Gravel Union Talks

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Erik van KootenCarlo van Nistelrooy and Olly Townsend Want to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials: www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now at gravelunion.cc Shownotes Gravel Inspiration – E's are good For anyone who listened to pop music in the 1990s, the chorus of The Shamen’s Ebeneezer Good will bring a smile (or a grimace) to your face. Despite being banned from the BBC's airways in the UK at the time, this didn’t stop it being enormously successful and it ended up topping the UK’s music charts for 4 weeks in September 1992. While we’re not condoning taking drugs, the line “Though very much maligned and misunderstood, E’s vibe up the place like no other man could” fits so well with the rhetoric behind e-gravel bikes that it was too good not to use. Can the ‘E’s are good’ epithet be applied to e-gravel bikes? Olly takes one of Canyon’s new Grizl:ONs out in to the wilds of Yorkshire in search of gravelly adventure to find out. News - Flat out, tongue out gravel racing at Gravel Fondo Limburg The end of April saw nearly 1500 gravel racing fans line up on the startline at the 2024 Gravel Fondo Limburg. With coveted places for the UCI Gravel World Championships up for grabs for anyone who finished in the top 25% of their respective age categories, the racing was fast and furious. If you'd like to see what the event was like, check out our photo essay here. News - TransNepal event launched Can you imagine traversing the whole of the most mountainous country on earth by gravel bike? If you sign up for the newly launched TransNepal gravel event, that is what you will be undertaking. Starting at an altitude of 4600m and finishing at just 100m altitude, riders will cover 400 km during the six stages of riding. Mind-blowing scenery, fantastic gravel trails and an incredibly warm welcome are just some of the highlights being offered. ome of the highlights being offered.

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Andrea LodderMerida BikesTerre di Pisa Bike TrailWant to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Links: Gravel Inspiration - Gravel riding with a legend There are not many sports where you can even get close to a superstar and former world champion, let alone spend an entire day riding with them, but on his recent adventure to take part in the TransCordilleras bikepacking rally, that’s exactly what happened for Jorge Padrones. He got to spend a day racing with former road race world champion Annemiek Van Vleuten who, after retiring from racing on the road, has taken up gravel riding. Would he be able to keep up? Would he be too star-struck to communicate with her? Read on to find out how he got on. Armchair Adventure - Classics Story At this time of year, many gravel riding fans probably spend a good chunk of time watching the different races that form part of the Spring Classics season on the TV. Although there isn’t a direct link between a love of bikepacking or adventure riding and a love of pavé, a lot of the principles are the same – riding an inappropriate bike on a surface that it’s not really designed for and having a lot of fun in the process. There’s a big difference though between watching it on TV and actually doing it in real life though. And an even bigger difference between riding one of the Spring Classics events and riding all of them, non-stop, over the course of just over 80 hours. That’s exactly what Jesko von Werthern did back in 2022 and we caught up with him to get the inside story. News - Rebound 2024 Can you imagine a gravel event with 100,000 participants where the target for the combined total distance ridden is 10 million miles? That's what the organisers of Rebound 2024 hope to pull off this year and if they succeed, it will be the world's biggest gravel event. To find out how to join in the fun,

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Guests: Carly ErwinWant to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now on gravelunion.cc (it's free!) Links for the notes News - Gravel Union Recommended Events 2024 Each year we try and showcase a small collection of events which we think are worthy of your attention. The Gravel Union Recommended events have been chosen by us to represent the full gamut of gravel and bikepacking events and festivals. This year’s collection features everything from a weeklong gravel festival on a sun-kissed Mediterranean island to “champagne’ gravel riding in Scandinavia to a winter exploration of little-known natural parks in Catalunya. The Gear - Inspired by the landscape Part 2 Back in 2022, we published a great story about how the colours and forms of the landscape of his beloved Costa Brava, was the inspiration behind the design of Timo Rokitta's custom custom-painted gravel bike. He developed such a good relationship with the owner of the paint company, that there was only one destination for him when he wanted to get a different bike resprayed. Timo gave us the background to his latest amazing-looking bike build.e. #filmfriday - Iron Gravel Wednesday night in the UK was the coldest so far this winter and the temperature outside the Gravel Union HQ dropped to -10 C. So we're sitting here, a few hours later with everything still frozen solid outside, watching an event film where all the riders are boiling their brains out in the Spanish sunshine. Somehow it makes us feel slightly warmer and it definitely makes us wish for the arrival of summer. If you need a bit of gravelly warmth in your life, you'll love today's #filmfriday offering. Gravel Dad Instead of bikes hanging on the wall, the living room is now characterised by kid's toys. For Shimano Gravel Alliance rider Erwin Sikkens, life changed the day he bumped into his smiling girlfriend, holding a positive pregnancy test in her hand. They say the rest is history, but what have the first 12 months actually been like?

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Guest: James Deane Carlo van Nistelrooy and Olly TownsendWant to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now... It's absolutely FREE! Links: Grinduro Grinduro is not just a bike race. It’s a weekend-long celebration of cycling with as much emphasis on the fun as the ride. The magic happens when you add great food, an art & bike festival, high-quality music and camping in an epic location. Website for more info: www.grinduro.com News - Win a dream gravel riding trip to Sri Lanka Stunning scenery. A unique gravel riding experience. Mouth-watering food. Luxury accommodation. If that sounds like your idea of gravel riding heaven in 2024 and you'd like to win a free place, then read on.... Armchair Adventure - Bikepacking the Balkans Bikepacking her way 1500 km across the Balkans with a riding partner she hardly knows could have been a recipe for disaster, but as Nora Battermann explains in her beautifully crafted story, it turns out to be the trip of a lifetime. Find a comfy seat and enjoy our latest Armchair Adventure. Gravel Inspiration - Gravel Dad Instead of bikes hanging on the wall, the living room is now characterised by kid's toys. For Shimano Gravel Alliance rider Erwin Sikkens, life changed the day he bumped into his smiling girlfriend, holding a positive pregnancy test in her hand. They say the rest is history, but what have the first 12 months actually been like?​​​​​​​

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode Iris SlappendelWant to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc. | Insta: @gravel_union | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ | Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now, it is free :-) www.gravelunion.cc/join Links for the notes News - Launch of the Grinduro global event series for 2024Gravel events generally fall into one of two camps – either testosterone-fuelled pedal-to-the-metal races or more relaxed, welcome-everyone celebrations of gravelling. But there is a third way and apparently, it’s painted purple! Grinduro have just announced the launch of their 2024 world series and we got the inside scoop of what will be involved, from head honcho James Deane. Gravel Inspiration – Taking On The Weather Gods And WinningIt seems to have rained in the north of England non-stop since the start of October. Each time you ride, your drivetrain and brake pads make the kind of noise that whispers “your bike hates you” repeatedly in your ears. Wouldn’t it just be best to wrap your gravel bike in a blanket and forget about riding it until the Spring? Never fear – we’re not going to let climatic conditions ruin our ride plans, we just have to be a little cleverer. Here’s Olly’s guide to not giving up when the weather gods aren’t smiling on you. The Gear – Ass Savers Win Wing Mk 2In a sales meeting in 1909, renowned car maker and engineer Henry Ford is documented as saying “customers can have any colour they like so long as it's black”. The design team at Ass Savers have obviously been paying attention to their history of design lessons, as their newly launched Win Wing Mark 2, at first glance at least, follows the same ethos laid down by Henry Ford.

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Francis KingWant to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now Links: Travel Gravel - Bamboo Bikepacking As Gravel Alliance rider Saoirse Pottie writes this article, she’s staring at a beautiful view of Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town from the window of her B&B. In a couple of days, Saoirse and her friend, Abby Popplestone, will cycle out of the city and begin a 10,000km cycle that winds its way across the African continent, eventually finishing in Nairobi, Kenya. -- Gravel Inspiration - Five things I learned as a guide at a women’s-only gravel camp It’s no secret that there’s a profound impact that comes through doing any sort of outdoor sport – especially when you do it as part of a community. Fresh from guiding a women’s gravel camp in central Italy, Shimano Gravel Alliance rider Claudia Gerosa looks back on how riding in an all-women’s environment can be so inspiring. -- #filmfriday - Seven Serpents 2023 recap Back in June, we ran a fantastic story from Claire Frecknall about the trials and tribulations of taking part in the 2023 Seven Serpents bikepacking event. Beset by horrendous weather conditions, the already demanding event turned into something even more challenging. The event organisers have now published the official event recap film and it's brilliant.

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Guest: John TimmermansLand van Grind en ZandWant to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now SHOWNOTES: Land van Grind en Zand (Land of Gravel and Sand) (Dutch) Platform on riding offroad in the beautiful and diverse area of North and Middle Limburg (NL). With komoot routes, stories and info that will inspire you to visit this area and ride off road. John Timmermans, our guest of this episode is a ambassador for this region. The Gear - Searching for the gravel Holy Grail If you were about to launch a brand new (and highly anticipated) gravel bike aimed squarely at racers and then one of your sponsored riders wins the UCI World Gravel Championships on a prototype of the new bike just a few days before the official unveiling, you would be pretty happy, wouldn’t you? In the search for the gravel Holy Grail of fast, light, stiff, comfortable and adaptable, we suspect the addition of some world champion stripes to their new bike led to quite a few celebrations at Canyon this week. Launch of the 2023 Gravel Union member survey and the chance to win a Cube C:62 Pro gravel bike Love gravel riding? Love Gravel Union? Want to help make it even better? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we suggest you fill in our member survey. It will only take 10-15 minutes of your time and you could win a Cube Nuroad C:62 Pro gravel bike for your trouble. UCI Gravel World Championships photo story Gravel racing is somewhat of a polarising topic. For every gravel rider that loves the combination of speed, endorphins and do-or-die attitudes, there are riders who aren’t interested one bit. But for anyone with even a passing interest in competitive gravel riding, the recent UCI Gravel World Championships was the highlight of the year. Emmie Collinge and Phil Gale sent in an incredible photo gallery from a very dusty and unseasonably hot Veneto region of Italy.

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Guest: Rob BusserCarlo van Nistelrooy and Olly TownsendWant to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now at www.gravelunion.cc. It is free! Shownotes News - Shimano GRX turns up the volume to 12Gravel Inspiration - #UnderbikingArmchair Adventure - A rookie first attempt at ultra-cyclingValerio Stuart

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Lee Craigie, hereCarlo van Nistelrooy and Olly TownsendWant to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/user/1080024447202 Shownotes: The Gear - Altangle ConnectAltangle’s new Hanger Connect portable workstandArmchair Adventure - #grannygravellingGravel Inspiration - Bikes Bees and Trees RallyEd Wolstenholme

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Regularly (mostly every month :-) hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Guest: Heather Jackson Carlo van Nistelrooy and Olly TownsendOllyWant to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Shownotes: News – Kickstart your day with some gravel-inspired coffee?Ride Report - FNLD GRVLPhil GaleArmchair Adventure - Seven Serpents - Schnapps, storms and survivalThanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us, free membership on www.gravelunion.cc

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Saoirse PottieBikepacking Buds Carlo van Nistelrooy and Olly Townsend. Want to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now Links: The Gear - Kinesis FernwehGravel Inspiration - Gravelling with your paintbrushTravel Gravel - Mount Kenya by gravel bikeBikepacking Buds

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Carla Playà Gravel Earth Series Want to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 SHOWNOTE LINKS: Sideway Bikes custom carbon frame builderTravel Gravel - The Magic Gravel EscapeThe Gear - The behind-the-scenes story of Canyon’s VCLS seatpost.Gravel Earth Series

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Erwin Vervecken from the UCIWant to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now for a free membership with loads of benefits! https://members.gravelunion.cc Links for the notes 2023 Gravel Union Recommended events launchArmchair Adventure - North Downs Way Rider’s RouteThe Gear - Inspired by the landscapeWebsite UCI Gravel World SeriesCalender 2023 UCI Gravel World Series Events

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: FatPigeon.cc Want to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now for a free membership with loads of benefits! https://members.gravelunion.cc More info on FatPigeon Video an Photography: https://www.fatpigeon.cc/ Stories on Gravel Union mentioned in the podcast: Gravel Inspiration - How to prepare for a long ride Travel Gravel - Finding out the hard way Gravel Inspiration - Riding the Rebellion Way

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode Reese Ruland takes us to the realm of Cycling FKT's (the Fastest Know Time). She tells about the fun of riding, preparing FKT efforts, making routes and the real community sense of this gravel domain where you race the stopwatch on longer routes. Guest: Reese Rulandhttps://www.cyclingfkt.comCarlo van NistelrooyOlly TownsendWant to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now for a free membership with loads of benefits! https://members.gravelunion.cc Biggest news item of last month World gravel cycling championships 2022Most popular stories on GravelUnion.cc last month Gravel bikepacking on the Veneto Trail - Claire FrecknallRemembering Sule Kanganki

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode it’s all about making gravel riding more inclusive and welcoming to people who have typically felt excluded. We’ve got two special guests joining us in this episode - Alison Wood and Taylor Doyle, who are two of the founders of the Ultra Distance Scholarship - a scheme which they helped set up back in 2020 to support new riders from under-represented backgrounds who wanted to try ultra-distance riding. Guests: Alison Wood and Taylor DoyleUltra Distance ScholarshipJon HeardWild Wales Gravel Campout Carlo van Nistelrooy and Olly Townsend Want to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now for a free membership with loads of benefits! https://members.gravelunion.cc Links and most popular articles on GravelUnion.cc Tour Divide 2022 - the preview How tough are you? Are you the type of rider that doesn’t just handle multi-day rides, but sets out to crush them? If so, you might see a bit of yourself in Sofiane Sehili and Josh Ibbett, two riders lining up for the legendary Tour Divide that are capable of feats of endurance that would see many of us crumble. The Traka ride report - Ibai Fradejas Ibai Fradejas headed off to Girona in search of some full-gas gravel racing and he wasn’t disappointed. HotChillee - London to Paris gravel route reccie Despite having led groups on the road London to Paris on thirteen occasions, Hotchillee Ride Captain Rachel Przybylski, is a fairly new convert to gravel. She joined a group of fellow Hotchillee Ride Captains and gravel enthusiasts for the second reccie ride of the two French days of the London to Paris by Tour de France gravel edition.

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Guests: Sofiane Sehili http://www.instagram.com/sofianeshlAnnelore Cleuren www.flandersgravel.ccCarlo van NistelrooyOlly TownsendWant to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now for a free membership with loads of benefits! https://members.gravelunion.cc Links: Launch of Omar Di Felice’s Arctic World TourMost popular stories on GravelUnion.cc last month Kona bikepacking video from the Verdon region of FranceIt's another posting in our random "ooooh, look what we found" video series. This time we're off to the south of France on a bikepacking and pack rafting trip courtesy of Kona. Two minutes of stunning, peaceful entertainment for your viewing pleasure.Interview with Stayer CyclesSofiane Sehili DiksmuideKoppenberg Limburg

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Guests: Katherine Moorewww.instagram.com/katherinebikeswww.instagram.com/komootMaarten Peteeuwwww.instagram.com/nordicgravelseriesCarlo van Nistelrooy and Olly TownsendWant to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials: www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now for a free membership with loads of benefits! https://members.gravelunion.cc Links: Doorstep Challenge: check out www.gravelunion.cc for all the latest info! Komoot webinar for Gravel Union members Rescheduled Monday 21st at 19.00 GMT/20.00 CET - Learn more about komoot and how it can benefit your gravel riding. Register for free. https://www.gravelunion.cc/article/gravel-union-members-komoot-webinar Ultra Distance Scholarship Gravel riding has some pretty high barriers to entry – everything is expensive, you need some decent skills and fitness to get the most out of it and perhaps most importantly, you need someone to help, inspire and motivate you to give it a try. If you’ve grown up in a community where for whatever reason, cycling wasn’t an option, then how are you going to get to experience the joy of gravel riding? https://www.gravelunion.cc/article/the-ultra-distance-scholarship South-Africa: Far Not Far You don’t always have to travel hours to find adventure. It is often just around the corner, it’s all about knowing where to look. That’s the ethos that Charl Dettmer, resident of South Africa and co-owner of ACME bikes, followed when he put together this fantastic sounding gravel bikepacking trip recently. https://www.gravelunion.cc/article/Far-not-far Gravel Events Calendar The Gravel Union events calendar offers a comprehensive, worldwide view of gravel riding events and races. https://www.gravelunion.cc/events

Gravel Union Talks is a podcast series full of inspiring stories, news and events from the world of gravel biking. Each month hosts Carlo and Olly will be chatting with guests who are passionate about riding off the beaten track… adventure riding, bike packing and gravel racing. In this episode: Carlo van NistelrooyOlly TownsendSander KuikSimon de Schutter Want to bring in ideas for topics or guests? Mail Olly at info@gravelunion.cc Check out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc Insta: @gravel_union Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review (it really helps us!), like and share! Don’t forget: join us now for a free membership with loads of benefits! https://members.gravelunion.cc Links: Back in May, we launched an occasional series of features called Gravel Gear, which was all about the gravel bikes that you’ve built and use. This time we’re featuring this fantastic looking build from Gravel Union reader Gideon Thomas https://www.gravelunion.cc/article/gideon-thomas-genesis-croix-de-fer How do you fancy racing over a 200km gravel circuit, taking in more than 8500m of climbing through the stunning scenery close to Mont Blanc? If you do, then we have just the thing – the 2022 Gravel Tour du Mont Blanc https://www.gravelunion.cc/article/gravel-tour-du-mont-blanc-2022 Sander Kuik made his dream come true. With the help of T-Lab Bikes he built his own titanium gravel bike. Follow the whole journey; from idea to reality: https://www.gravelunion.cc/article/the-custom-built-dream-gravel-bike-part-1 https://www.gravelunion.cc/article/the-custom-built-dream-gravel-bike-part-2 Sander Kuik talks about his job at Shimano. You can also land your dream job. Check out the current opportunities https://shimano.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/Shimano Simon De Schutter pitches Gorilla Gravel (https://www.gravelunion.cc/article/Gorilla%20Gravel%202022) in the podcast and tells us more on the Rwanda Beyond project; a great example of joint growth. We also did a long read on it with great photograpy: https://www.gravelunion.cc/article/rwanda-beyond-project

In this episode: Henna Palosaari Stu ThomsonOlly Townsendwww.GravelUnion.ccCheck out our platform and socials www.gravelunion.cc / Insta: @gravel_union / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GravelUnion/ / Komoot: https://www.komoot.nl/user/1080024447202 Thanks for listening. Please share a review, like and share! Don’t forget: join us now for a free membership with loads of benefits! www.gravelunion.cc/join-us Links: For anyone currently sitting in the northern hemisphere, it’s probably winter outside your window, which means cold temperatures and wet trails. We thought that for this week’s #filmfriday extravaganza we should offer up some sunshine and some inspiration. https://www.gravelunion.cc/article/badlands-filmfriday Back in August, world record breaking expedition cyclist Mark Beaumont took on the GBDuro – a 2000km bikepacking race up the length of the UK. The film of his race, with all the drama, excitement and stunning scenery is now ready for its launch to the world. https://www.gravelunion.cc/article/maiden-race-film-launch Serbia Upside Down is the story of eight adventurers from Serbia and Germany who traversed by gravel bike over the most stunning mountain ranges of Western Serbia. https://www.gravelunion.cc/article/serbia-upside-down-into-the-unknown We sent James The Intrepid out into the cold to try and figure out the best way to make winter riding fun. https://www.gravelunion.cc/how-to-make-winter-gravel-riding-fun If, like Andrew Terker and his wife, you are fortunate enough to call Switzerland your home, then gravel riding from your door looks absolutely stunning. https://www.gravelunion.cc/article/gravel-riding-in-switzerland