Dirt Tan Bike Club

I’d been looking forward to Iowa City Gravel all fall. After a summer of race meltdowns, I was ready for a chilly October race in new country. Then Jason at Method went and inflated my excitement north of 120 psi. He had a demo bike fit for a tall guy, and he wondered what I … More Gravel Confidence: Combine comfort and speed racing Donnelly’s new G//C.

There were two neat dings in the tailgate, identically deep and perfectly horizontal, like some kind of metallic snakebite. Above the fang marks was the print of a blunter animal: a rutting bighorn, maybe. In those three dents—two pricks and a punch—you can learn a few things about Mike Marchand. For one: The 2009 Dirty … More Mike Marchand Wants You to Know He’s OK. I Want You to Know He’s Awesome.

This blog’s gravelly focus belies the fact that a big hunk of the unmentioned miles we ride are of the paved flavor. And for every joyful weekend gravel jaunt, there are six or eight urban yawners where I’m just a guy on his way to or from the office. Most of these commutes are indistinguishable … More Gravel’s Gridlock: Riding the country rush hour