From Girona's radical 32-inch prototypes and the Avona Callis UCI World Series victory to over 48% of North American centuries turning unpaved: inside the hardware, physics, and culture defining 100-mile endurance gravel in 2027.
Sixteen full pages of field testing, laboratory kinematics, and route reconnaissance.
Why paved cycling lost its dominance, how the global market surged to $1.70B with 2.1M units produced, and the economic renaissance of small towns like Stillwater and Emporia.
Inside Leon Kaiser's historic UCI Gravel World Series victory aboard the Avona Callis 32. Analyzing the Megamo Silk 32, Forestal prototypes, and the new ISO 686 standard.
Dismantling the 2027 century rig: 13-speed direct-mount transmissions, 32" carbon hoops, active inverted forks, down-tube cargo bladders, and BLE tire pressure sensors.
In-depth course analysis, elevation profiles, and mud strategies for The Mid South, Rock Cobbler, BWR Arizona, Valley of Tears, Huffmaster, and Swamp Cabbage.
Managing 35-degree diurnal temperature swings, avoiding cold-induced diuresis, sub-40°F liquid carbohydrate absorption, and preventing frozen freehubs.
How to navigate 500+ verified North American centuries, gravel surface categories 1 through 4, and the complete 48-hour mechanical staging checklist.
Why European framebuilders are pushing past 700c to unlock unprecedented roll-over momentum.
Over a 100-mile gravel course, small obstacles compound into massive watt drains. Striking a 2-inch rock on a 700c wheel forces the tire to ascend at a steep 30.9° angle of attack. On a 32-inch wheel (ISO 686), that angle flattens to 26.4°.
By reducing impact severity, the 32-inch format conserves 18 to 24 continuous watts of momentum across chunky ballast, washboard, and dry riverbed sand washes.
Four iconic early-season trials where 100 miles of unpaved grit separate pretenders from finishers.
Oklahoma's legendary red clay gravel. When dry, it's a 20 mph roller coaster; when wet, it becomes frame-snapping "peanut butter mud." Bobby Wintle hugs every single finisher at the arch.
View Full Recon →Billed as "a wild escapade." Features private canyon climbs, steep 22% cattle trails, hike-a-bike stairs, and unpredictable obstacle sectors designed by Sam Ames.
View Full Recon →High-speed desert gravel racing. Features rocky Sonoran singletrack, deep sand washes, and jumping cholla cactus hazards. Tire inserts are mandatory to protect rims against granite strikes.
View Full Recon →Deep in the rugged Texas Panhandle. Old rail-trail ballast, sandstone ledges, gypsum sand pits, and unrelenting 30 mph prairie crosswinds. Radical self-reliance required.
View Full Recon →Explore our complete digital library of 100-mile unpaved endurance editions.
Current Issue. The 32" wheel revolution from Sea Otter Europe, 8 brutal Q1 gravel centuries, 2027 rig teardown, and why dirt conquered cycling.
The landmark 2026 edition. 10 brutal North American gravel centuries, 13-speed wireless rig teardown, and 100g carb endurance fueling.
How gravel cycling conquered the cycling world. Inside the early surge of 100-mile unpaved events and essential setup modifications.