Gravel cycling
Gravel cycling is riding or racing bicycles on unpaved roads and mixed-surface routes. It combines elements of road cycling and mountain biking.
Gravel bicycle: A bicycle designed for unpaved roads and mixed-surface riding, typically with drop handlebars and clearance for wide tires. Its geometry and tire clearance suit the variable surfaces central to gravel riding.
Unbound Gravel: An annual gravel race in Kansas, formerly known as Dirty Kanza, known for its long routes and Flint Hills terrain. It became a defining event in the growth of organized gravel racing.
Road cycling: Bicycle riding and racing primarily on paved roads. Gravel cycling shares road-bike handling and endurance traditions but leaves pavement for rougher surfaces.
Gravel racing: Competitive bicycle racing on gravel roads and other unpaved or mixed surfaces. Its growth turned a broad style of riding into a distinct racing category.
Gravel road: A road surfaced with loose gravel rather than pavement, with conditions varying by material, grading, and weather. Its changing texture and traction define much of the discipline.
The Traka: A gravel cycling event based in Girona, Spain, with multiple race distances on mixed terrain. Its international field illustrates gravel racing's expansion beyond the United States.
Mountain biking: Bicycle riding on trails and rough terrain, often using purpose-built off-road bicycles. Gravel routes are usually roads rather than technical trails, and gravel bikes are less suspension-focused.
Adventure cycling: Bicycle travel focused on exploration, self-reliance, and routes beyond conventional paved-road itineraries. Gravel cycling has brought adventure-oriented riding into a widely shared bicycle format.
Tubeless tire: A pneumatic bicycle tire system that seals against a compatible rim without an inner tube. Lower pressures can improve comfort and grip on rough surfaces while reducing pinch flats.
Gravel World Championships: The UCI-organized world championship races for gravel cycling, introduced in 2022. The event brings an international governing body and national teams into the discipline.