Last fall I wrote down some gravel cycling events I wanted to attend with my new gravel bike.

I made it to these:

And missed these:

I also snuck in a trip to Asheville, which let me lock in some good miles on Yellow Gap and Avery Creek Road and in Bent Creek. Those were awesome rides with pretty perfect late November weather. Not too hot, but warm enough I didn’t have to layer up and die sweating.

Of the fall rides I did this year, I will absolutely do Michaux Gravel again next year. I’ve already booked a campsite and paid for my ride registration. Driving the 3 hours out there the night before and camping should make the ride a lot more enjoyable that day.

Bucks Gravel was a fun event, but if I couldn’t make it next year I would not be heartbroken. The price to experience ratio was excellent. The roads are ones I could ride anytime on my own, though.

Tour de Towpath is another one where if it was convenient I would do it again. It starts less than 5 miles from my front door, and I can ride the tow path to get to it! As long as it’s a sunny day and I’ve got the time, I would do that again next year. And it’s for a good cause – preserving the tow path.

Of those I missed, I wouldn’t mind trying Brandywine’s ride… although from their website that one looks better suited to a road bike, not a gravel bike. Or some slicker tires on my gravel bike at least. I do plan to swap from the knobblier Vittoria Terreno T70’s over to a Tufo Thundero HD 48 in the spring which has fewer knobs and perhaps rolls better on pavement.

The Jersey Gravel Grinder happens twice a year in NJ, and I’ve already signed up for the spring version of it in early May. Curious to see it, as ’they say’ that Bedminster NJ area is prime for NJ gravel.