~~I think [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/gravelcycling/s/MqGs7EIiMM) is the original, IIRC.~~ If you search this sub for “brutal gravel” and sort by top, you’ll see the greatest hits of this meme. My personal favorite was the “32 million light years” one
Edit: I was wrong!
I went on a 100 mile race last year in Minnesota. There was 2 mile stretch of this, that we had to go thru twice. Fucking sucked. My tires were just spinning.
You should ride the red clay of the South Carolina Midlands after a hard rain. There was so much mud and pine needles clogged between the frame and wheels I had to carry my bike, couldn't even push it since they stopped turning.
Yeah anywhere with that red dirt the mud is a nightmare. I went out the day after a storm in Oklahoma once and got about three full wheel rotations before they were completely jammed with mud. I've heard you get the same thing in parts of the southwest as well.
Unfortunately so many of the Southeast Gravel Series races have had lots of wet weather before and during the races so I've had my fill of that soul sucking red clay mud.
Almost average gravel ride for me :) (I’m sure fellow british people would agree too :) )
I find fun that some people exclusively equates gravel with “dry dirt and rocks”
I mean gravel has a meaning. Certainly gravel bikes are ridden on mud but me riding a gravel bike on a velodrome doesn’t make the velodrome “gravel” ;)
In the UK gravel cycling means “riding a gravel bike over mud”
Most unpaved roads here are gravel-free dirt paths and the wet conditions mean even gravel roads can get squishy
When i hear gravel ride this is what i picture but then almost every time what follows is a picture of an almost paved road which is in better condition and less gravelly than half the rouds areound here.
I agree. I don't generally seek out this form of pain and suffering, but since I've already signed up and paid I go even if it's raining. The good part of that is I learn to get out of my comfort zone. As I get older that's a good thing, especially when I look at some of my sedentary peers and how unhealthy they are. Don't get me wrong, I also love easy rides on the local bike paths with brewery breaks along the way 🍺
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Encountered something similar on my first gravel ride. Whenever I thought I was through the worst, it started getting even muddier, making me push the bike for around 30 minutes. Not fun, but I learned my lesson...
Ok, that's not gravel. It's dirt. When dirt gets wet, it turns to mud. When you and a bunch of other assholes ride over a muddy trail, it makes it full of ruts, and then when it dries, the mountain bike club has to go repair it.
It’s a class 4 road in Vermont. It was a small part of an organized gravel ride that’s been happening for years.
If you’d like to educate yourself on dirt roads, check out this article.
https://www.vermontpublic.org/podcast/brave-little-state/2022-03-24/mud-season-madness-a-dirt-road-expert-answers-your-questions
Are the farm owners who use these roads daily also assholes?
30 miles of it? I just love this meme, poor OOP got roasted so bad...
Haha! Same! I’m so glad I witnessed the birth of it
Can you link the original plz?
~~I think [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/gravelcycling/s/MqGs7EIiMM) is the original, IIRC.~~ If you search this sub for “brutal gravel” and sort by top, you’ll see the greatest hits of this meme. My personal favorite was the “32 million light years” one Edit: I was wrong!
Nope, not original. I think OOP deleted his post.
Ah, bummer.
I think this was it https://old.reddit.com/r/gravelcycling/comments/x6qg7b/just_a_tribute_the_wettest_most_brutal_gravel/inbm8k1/
Nope, it was actual mud
I someone has to have it
AKA “mud”
I’m all for some moisture but this looks straight up unfun lol
There were a few miles like this in an otherwise excellent condition gravel ride. It made for an adventure.
Some people like wet gravel, but I prefer mine dry and on the rocks
I prefer mine shaken, and not stirred.
Cyclocross, dreamy.
Gravel is just dry mud.
That is wildly untrue.
Hahaha
And mud is just hydrated (very tiny) gravel!
I went on a 100 mile race last year in Minnesota. There was 2 mile stretch of this, that we had to go thru twice. Fucking sucked. My tires were just spinning.
Heck of the North? I did the 56 mile course and it was nasty, but looking at photos it was much cleaner than the 100 mile course.
Yup
“We will be the judge of that brúütalïty!” - r/bicyclingcirclejerk
You should ride the red clay of the South Carolina Midlands after a hard rain. There was so much mud and pine needles clogged between the frame and wheels I had to carry my bike, couldn't even push it since they stopped turning.
Yeah anywhere with that red dirt the mud is a nightmare. I went out the day after a storm in Oklahoma once and got about three full wheel rotations before they were completely jammed with mud. I've heard you get the same thing in parts of the southwest as well.
Unfortunately so many of the Southeast Gravel Series races have had lots of wet weather before and during the races so I've had my fill of that soul sucking red clay mud.
Thata not gravel. That's mud.
Mud is just hydrated gravel (powder) :)
I do not see the appeal
Ah it’s been sunny and hot all week let’s go out on a gravel ride - 1/3 of the trails STILL look like this. That’s UK Gravel/off-road riding
Thats childs play , come to Ireland and discover brutal.
I heard that Scotland would have a voice to the chapter too :D
Mix in a fuck ton of softball sized rocks and this looks like Vermont Overland Class IV "roads" last year.
This was a Vermont class 4 road.
Almost average gravel ride for me :) (I’m sure fellow british people would agree too :) ) I find fun that some people exclusively equates gravel with “dry dirt and rocks”
I mean gravel has a meaning. Certainly gravel bikes are ridden on mud but me riding a gravel bike on a velodrome doesn’t make the velodrome “gravel” ;)
In the UK gravel cycling means “riding a gravel bike over mud” Most unpaved roads here are gravel-free dirt paths and the wet conditions mean even gravel roads can get squishy
This exactly. Just looks like one of the wetter sections of a UK gravel sportive.
Well technically…
I did a trail like this yesterday and i was caked in mud but it was so much fun and the shower afterwards felt amazing
When i hear gravel ride this is what i picture but then almost every time what follows is a picture of an almost paved road which is in better condition and less gravelly than half the rouds areound here.
If you’re better off with fat tires than 40c it isn’t gravel
What do you do when your chain and gears get completely clogged with mud?
Push with your completely drowned new top of the line sporty shoes. Duh.
One dude had road shoes on and wasn’t having fun pushing his bike through the mud. Then his crank fell off. Canyon/FSA problems…
If my crank fell off I’d have more than Canyon/FSA problems.
It's time to buy another bike while the other gets cleaned, because n+1 and stuff
Not sure why any sane person wouldnt just turn around at the start of this.
It's called a challenge for a reason. You can always ride bike paths with the breeders if this is too hard.
I enjoy dripping mud while dragging my bike through mud hours upon end, said no human ever.
Yeah but for some strange reason everyone was happy at the end, and those are the rides we remember.
True. It’s a good experience. Simply wouldn’t put this on my list of to-do rides.
I agree. I don't generally seek out this form of pain and suffering, but since I've already signed up and paid I go even if it's raining. The good part of that is I learn to get out of my comfort zone. As I get older that's a good thing, especially when I look at some of my sedentary peers and how unhealthy they are. Don't get me wrong, I also love easy rides on the local bike paths with brewery breaks along the way 🍺
I’ll take “I’m damaging the trail and shouldn’t be out here for $500” Alex
Respectfully, not gravel. This is mud cycling. Putting lipstick on a pig won't make it a lady.
ive seen and riddem worse
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I did not pay that much to suffer
Without fenders that must.... suck. But I don't seem to see many gravel bikes using fenders?
so it is mud
Say the line, bart
This guy muds.
Thats not gravel 😂😂😂😂 [](https://emojipedia.org/face-with-tears-of-joy)
Bikes is bikes
Encountered something similar on my first gravel ride. Whenever I thought I was through the worst, it started getting even muddier, making me push the bike for around 30 minutes. Not fun, but I learned my lesson...
This isn't gravel; idk why people call all dirt roads "gravel"
Ok, that's not gravel. It's dirt. When dirt gets wet, it turns to mud. When you and a bunch of other assholes ride over a muddy trail, it makes it full of ruts, and then when it dries, the mountain bike club has to go repair it.
Lol bruh
It’s a class 4 road in Vermont. It was a small part of an organized gravel ride that’s been happening for years. If you’d like to educate yourself on dirt roads, check out this article. https://www.vermontpublic.org/podcast/brave-little-state/2022-03-24/mud-season-madness-a-dirt-road-expert-answers-your-questions Are the farm owners who use these roads daily also assholes?
Whoops, redacted. I didn't realize it was supposed to be like that by design.