The Dirt: Gear up for 2019 Gravel — Land Run 100, Steamboat
Welcome to The Dirt, the weekly news round-up on what is happening in the worlds of gravel, mountain biking, and all things rough and dirty. VeloNews is official media partner of Land Run 100 I hadn’t planned to race Land Run 100 at the start of this year, but…
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Welcome to The Dirt, the weekly news round-up on what is happening in the worlds of gravel, mountain biking, and all things rough and dirty.
VeloNews is official media partner of Land Run 100
I hadn’t planned to race Land Run 100 at the start of this year, but thanks to a trip set up by Vittoria tires, I found myself on the start line in Stillwater, Oklahoma in the middle of March. It was a tough 100-miler, but it was well worth the trip. (Check out my story on this race and the broader story of how gravel races are thriving.) Well, one thing led to another, and I’m pleased to announce that VeloNews will be the official media partner for Land Run 100 in 2019. The race is scheduled for March 16, 2019 and will be capped at 1,600 entrants with 1,000 slots in the 100-miler.
Want to try your hand at that red Oklahoma dirt? Registration opens Saturday, November 3 at 8 a.m. Central.
Wondering what it is all about? Check out my little GoPro video from last year’s race. (Fair warning: 2018 was one of the very few years when Land Run was not a muddy mess!)
Land Run 100: Red dirt, good vibes, a cannon, and a chaise lounge
Maybe there wasn't any mud, but Land Run 100 had everything else you could hope for in a gravel race — even a Salsa Cycles chaise lounge! Plus, we get a look at some new stuff from Vittoria Tires.
Posted by VeloNews on Tuesday, March 20, 2018
SBT GRVL puts up $28,000 purse in new Colorado gravel race
If you follow gravel people on social media — folks like Ted King, Yuri Hauswald, and Kaycee Armstrong — you probably noticed some buzz about a new race that is long on mileage but short on vowels. SBT GRVL (i.e., Steamboat Gravel) will be held August 18, 2019 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Like many gravel races it will have a tough course. The “black” route will be 141 miles with 9,000 feet of climbing on 75 percent gravel roads. Unlike most gravel races, it will offer a rich prize purse for the top riders. The first-time event features a $28,000 prize purse split evenly between men and women. There are also 100- and 37-mile course options. Registration opens December 4 but you can sign up now to guarantee a spot and get a coupon for 20 percent off registration.
What does it take to win Red Bull Rampage?
If you’re like me, you were watching the craziest mountain bike competition in the world last Friday as the Red Bull Rampage was live-streamed from the desert near Virgin, Utah. If you missed it, here’s the one clip you’ve got to see. Canadian Brett Rheeder won the day by sending some of the biggest drops and pulling off unbelievable tricks. Want more? Check out our Red Bull Rampage photo gallery.
New lift-serve bike park in Texas
Downhill mountain bikers have always relied on ski resorts to provide terrain and lift access to get to the top of the hill. What do you do if your area doesn’t get any snow? Starting this winter, Texans will have a new way to ride at Spider Mountain, a year-round lift-served bike park. Located 60 miles from Austin and 200 miles southwest of Dallas, the 350-foot hill is expected to offer downhill flow trails and technical trails as well as features such as bridges, berms, and jumps.
“We’re excited to bring progressive mountain biking terrain to Texas,” said Hogan Koesis, director of mountain biking for Mountain Capital Partners, which owns and operates six ski resorts. “Until now, this type of lift-accessed terrain was only available in a ski resort setting. The new Spider Mountain Bike Park will be unlike anything else in Texas.”
Got some news you’d like to share in The Dirt? I’d love to hear from you. Please email me your news and updates on all things gravel and mountain biking.