“Gravel” expands again to take over even more of the world 
I think this is awesome…if I was still doing tris, I’d definitely jump into one of these.
But it ain’t enough to get me back in the pool. 
Once they allowed aero bars at (the artist formerly known as) the Dirty Kanza, this was inevitable 
Also, this is the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen. I’ve said it before, so I won’t elaborate here … but gravel riding didn’t become popular because people liked riding on crappy roads, it became popular because people liked riding without cars.
I guess to each-their-own, but I’ve done triathlons in the past and I currently race gravel … and if I ever wanted to do a tri again, this would be the last thing I’d do.
Good luck to everyone 
Just filling that gap between triathlon and xterra.
Really, I kind of feel like this is just an attempt to take market share from Xterra…
. It’s all about a new revenue pool that a governing body can tap (which is totally fine).
Ha ha! Did tri’s for years before switching to the bike only. I’d actually be ok swimming again, but running and I don’t get along anymore.
Tempting though as it looks like one of them is going to be local to me.
They’re late to the scene, been doing Gravel Tri’s for years!
Yes an no…plenty of people have been exploring gravel roads on road and CX bikes for years. We have been transitioning from group road rides to group trail rides in the fall in northern Chicago for 20 years now.
But no doubt the safety aspect of it has helped fuel the growth.
Wait, wait, wait … @Power13 where in “northern Chicago” are you doing trail rides on CX bike? The DPRT? I live on the north side of the city and would love to know more about this.
Also … I’m mainly just a little fascinated to see if a bunch of triathletes show up for a gravel tri on TT bikes with 23mm slicks at 120psi … or, alternatively, if Cervelo begins producing a TT bike with clearance for 40mm tires
I’ve been at a few gravel races where the gravel was tame enough where cyclists on their road bikes won.
I’m interested to see if this encourages events in Europe (apart from Jan’s sgrail event I don’t think there are any)
I’m also a bit surprised to see xterra Laguna beach as part of the series. Separate course, or change to the rules? Some other xterras explicitly rule out CX and gravel bikes.
Looks like they changed the date of Laguna. I have it my calendar as on 9/11.
I wouldn’t do Laguna on a gravel bike.
Yeah, primarily the DPR, but up around us we also have the Millenium Trail, Ravenswood and a few other forest preserves. I have about an 80 mile loop that pretty much links them all together.
It can get a little monotonous, though. 
What about a trail duathlon…
I think that s thing…isnt?
Kinda seems like it would be, though…
We do one at my club. Local nature reserve with excellent trails and not a patch of flat ground to be found. Excellent fun!