The beauty of a gravel bike is it can take you almost anywhere. It rolls along well on paved or dirt roads. It’s not as smooth and fast as a road bike and not as beefy as a mountain bike, but it can handle a variety of terrain. In a pinch, it can even go off-road, though it’s better suited to gravel roads.
On April 27, three friends and their gravel bikes went for a ride across the border in Maine. Laurel Smith was the organizer and Susie Lathrop and I went along for the ride. We met at the Maine Visitor’s Center in Fryeburg at 10 a.m.
kAm%96 H62E96C H2D 4@@= 2?5 E96 7@C642DE :?4=F565 E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ @7 C2:?] sC6DD65 :? >2?J =2J6CD[ H62C:?8 4J4=:?8 E:89ED[ 7F==\7:?86C65 8=@G6D 2?5 =:89E 92ED F?56C @FC 96=>6ED[ H6 D6E @77 @? 2 4J4=:?8 25G6?EFC6]k^Am
kAm%96 7:CDE A2CE @7 E96 C:56 H2D @? |@F?E2:? s:G:D:@? %C2:=’D D>@@E9 A2G6>6?E] pD H6 A652=65 E96 c >:=6D E@ :ED 6?5 ?62C t2DE6C? $=@A6 #68:@?2= p:CA@CE[ H6 5:5?’E D66 2?J@?6 F?E:= E96 A2C<:?8 =@E 2E E96 6?5] p 76H A6@A=6 H6C6 86EE:?8 C625J E@ C:56 @C H2=< E96 EC2:=] %96 H62E96C 7@C642DE >FDE 92G6 <6AE E96 C6DE 2E 9@>6]k^Am
kAm#:5:?8 2 D9@CE 5:DE2?46 @? #@FE6 ``b^d[ H6 EFC?65 C:89E 2E E96 t2DE6C? $=@A6 #68:@?2= p:CA@CE D:8?] (6 A652=65 A2G65 @? {J>2? sC:G6 C:89E E@ E96 2:CA@CE E@ =@@< 7@C 2 G:6H] ~? 2 4=62C 52J[ H6 H@F=5 92G6 D66? DFCC@F?5:?8 9:==D 2?5 >@F?E2:?D] %92E 52J[ 4=@F5D @3D4FC65 2?J] p =@?6 A=2?6 H2D A2C<65 @? E96 CF?H2J 2?5 H6 5:5?’E D66 2?J@?6]k^Am
kAm%FC?:?8 2C@F?5[ H6 E@@< E96 2:CA@CE C@25 324< E@ :ED ;F?4E:@? @? E96 5:CE @7 r=2J !@?5 #@25] %92E H2D H96C6 @FC 8C2G6= C:5:?8 3682?] %96 H:?E6C 82E6 925 C646?E=J 366? @A6?65] %:C6 CFED 2E E96 368:??:?8 E@=5 FD :E H2D DE:== D@7E] pG@:5:?8 EC66 =:>3D 2?5 563C:D 2=@?8 E96 H2J[ H6 A652=65 FA E96 9:== H:E9 r=2JD !@?5 G:D:3=6 @? @FC =67E] p =:EE=6 @G6C 2 >:=6 7C@> #@FE6 ``b[ H6 42>6 E@ E96 !@CE6C #@25 ;F?4E:@? H96C6 H6 EFC?65 =67E]k^Am
kAm$E:== @? 2 5:CE C@25[ H6 E@@< !@CE6C #@25 E@ 2?@E96C ;F?4E:@? H:E9 u2C?DH@CE9 #@25 :? 23@FE 2 >:=6] (6 DE@AA65 E@ 5:D4FDD @FC @AE:@?D] x7 H6 EFC?65 C:89E[ H6 H@F=5 BF:4<=J 4@>6 E@ w2=6JE@H? #@25 H96C6 2?@E96C C:89E EFC? H@F=5 8:G6 FD 2 b\>:=6 A2G65 C@FE6 324< E@ ':D:E@C’D r6?E6C] v@:?8 DEC2:89E 29625 @? u2C?DH@CE9 D66>65 >@C6 :?EC:8F:?8] x 5@?’E E9:?< x’5 6G6C C:556? E92E H2J 367@C6] ~77 H6 H6?E :? E92E 5:C64E:@? E@ D66 H92E H6 4@F=5 D66]k^Am
kAm%9:D D64E:@? @7 u2C?DH@CE9 :D 4=@D65 :? H:?E6C[ 3FE E96 C@25 H2D :? AC6EEJ 8@@5 D92A6] xE EFC?65 D92CA=J =67E 27E6C E96 ;F?4E:@? 2?5 962565 5@H? 2 DE66A 9:== H96C6 A@E9@=6 5@58:?8 H2D ?646DD2CJ] (96? :E 7=2EE6?65 @FE[ H6 A2DD65 2 423:? @? @FC C:89E 2?5 2 =2C86[ @=5 46>6E6CJ @? @FC =67E]k^Am
kAm%96 |2CDE@? r6>6E6CJ 92D 366? E96C6 D:?46 `ge_ H96? y@9? |2CDE@? D@=5 3FC:2= =@ED 2?5 DE2CE65 2? 2DD@4:2E:@?] p== >6>36CD @7 E92E 2C6 ?@H 56462D65] %96 E@H? ?@H >2:?E2:?D :E] xE 925 364@>6 @G6C8C@H? @G6C E96 J62CD[ D@ :? |2J a_aa[ G@=F?E66CD 2?5 E96 AF3=:4 H@C<D 56A2CE>6?E 4=62?65 :E FA 2?5 925 :E =2?5D42A65] xE’D 2? 6?;@J23=6 A=246 E@ G:D:E ?@H[ H:E9 2 36?49 2?5 492:C 2G2:=23=6 7@C C6DE:?8 F?56C D9256 EC66D]k^Am
kAm$9@CE=J 27E6C H6 A2DD65 E96 46>6E6CJ[ H6 42>6 E@ 4@?4C6E6 32CC:6CD E92E 3=@4< @77 E96 C@25 :? H:?E6C] %96 C@25 DFC7246 H:56?65 2?5 :>AC@G65 7C@> E96C6 2D :E A2DD65 8C66? A2DEFC6D[ 72C>D 2?5 9@FD6D] qC:89E J6==@H H:=57=@H6CD 36D:56 E96 C@25 42F89E @FC 2EE6?E:@?] {2FC6= :56?E:7:65 E96> 2D r@=ED7@@E] x’5 ?6G6C D66? D@ >2?J 4=FDE6C65 E@86E96C] }62C3J[ x 5:D4@G6C65 %C2:=:?8 2C3FEFD W>2J7=@H6CX 3=@@>:?8 @? E96 32?< 23@G6 E96>] $AC:?8 H2D 3=@@>:?8 E96C6]k^Am
kAm&A E96 C@25[ H6 42>6 E@ 2 D?@H>@3:=6 D:8? @? @FC =67E[ H:E9 2CC@HD A@:?E:?8 E@H2C5 !62CJ |@F?E2:? EC2:=9625[ uCJ63FC8[ (6DE qC@H?7:6=5 2?5 !@CE6C] pD H6 6I2>:?65 E96 qFC?E |625@H $?@H>@3:=6 r=F3 >2A[ 3F8D 7=6H 2C@F?5 FD — 2?@E96C DAC:?8 A96?@>6?@?]k^Am
kAm!2DE E96 D:8?[ 2 D>2== DEC62> 4C@DD65 F?56C E96 C@25] %96 >2A :56?E:7:65 :E 2D “{:EE=6 $24@ #:G6C]” xE 6G6?EF2==J 7=@HD F?56C #@FE6 ``b 2?5 :?E@ qC@H?7:6=5 q@8 2?5 E96 $24@ #:G6C]k^Am
kAmu2C?DH@CE9 #@25 4@?E:?F65 FA 2?5 5@H? 9:==D H:E9 A=62D2?E G:6HD F?E:= :E 6?565 2E :ED ;F?4E:@? H:E9 #@FE6 ``b^d] (6 925 C:556? 2 =:EE=6 @G6C a >:=6D 7C@> E96 !@CE6C #@25 ;F?4E:@?]k^Am
kAmp== @7 2 DF556?[ x C64@8?:K65 H96C6 x H2D] uC@DE |@F?E2:? *FCED >FDE 36 ?62C3J] x 925 D66? E96 D:8? 7C@> E96 9:89H2J >2?J E:>6D] $FC6 6?@F89[ 369:?5 >6 H2D E96 uC@DE |@F?E2:? u2C> 32C?] (96? H6 EFC?65 2C@F?5 E@ C6EC246 @FC C:56 324< E@ !@CE6C #@25[ H6 A2DD65 E96 C@25 E@ uC@DE |@F?E2:? *FCED] x’5 =:<6 E@ DA6?5 2 ?:89E :? @?6 @7 E9@D6 D@>652J]k^Am
kAm%96 H2J 324< H2D H2C> 2?5 DF??J] (6 H6C6 23=6 E@ D965 D@>6 =2J6CD] %2<:?8 E96 !@CE6C #@25 EFC?[ H6 A652=65 A2DE E96 r=2J !@?5 #@25 EFC?\@77] (6 4@?E:?F65 @? 5:CE F?E:= H6 9:E E96 A2G6>6?E ?62C 2?@E96C H:?E6C 82E6] ~? E92E DEC2:89E DEC6E49[ =@@<:?8 E@H2C5 uCJ63FC8[ H6 DA@EE65 52C< 8C2J 4=@F5D 29625] %92E DF??J H62E96C H2D?’E 8@:?8 E@ =2DE]k^Am
kAm(96C6 !@CE6C #@25 4C@DD6D E96 |@F?E2:? s:G:D:@? EC2:=[ H6 EFC?65 =67E] #:5:?8 A2DE E96 EFCE=6 A@?5[ $FD:6 D2:5[ “x 766= C2:?5C@AD]” %9@D6 C2:?5C@AD BF:4<=J 3642>6 2 5@H?A@FC 7@C E96 =2DE 92=7 >:=6] (6 A652=65 2D 92C5 2D H6 4@F=5[ 3FE H6 4@F=5?’E @FECF? E96 DE@C>] pCC:G:?8 5C6?4965 324< 2E E96 A2C<:?8 =@E[ H6 BF:4<=J AFE @FC 3:<6D 2H2J 2?5 8@E :?E@ 5CJ[ H2C> 42CD]k^Am
kAms6DA:E6 E96 7@F= H62E96C 2E E96 6?5[ :E 925 366? 2 8@@5 >:I65 8C2G6= C:56 @7 @G6C `e >:=6D] %96C6 925 366? :?E6C6DE:?8 E9:?8D E@ D66 2=@?8 E96 H2J[ E96 C:5:?8 H2D?’E E@@ 92C5 @C E@@ 9:==J[ 2?5 H6 6?;@J65 C:5:?8 2?5 E2=<:?8 E@86E96C]k^Am
kAm$A64:2= ?@E6i {@@<:?8 2E E96 |2:?6 pE=2D 2?5 v2K6EE66C 27E6C E96 C:56[ x H@?56C65 9@H E96C6 4@F=5 36 D@ >F49 @A6?[ F?56G6=@A65 =2?5 36EH66? #@FE6 ``b 2?5 w2=6JE@H? #@25] x ?@E:465 E96 2C62 H6 C@56 7C2>65 3J r=2J !@?5 #@25[ !@CE6C #@25 $@FE9 2?5 u2C?DH@CE9 H2D 9:89=:89E65 :? 2 E9:4< 8C66? =:?6] %96 2E=2D <6J :56?E:7:65 E92E 2D 2 3@F?52CJ @7 2 H:=5=:76 >2?286>6?E 2C62 W(|pX] ~?46 42==65 qC@H?7:6=5 q@8 (|p[ :E :D ?@H 42==65 E96 “vC68@CJ $2?3@C? (:=5=:76 |2?286>6?E pC62]” xE 4@G6CD 2=>@DE e[___ 24C6D[ :?4=F5:?8 qC@H?7:6=5 q@8 2?5 6?4@>A2DD6D =2?5 :? uCJ63FC8[ qC@H?7:6=5 2?5 s6?>2C<] %96 =2?5 :D FD65 7@C H:=5=:76 923:E2E[ 3:C5 H2E49:?8[ 9F?E:?8 2?5 C64C62E:@?] xE’D 2 AC6EEJ 5:G6CD6 2?5 :?E6C6DE:?8 A=246 E@ G:D:E]k^Am
kAm}6IE E:>6 J@F 4C@DD E96 |2:?6 =:?6[ ECJ D@>6 8C2G6= C@25 6IA=@C:?8] $66 H96C6 :E E2<6D J@F]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m&A4@>:?8 6G6?EDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm`cE9 2??F2= z:5D’ q:<6 $276EJ s2J 2E $E@CJ {2?5i |2J `b[ hib_ 2]>]\`aib_ A]>] $A@?D@C65 3J |@F?E (2D9:?8E@? '2==6J q:4J4=:?8 r=F3] %9:D :D 2 7C66 6G6?E[ 2AAC@AC:2E6 7@C <:5D 286D d\``] %96C6 H:== 36 96=>6E 7:EE:?8 2?5 3:<6 4964<D[ 3:<6 D276EJ DE2E:@?D C:56 E9C@F89 $E@CJ {2?5 2?5 =@42= A@=:46 @77:46CD E6249:?8 23@FE “#F=6D @7 E96 #@25]”k^Am
kAmrC2?< E96 z2?4 %:>6 %C:2=i |2J a_[ h 2]>]\?@@?] !FE @? 3J z6??6EE w:89 $49@@= |@F?E2:? q:<6 %62> 2?5 |(' q:4J4=:?8 r=F3] !C6\C68:DEC2E:@? :D C6BF:C65]k^Am
kAmk6>m$2==J |4|FC5@ :D 2 3:<6 D276EJ :?DECF4E@C 2?5 4J4=:DE H9@ =:G6D :? r@?H2J]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.