flared angle of these alternative handlebar's drops means that the rider can obtain more control and stability when the hands are placed in the drops. The wider stance that you get from a slightly flared bar really does make a significant impact to the level of confidence when riding over sections of the trails that require absolute precision.  

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Gravel handlebars come in many shapes and sizes and one can easily spend hours trying to narrow down the search to find the exact bar for ones needs. I wanted something with a moderate amount of flare, but also wanted to add some additional stack height to allow for an even more comfortable riding position. This is where the Surly Truck Stop handlebar has worked perfectly for my requirements. My 42cm wide bar offers 12-degrees of flare and the additional 30mm of rise puts me in a more stable position, especially when you consider that the width, as measured at the bar ends, come in at 47.5cm.  If you want to see this bar up close and read more about all its features, then be sure to check out my full review. The key take-away is that it has made a world of difference to how and where I can ride, and I can absolutely recommend that you consider a wider bar if you wish to push the limits of your gravel bike off-road. 

4. Gearing

Mountain bike trails often include many sections with short, sharp pitches that will test your legs and the bike's gear range to the max. Bike gearing selection can sometimes get a bit technical, just read my Pursuit of 1x Efficiency post as an example. But this topic is worth diving into when taking a gravel bike onto terrain for which it wasn't exactly designed. 

It's not uncommon for mountain bikes to be fitted with a 32 or 34 tooth front chainring to help scale the super steep inclines. Additionally, mountain bike cassettes also run fairly big, with the largest cog often coming in at 52 teeth. Contrast this with gravel bike gearing, where the front chainring mostly ranges between 38-42 teeth, and cassettes run up to 40-46 teeth. The biggest observation from this breakdown should be that gravel bikes simply don't have the same (extensive) gear range as mountain bikes. As such, it might be required to change up the gearing on your gravel bike if the terrain that you intend to ride calls for a better suited gear.

In my quest to find better gearing that would give my 3T Exploro the best all-terrain capabilities, I opted to stick with the slightly bigger 42T front chainring, but changed from a round ring to an oval shaped ring. The debate about whether an oval chainring can make any significant difference to one’s riding, is a lively topic, and one that will surely spark many different points of view. I weighed in on this debate when I reviewed my Wolf Tooth PowerTrac Elliptical (Oval) chainring, and in the process I explained how the oval shape has been extremely helpful when climbing up steep inclines. I've been able to get away with riding my local trails when using this chainring in combination with a 11-40T cassette. However, there are many trails that I know would fall outside my gear range should I attempt them, and I therefore also own a 36T front chainring that I'll fit whenever I suspect to encounter really crazy uphills. 

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Mountain Biking with a gravel bike?

The long and the short is that you can surely get away with riding a gravel bike on more technical MTB terrain, but it should be noted that the going simply won't be as smooth as with a mountain bike, which comes with dedicated shock absorption. As listed throughout this article, there are many modifications that can be made to a gravel bike to enhance its comfort on the rougher trails. This includes wider tires allowing for lower tire pressure, smaller wheel size for better control, a wider handlebar for more stability and better gear selection for steep inclines. Many will argue that by the time you've made all these upgrades, you might as well just buy a mountain bike, which is better suited for the job. I, however, still like the idea that one bike in my stable can be this modular and allows for so many different riding applications. At the end of the day, if you're out to seek adventure, then the bike choice shouldn't be the limiting factor and hopefully this article was helpful to provide a few ideas for how you can be even more prepared for that next epic day out on the bike. 

- Wiehan

What a year! Gravel races, epic rides, lots of fun on the bike and, best of all, loads of incredible views along the way. Yes, 2021 was a year jam-packed with so many unforgettable moments on the bike. As we close out another year I’d like to thank all the supporters of Mountain Road for following along with all the bike adventures. We’re super excited about what’s still to come and can’t wait to share more inspirational content with you in the future. If you haven’t already watched all of the Gravel Ride of the Week videos from this year (there are 21!), then now is the perfect time to catch up and get pumped for an exciting 2022. As a motivational kick-starter, we’ve created this action-packed trailer to give you a taste of what you can expect from Mountain Road Ride. Have a safe and very happy New Year. See you in 2022!

Gravel Ride of the Week - 2021:

1. Shenandoah Foothills

2. Gravelocity

3. Potomac Heritage Trail

4. Pantani XV

5. Stokesville Strade Gravel Grinder

6. C&O Canal Cruise

7. Little Switzerland

8. Gralley Cat

9. Maiden Gravel 100-Miler

10. Transvirginia Bikepacking

11. Jeremiah Bishop’s Alpine Loop Gran Fondo

12. Loudoun 1725 Gravel Grinder

13. Gravista

14. GRUSK - Gravel Race Up Spruce Knob

15. Dirty Kitten Gravel Race

16. Braai Ride

17. Alpine Loop 2021

18. Rocktown Rambler

19. unPAved

20. Philadelphia

21. Rock Creek

Podcast Appearance:

Mid-Atlantic Gravel Travel & Dirt

A night ride with bikes decked out with Christmas decorations - what could be more fun? This past weekend, we joined the Bike Doctor Frederick Holiday Lights Ride in Frederick, Maryland. The event began after dark, with riders of all ages ready to tour the downtown area and see some of the holiday lights on display. 

There were lots of festive outfits and Christmas sweaters, even illuminated helmets, while many bikes had lights shining from every available inch of space. There was a mini-Christmas tree on the back of one bike, there was a sleigh being pulled by another, and one rider even carried an inflatable snowman in a bike trailer! Santa rode a bike, as did a Christmas tree! Santa and Mrs. Claus also waived in front of the fire department.

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The most notable display included an individual’s home on Carol Parkway, with a mighty tree completely covered in blue lights; while the big finale was a parade-like atmosphere along Market Street, with trees lit up, and crowds lining the streets to wave us on.

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The holiday cheer extended beyond just the ride, with donations taken by Bike Doctor that would go towards Heartly House to support victims of domestic abuse. It will also come as no surprise that the creative duo, Alex and Chris, the organizers of the Dirty Kitten Gravel Races, were also involved with this event. Be sure to check out the Dirty Kitten Winter training series for more creative bike fun masterminded by this couple.

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This short, 4-miles ride, was filled with lots of fun moments and if you want to get into the holiday spirit, then you’ll really enjoy following along with the highlights video. This ride surely put us in the Christmas mood! Mountain Road wishes everyone a very festive holiday season.

-Wiehan & Christin

The Philly Bike Expo (PBE) showcased loads of incredible bikes and it simply wasn't possible to fit all of them into one video. One bike worthy of being featured on its own was the Otso Warakin Ti which was on display at the Otso / Wolf Tooth booth. This impressively versatile gravel bike caught my eye for a variety of reasons; a beautiful titanium frame, massive tire clearance, Campagnolo Ekar groupset and loads of custom touches brought about by the Wolf Tooth headset spacers and bolts. This remarkable bike is ready for some serious off-road adventures and I'm sure you'll enjoy taking a closer look. 

Wolf Tooth Components and Otso Cycles

Otso cycles is a brand that originated from the engineers at Wolf Tooth Components, a company that we've always enjoyed supporting here at Mountain Road. The quality of craftmanship that comes from this USA manufacturer has never failed to impress. The Wolf Tooth chainrings, Wolf Tooth bling kit and Gnarwolf chainguide which we've reviewed in the past, have all stood up to countless hours of use and abuse on the bike, speaking volumes about the durability of the products created by Wolf Tooth.

The Otso Warakin Ti on display at the PBE was fitted with lots of anodized Wolf Tooth bits and pieces, giving it a very custom feel. Otso sales manager, Mike Pederson, walked us through this bike and explained how those interested in customizing their Otso bikes, can do so, right out of the box. You can hear the full discussion with Mike in the video that goes along with this post.

If you're interested to see more impressive custom bikes from the PBE, then be sure to check out this post containing stacks of handcrafted and custom bikes. Bikes are, however, made to be ridden and some of the bikes on display at this expo even joined us for the Sunday morning group ride showing that they don't just look nice on the showroom floor. So, if shots of moving bikes appeal more to you, then you'll enjoy the Gravel Ride of the Week video that we created while joining the PBE Squad on their Expo group ride. 

Bike rides with loved ones, those unforgettable times when everything seems so perfect. Sunlight bursting through yellow leaves, the wind in your hair, cruising alongside a stream, all while everyone is having the time of their lives. That's how it goes right?? Wrong! I'm sure many families will be able to identify with the latest Gravel Ride of the Week, which tells the story of how a bike ride, that was intended to be a beautiful afternoon cruise, turned into something completely different. Follow along as Christin and I take you on an urban gravel adventure that didn't quite turn out as planned. 

During our visit to Philadelphia to attend the Philly Bike Expo, we got to behold several of the impressive overhead bridges that are located near the Wissahickon Park. These remarkable structures reminded Christin of similar designs that can be found along the Rock Creek Parkway, which runs through Washington DC. I had never ridden my bike in this area, and with the added bonus of a completely car-free riding experience on Beach Drive over weekends, we felt inspired to go on a local exploration ride to check out the bridges and natural beauty. 

The aim was to include not only the beautiful views along the closed-off parkway, but to also mix in some gravel to make it worthy of a Gravel Ride of the Week. The result was a loop that started at Meadowbrook Park in Chevy Chase, MD and then followed the Rock Creek trail (and Beach Dr) down into Georgetown. The gravel portion of this ride came in the form of the C&O Canal Towpath, which would take us away from the city and eventually carry us onto the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT). The CCT runs northbound and eventually ends up in Bethesda, leaving only a short stretch of road riding to get back to the starting point. You can find the exact route details in my Strava route link below.

STRAVA ROUTE LINK

All bright eyed and bushy-tailed, we set off from Meadowbrook Park. The ride started off well and the decision to squeeze in this ride around golden hour, on the last weekend for peak autumn leaf sightings, seemed like it was working out. If you've ever been on a family ride that derailed from the plans, then you'll know that this story is bound to include some added drama. So here it goes.

The natural beauty along Beach Drive is surely something to behold, however, the further we cycled, the more I realized that my arm warmers weren’t really helping all that much in terms of warmth. The icy cold wind was also picking up, reminding me of how completely insufficient my clothing layers were. I was in for a cold afternoon on the bike! Although the discomfort from the cold continued to grow by the minute, we decided to push on and complete the ride that we started. This turned out to be a great decision from a sightseeing perspective and I'm thankful that we continued. The views along the parkway were only beginning and around each corner we stood amazed by the incredible fall colors and the amazing reflections on the creek. Be sure to check out the video that goes along with this post to see just how spectacular this area can be.

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After passing the Smithsonian National Zoo, the next set of attractions along the route came in the form of lots of overhead bridges and even a tunnel.  Rolling into Georgetown, Christin marveled at all the bridges, while I could think of nothing other than a hot cup of coffee. 

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We reached the first gravel in Georgetown, where we connected with the C&O Canal towpath. Sadly, the coffee that I was craving so badly never materialized, since the queue was just too long in this ever crowded section of the city. There was no time to waste, since daylight was fading quickly, leaving us with no choice but to keep going.

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I can't tell you how proud I was of Christin during this ride. At 20-miles long, this ride easily ranked as her longest of the year. Going into it, I thought that I would have to nurse her all the way through. In the end, it turned out to be the exact opposite! As we headed down the C&O Canal, the cold became somewhat unbearable, and I was left drafting behind Christin to stay warm. Meanwhile, she was having a great time, loving all the beautiful sites and fall colors. She had dressed correctly for the late fall temperatures and wasn’t cold at all, so fortunately she could lend me her gloves and buff to help stay warm. 

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By now, I had given up on recording any video and handed the camera over to Christin, since I could barely hold onto it with my freezing hands. We had just one last part of the route to complete, but it was getting darker… and darker… and darker! What should have been a fun, bright afternoon of bike riding, ended with us arriving back at the car in the pitch dark. I was totally frozen and couldn't get my jacket on fast enough. I guess all cyclists have at least one ride per season where they get their clothing selection completely wrong, and this was mine! 

The upside to this whole story is that Christin and I still got to see some truly amazing sights throughout Rock Creek Park, at a time of the year when the fall colors are at their peak. The other valuable lesson from this ride was the reminder to dress correctly for colder temperature. Since then, I'm happy to report, that I've gotten my layering much better after this early winter season fail. 

- Wiehan

Who says you can’t ride gravel in big cities?! After attending the first day of the Philly Bike Expo, I joined in for some Sunday morning urban gravel riding, led by the Philly Bike Expo Squad. This ride was non-stop fun from the get-go and within the span of only 20-miles, we got to see so many different parts of Philadelphia. If you’re looking for variety, then this is the ride to check out. Art Museum steps and Rocky statue, check. Incredible (but equally technical) single track trails, check. Wissahickon forest views with a mid-ride coffee stop, check. Not to mention all the spectacular city skyline views and overhead bridges. You don’t want to miss this Gravel Ride of the Week, so grab you’re Philly cheesesteak and follow along with this entertaining ride!

The group ride started off at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. If you know your movies from the 70s & 80s, then you'll know that these steps can inspire you to run to the top as you channel that inner Rocky Balboa. This was an experience that I missed out on during a previous work trip to Philly, and so this time I wasn’t going to pass up on this true tourist attraction. You’ll just have to watch the video to see if I did a good job. 

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Some truly incredible bikes lined up for this group ride. The tandem bike build by Junkyard Cats was definitely the most notable bike on the day. This tandem was one of the many custom bikes on display at the expo and it had to go back to the showroom after the morning group ride. This bike even walked away with the runner-up prize in the People's Choice awards at the expo. If you want to see more of the custom bikes at the expo, then check out our coverage of the event here.

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There was no shortage of energy at this group ride, and it was a blast cruising around Philly with the PBE Squad. The first part of our ride took us along MLK drive, a section of road next to the Schuylkill River that is closed off from vehicles over the weekends. This allowed for lots of opportunities to enjoy the sights of the city and the many amazing overhead bridges. The gravel riding fun started once we hit some single-track trails in the Belmont area. It was easy to forget that we were still within the boundaries of a big city. Cruising along the fast-flowing trails felt like something that could just as well have been encountered somewhere deep in the mountains. Equally as impressive were the bike handling skills displayed by the tandem riders along this section of the route. Whenever they were presented with a difficult obstacle, they dismounted and mounted totally in sync, like true Cyclocross pros. 

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For the next part of our Philly adventure, we took a trip through the Wissahickon and the many trails that you find in this area. Spoiler alert ... they're technical! In a few instances, we were faced with boulders and a few drop-offs - that still qualifies as gravel, right?! After some hike-a-bike exercise, we headed over to the Paper Trail Bike Cafe to enjoy some mid-ride espressos. If you ever find yourself in this area, then be sure to swing by this neat hide-out in the woods. 

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Charged up with caffeine, we made our way back towards the city via the paved roads and were once again presented with incredible skyline views of the city along MLK Drive. The grand finale to the ride came in the form of some rolling thunder! That's right, as we cruised into downtown Philly, a long convoy of thundering motorcycles were also passing through. We got to ride behind these deafening machines all the way to the convention center. Now that's what I call making a grand arrival to the expo! 

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Thanks so much to the Philly Bike Expo Squad for leading one highly entertaining urban gravel ride. I can absolutely recommend joining a local group ride if you want to experience a big city to the fullest. We were so glad to be able to participate and will certainly be back in the future. If you ever get the chance to visit Philadelphia in early November, then be sure to add both the Philly Bike Expo and their group ride to your calendar!

- Wiehan

Mountain Road got to nerd out on some incredible custom bike creations at the 2021 Philly Bike Expo. In our latest YouTube video, we take a closer look at some of the unique bikes on display at the expo, and chat with a few of the builders to hear all the details about their bikes. The bikes in this video are truly remarkable! 

Frontier Bikes showcased an absolutely stunning single speed gravel bike, fitted with an eye-catching handlebar by Btchn' Bikes (It's a must see!). Groovy Cycleworks amazed us with a creation that was beautifully constructed, despite a parts shortage and a very limited timeframe, even going as far as self-fabricating the fork, handlebars, seatpost, and cranks (Wow!). Pratt Frameworks had their Oysters Rock steel gravel bike on display, while Bishop Bikes showed off what a bike looks like when kitted out with the latest 12-speed Shimano Dura-Ace groupset.

Don’t miss the collaboration between Untitled Cycles and Bag Bags which earned them the 2021 People’s Choice Award for their artistic creation that drew inspiration from Sophie Taeuber-Arp's 1937 painting titled Composition. Other bikes of note include the rugged bikes from Tanglefoot Cycles (complete with an Ignite components crankset) and also some beautifully restored vintage bikes by Velo Classique. Befitting Bicycles had some jaw-dropping high-end carbon frames on their stand, while Mars Cycles along with Junkyard Cats (Bilenky Cycleworks) showcased loads of exceptional bikes at their booth. It’s impossible to list all the details here and you’ll simply have to check it out for yourself. Check out the video here!

Our awesome day at the expo was finished off with a sunset cruise from the Convention Center back to our hotel on the other side of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The next day, we joined the PBE Squad for their Easy Like Sunday Morning ride. It was so great to catch some glimpses of the gravel and trails on offer around the city. Stay tuned for this special episode of the next Gravel Ride of the Week! Thank you to all involved in putting together this event. We were so glad to be able to participate and will certainly be back in the future. If you ever get the chance to visit Philadelphia in early November, this event should definitely be on your calendar!

- Wiehan

Mud, mud, and more mud. Things got a bit messy during the latest Gravel Ride of the Week! In this edition we travelled to Lewisburg, PA for unPAved of the Susquehanna River Valley. After this seven-hour ride, I required nearly seven hours to wash my bike. That ought to be a clear indication that I pushed both bike and body to the extreme! Persevering through these challenging conditions was, however, totally worth it and the incredible autumn scenes in the Pennsylvania mountains made for some breathtaking scenery. This ride called for some extra grit, but in the end, hundreds of riders stuck it out to see through an epic day on the bike. Let's look at how it all unfolded! 

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The unPAved gravel event took us into the heart of Pennsylvania and the small college town of Lewisburg. Home to Bucknell University, this town is a true gem with plenty of interesting shops and hangout spots, as well as a trail situated in the downtown area. It really reminded me of Potchefstroom, the town in South Africa where I attended North West University. The vibe surrounding unPAved is very noticeable and the fall festival that goes along with this event sets the mood for the fun that follows on race-day.

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Speaking of racing, the unPAved event adopted an alternative approach during 2020 when it switched to a segment racing format. This same format was followed for the 2021 event and allowed for a less congested start, given the pick-your-own-start-time arrangement. The competitive riders in the bunch still had the option to test their skills against others with 6 timed segments set out on course. While there were a few route options available, including a 125-mile, 95-mile, and a few shorter routes (somePAved), only the longest distance event was considered an official race. With last minute route changes, the Plenty-90 route for which I had entered, was extended to 95-miles. While this route was not considered an official race, I decided to still push the pace over the segments that were included on my course. Five out of the six segments awaited along my route. In the end, only four of those five were included in the official timing results, as the timing chip system failed to consistently register riders at the Pine Swamp segment. While not a race, the timed results still reflect that I set the 5th fastest time for the Plenty-90 course. While competing, I still managed to create the Gravel Ride of the Week video and you can experience each of these exhilarating segments for yourself by following the link. 

The course is a challenging one on a good day, but throw in some rain, fog and lots of mud and you have a recipe for a tough day on the bike. This ride truly tested everyone’s abilities to endure the elements, as bikes and riders got completely covered with mud. Scenes at the aid stations reminded me of something out of a war movie, with riders huddled around a fire, comparing battle stories, and figuring out who looked the dirtiest. 

The best decision that I made for this event was to fit my mudguards just before the start. This well and truly saved my backside from getting completely covered with rear wheel spray. By the end, my bike (and everything on it) was a complete mess and I truly had my work cut out to get it back in working condition. Unfortunately, the gritty conditions did lead to one casualty from a component’s standpoint.  The drive-side bottom bracket bearing seized up completely from all the dirt and mud, leaving me without a gravel bike for a few days, while I waited for the the replacement part to arrive.

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All that mud and post-ride clean-up was however completely worth it. The 95-mile route that I followed through the Pennsylvania countryside and mountains left me speechless with all the amazing views along the way. The Bald Eagle State Forest stands out as a clear favorite when it comes to the incredible scenery. There was the explosion of yellow fall colors as we moved along the Mid State trail, there was the passage through a dark tunnel with horse sightings on the other side, spectacular bridges over rivers and one of the most scenic aid stations I've ever stopped at during an event. This part of the course had me repeating the word, wow, over and over and as I rode through this awesome place. Sure, there were times when I purposefully had to switch my thinking away from being cold and wet, focusing instead on the positive, but those times also made me appreciate the natural beauty so much more. Unpaved surely lived up to its tag line of “Easy on the eyes, hard on the legs”.

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Awesome job to all the riders who persisted to finish this ride in such challenging conditions. While our clothing and bikes might still carry the marks from this epic ride, we can proudly say that we earned each one of those dirt stains. Great job to all the volunteers and staff involved who made this day possible. Without all your hard work, none of us would be able to tell any of the stories that we got to take away from this event. Thank you! Until next time, enjoy your ride.

-Wiehan

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Gravel racing comes with its fair share of ups and downs, but it also has a way of teaching us valuable life lessons. In the case of the Rocktown Rambler, my lesson of the day was not to turn down the pace and throw in the towel after an unexpected setback. When things seem hard, you’ve gotta put your head down, push through, and get it done. In the latest Gravel Ride of the Week, I was squarely reminded of this lesson as I overcame some technical difficulties during the race. It was an action-packed event right from the get-go and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the breakdown of this highly entertaining and drama-filled ride. Let’s get into it! 

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The Rocktown Rambler, a gravel race presented by Rocktown Bikes in Harrisonburg, is an event that I’ve been looking forward to for some time. The event had to be cancelled in 2020, but on this beautiful fall day in Sept 2021, we finally got the chance to line up for the first edition of the race. The venue for the Rocktown Rambler was the outdoor enthusiast’s playground of the Bryce Resort in Basye, VA. Known for its skiing, golfing and mountain biking, this location is also positioned closely to some truly amazing Virginia gravel roads. The course promised to deliver a solid challenge to all those who were willing to take on this mountainous region. Racers had the option to do either the 25-mile, one lap route or double it up for 50 miles of all-out racing. I was entered for the full event and with a few big hitters lining up at the start, this race was definitely going to be even harder. 

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The race started with an easy neutral roll-out from the Bryce Resort, but it didn't take long for the action to start. As soon as we turned out of the resort, the first climb of the day awaited. Just over a mile in distance and with an average gradient of 7.5%, this uphill effort was sure to shape the race right from the get-go.

It's not often that the race is won or lost within the first mile of an event, but at the Rocktown Rambler, it was. Jeremiah Bishop, Ben Wright and Christopher Hardee shot up that first climb at an incredible pace, securing the top 3 podium spots (in that order) with this impressive display of power. 

This left the rest of us scrambling for the minor placings. There were a few valiant efforts to catch up with the lead group, but the damage had been done. After regrouping with a few other riders at the top of the first climb, the race was on for 4th place. However, the real excitement of the day was still ahead as we made our way onto the first gravel of the race. On a fast and bumpy gravel downhill the rider in front of me lost his water bottle in a washboard section. I glanced down and noticed that my GoPro had fallen off my wrist. Eeek! I couldn't leave it in the dirt, so I pulled off to the side, flung my bike around and channeled my inner Chris Froome as I ran up that mountain. You must see these moves for yourself, so be sure to check out the video that goes along with this post. 

This stunt triggered my Garmin's emergency feature to send a text message to Christin, notifying her that I had been in an accident. Since I was too busy running up a mountain, I didn't cancel the prompt in time, leaving her worried sick that I was in trouble. Fortunately, the only trouble I was in, was the big effort now required to get back to that group.

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I was not going to give up! I gave it all I had and kept pushing the pace. I used each small rise in the road as an opportunity to attack. With one rider at a time, I pulled closer to the group up the road. Digging deeper than I have ever gone, I slowly clawed my way back. Mentally I kept myself in the game and continuous positive self-talk and statements like “This is where you dig deep” and “This is where you don’t give up” helped me propel myself forward. It worked! I managed to get back to that group. I burnt a ton of matches by doing so, but it was a very rewarding feeling getting back into that bunch. This exercise of chasing back into the group really drove home the lesson that in gravel racing, as with life, you never quit. You never know what you’ll miss out on if you don’t give it a proper shot. 

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Once back in the bunch, the race certainly didn’t get any easier. The second half of the race loop contained one of the most challenging climbs of the race. After making it up to the top, we headed onto a section of the course that I’d ridden earlier this year, during my TransVA Bikepacking trip. During that trip, I was heading in the opposite direction, which fortunately meant that the outrageously steep 18% climb that I had to ascend with all my bikepacking gear back in May, was now one super fast downhill. After reaching the valley below, only one part of the course stood between us and the second lap - a highly entertaining section of single track. This route simply had a bit of everything mixed in!

The second lap was far less eventful as I got dropped by the group on the same steep uphill where Jeremiah and the leading group raced away from us earlier. This left me on my own for most of the second lap until the last part where I joined up with two super strong 50+ riders who helped me get to the finish. That late in the race, the earlier efforts to chase back had me solidly drained and I could only cruise to the finish line to wrap up this action-filled race. 

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A massive well done to all the riders in both the 25- and 50-mile races who completed this challenging course. A big congratulations also goes out to Kelly Paduch and her team for pulling off a successful first edition of the Rocktown Rambler. Personally, despite the added challenges that come with vlogging a race, I persevered to finish the race and, in the process, proved to myself that there is more in the tank than what I think. Who knows what I could have done if the GoPro didn’t set me back? I guess I’ll just have to return to Bryce Resort in the future to find out. Until then… enjoy your ride! 

- Wiehan

Some bike rides are simply grand adventures. Rides that take you deep into unknown mountains, through incredible natural beauty and push you past the mental limits that you set for yourself. The latest Gravel Ride of the Week is one of those rides! The 2021 Jeremiah Bishop Alpine Loop Gran Fondo delivered one unforgettable experience. On this epic ride, I set a personal record for the most elevation gain in one single day, raced up 4 KOM segments and even had to dig deep to complete this challenging ride after an unfortunate crash. All in all, this ride was one for the books and I’m confident that you’ll enjoy following along with this amazing ride. Let’s check it out! 

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The Jeremiah Bishop Alpine Loop

In June I had the opportunity to preview the Alpine Loop with Jeremiah Bishop himself. He was kind enough to take us on a pre-event tour of the route, which highlighted the main sections along this challenging course. Naturally, the cameras were rolling that day and you can find all the details from that ride here. However, after getting a taste of the course, I figured that I needed to put my money where my month is and sign up for the actual ride. After putting in some solid months of training, I lined up in Harrisonburg to take on this massive ride. 

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The route for this event was handcrafted by Jeremiah, stringing together some of his favorite roads near Harrisonburg and parts of West Virginia. The 110-mile (177km) ride consisting of more than 10,000ft (3000m) of elevation gain is not for the faint of heart and will provide a challenge, no matter the fitness level. Everyone willing to push themselves through such a challenging ride will have their own reasons and/or motivations for lining up. Through the event, funds and awareness are raised for Prostate Cancer Awareness Project. Thus, personal victories range from cancer survivors celebrating their health to simply having the bragging rights to say that a monumental ride got ticked off the list. My reason - get it done and share the experience with you! 

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Eager and excited we lined up, and with the ringing of the cowbell we set off. A police escort lead us through the streets of historic downtown Harrisonburg and around the courthouse square. As we headed out of town the scenery quickly changed from the urban surroundings to the beautiful country views, and with the mountains never out of sight, we were constantly reminded about the big climbs that still awaited.

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The weather could not have been any more perfect this day and the scene was truly being set for an incredible day on the bike. Jeremiah put it perfectly when he said that “everyone [was] in for a banner day!” Since a picture is worth a thousand words and the magnitude of the day was so great, I’d rather have the pictures and video tell the story, than bumble along with my words. So, be sure to check out the video highlights and enjoy some scenes from this picture-perfect day in the photos below. 

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Ultimately, this ride went extremely well, and I most certainly surprised myself with what I was able to achieve. There was one mishap that made the day just a bit more challenging - a small crash. While passing underneath some walnut trees, I overlooked one that had fallen on the road and was hidden in a shaded section. I hit it with my front wheel and lost control of the bike, crashing to the side of the road. Fortunately, the wounds were all minor and no major damage was done to the bike, and I could soldier on to complete this ride. 

Wrap-Up

I went to the Jeremiah Bishop Alpine Loop Gran Fondo looking for a challenge and with more than 7 hours of riding and about 10,500ft (3200m) of elevation gain, I can say that I met that goal. Rolling back into downtown Harrisonburg at the end of this ride felt so rewarding. After months of putting in the training, I can proudly tick the Alpine Loop off the list. This is an accomplishment that I'm very proud of indeed. Well done to all the other riders who also completed this ride. Big thanks to Jeremiah and Erin Bishop (and team) for putting together this incredible event! 

Three South Africans, blue-sky weather, USA gravel roads and a braai. What a combination! One South African word perfectly captures the setting for the latest Gravel Ride of the Week... Lekker! Follow along in this blog post (and the video that goes with it) to learn the meaning of words like braai and lekker. If you've ever been curious to see what a gravel ride with a South African flavor looks like, then you don't need to search any further than this truly unique braai ride. Let's check it out!

The Braai Tradition

Before we get to the actual ride, it's worth highlighting a particular day on the South African calendar - September 24th. This public holiday in SA is officially known as Heritage Day, but many South Africans have made it a tradition to celebrate this day by having a braai. It’s sort of like the equivalent of Memorial Day in the US, a day to dust off the grill and celebrate the beginning of summer!

What is a braai you ask? Well, the simple answer is that it’s a barbeque (BBQ) or cookout. However, ask any South African and they'll be quick to point out that one key thing needs to be present for a BBQ to qualify as a braai, a fire! Yes, the meat must be cooked over charcoal or wood only. Propane just doesn't cut it when it comes to having a proper braai. Additionally, if you attend any South African braai, you’ll quickly learn that the fire is very much the social hub of the party. This is the place where everyone hangs out to chat or exchange all kinds of big-talk when it comes to analyzing their favorite rugby team's latest performance. While South Africa is indeed a vastly diverse country filled with a variety of cultures and traditions, the braai is certainly something that unites so many of its citizens. 

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To honor the tradition of having a braai on September 24th, I set out on a truly unique gravel ride, together with two of my South African expat friends, Henning and John. While I’ve had my fair share of coffee or sandwich breaks at cafes along a cycling route, I can’t say that I’ve ever had a cookout mid-ride. This was certainly a special occasion and with this blog post and video, I’m sharing a few of the stand-out moments from the day.

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The Ride

The first step in the process was finding a location in which grilling is permissible that was also accessible by bike, with gravel nearby. After initially considering the picnic spots along the C&O Canal towpath, we ended up picking the Silver Lake Regional Park near Haymarket as the destination for our braai ride. The availability of permanent grills and restrooms at this venue made it the perfect spot. This park is also perfectly located near some of the best gravel roads in Northern Virginia, with the famous Bull Run Mountain Rd gravel climb situated only a few miles from the park. 

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Step two was to make sure that we could transport all the required braai supplies with us on the bike. As mentioned earlier, the first and most important requirement was to have some charcoal with us to make a fire. I relied on my trusty bikepacking bag, the Revelate Designs Spinelock bag, to carry the load. There was still plenty of room left in the bag to fit a small cooler box that contained my meat and an ice brick. A few small paper plates also managed to squeeze into the saddle bag. To light the fire, we needed some fire lighters and some matches, all of which I carried in my handlebar bag. I also carried some tongs, cutlery, napkins and grill cleaning supplies in this super handy bag. I could even add some yummy traditional South African snacks into the bar bag, but more about that later. Both Henning and John opted to carry their meat and braai supplies in riding backpacks.

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The Meat & Other Braai Snacks

The fire by itself doesn’t mean anything if there isn’t any meat to grill. One thing to know about South Africans is that they really love their meat. It’s not uncommon to attend a braai where the large majority of the food available is only meat. To make sure that I upheld the SA tradition, I carried both a Delmonico and porterhouse steak in my saddle bag’s cooler box, from a local farmer utilizing grass fed practices. I ended up only grilling the Delmonico steak on the day. Like a true South African, I was over-prepared with way too much meat.

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Henning had a strip steak in his bag and John brought along some pre-spiced lamb shoulder chops. Spices are very much a key ingredient when it comes to having a braai and you’ll often see how each person at a braai uses a very particular method of seasoning their meat. I asked John about the spices that he used, and it was a welcome surprise to hear that he made use of a product that was imported from SA - Robertson Spices. Only a true South African, passionate about their meat’s taste, will go to this extent to source the perfect spices from the other side of the world. Henning was also stocked up with some special spices that were brought to the US from South Africa. Henning’s braai spices came with a very creative name, the “Funky Ouma”, which translates to the Funky Grandma. It surely felt like a day in SA, given all the South African products around.

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Another truly South African meat product that was brought along on this ride was Biltong. This unique meat snack is never far out-of-reach when it comes to a South African gathering. Attend any rugby viewing party and biltong will most certainly be the primary snack choice. We made a post to introduce biltong on this blog a few years ago after discovering that this South African product was produced here in the US. A South African family (with a member of whom shares a variation of my name, Wian) started the Ayoba company in Northern Virginia, by using the traditional South African recipe. It’s a great feeling to know that this product, which gives me a taste of home, is readily available in a nearby Whole Foods or online! 

So, what is biltong? It’s kind of like jerky, but also completely different. The method used to make this snack involves the correct spices and an air-drying process. I think Ayoba’s website sums up the difference between jerky and biltong perfectly:

“Imagine telling the Iron Chef that you want your steak overcooked and soaked in teriyaki, that's jerky. Instead, like a steakhouse favorite, Ayoba Biltong is an easy chew with bold beef flavor. It's Grass Fed Beef, seasoned with natural spices, that's it”.

Simply put, you’ll have to try it for yourself. This protein snack is also perfect for endurance cyclists, since it contains a good dose of sodium that can be lost through sweat while exercising.

If you’re curious to learn more about the traditions that go with the South African braai and the methods used to prepare meat on the fire, then check out the Jan Braai cookbook. You might also enjoy The Classic South African Cookbook that contains tons of great South African recipes that aren’t purely related to meat. I’m also very proud to say that Christin was the talented photographer who took most of the pictures that you’ll find throughout this cookbook.  

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South African Slang

When you put three South Africans together, you’re sure to hear some truly unique words. In the video, you’ll hear loads of fun exchanges of various South African slang terms, but there is one word in particular that has to be highlighted in this blog post ... Lekker! South Africans use this word a lot. It’s such a fun word to say and can easily be used in just about any context. If you need an adjective to describe something that is fun, enjoyable, pleasant or delicious, then chances are that lekker will fit perfectly into the sentence. Bike rides are lekker. Blue-sky weather is lekker and having a braai is lekker. 

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A Gravel Ride to Remember

This Gravel Ride of the Week brought together so many lekker things - great friends, incredible weather, awesome gravel roads and a braai. Does it get any better? I’m extremely thankful to Henning and John for joining me for this unique experience. Now that we know it’s possible, we’ll have to make a braai ride a more frequent event. Maybe even have a Mountain Road group braai ride. Who’s in? 

 - Wiehan

Once in a while, a product comes along that fundamentally changes the way you ride a bike. I know this sounds dramatic, but when altering the very core of a bicycle’s design (round shapes), things get interesting. Switching from a traditional round chainring to the more controversial oval chainring surely classifies as changing up the foundation of cycling. I’ve had the opportunity to ride a Wolf Tooth PowerTrac Elliptical (PTE) chainring over the last few weeks and I’ll provide you with my thought and experiences about this product throughout this article. I went into this one somewhat skeptical, but in the end, the results speak for themselves. This is going to get a bit technical at times, so put your bike nerd thinking cap on and let’s get into this noteworthy bike product!

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Why Oval?

I’ll start this section off with a fun fact about myself. Since the end of high school, until a few years ago, I worked as a spinning instructor (Indoor Cycle trainer) on the side. One of the key instructions that I gave to riders attending my classes was to “push and pull” on the pedals. I reinforced this instruction multiple times per class to help remind attendees to not only exert downward force on the pedals, but to also engage their calf muscles while the pedals moved through the back portion of the cycle. When clipped into pedals (or while using toe straps), it becomes so much easier to be efficient, utilizing both the quads (for pushing down) and the calves (for pulling up) during the pedal stroke. 

This “full circle” pedaling style is a technique that many new riders struggle to adopt, because it was never the way we were taught to ride a bike. My first bike surely didn’t have any clip-in pedals and this means that I’ve developed the habit (from an early age) to merely stomp down on the pedals, utilizing only my stronger and more dominant quad muscles to put force into the pedals. 

This brings us to the need for an oval chainring, because my indoor cycle class instruction of “pushing and pulling” on the pedals, actually only covers part of the pedal revolution. When you think of the full pedal revolution as the face of a clock, it becomes easy to visualize the different phases of the pedal stroke. When pushing down on the pedals between the 1 and 5 o’clock position, the quad muscle is working to exert power onto the pedals, while between the 7 and 11 o’clock positions the calf muscle can pull up on the pedal. Let’s use Wolf Tooth’s terminology and call these phases the “Power Zone” of the pedal revolution. 

Those phases obviously don’t cover the full circle, so what about the top (11 to 1 o’clock) and bottom (5 to 7 o’clock) parts of the pedal revolution? Biomechanically, during these parts of the pedal revolution, a rider is not able to apply as much power to the pedals, since neither the quad, nor the calf muscle can dominate the stroke. Wolf Tooth calls these phases the “Recovery Zone” and it’s precisely here where one stands to gain some benefit when using an oval ring. 

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When the foot is at the very top or very bottom of the pedal revolution, one is far more dependent on the momentum of the pedal to move you through what is sometimes referred to as dead-spots. Wolf Tooth refers to the dead-spot at the 12 o’clock position as the top dead center (TDC). Without the momentum of the pedal arm swinging up from the back end of the revolution, it becomes very difficult to “roll-over” the top portion of the cycle. Similarly, when the foot is at the bottom dead spot (6 o’clock position), the extended nature of the leg muscles provides little leverage to drive the pedal stroke around the bottom end of the cycle. 

Some cycling coaches will prescribe drills to help riders overcome these inherent biomechanical limitations. Perhaps you’ve heard about how one is supposed to “scrape the mud off of the bottom of your shoe” to try to power through the bottom dead spot. Another drill that can help simulate this action is to make use of a kick scooter where the act of pushing off can help train the body to become more efficient when the leg is in an extended position.

If you want to get really advanced with visualizing the inherent flaws in your pedaling technique, then I can highly recommend that you take a ride on a Wattbike. At a cycling expo a few years ago, I got the chance to hop onto a Wattbike and it’s really helped to understand the way that I pedal. What makes a Wattbike so special is its ability to measure power throughout the pedal stroke by taking a power reading every few milliseconds. This provides a view of one’s pedal stroke and the efficiency during each revolution, a chart that Wattbike refers to as the Polar view. There is an easy-to-understand article on Wattbike’s website that breaks down how to interpret the different polar views. What you’ll note from their graphs is how beginner and intermediate riders, in particular, fail to maintain good momentum throughout each pedal stroke, leading to poor balance between the power and recovery phases. This brings us back to the oval chainring and its ability to assist a rider during the recovery phase, the part of the pedal revolution where most riders need some assistance. To see how this works, let’s take a closer look at the oval design.  

The Oval Design

In principle, the idea behind an oval ring is fairly simple. If you are more efficient during the Power phase of the pedal stroke, and less efficient during the Recovery phase, then why not make it easier to turn the crank during the part of the revolution lacking some power. How do you do this? Well, you flatten out the traditional round shape of a chainring. This oval / elliptical shape, if orientated in the correct manner, provides a section of the ring that requires a greater amount of torque to turn and another section which is flatter (smaller circular radius) and requires less torque to turn. This means that with the oval shape orientated correctly, the ring can better match your power output, since the biomechanical limitations that I mentioned earlier are provided with more favorable power-output conditions. The quad and calf muscles can now exert torque onto the pedals when a bigger circular radius needs to be overcome, while a smaller circular radius is present in the dead-spots. You don’t have to be a physics major to appreciate the ingenuity behind this design change. 

1.     Timing

While I’ve mentioned the importance of the orientation of the ring a few times, all the complicated math that sits behind that orientation has already been done by Wolf Tooth. All you need to do is to line up the “Crank arm” graphic to the crank and you’ll be all set. 

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There is, however, one metric of which to take note, called “timing.” Like the timing of a car’s engine, so too you want the power from your legs to fire / engage at the correct time, in order to be most effective. The timing of a chainring can be set by adjusting the orientation, to allow the larger diameter of the oval shape to engage with the chain during the optimal point on the downstroke. Wolf Tooth’s PowerTrac chainrings come with a set timing number (112°) and this is not a setting that you’ll need to configure for yourself.

Timing is measured by the angle from the top dead center (TDC) as illustrated in the image below:

The timing of the ring is one area of comparison between manufacturers, since they differ (slightly) in terms of what is regarded as “the optimal point” of engagement. Some chainrings engage sooner, while others engage later during the pedal revolution. For reference, I’ll make some comparisons between three oval chainring brands: Wolf Tooth, Garbaruk and Absolute Black. In the table below, you’ll see how timing differs from one manufacturer to the next.

The Wolf Tooth chainring is the only oval ring that I’ve ridden to date, leaving me with no meaningful comparison between different chainring timing settings. The 112° timing on this ring worked perfectly for my needs and I see no reason to require any adjustments. 

2.     Ovality Percentage

I oversimplified the oval shape earlier by stating that it’s a mere flattened out circle, but in reality, there is another metric that can be used to capture the exact shape of the chainring: Ovality. When designing the oval shape of a chainring, various levels of ovality can be achieved, which will certainly alter the way they perform and feel. 

In order to provide a more natural feel to the pedal stroke, Wolf Tooth opted for a shape with 10% ovality. The ovality metric is yet another area of comparison between the different chainring manufacturers and you’ll be able to tell from the table below how Wolf Tooth’s chainrings compare with some of the other brands on the market. 

As mentioned before, the Wolf Tooth PowerTrac Elliptical chainring has been my only venture into the world of oval rings to date, making it difficult to compare the various levels of ovality. While I have no other reference point at this stage, I will state that the following line from Wolf Tooth’s website helped to persuade me to give oval chainrings a go: “Our proprietary design means a slightly less ovalized ring with less aggressive timing than competitors’ versions; any change to your pedal stroke is unnoticeable for most riders, but they still provide the power and traction benefits inherent to elliptical chainrings.” 

The key phrase from that statement is the “less ovalized shape and less aggressive timing” when compared to other brands on the market. As someone who has been somewhat skeptical about oval rings in the past, this breakdown helped to explain how Wolf Tooth’s elliptical rings differ and how it could provide the perfect entry point into the world of oval chainrings. With that reassurance, I decided to give it a go and I’m sure that my first question, and the thing that made me most skeptical, must surely be top of mind right now – does it feel oval? 

Does it Feel Oval?

The straightforward answer to this question is no. Not in the least. This really is one of those things that can play a massive trick with the human mind. If you look at the way an oval chainring spins around, then you’ll be excused for thinking that the ride feel has to be affected. The odd manner that the chainring expands and shrinks with each revolution just doesn’t look natural, but I can assure you that the feel on the pedals is actually very normal. 

In fact, I’ll go as far as to say that the pedaling actually feel more natural with an oval ring when compared to a standard round chainring. All the biomechanics that I touched on earlier truly work together to help smooth out each pedal stroke. It feels natural, it feels smooth and overall, it just leaves you with a sense that you are far more efficient with transferring power into the pedals. The dead-spots can be overcome so much better, providing additional momentum and power to utilize during the power phase of the stroke. 

I’ve been amazed by the difference that this chainring has made to my pedaling style and I honestly think that I’ll be riding with oval more permanently in the future. Currently, I have the Wolf Tooth PowerTrac Elliptical chainring fitted to my gravel bike and a standard round Wolf Tooth chainring fitted to my road bike. I’ve switched between the bikes on consecutive rides and from a pedaling style perspective, I much prefer the feel that I get with the oval ring. I never thought that I would ever give oval chainrings a try, let alone convert wholeheartedly over to this type of ring. It’s simply been that impressive!

Benefits of Riding Oval

The benefit that can be gained from riding with an oval chainring will differ from rider to rider, depending on your existing pedaling technique. If you refer back to the Wattbike polar views that I mentioned earlier, then you’ll be able to tell that some riders (Elite level) are better able to produce power during the recovery phase, while others struggle during this part of the pedal revolution. 

While conducting my research on oval chainrings, I found an interesting point that was made on Absolute Black’s website when it comes to the benefits on offer. The quote from the page is stated below and perfectly captures the idea that beginner and intermediate riders stand to gain the most from making the switch to an oval chainring:

“One of the key reasons the benefits of oval chainrings have historically proven hard to prove in lab tests, is because they were nearly always done using professional riders – as a user group they are the least likely to gain a performance increase from a switch to oval, as their pedaling is already close to perfection. Where ovals shine however is with the rest of us, who ride for pleasure and not for a job. Simply 99% of road cyclists will benefit from having oval chainrings on their bikes.”

They specifically refer to road riding in that analysis, but the application of oval chainrings extends well beyond the road. As mentioned earlier, I fitted my Wolf Tooth Elliptical chainring to my gravel bike and I feel that it excels the most on the off-road terrain. An oval chainring reduces the required torque (through a smaller circle radius) in the recovery phase, ultimately leading to a smoother pedal stroke all around. A smoother pedal stroke leads to better traction, especially on loose surfaces like gravel. 

If you’ve ever been on a gravel (or MTB) ride during which you were faced with an incredibly steep incline, then you’ll know that it’s often required to stay seated in order to maintain traction. One’s power output is often very uneven when climbing out of the saddle. The loss of traction in those scenarios comes from the irregular power transfer that occurs while throwing your body weight into each revolution. In the same way that sitting down in the saddle can help to smooth out the stroke, leading to better traction, so too an oval chainring can help to maintain better traction by smoothing out the power transfer even more. 

I’ve seen the greatest benefit from the Wolf Tooth oval ring with steep and / or steady gravel climbs, but even on smooth and flat road surfaces, there has been a noticeable difference in the way that I pedal. I could easy hold a steady rhythm while using a gear that is one shift harder than what I normally ride. Whereas I would normally ride a 40T front, 11T rear combo (3.63 ratio) on my road bike’s round ring, I could now easily hold a 42T front, 11 rear combo (3.81 ratio) using the oval ring on the same sections of road. 

To date, I’ve accumulated around 1000kms (~620 miles) of riding with the Wolf Tooth PowerTrac Elliptical chainring and the benefits have become more apparent with each passing ride. I’m planning to increase my road bike’s chainring from the current (round) 40T size to a 46T size in the future and the Wolf Tooth oval chainrings will be on the top of my list. 

Is Oval for You?

There are quite a few types of riders who stand to benefit from oval chainrings, and as I’ve pointed out in the previous section, just about anyone with a less-than-perfect pedal technique can stand to benefit from them. Let’s discuss some of the potential benefits for specific off-road riders.

Mountain bikers have been early adopters of oval rings and we’ve seen them used in this field for quite some time. The steep climbs that require additional traction can be found on just about every mountain bike ride, and I suspect that it’s for this reason that so many mountain bikers prefer to use oval rings.

Gravel riders and bikepackers are perfect candidates for oval rings, as the off-road terrain demands additional traction on loose and slippery gravel surfaces. Most of the bikes in this field are also already utilizing a 1x drivetrain, making them perfectly geared to accommodate a chainring that was designed to be used for a 1x setup. 

Single speed riders, in my opinion, should strongly consider the benefits of an oval ring. Wolf Tooth has an excellent illustration on their website that highlights how their oval rings can function almost like a “two-in-one-chainring,” since the difference in feel between the power and recovery phase compares to a brief gear shift. They state that a 34T PowerTrac Elliptical ring can feel more like a 36T (round) ring during the power phase and more like a 32T (round) ring in the recovery phase. While I’ve never raced on a single speed bike, I can only imagine that any “shift” is greatly appreciated with only one gear on the bike. 

Stand-Out Features of Wolf Tooth Chainrings

I mentioned earlier how the shape of the Wolf Tooth chainring made it less daunting to try out an oval ring for the first time. Wolf Tooth's less aggressive timing and less ovalized shape made moving over to an oval chainring less of an adjustment. It didn't affect my natural pedaling style as much as I had expected, and instead seemed to work with my technique rather than just alter it. There are, however, a few more features to the Wolf Tooth chainring that I found to be extremely beneficial. 

The first comes in the form of their "Drop-Stop" chainring tooth design. Drop-Stop is Wolf Tooth's take on a narrow-wide tooth layout that can help keep the chain securely in place. I've been testing the Wolf Tooth PowerTrac Elliptical chainring on my gravel bike and throughout all the riding, including some gnarly gravel sections, I haven't run into any dropped chain issues. It's a neat feature that adds some peace-of-mind to any gravel bike setup and I've been very pleased with it to date.

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A second point to note with the Wolf Tooth chainring is the fact that it's manufactured in the USA. Given the current global environment where bike parts are in massive shortage and logistics around the world are severely restricted, having a local supplier counts for a lot. It was a welcome benefit to know that my Wolf Tooth chainring only traveled from Minnesota to Virginia, rather than shipping all the way across the world. 

Wrap-Up

I’ve ridden bikes competitively for 20 years and never before have I considered adjusting the fundamental way in which I pedal (i.e., round circles). To alter this core action of riding a bike almost feels wrong and seems to make no intuitive sense, but after diving into the world of oval chainrings, I’m beginning to understand the logic behind this design. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Wolf Tooth Powertrac Elliptical chainring thus far, and I’ll certainly continue to use this product in the future. My pedaling style feels more natural and I feel like the power transfer into the pedals is more balanced. I’m climbing stronger than ever, and although this could come down to a variety of factors, the addition of an oval chainring seems the most obvious. There will be critics out there that will write-off any additional benefits from an oval chainring as a placebo-effect or point to studies that have discredited the benefits of an oval chainring. At the end of the day, I can’t make any claims beyond what I’ve experienced, but to date, those experiences have been nothing but positive. I can certainly recommend that you give oval rings a try. It’s worked for me, and I’m sure there are lots of other riders who also stand to benefit from them. 

- Wiehan

Tell us! Have you given oval chainrings a try? If so, what do you think? Let us know in the comments below!