Looking for the spirit of gravel? Hint: go on a shakeout ride
Shakeout rides — the group rides that happen before and after an event — are wildly popular in gravel. I went on three of them at The Mid South to find out why.
The Mid South
The Mid South is a 100-mile gravel race held on the red clay roads around Stillwater, Oklahoma. On dry years, it’s a blazing fast and tactical competition; on wet years it’s a muddy adventure with the sticky clay transforming bikes and bodies. Promoter Bobby Wintle is the driving force behind the event, playing guitar, hosting pre-race parties, screaming exhortations on the microphone and hugging each and every finisher he can get his hands on, from the winners to the very last person to finish around midnight. Past winners include Lauren De Crescenzo, Cole Paton, Payson McElveen, Hannah Finchamp, Amanda Nauman, and Mat Stephens, among others. Here is the story of The Mid South.
Podcast: Why The Mid South matters as the first Monument of Gravel
Race promoter Bobby Wintle is the volcanic center of energy at The Mid South, which kicked off the gravel season in earnest on March 12.
The Mid South gear test: What worked well and what didn’t
SRM power-meter pedals compared to Stages, new S-Works tires, Cadex carbon-spoked wheels, and more.
Q&A: Geneviève Jeanson on her first major gravel race
Saturday's Mid South was Jeanson's longest ride, time-wise, since 2005.
The Grind: The Mid South on a fixed gear? Meet Corey Hilliard and check out his bike.
A suspension post, a frame-mounted hydration reservoir, and a front brake – to make race organizers comfortable.
The Mid South gear test: Inclement weather, ultimate stoke
I did three group rides in the snow and slush on Friday and then raced the 50 miler on Saturday. Here are some gear highlights.
EF Education’s Emily Newsom represents women’s WorldTour on Oklahoma gravel
Newsom rides to sixth at The Mid South after a cyclocross section shatters the front group of men and women racing together.
Gallery: Emily Newsom’s Cannondale Topstone at The Mid South
EF Education-TIBCO-SVB rider finishes sixth on old bike after new bike shows up the night before.
The winning bike of The Mid South: Lauren De Crescenzo’s Colnago G3-X
3D-printed aerobars (one of which came loose), oversized pulley wheels, and slick tires for the 103-mile gravel race.
Gallery: Dust, red clay and gravel action at The Mid South
Current and former WorldTour racers, Red Bull athletes, and 2,500 others motor around Oklahoma.
Defending Mid South champ Payson McElveen crashes out of race
McElveen broke his collarbone and injured his left hand in the crash.
Lauren de Crescenzo rides alone in the wind to win The Mid South
Moriah Wilson outsprints Savilla Blunk — partner of the men's winner Cole Paton — to round out the podium.
Cole Paton blazes to victory at The Mid South
Dennis van Winden and Adam Roberge compete the men's podium.
Gear and grit gallery at The Mid South
From the hyperlight and anodized to the unicorns and bananas, The Mid South opens its wide tent.
Two-time winner Payson McElveen on his tire, hydration, and competition considerations for The Mid South
'If conditions are really volatile, the race is not going to go smoothly for anyone. So then it's just, who can deal with that the best? Who can have the best mindset when things are going sideways?'
Salsa Stormchaser GRX 810 1x Sus launches at The Mid South
$3,499 aluminum bike features RockShox Rudy XPLR 40mm fork, dropper post, ample mud clearance, and an option to switch to singlespeed.
The Mid South’s Course Atlas: ‘This is about much more than the course itself’
Every participant will receive a copy of the 64-page book that prominently features Indigenous narratives and cultural and environmental histories amid information about the event.
Does being a WorldTour pro make you better at gravel? Not necessarily, says Emily Newsom
Newsom wants to win every race she enters, including The Mid South this Saturday. But she knows her pro license doesn't guarantee a thing.
The Mid South: Snow, clay roads, bacon & bourbon, and more await 2,500 participants
WorldTour riders, Red Bull athletes, and gravel specialists to face off in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Saturday. Here's a look at some of the course features.
The Grind: Brennan Wertz’s rising star
The former rowing world champion says he wants to take gravel seriously. "But at the same time, I don't want to take it or myself too seriously. A whole lot of people are doing this as recreation; this is their outlet."