Let’s Do It In The Dirt

Remember, the sage once said,  “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.”

A realization has gradually penetrated my ample cranial armor.  I’ve come to the awareness that a great many of my fellow cyclists don’t like to ride on dirt roads.  I know.  This is a shocking revelation.

Consider, one of the most often voiced complaints is about the hazards of riding on open roads with traffic.  A close second to that complaint (at least during the warmer months) is that it is “too hot out!”

Interestingly, dirt roads usually do not carry much in the way of traffic, and what traffic there is will be moving much more slowly.  Unpaved roads and lanes are often quite nicely shaded.  Besides, being able to use a dirt road can often provide a rider with a good, viable shortcut or alternate route.  There are vistas and other sights that are unique to our unpaved roads.  One would think that folks would seek them out.

The Objections:

1. It will kill my bike.
2. My bike will get dirty.
3. I’ll have a flat.
4. I might fall down.
5. What if it rains?  The road would be impossible then.
6. You can’t ride a road bike on dirt.

The Answers:

Let's take those by the numbers.

1. No it won’t.  Your bike is made to ride on roads.  Dirt, or unpaved roads are roads just the same.  Your bike is a lot stronger than you think.
2. Yes, your bike may get dirty.  So?  In dry weather, the “dirty” from unpaved riding is mostly dust.  Wipe it down afterwards.  (You are using a semi-dry chain lube.  Right?)  Re-lube the chain.  Done.  In wet weather, you are going to get a bit muddy.  Again, do a wipe down afterward.  (You should be doing that anyway.)
3. Flats do happen, but less so on dirt roads.  There is one important caveat to that last.  If your tires are properly inflated, you are unlikely to flat off the pavement.  Dirt and gravel surfaces are uneven.  (No surprise there.)  An under-inflated tire is much more likely to flat in the dirt.
4. You might.  But you might fall down walking down the hall at work.  In fact, riders are less likely to fall on unpaved surfaces.  At first they are slower and more cautious.  Things happen more slowly.  There’s more time to unclip and get a foot down.  It all works out.  The good news is, there is no troll hiding in the gravel, waiting to fling you and your bike to the ground.
5. Oddly, unpaved roads are generally easier to ride in the rain.  I travel over dirt road sections on my way to and from work.  I do this in all weather.  I look forward to the rainy days for these sections.  The dust is kept down, the gravel is cemented into the surface and less sketchy, and the dusty parts are firmer.  I don’t find the traction less, and control is actually enhanced.  Besides, most of you won’t ride in the rain at all, and if you get caught on the dirt in the rain, bail out, and go home on pavement.
6. Apparently no one notified the Pros about this.  They do that little thing called Paris-Roubaix every year.  It’s on cobbles, dirt, and (sometimes) pavement.  They do it on road bikes.  Actually, at all levels of racing, there are events with unpaved sections.  It’s considered part of the sport.  And if anyone needs more convincing, please go and use The Google to look up Cyclocross.  Further, I’ve done an extensive search of the literature, and I can not find a specific proscription against riding a road bike on dirt.  Just ain’t so.  There is a tiny bit of justification here though.  Not all road bikes are equal.  The more road race oriented a road bike, the less comfortable it will be off pavement.  (We’ll do a post on equipment and technique soon.)

In short, riding unpaved roads is fun, relaxing, and it keeps a rider fresh.  It improves handling skills, and it helps to break up the monotony.  Aside from that, it puts another useful tool in the box.