Iowa
is well-known around the world for bicycling events like RAGBRAIŠ and a world-class paved trail network spanning over 2,000 miles. But many
people in Iowa are enjoying another adventure by bicycle -- touring the more than 70,000 miles of gravel roads. Gravel may be loathed by skinny-tired road racers, but loved by those who have the right tires and adventuresome attitude to travel the backroads. Gravel roads are mostly unpaved and lightly traveled.
Riding with a friend on a beautiful day in Madison County, Iowa. Credit: John Noonan Gravel Bicycling in Iowa: Tips for First-Time Gravel Adventure by Bicycle Pg. 2
Made Possible By This ebook is made possible by the members and supporters of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. This organization is a grassroots movement of bicyclists from across Iowa to make bicycling safe and accessible for all. The mission of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition is to promote safe and enjoyable bicycling in Iowa through education, events, better policy, and growing a community of supporters. You can join today at: www.iowabicyclecoalition.org/join.
Gravel Bicycling in Iowa: Tips for First-Time Gravel Adventure by Bicycle
Fixing a flat while everyone waits. Credit: Landon Beachy Pg. 3
Why is Gravel Riding so Much Fun? Getting away from busy roads and fast cars is the most common reason why people find gravel riding fun. Riding along empty roads, discovering new towns, new scenery, and new routes while only occasionally being passed by a car gives gravel riders a sense of freedom and adventure. Kerri Sorrell says “It's the best way to experience the state.� Some like to enjoy this by themselves and take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Others enjoy the camaraderie and friendship that can be found on group rides.
Nothing beats Iowa countryside. Credit: Olivia C.
Gravel riding can develop their bike handling skills because a gravel road has less traction than a blacktop. A smooth pedal stroke and a solid cornering technique are both crucial. Both of these techniques will be enhanced by riding on gravel, making the rider better and faster on paved roads when he returns to them. For those who like off-road bicycling, gravel roads offer an alternative to muddy trails that are either unrideable or closed during winter. Gravel riding can be what you want it to be. You can make a gravel ride recreational or use it as training. You have the choice to pedal along at ease or try to outsprint that horse that
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is running in its field beside you. Why not challenge yourself to complete a course faster than the last time? Wildlife, training, adventure, and new skills. It really is no surprise that gravel riding is so popular!
Iowa Gravel Experience Although they can be found almost anywhere, Iowa has a huge number of well maintained gravel roads. As Matthew Lee so excellently put it, “There is so freakin’ much of it!” The grid system makes it easy to navigate as you pedal up and down the beautiful hills, enjoying the nature along the way. According to Melissa Dosanjh, “there is spectacular scenery to be found, especially in Northeastern Iowa”. “If you do find yourself lost”, Derek Claussen says that “you can ask for directions at a farmhouse”.
Awesome gravel routes abound in western Iowa's Loess Hills. Credit: Bob Sharpe (pedalfree.net)
Although you may think that gravel is just gravel, this is not the case. If you ride in different counties you will soon learn that there are all sorts of different gravel. It may be deep or shallow and made up of different types of blends or rock. These differences mean that riding somewhere new will bring you new scenery and possibly also a new challenge under your tires as you have to adapt to how they react to the road.
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Choosing a Bike for Gravel Riding
Always necessary to hit up Casey’s. Credit: Olivia C.
Most regular gravel bicyclists use a bike designed for gravel riding. You can think of a gravel bike as somewhere between a road bike and a mountain bike. A gravel bike has wider tires with more tread than road tires and it will have geometry more suited to unpaved surfaces. Lots of riders use a mountain bike, cyclocross bike or even a fat tire bike for riding gravel. Road bikes can be used but you should avoid using narrow road tires on gravel. If you want to try before you buy, many bike shops have demo fleets or gravel bike rentals. Be sure to inquire at your local bicycle retailer if that option is available.
Features for Gravel Bikes The top features that gravel riders in Iowa look out for when looking for a gravel bike are wide tire casing, suitable tire tread, and gears. Tire widths are an individual preference. Some riders prefer a narrow tire for less resistance and some prefer a fat tire for better
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handling. While some riders use single speed bikes on gravel, most prefer geared bikes. Many riders say the hills tend to be steeper on gravel roads than their paved counterparts.
Because fat bikes. Credit: Olivia C.
After that, the frame geometry and material are important, followed by drop bars. This shows that riders are conscious of their comfort on the bike, choosing wide tire casings to absorb bumps, and considering the influence of the frame on their ride.
Gravel Bike Maintenance After a gravel ride, a bike is likely to be covered in dust. What happens next depends on how motivated you are to stay on top of bike maintenance. Those who also ride mountain bikes are used to having to clean their bike after most rides and will do the same after a gravel ride. Road cyclists seem to clean their bikes less often, but most gravel riders seem to have some sort of a regular cleaning routine to keep the dust from building up and causing problems. Even if you do not come home covered in dust or mud, drivetrain maintenance is essential to keep your bike running smooth. At the least you should hose down your bike to remove dust and wipe down the chain with some degreaser before relubing it. The best thing you
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can do is thoroughly clean the chain, cassette and derailleurs before relubing the chain. Purchase some brushes and an environmentally friendly degreaser, as well as a chain cleaning tool. In the absence of dirt and dust, a clean drivetrain will not wear out as fast and keep shifting accurately.
24 hours of Cumming, Madison County, Iowa. Credit: John Noonan
By regularly cleaning your bike and checking that all the bolts are tight, you can catch potential problems early. For example, by getting up close to the chain to clean it, you will spot a damaged link and you can replace it rather than have it snap on you in the middle of nowhere. By cleaning the wheels and tires you can find any cuts or damage caused by sharp rocks and assess whether the tire needs replacing. If you do not clean and inspect your bike regularly, problems can build up and become a bigger issue further down the road. Using a dry lubricant on the chain is highly recommended for gravel riding, unless you are riding in the rain. The reason being that wet lube allows dirt to stick to it and you will come home with a chain caked in a mixture of lube and dust, which is fine as long as you clean the chain properly afterwards. A dry lube will stay cleaner for longer in dry conditions and
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you can get away with wiping it down with some degreaser and a rag after most rides. Don’t forget to put some lubricant on after you have finished cleaning the chain.
Accessories to Ride Gravel Unsurprisingly, the most common accessory used by Iowa gravel riders is a water bottle. Even if you leave everything else at home, you won’t be getting far without water. While paved roads usually have towns every 10 to 15 miles, that might not be the case on gravel networks. Most riders plan ahead to avoid thirst. Most riders also bring the following essential items: a phone, multi tool, pump/C02 inflator, money, and a flat kit. Going on a ride without these is a disaster waiting to happen. However, it is not enough to just have the tools, you also need to know how to use them when the time comes.
Fat Bike. Credit: Nate Vanderweide
Depending on the length of the ride, you should also take some food with you. Most riders do so because gravel rides are usually not short affairs. Granola bars, energy chews and gels make great snacks.
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One other accessory that is important in the summer is sunscreen. Make sure you apply it to all exposed skin before you set out and take a small bottle with you so that you can reapply later. Don’t forget the tops of your ears and nose!
Gravel Routes and Rides
160th, one of my favorite B roads. Credit: Greg Grandgeorge
Local knowledge cannot be beaten so find other gravel riders and ask them about their favorite routes. Google and other websites also have a wealth of information but nothing beats the excitement of just getting out there and getting lost, making ran dom turns to see where the road takes you.
Favorite Areas of Iowa to Ride Gravel Pete Y perfectly sums up where the good gravel riding in Iowa is: “Everywhere, seriously.” It seems Iowa gravel riders have a preference for not only the roads on their door step but in all corners of the state. Some prefer hilly terrain or to follow rivers but in general pretty much every corner of Iowa seems to be on someone’s favorite list for gravel riding.
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Common Problems on Gravel Those new to gravel riding can be overwhelmed by all the options and considerations, but you are well advised to just give it a go on whatever bike you have. Ross Wayne says “Just jump in and do it once to find out how simple it is.” Even if you do not know where is good to ride, get out on your bike and you will soon discover routes in your area.
Never know where you’ll end up! Credit: Olivia C.
The fear of crashing, alongside a lack of confidence riding on gravel can also be big problem for newbies. Finding the correct tire pressure (lower than you might think!) will help smooth out the ride. Confidence will come over time but you can help it along by actively learning some cornering skills to help you negotiate loose turns. Take enough food with you, ideally a bit more than you need for the time you plan to be out. Gas stations are few and far between on gravel roads and you are very unlikely to come across one. It is also crucial that you have a basic understanding of bicycle maintenance and how to do simple repairs. If you get a flat tire out in the middle of nowhere, there may be no one else around to help you.
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What About Dog Encounters? Farm dogs can also pose a danger if they think you are a threat. If an aggressive looking dog approaches you, it is probably not the best time to try and make friends. However, although a loose dog could turn up on a ride, most riders report that this has either never happened or happens rarely. If a dog does turn up, the general advice is to shout firmly at it or get sprinting! Some riders carry pepper spray and some riders suggest a squirt water from a water bottle towards a chasing dog.
Bikepacking on Gravel Bicycling touring isn’t new. Racks and panniers have been around for decades. Recently, special fitting bags have been developed to fit on the frames of gravel and adventure bikes. Those bags, along with light weight camping gear have spurred people to start the equivalent of backpacking, but on bikes - bikepacking.
The quintessential B roads. Credit: Olivia C.
Andy Brudtkuhl correctly advises anyone interested in bikepacking to “start easy.� Use the camping equipment that you already have and only take the minimum. Go on a simple overnighter to test your setup before embarking on a longer expedition. Once you have
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decided you like it, it is advisable to invest in quality frame or even custom frame bags to carry all your gear. It pays to shop around as there are some very affordable items that work just as well as the more expensive ones. Also important when bikepacking is nutrition. You need to ensure that you are carrying enough food to fuel your entire journey, unless you know 100% that there are places to pick up more food on the way. Even if you are sure, carry some emergency rations as well.
Grassy B-Road. Credit: Nate Vanderweide
Gravel Bike Racing An entire scene has been growing around gravel bicycle racing. Many of the races are endurance-based relying on logistics and planning as much as effort and endurance. The most well known is Trans Iowa, bringing riders from across the country for a selfnavigated, self-supported, 300-plus mile gravel road event, held in late April primarily on Iowa gravel roads. Many other one-day events are popping up on the ride calendar. One great resource for gravel events is to visit www.bikeiowa.com. The event calendar is filled with all kinds of events including gravel specific rides and races.
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More Resources for Gravel Cycling Adventures Friends, other riders, and bike shops are the best resource for gravel riders looking for adventures. Gravel riders are very inviting and want to bring more people to the adventure. Online you can check out a couple of websites like www.iowagravelroads.com, www.BikeIowa.com, and www.RidingGravel.com. Riders also cite www.Strava.com (especially the heatmap) as a great resource to learn where people are riding. www.Iowabikeroutes.com has some gravel routes and is expected to expand that section in the near future.
Part of the Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra course from 2017. Credit: Greg Grandgeorge
CONCLUSION Gravel bicycle adventures by bicycle are pretty common and easy to get started for a beginner wanting to give gravel a try. The best resources to learn more are local bicycle retailers, other gravel riders, and the Internet. You may already have a bicycle suitable for gravel, but if you don’t, check your local retailer for rentals or demos. Gravel bicycling is a social thing, so be sure to ask people who are already out there riding for advice on routes and rides. Of course, take your time and enjoy the natural beauty that you can only find on the backroads of Iowa by bicycle.
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