It’s Great to Be a Gravel Girl

by Heather Brannen

I’ve had a passion for cycling for almost 20 years. It started, oddly enough, from my days as a dog musher. When training the dogs in the fall on dirt, a mountain bike was perfect for one or two dogs. The thrill of being pulled down a trail is as terrifying as it is exhilarating! I’m not being pulled down the trail anymore by a dog, but mountain biking and gravel riding give me that same exhilarating feel on fast descents, with the added pleasure of high-fives from ride buddies on group outings.

These days, I’m most drawn to the off-road challenge of gravel riding—the hills, the rocks and roots, the navigating. This gravel love spawned from the need to get out on my bike before mountain bike trails open in the spring and the desire to avoid the heavy traffic of some roads. Gravel riding provides freedom to explore backroads, and to venture onto double-track, single-track, woods, and snowmobile trails, often just to see where they go. On my gravel excursions I’ve discovered scenic overlooks, forgotten cemeteries, waterfalls, and more. I know I haven’t technically discovered these hidden places, but in the moment it sure feels like it, and that’s a big part of why I love it.

In the spring of 2023, I started a local weekly women’s gravel group ride, which we now call Gravel Girlz. These rides are an opportunity to share my love of gravel with other women and expose them to adventures these very capable bikes can offer. The rides, usually in the Pownal, Maine area, bring as many as 15 women together. Some evenings we stick to the paved and gravel roads; on others, we venture onto snowmobile trails, cross-country ski trails, or double- and single-track in Bradbury Mountain State Park.

It’s fulfilling to watch so many women, ranging in age from late 20s to mid 60s, build their skills and confidence. It’s also great to see how time together in the saddle has forged friendships. Laura and Taylor, who came to the first ride, live in Brunswick and have the same employer, but had never met. They’re now great ride buddies. Two other group-ride regulars, Leah and Joanna, live in the same area and have similar positions in the health field, but they too were strangers. They met on a ride and now take cycling trips together, such as to the Kingdom Trails in Vermont. One of them is even dating the other’s uncle.

Whatever their outdoor activities, most people enjoy a mix of solo and group outings. Riding with others has enriched my life at least as much as it has the lives of the other women in our loose confederation. If there’s not already a regular group ride (or run, or hike, or what have you) in your area, I encourage you to start one. I guarantee you’ll be glad you did.

Heather Brannen is the founder of GRLVbound, which holds regular women’s gravel rides and offers gravel-focused retreats.