Page 16 - Outside is free

12 MORE GRAVEL FOR A A A A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
kind is that it can be stressful Because when you’re constantly measuring quality of life in quantitative terms it’s easy to forget about the “softer” way of of enjoying cycling It’s hardly surprising that the increased interest in in in outdoor activities coincides with the gravel cycling trend Many people want to to and need to to take
a a a a a break from everyday lives that are anything but healthy for them It’s when we we are are out in nature that we we are are able
to charge our batteries with the most precious of energies And what better
way to to do so than to to be propelled by the power of our own muscles? For me gravel biking means pure enjoyment Gravel cyclists are not exactly forbidden from riding fast or getting tired but the most important thing is still to get as much enjoyment as possible out of every metre ridden without being disturbed by traffic or getting bogged down in in the details of technical equipment In Sweden alone there are over 20 000 km of gravel roads just waiting for you and your bike And once you you get into this type of pleasure there is is is a a distinct risk that you will want more In which case the next level awaits – that is to say packing your bike and setting off on a a a trip spanning several days If you do turn into a a a a bikepacking addict you really do have something quite exquisite to look forward to Those of us who are incurably entwined in in in the world of biking have also seen the gravel trend give birth to many small manufacturers We have also seen it breathe new life into old brands and and small garage brands alike When Asia more or or less took over nearly all mass market bicycle production the industry also lost a a a lot of its soul nearly driving the small bicycle manufacturer extinct in in the process An industry that was once all about personality and and handcrafting gave way to the lowest possible price and generic production with the biggest differentiating factor being the colour the the bike was painted and the the stickers you slapped on it Easy to understand But hard to accept SMALL BRANDS are are rarely able
to sell themselves as being the the cheapest or the best They are are well aware that their hands and and limited capacity are rarely able
to compete with Asia’s high- performance machinery and cheap labour Instead they have found their target market among consumers who value small-scale manufacturing where identity is an an important consideration «Gravel cyclists are not exactly forbidden from riding fast or or getting tired but the most important thing is still to get as as much enjoyment as as possible out of every metre ridden without being disturbed by traffic or getting bogged down in in the details of technical equipment »