Gravel biking is a widely popular cycling activity that involves riding on gravel surfaces and unpaved roads, which includes dirt roads and Byways. As Steven Rindner mentions, a significant surge has been witnessed in the popularity of gravel bikes over the last decade. These bikes have particularly gained traction among cyclists seeking new challenges. Gravel biking allows cyclists to enjoy adventures that go much beyond the confines of traditional road cycling.
Steven Rindner discusses certain advantages of gravel biking
Gravel biking is steadily becoming quite a popular outdoor activity. Due to its affordability and versatility, this sport appeals to a wide variety of people. Gravel biking provides a blend of mountain biking and road riding experience. It enables cyclists to enjoy access to an expansive variety of terrains, starting from challenging off-road routes to smooth and easy trails. It is quite inexpensive to get started with gravel biking, as the majority of its gear is quite budget friendly and easy to find.
Here are many advantages associated with gravel biking, including:
- Improved health and fitness: Cycling adventures on unpaved trails typically involve pedaling up steep inclines and climbing hills. Both of these activities are beneficial for improving leg strength, stamina and cardiovascular health. No matter whether one is tackling a short and easy trail, or a long and challenging route, going for gravel bike rides can help improve overall health and fitness levels. This invariably has a positive impact on the quality of life of a person.
- Mental health benefits: Gravel biking on trails has mental health benefits. It provides people with the chance to relax and unwind from a stressful and busy life. Regardless of whether one goes for a short and easy gravel ride or opts for a more challenging route, these rides would help them to clear their head and think with more clarity.
- Variety of terrain types: Gravel biking can be done on a variety of terrain types and settings starting from winding dirt roads and challenging, rugged routes to even smooth paths. This enables cyclists to enjoy a myriad of outdoor experiences. As opposed to road cycling, which often sticks to highways, or mountain biking, which is confined to trails, gravel biking takes cyclists through small towns, farming villages, and remote areas where they can engage with local residents, businesses, and cultures. Gravel biking events also bring together cyclists from different backgrounds, and foster an environment where riders share stories and experiences.
- Ideal for speed enthusiasts: Gravel biking can be pretty fast, especially for those who thrive on speed. If one is used to road biking, they are likely to enjoy pushing limits, while flying down descents and powering up climbs. On well-maintained gravel paths with the right setup, cyclists can easily reach speeds over 30 km/h.
As per Steven Rindner, over time gravel biking has become incredibly popular. Today cyclists across the globe and with varying levels of cycling experience indulge in this activity. Gravel biking is particularly favoured by outdoor enthusiasts who desire to enjoy a wide variety of terrain types and settings.
