GRAVEL SR
To highlight the Super Randonnées with unpaved roads, and to reward their finishers, the organizer creates the GRAVEL SR Challenge.
The Super Randonnée GRAVEL SR has unpaved roads, so as to add significant difficulty, compared to routes on paved roads
The minimum distance to be covered on unpaved roads is not set
The organizer of the Super Randonnée judges whether or not his / her route deserves the name GRAVEL SR
The rider receives a special frame badge
Each finisher (Rando or Tourist) of at least one GRAVEL SR will have their name published on the GRAVEL SR honor list
Finishing is everything, whatever the time taken
December 2021
To have an even bigger adventure !
Serra do Corvo Branco, on Super Randonnée Peregrino, Brazil - 310 km of dirt roads
"There are very difficult stretches with long ascents and descents, making the cyclist need to stop many times to rest ; and the beauty of the route also causes many stops for photos", Pedro Leandro Correia
The SR Tiradentes (Brazil) has 150 km of dirt roads, in the Sierra da Mantiqueira (RWGPS)
The organizer of the SR Tiradentes, Leandro Rangel, testing his route
Gaye Bourke at Mt Skene Summit on the Victoria High Plains Super Randonnée, Australia, January 2016
"This ride is extremely challenging not just because it is a Super Randonnée, but also because it contains approximately 200 km of unsealed roads and passes through some remote territory" (Audax Australia on RWGPS)
Chris Taylor on his home run on the Victoria High Plains SR (April 2021 - to his ride report)
The road to Idaho Peak on the Super Randonnée Heart of the Kootenays, Canada
"The gravel section of the SR is 18 km one way for a total of 36 km. There is 1300 meters of ascent on gravel", Bob Koen
Bob Koen's bike at the Idaho Peak control
The road to Mount Baldy on the Super Randonnée Okanagan Ski Touring, Canada
"About 17 km on the way up and the extra 6 km on the way down", Bob Goodison
SR Los Machacas (Spain) : first finisher Javier Magro Godoy at the control of Collado de la Mina
"The SR Los Machacas was born with the idea of offering the participant a different image of Madrid's geography, passing through secret places (...). The route totalizes around 205 kilometers of gravel. In general, the dirt roads are in very good condition, to enjoy nature", the organizer of the Club Ciclista Chamartín.
Last control of the Jotunheimen Super Randonnée (Norway), the climb to Vatnahalsen Station ends with 6 km of gravel ...
... and some goats (photo Jens Glad Balchen).
According to the organizer, the gravel stretches are too short for the Jotunheimen SR to be part of the Challenge
The same road lower down, photographed by Johan Björklund, who rode the route in August 2017 (to his report)
SR Gravel Buzau and Nearby
(Romania)
SR Gravel Buzau and Nearby
SR Gravel Buzau and Nearby
"The SR Gravel Buzau and Nearby contains approximately 50% Gravel sections. This route connects several historical points of Romania, by crossing several passes, including Pasul Tabla Butii (1340m) and Delusor Pass (1200m). From this pass you climb to the "Point of Fratiei Neamului Romanianesc", which is an observation shelter, built of wood, with a height of eight meters, which offers visitors a panorama of the three historical provinces inhabited by Romanians, Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldova. It also visits Mocearu Lake and Noroioși Volcanoes" Iulian Ene (see website).
SR Bucovia Mountain Pass (Romania)
"The SR Bucovina Mountain Pass has 15 km of offroad / gravel, divided into 7 km uphill, up to 10%, and 8 km downhill, up to 18%. Between these two areas, on the way down, there is a small section of asphalt, perfect for resting and admiring the beauty of the wild landscape around you", Iulian Ene
The "Oural du Sud II - Dozen Rill Trail" Super Randonnée (Russia) includes several hundred kilometers on rough dirt roads ...
... through remote areas ...
... vast forests ...
... and several fords (photos Sergey Syaskov)
Paarl Mountain, Krismiskamp, on the Super Randonnée Afrique du Sud, photo Nico Coetzee, August 2021 - 10% gravel
Kneeland road on the NorCal Traverse Super Randonnée. The route goes from Arcata to Truckee (California, US) with ~113 km gravel
"Epic mixed-terrain ride (~70 miles of gravel) through one of the most remote areas of California over diverse ecosystems, from coastal redwood forests to alpine meadows, and dramatic buttes in the Sierras. Scarce number of services available along the course", Andrea Achilli on the RUSA website
Climb to Mendocino Pass on NorCal Traverse SR (photos by Andrea Achilli)
Snow at Mendocino Pass on May 21, 2022 (photo by Charlie Martin - See photo album)
Lone Star Rd in Humboldt county, CA, on the USAL-600 Super Randonnée (photo by Eric Larsen). The route has about 20% gravel.
"I think USAL-600 is a very good route because of the difficulty, the remote scenery, the variety of scenery (both mountains and ocean), and there are enough services along the route to make completion manageable", Eric Larsen
Ian Heine riding his Volcano High Pass Super Randonnée in 2013 (photo from the Bicycle Quarterly, 12, p.9). The route leads to remote places of Washington state, with 22% of gravel
"The Shenandoah Foothills SR600 travels along and enters the hollows of the the Shenandoah foothills and crosses over the Appalachian mountains several times. The route will take you up at least five 2000 ft climbs as you criss cross the Blue Ridge Parkway on gravel access roads...
... The Mount Pleasant Trailhead and Wintergreen being the two highest points on the route. With the exception of a few miles in Nelly's ford and Wolf-town Hood road, expect there to be low traffic on the route and beautiful views almost the entire time....
.... 700x38 or larger tires are recommended; the route is only 35% on unpaved roads, so tires that roll fast on pavement are a good idea. If you are not as confident descending go larger as the long descent down Jordan Road towards Buena Vista can be rough", Ramsey Hanna (see the hardest sections of the route as shorter permanents)
The SR Sofia-Gabrovo Gravel Trail (Bulgaria) includes an 8 km gravel section crossing the Zlatishki pass, and a second 10 km section connecting two villages...
Both gravel sections of the SR Sofia-Gabrovo Gravel Trail are passable with 28mm tires (photos Lubomir Christov)
The SR Mystical Strandzha Gravel trail (Bulgaria) has two gravel sections (10 and 14 km), passable with 28 mm tires...
"We have a mixed type of surface - sections with old unmaintained damaged asphalt, which is missing in many places and passes through sections with well-trodden gravel", Lazar Vladislavov, SR Mystical Strandzha Gravel trail
Super Randonnée du Désert (France) : southern side of col de Saint-Pierre (photo by Daniel Rigaud on Comptoir du Gravel), 210 km of gravel
First woman finisher Isabelle Chojnowski climbing col d'Arron, July 2021 (SR du Désert)
Super Randonnée Mounta Cala (France) : Colle del Garezzo (photo Sophie); 205 km of gravel in the Maritime Alps (France and Italy)
SR Mounta Cala : the organizer, Sophie, mid in the 12 km long climb to Baisse de Sanson (2021)
