Gravel Skills Camp
Quick Facts
Location: Abbeville, SC
Type of camp: Gravel
Length of camp: 3 days
Dates: March 8th-10th
Event: Greenwood Gravel Grinder 49 or 76-mile distance
(Camper will receive a $10 discount code for the event distance of your choice after you register for camp)
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 applying the skills. You will be applying the skills on race day. 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
Greenwood, SC
We will be starting workouts near:
203 Beulah Church Road. Abbeville, SC
Search for hotels HERE.
TENTATIVE CAMP ITINERARY
Friday March 8th
12-1pm - Skills practice and application
1-5pm - Recon most of 49-mile course + skill application
(Each day we will provide an exact location where to meet. The location will be near 203 Beulah Church Road Abbeville, SC)
Sunday March 10th
9am - 1pm - Mastering skills on race course and enjoying more miles on the gravel bike
1-1:30pm - Camp Q&A and conclusion
Saturday March 9th
8am - Meet at race venue to get race packet
8:30am - Pre-event warm-up/course talk
9am - Event starts
Event Awards - TBD
6pm - Post race debrief/dinner at The Mill House
YOUR CAMP EXPERIENCE INCLUDES
2 days of skill and terrain practice and application on event day
Experienced coaches available at all times
Snacks/water/sport nutrition provided throughout camp
Bike mechanic support - anytime
Board Certified Sport Dietitian support - anytime
Bike assembly, disassembly (must request prior)
Trimarni swag
At Camp you will learn
How to become a safer, smarter, better and more confident gravel rider.
Specific gravel biking skills like body position, descending, navigating curves and turns, riding through water and on 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.
How to apply skills to event scenarios
NOT COVERED IN RATE
Airfare/Gas
Lodging
Meals (except pizza dinner)
Travel to and from your lodging
Travel to and from the airport
Event fee (10% discount code will be provided after registering for camp)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When should I plan to arrive/depart?
We suggest to book your travel so that you arrive by Friday morning. You can leave on Sunday afternoon or if you’d like to relax after camp, we suggest leaving on Monday morning.
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 less than 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 2/7 if paid in full.
After 2/8 send an email with your reason for cancelling to discuss the best options.
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.