Old Time Gravel

Call me a relic, call me what you will

Say I'm old-fashioned, say I'm over the hill

Today's music aint got the same soul

I like that old time rock and roll

Old Time Rock And Roll, George Jackson, Thomas E. Jones III, Chuck Crozier, Bob Seger (1979)

Stop on the final climb up Avalanche Road for a final shot of Bear Butte (and for a breather).

Inspired by Mark Stevenson's throw-back COG 40 single speed gravel group ride, I decided to venture out into the prairie surrounding the Black Hills for a similar ride of my own. Time to get back to old time gravel.

Right from the start, I recognized that the most appropriate route for this ride would be the 43 mile Sturgis Black Route from the 2017 Black Hills Gravel Series. See, also, A Six Course Feast. That was the very first race of the very first season of that still popular gravel series. Race Director Lucas Haan, the Piped Piper of Black Hills Gravel, started everyone that day and then hopped on his bike to reel 'em in. Grass roots gravel to the core.

Likewise, I knew that the most appropriate bike for this ride would be my 2014 Black Mountain Cycles MonsterCross, set up single speed. Frame designer Mike Varley created a masterpiece of comfort with this relaxed steel frame, gently sloping steel fork, and just-right rear triangle dimensions. It thrives on gravel and springs to life set up single speed. Direct power transfer and super smooth. See, e.g., Single Speed Gold Rush; Stretching The Notion Of Rideable. 

Lucas Haan instructs riders before the inaugural Black Hills Gravel Series ride out of Sturgis.

Sturgis Black Route from the 2017 Black Hills Gravel Series.
(Created by Lucas Haan)

Although Mark's COG 40 ride was set for Sunday, I could not pass on the gorgeous weather here on Saturday. Low 70's. Very little wind. Bright sunshine. And the skies were not cloudy all day.

After an initial pitch out of Sturgis, the following 20 miles or so trended downward, rolling through ranch land under imposing Bear Butte. The single speed spun easily, with a number of short pitches to power up. Really nice, open range gravel riding. Fast surface. Little washboard. Limited, courteous traffic. Big prairie views. And, almost always, Bear Butte on the horizon.

That joyful cruise abruptly ended when turning southward for the gradual, steady climb along Whitewood Creek. What I thought had been very little wind on the north bound first half actually was a moderate tailwind. Of course, that meant a moderate headwind for the second half, while gaining the bulk of the day's elevation gain. Time to grind.

As I settled into that reality, a sharp turn on Cracker Jack Road ground me to a crawl. Thick fresh gravel, just in time for the steepest pitch of the day, so far. Even after the slope leveled out, the fresh gravel continued for nearly four miles, mashing that previously smooth cadence and crushing speed.

Finally, I turned onto Avalanche Road, the final gravel road of the day. After a series of rollers, Avalanche Road strained erratically for two miles and then jolted skyward for a relentless final two mile steep. I stopped once, after almost falling trying to keep forward momentum and balance on that slope. That sweet, spinning single speed gear was not so sweet and not so spinning by then. 

But I rode that climb. And all the others. And cruised back to town. 43 miles. Over 2,000' gain. About 3.5 hours. Nothing like an old time gravel ride on a single speed.

For an afternoon, time stood still.

First glimpse of Bear Butte atop an initial climb out of Sturgis.

Bear Butte from the intersection of Cracker Jack Road and Avalanche Road.

Bear Butte from Avalanche Road.

Addendum for Mark Stevenson. Thank you for inspiring this ride and reminding me of the wonderful experiences at your 2019 COG 100 and 2018 TransIowa. Also, a 42x20 drivetrain has been my choice for long distance gravel, whether rolling, hilly, or mountainous, since 2013. Currently, I'm using a crankset with 50/34 chainrings, with the outer 50 ring operating as a chain guard. So, the inner 34 ring is paired with a 16 tooth cog to give a gear ratio practically equivalent to that 42x20. That's my gear, and I'm sticking to it.

Old Time Rock & Roll, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band (1979).