Gravel

Apple Watch Buckles Up With UAG Bands

by editors on June 9, 2020

We’ve ridden all winter with an Apple Watch safely tucked beneath the cuff of our arm warmers and felt fine knowing the watch was tucked in and safe. Now that summer has arrived and we’re more likely to be riding without arm warmers Apple Watch’s post and hole band closure looks a little more worrisome — especially during a rough MTB decent. Though we’ve yet had our watch band bust open, it doesn’t seem like a good idea to wait and see. That’s why we were stoked to see that Urban Armor Gear has added a Tang buckle to a silicone strap that keeps the clean lines of Apple’s silicone band while adding the security of a buckle.

The UAG bands come in two styles the Scout and Civilian. The Scout is a single color band that comes in three colors (black, olive, and orange) and retails for $29.95. The Civilian features tow layers of silicone, a “branded stainless steel buckle” and  comes in two colors (black/orange and  slate/orange). It retails for $39.95.

We haven’t tested them yet, but we can say for sure that the buckle makes us feel a whole lot better about taking our Apple Watch out into the wilds. We’ll let you know how it goes. For more info, please click the link.

[Link: Urban Armor Gear]

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Grinduro’s Distant Family Film

by editors on April 22, 2020

Grinduro is celebrating five years (if you can believe that) and as a reminder of how great the events have been they created a film. Check it. And then pray that we get all this pandemic stuff sorted out before fall, right?

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2020 Belgian Waffle Ride Postponed

by editors on March 18, 2020

Organizers of the World Famous Canyon Belgian Waffle Ride remained hopefully optimistic right down to the end, but on March 18, 2020 they pulled the plug on their May San Diego County event and moved it to November 8, 2020. But not to worry, people who registered have options. Here’s how they tell it:

It’s only been a handful of days since we last emailed regarding the Coronavirus, but so much has transpired since then. So much, in fact, we feel compelled to circle back on the subject, NOW.

Yes, the situation has escalated so rapidly that we’ve had to sadly override our optimism for the May 3rd event happening as scheduled. With the Coronavirus pandemic, events like ours are being forced to postpone (or cancel). As a result, we will be moving the Canyon Belgian Waffle Ride to its new fall date of November 8, 2020… with the same (or larger) Pure Cycling Expo and VIP/Media events running from November 6 – 8, 2020.

Registered riders for the Canyon BWR and related events will be automatically transferred to the November 8 event. For those that cannot make the new date, we are offering deferrals into one of the other Tripel Crown of Gravel events: Asheville, NC BWR on August 30, 2020 and Cedar City, UT on October 17, 2020. We will also provide deferrals into the 2021 Canyon BWR, which will be held May 2 in San Diego. The Tripel Crown now will run entirely in 2020 with the Grand Finale being the November 8 event in San Diego.

In short, riders can:
Stay Registered for the Nov 8th San Diego BWR
Transfer to the Asheville BWR Aug 30th
Transfer to the Cedar City BWR Oct 17th
Transfer to the San Diego BWR May 2nd (2021)
You have until July 1, 2020 to designate which option you prefer or you will automatically remain registered for the Nov. 8 event! All of this can be easily managed on the Events.com page. 

We hope and pray we will all be on the other side of this pandemic by August 30, 2020. For the rest of the instructions, please follow the jump.

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Belgian Waffle Ride X Three For 2020

by editors on February 4, 2020

Yes, there’s not one, but three ways to experience the world famous Belgian Waffle Ride with the addition of Asheville, North Carolina and Cedar City, Utah for 2020. Does that mean it’s a series? With overall points? This could get interesting. . . for all the official details (and to register, because these races sellout fast), please click the link.

[Link: Belgian Waffle Ride]

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Gravel Stoke’s Most Influential Grinders

by editors on January 7, 2020

The crew at Gravelstoke.com have compiled an amazing list of the 12 most influential gravel races of 2020. From the looks of the schedule it’s enough to keep even the hungriest gravel racer well fed all year around.

Sure, Dirty Kanza is on there, so is the Rock Cobbler and the Belgian Waffle Ride, but there are nine more that you might not have heard of. Click the link for the entire list. Read the whole thing, because they’ve also listed 29 other rides that look just as good. 

[Link: Gravelstoke.com]

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Time To Sagan-Up Roadie-oh Fans

by editors on September 13, 2019

This fall, November 8-10, 2019, Southern California cyclists will get the chance to ride with old three titles, himself, Peter Sagan as he brings his Sagan Fondo Gran Roadie-Oh to San Diego County.

The ride will feature a Friday Gala for Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) and Outride Foundation, a Saturday Sagan Fondo Expo and VIP event and the Gran Roadie-Oh on Sunday with three different distances for riders to choose from (50 km, 100 km and 150 km), beginning at 7:00am. The unique routes take riders through the hills and valleys of beautiful North County San Diego. Sagan is opting for the longest 150-km/93-mile route. Both Saturday and Sunday’s festivities will take place at North City in San Marcos and benefit CAF.

For those who don’t know, this event is being produced by the same crew that created the world famously brutal Belgian Waffle Ride  so you know it will be good, plus, Peto Sagan. Right? When was the last time you got to ride with a 3X World Champion? We’re guessing it’s been a while. So, click the link for all the details and get registered. It’s going to a be a great weekend in San Diego where you know the weather will be better than pretty much anywhere else in the world. Plus, there’s also this:

[Link: Sagan Gran Roadie-Oh]

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Brendan Quirk Joins Allied Cycle Works

by editors on September 3, 2019

Brendan Quirk, the former President of Rapha North America, and co-founder of Competitive Cyclist (sold to Backcountry.com in 2011), has stepped in as the interim CEO of Allied Cycle Works, in Bentonville, Arkansas.

“Being a start-up is an uphill battle,” Quirk said. “But in the last few months, Allied has really broken through.”. . . He called out the recent launch of the Able gravel frameset – the bike ridden to victory in both the Men’s and Women’s races at the world’s most prestigious gravel event, the Dirty Kanza 200. . . “The success of the Able proves that our foundation is in place,” Quirk said, in reference to Allied’s U.S.-based frame production. “The market is responding, the momentum is tangible, and I’m excited to be part of the future here.”

As he should be. The bikes look right nice, indeed. Check them out here. For the official word from Allied, follow the jump.

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GU Flavor Wheel Makes It Easy

by editors on May 16, 2019

You’d think with all the GU we’ve sucked down over the years we’d have some sort of insight into what to buy when it’s time to load up on energy gels. Nope. When faced with buying a new box we’re totally confused by GUs 29 flavor mix. What was that one we liked? Can’t remember? Now, with the flavor wheel it almost makes sense. Want fruit, chocolate, sour fruit, salty, bitter? It’s all there on the chart and easy to read.

What are we ordering this time? If you must know, it’s Salted Watermelon, Strawberry Banana, and some Campfire S’mores. The only way GU could make this better would be to have a caffeine circle so we could remember which ones have it and how much. . . maybe next time. To order your next supply of GU, please click the link.

[Link: GU]

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We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Waffles!

by editors on May 8, 2019

Nick Cohenmeyer had his drones (and dogs @stevetheredpoodle) out all day capturing the madness that is The Belgian Waffle Ride — the most [insert a word] bicycle race in American. Held May 5, 2019 in beautiful North County San Diego, the race had riding on every type of surface, terrain, and temperature. And yes, this is what it looks like. For more info and how to sign up for next year, click the link.

[Link: Belgian Waffle Ride]

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2019 Belgian Waffle Ride Results

by editors on May 6, 2019

It will take you almost as long to read the results as it took Peter Stetina to ride the 133 miles of the 2019 Belgian Waffle Ride held May 5, 2019 in the northern reaches of San Diego County, California. But go ahead, click the continue link and knock yourself out. Sidenote: if you’re looking for someone use search.
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