Quick Facts

Location: Dupont State Recreational Forest

Dates: March 8th-9th

Type of camp: Gravel skills

Length of camp: 2 days

Riding gravel is all the rage these days. Some perks include a change in scenery, being in nature, and discovering new roads and routes. More so, many people are switching from road to gravel biking due to far fewer cars/trucks. Although the chances of experiencing motorized traffic is very small on gravel roads, there's a greater risk of crashing due to the uneven surface under your wheels. And not all "gravel" is created equal - neither is tire pressure. There are silky smooth dirt roads and then there are washboard-like roads which will have you bouncing uncomfortably on and off your saddle. Add in climbing and descending, tight turns on loose rocks, deep sand, and peanut-butter clay, you may find that gravel riding is much harder than it looks on social media. Oh and don't forget to add in riding over puddles and water crossings. You never know what you will get when riding off road. Additionally, risk of heat stress, fatigue and bonking is also greater than on the road due to the lack of "convenient" stops to refill bottles and to restock edible fuel. 

The purpose of this gravel skills camp is to help you become a safer, more skilled and confident cyclist. The truth is that riding a gravel bike is very different than riding on the road. On gravel, you can't just sit on your bike and pedal, especially when you are riding on sand, mud, loose gravel and roots. Weight distribution is key on technical terrain. Whereas you may be able to get away just sitting on your road or tri bike while being stiff and rigid, gravel riding requires you to stay relaxed and to react dynamically to the ground under you, so your bike can float freely under you. When you watch experienced gravel riders, you'll notice that they are rarely sitting - there's a lot of standing, hovering, moving the hands into different positions on the handlebars/drops and weight shifting. The key is making small adjustments to stay stable, safe and in control.

This camp will be divided into two distinct sections - developing skills, practicing skills and then applying the skills to different terrain/features/elements. You will have the opportunity to work on specific bike handling skills - like body position, descending, navigating curves and turns, water crossings, single track, climbing, braking and pedaling mechanics. You will also learn about the inner workings of your bike like tire pressure, tire choice and cleaning/maintenance.

By attending this camp, you can expect to learn a lot. By mastering fundamental gravel cycling skills you will be able to feel confident and safe on any type of terrain, while keeping a smile on your face because you are having fun.

If you are not sure if this camp is right for you, send us an email. 

ACCOMODATIONS

TENTATIVE CAMP ITINERARY

Saturday March 8th

• 9am - arrive to Fawn Lake Parking lot

• 9:30am-12pm - skills practice and discussion

• 12pm - 1pm - break for lunch (bring your own lunch)

• 1pm - 4pm - skills application ride

Sunday March 9th

• 9am - arrive to Fawn Lake Parking lot

• 9:30-10:30am - skills practice and discussion

• 10:30am - 2pm - skills application ride

• 3pm - Lunch in Flat Rock or Brevard (optional)

    NOT COVERED IN RATE

• Airfare/Gas

• Lodging

• Meals

• Travel to and from your lodging

• Travel to and from the airport

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When should I plan to arrive/depart?

We suggest to book your travel so that you arrive by Saturday morning. You can leave on Sunday afternoon or if you’d like to relax after camp, you can stay until Monday.

Where should I stay?

We suggest an Airbnb or VRBO in Flat Rock, Brevard, Zirconia or Hendersonville, NC.

How should I get my bike to camp?

If you are not planning to drive with your bike, we suggest to fly with your bike. If you are flying with your bike (or shipping your bike), you do not need to bring your bike pump as we will have plenty available.

Do I need to have a gravel bike?

Yes.

What if I get injured/sick before camp but I’ve already registered?

If it’s within 4 weeks before camp and you are unable to attend, we treat injuries and sicknesses on a case by case basis. If we are able to fill your spot, we will offer you a full refund. Otherwise, you can use your payment for a future camp or Trimarni service. We do not advise that you come to this camp with an injury or if you are just getting over an injury or sickness. We need you to arrive to this camp feeling healthy, rested and fit.

I am not a Trimarni coaching athlete, can I still attend?

Absolutely! We would love to have you at camp. We enjoy working with athletes who come from different coaching backgrounds. We would be happy to talk to your coach about your strengths/weaknesses before and after camp to help you get the most out of your future training.

CAMP SIZE

10 campers

CANCELLATION POLICY

100% refund before 2/1.

Anything else?

It is our goal to give you the best camp experience possible.

Please let us know what we can do to make your camp experience memorable, stress-free and fun.