It has always been, most specifically, an ‘all-road’ race. Only after a short hiatus, which coincided with the gravel boom in the US, did the race fall in line with the discipline of gravel, even if the course did not change much. In fact, it stood as a road race for a long time, even flirting with professional status and team cars at one point. Originally conceived in 1999, Rouge Roubaix is not a pure gravel race. Deep in the backwoods around Saint Francisville, a hidden gem of American racing thrives: Rouge Roubaix. Louisiana might not be the first place one thinks of when talk turns to gravel, but down amongst the bluffs and bayous of the Mississippi River is a collection of small gravel roads that offer a fascinating playground for any gravel enthusiast. The race was a gravel event back in 2015 when gravel looked a bit different Yes, those are 25mm rim brake tyres on a rim brake road bike. Every year the course changes slightly, but it all generally visits similar territory, so the ratio of 80 miles to 8,500 feet of climbing is a good reference point to work from. There are a couple sections of singletrack with a deceptively large amount of exposure which induce a level of thrill to the proceedings. That terrain provides constant challenges with inconsistent surfaces, grass, sand and mud all in play. The majority of the race runs on two-track or singletrack trails through the foothills of the southern Sierras around Bakersfield. Given that the area doesn’t usually get much tourism, the event has been wholeheartedly embraced by the rural community, which gives it a fantastic community feel.Īs for the racing? Expect a little of everything. Furthermore, since growing in popularity, the race has begun attracting riders from the big Southern Californian cities. That canvas makes for a delectable-looking course for riders from all over to take on. Yet for a couple of months out of the year, with the wetter weather of the winter offering respite from the dry summers, Bakersfield springs to life and becomes undeniably beautiful for cycling in the rolling green hills of the area. The city, which is one of California’s gruffest working-class towns, is for many just a waypoint on the way to Los Angeles, Las Vegas or Phoenix. Led by race director Sam Ames, the self-described “Chief excitement officer and ringmaster of the shit show”, the event is “less of a race, and always an adventure and gravel-ish party”.Ī fascinating aspect of the race, as is a common theme in gravel, is how the event ended up in its hometown of Bakersfield. Beyond the living room fly-by, riders should expect a fun-forward event that never takes itself too seriously. Yet, the race in Bakersfield, California is so much more than that one quirky element. At the Rockcobbler, someone actually does, with the race course running through a very gracious host's living room. Small gravel events are often akin to someone welcoming you into their home.
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