Back of the Gravel Pack

29/11/2024

Great course, great weather, great friends, not great fitness. That's the short summary of Baldwin City Recreation Commission Maple Leaf Gravel Grind for 2024. For the longer version of that story, link below!

It was great to get back to the Maple Leaf Gravel Grind in 2024 for our last gravel cycling event of the year. The hills on this route always do us in, but t...

23/11/2024

We started riding Cantu Cycling Wheels this year, and could not be happier. A good wheelset is the best upgrade you can make to your bike. If you're thinking about a wheel upgrade, this is the best deal you're going to see on Cantu wheels, so now is the time!

Your dream wheel set it calling! Get the ball rolling by emailing us at [email protected] with your ideas, wheel needs, etc. or use code: HBDCANTU9 at checkout.

18/10/2024

Baldwin City Recreation Commission Maple Leaf Gravel Grind 2024 entry giveway time! Thanks all for entering, hope you see you in Baldwin City on October 26th!

Send a message to learn more

14/10/2024

Last chance to be included for the free entry to Maple Leaf Gravel Grind! All you need to do is comment with the number of times you've ridden this event before. We'll pick a random winner this week!

Thinking about coming to Baldwin City Recreation Commission's Maple Leaf Gravel Grind this year? Back of the Gravel Pack has a free entry to give away! Just comment below with the number of times you've ridden this event before, and we will do a golden retriever assisted random drawing to pick a winner! We will be there enjoying the 40 mile route like we do every year. Can't wait!
https://www.baldwinrec.org/181/Maple-Leaf-Gravel-Grind

06/10/2024

Thinking about coming to Baldwin City Recreation Commission's Maple Leaf Gravel Grind this year? Back of the Gravel Pack has a free entry to give away! Just comment below with the number of times you've ridden this event before, and we will do a golden retriever assisted random drawing to pick a winner! We will be there enjoying the 40 mile route like we do every year. Can't wait!
https://www.baldwinrec.org/181/Maple-Leaf-Gravel-Grind

30/08/2024

My first ever Gravel Worlds was an amazing experience and I can't wait to go back. Not sure how I haven't ridden this event before, but glad I made it in 2024. In very unsurprising news, I struggled on a super hot day on very limited fitness. The good news is you get watch that struggle and smile at my suffering! The episode is up on the youtubes, give it a watch and learn from my mistakes! Maybe I'll see you at next year?

Not sure how we haven't made it to before, but we were there in 2024 with the Surly Midnight Special, a whole mess of nutrition, and very limit...

27/07/2024

Lunar is always an awesome gathering of the Emporia gravel community, and 2024 was no exception. Thanks to Merchant Cycles for continuing to host one of our favorite nights of the year! What's the most you've ever eaten at one support stop? Comment below!

Lunar is always one of our Emporia favorites that is about all the things we enjoy most in gravel. Ride any pace you want, enjoy the community, and for this...

13/07/2024

I've been looking forward to Kowtown Gravel for a very long time, so when things went south in a hurry, it was hard to swallow. Then I remembered I was in an amazingly beautiful place with weather I won't get to enjoy till months from now in Kansas, so I did what I could to enjoy the hell out of my day. I still can't help but smile when I think about my day, and I can't wait to come back and experience everything else I missed. An episode is up on our youtube channel if you're interested, link below.

I've been looking forward to Kowtown Gravel for weeks, months even. But sometimes, the universe just has something else in mind. Anyone that has seatpost rec...

17/06/2024

I got the chance to try out the COROS Dura for the last week. Long-term review video will be coming down the road, but for their first attempt at a bike GPS, it sure seems like they are coming into the market strong. 120 hour battery life. Let that sink in for a bit, then check out our first look video, linked below!

It's hard not to be impressed by what Coros is offering in their Dura bike computer for $249. I'm looking forward to testing the Dura to see if it delivers ...

06/06/2024

Our last Unbound Gravel related episode is up now. I spent some time giving a rundown of the bike and equipment I used at Unbound last weekend, and how everything fared. The ol The Official Intergalactic Surly Regional HQ Midnight Special was great as aways. Lots of great parts on there including Cantu Cycling Wheels Redshift Sports Wolf Tooth Components SRAM road SRAM MTB Revelate Designs Altangle Cycling. Take a look and give us a shout if you have any questions or suggestions! Link to the episode is below. We also still have some hats available, so make sure you reach out ASAP if you want to have a first edition BOTGP hat! Thanks to Basecamp Flint Hills for the great filming spot. Now if we can just get the bobwhite quail to keep quiet on the set! What a great place to camp if you're coming to the Emporia Area!

Ottawa Bike and Trail

Thanks for watching this episode covering my Surly Midnight Special bike setup from Unbound 2024, with the bonus coverage of our new mobile bike stand from A...

03/06/2024

Aaaaand our Life Time Grand Prix Unbound Gravel video is live! Thanks to everyone that helped make yesterday a success, especially Ottawa Bike and Trail Orange Mud and Cantu Cycling Wheels! I felt pretty rough post race, but already thinking about getting back on the bike today, which is probably a good sign!

https://youtu.be/NH3uTGhRIUU

Welcome to the big show! Whenever 5,000+ gravel cyclists show up to Emporia Kansas to ride the Flint Hills, things always get wild. It ended up being a pret...

01/06/2024

Curious what Unbound Gravel race week looks like in Emporia? Check out the video below for a quick rundown of just how nuts this town gets when you add 5,000+ more gravel cyclists. Special appearances include Hannah Otto, Kerry Werner, Jamis Bikes, OBED Bikes, Burrobikes, Orange Mud, Cane Creek Cycling Components, Kodiak Cakes, and many more! Big day tomorrow, time for bed.

Unbound week in Emporia is something to witness for sure. The gravel cycling industry descends on this small town Kansas town for what is now the largest gr...

30/05/2024

BOTGP hats are here! If you're in Emporia this week and want to be part of the very exclusive club of owners of these first editions, gather together $25 and hit us up! We'll figure out shipping at some point to for those interested. Special shout out to Seven Clay foe getting these done in time for the big weekend.

27/05/2024

Well the Wicked Wilson delivered as expected in Russell County, Kansas this weekend. This route will challenge you down to your core, but give you so much to see any enjoy that it's hard to hold a grudge. I had plenty of self inflicted issues out there, but did what we all do on those days and just kept pedaling. I'm glad to finally join the ranks of those who have finished the ! It blows my mind that more people havent discovered this event yet. Link below to the episode covering my day out there, I hope you enjoy! Ottawa Bike and Trail Cantu Cycling Wheels Orange Mud Camel Roof Racks

You may have seen our route preview, but now it's time for the main event! Wicked Wilson 2024 was as challenging as expected, and those Kansas winds certain...

24/05/2024

The Van is packed and ready, hope to see you in Russell this weekend!

BikeReg - online cycling event registration

22/05/2024

What's that you say, BOTGP on a mountain bike? Indeed! The Rule of 3 event last weekend was one to remember. I was hoping for a bit of redemption after our day on the tandem here last year, and can now confirm that a hardtail mtb has to be the most enjoyable way to experience this route. I still can't help but smile when thinking about my day out there. This is a longer form video than usual, mostly because I struggled to cut that sweet singletrack footy! I also tried a chesty mount vs my normal bike mount. Let us know what you think in the comments, and thanks for watching!

It was great to be back to Rule of Three in 2024 to get a bit of revenge on a tough day on the tandem last year. The experience on a mountain bike was total...

17/05/2024

Going to be a great weekend, let's go!!!

BikeReg - online cycling event registration

14/05/2024

Headed to Muleskinner Racing Gravel Classic this weekend with some of the BOTGP crew for another first time event for us. Plenty of climbing to be done, so you probably have a good idea how that went for me haha! Great route and event, thanks to all the organizers and volunteers that made it happen! Link to video below, hope you enjoy!

Ottawa Bike and Trail Cantu Cycling Wheels

It was a great day of gravel cycling in Missouri for our first trip to the Muleskinner Event. Things didn't go exactly to plan, but they rarely do. I managed...