The gravel bike - fashion, milestone or media hype?
Gravel bikes are booming - more and more. No wonder, as they are the perfect all-round bikes for adventure, everyday use and increasingly also for racing. But while some rave about their versatility and riding fun, others see them primarily as expensive speciality products and a thoroughly staged lifestyle wave. Whether it's lonely paths or signposted routes, minimalist set-up or high-tech equipment - gravel biking is somewhere between freedom and structure. And the community is growing, but not everyone is equally visible or addressed. Social media also shapes the image of the sport and influences who feels addressed.
We discuss these topics with our guests at the GRAVELTALK - controversially, openly and to the point.
The GRAVELTALK topics 2025:
Block 1
Infrastructure: From wilderness to trail network
Tourism, signposted routes, bivouac sites, digital route planning - how much infrastructure is useful and necessary for gravel bikers? While some are in favour of spontaneous adventures close to nature, others are calling for better developed facilities for safety, comfort and targeted training planning. How do we find the right balance between freedom, sporting demands and infrastructure?
Block 2
Equipment: tuning or training?
Gravel bikes are becoming increasingly specialised - but how much technology does performance really need? Whether special gear groups, aero handlebars or ultra-light frames - where does the real sporting advantage end and where does the marketing begin? How big is the difference in racing or on ambitious tours? And what does it really take to get ahead in the sport - regardless of budget?
Block 3
Diversity: Being visible is tougher than the trail
If you take part in a gravel race, you perform. Full stop. But is it also seen? In a scene that often appears to be male, white and privileged, the question arises as to how diverse this sport really is. Entry fees, equipment and networks are often hurdles, not bridges. Who stays out before the race even starts? What does real diversity look like in the gravel community - on the bike, on the stage, in the coverage? We talk about access, visibility and the question: how do we shape the scene so that performance doesn't depend on background, but on what is achieved on the bike?
Block 4
Social media: Gravel racing between reach and reality
Gravel is sport, adventure and now also content. Between Strava screenshots, GoPro recordings and finish line reels, gravel racers today often ride for the algorithm. How does social media influence our training, our self-portrayal and the perception of the sport? Is it a celebration of real performance or a show? Or is it precisely these YouTube, Instagram and co. activities that bring more people to gravel biking? We discuss what social media means for the sporting part of the gravel scene: Do we need more editing or more honesty? A reality check is needed at all levels!
The GRAVELTALK will take place on Friday, 27 June, from 13:00 to 16:00 on the Yellow Stage in Hall 8.
