Frank
Age: 46
Bike: Salsa Cutthroat (gravel) Salsa Spearfish (Mountain) Diamondback El Oso (Fat Bike)
I love to ride gravel for the challenge, exploration feeling and just to clear your head. Cruising on the backroads and going to places I haven’t been to is part of the fun. Pedaling is almost a form of meditation at times. A sense of peace. The scenery is better from a bike seat. You get more time to take it all in. Building your own route is part of the process also. Getting excited
about the route before you even ride. Getting lost and finding your way. Getting to ride with friends and building community. Exercise and feeling better is the bonus feature of riding.
My favorite gravel route is in Buyck, MN. It has it all. Fast rolling gravel, forest roads, wilderness, rivers, lakes and swimming when done. McCarthy beach area is nearly a tie. It has spectacular gravel, huge red pines, rolling hills and one of the best beaches in the state to jump in when finished.
There’s a lot to choose from as Gravel takes you all over the Range. I like Valentini’s in Chisholm, BG’s in Mt. Iron has great patio seating and burgers and the Landing on Lake Vermilion after the Buyck Gravel. I do love sweet treats from the Freeze or the Sugar Shack in Virginia.