Loam Cycling Journal

07/09/2026

I’ve shot photos for more races than I can keep track of, but I’d never done what I call “race media coverage” until recently.

Recording, editing, and uploading 3-5 videos throughout the day, with photos sprinkled in, has a powerful effect on reach and visibility.

It’s a multiplier.

The shares, likes, saves, and comments that these posts generate put your race in front of more eyeballs than your strategy of randomly boosting posts.

It’s about capturing the moment.

07/08/2026

Most gravel races have great roads.

The memorable ones create an experience people can’t stop talking about.

After spending a weekend photographing Cascadia Super Gravel in Washington’s Capitol Forest, I came away thinking about a question that’s bigger than one race:

Why do some events become destinations while others struggle to stand out?

This latest story explores the atmosphere, the people, and the subtle details that transform a gravel race into something riders remember long after the finish line.

I’ve been a part of more gravel races than I can count. Most of the time, my role is that of a photographer, capturing the moment. On some levels, that sounds exhilarating. While it is a blast, most of my time is spent waiting, watching … and thinking. Recently, I shot photos at Cascadia S

07/07/2026

What gravel race or event is on your bucket list?

07/06/2026

Too many race organizers think of race-day media as something to check off the list.

Hire a photographer.
Get a few race and finish-line photos.
Post a thank you.
Move on.

But that’s only scratching the surface.

Race day is your biggest opportunity to create content that works long after the finish line.

The interactions between volunteers. The atmosphere at packet pickup. The local businesses that welcome riders. The moments before the start. The stories people tell after crossing the line.

Those moments become the photos, videos, and stories you’ll use to market next year’s event, thank sponsors, recruit volunteers, and show future participants why your event is worth traveling for.

A race lasts a weekend.

Its story can inspire people for the next 12 months.

How are you documenting yours?

07/05/2026

Every race has two experiences.

The one riders live.

And the one the internet sees.

If you only document finish-line photos, you’re leaving the most powerful marketing asset on the table.

07/03/2026

Once again, the Baker City Cycling Classic delivered. A spectacular 3-day stage race in Eastern Oregon.

07/02/2026

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.

What does it actually take for a rural community to get on the gravel cycling map?

Is it:

• A signature gravel race?
• Well-known routes on Ride with GPS or Dirty Freehub?
• A bike shop?
• A great coffee shop or brewery?
• Guided tours?
• Community buy-in?
• Something else entirely?

What’s the single most important ingredient for putting a town on the gravel cycling map?

06/04/2026

Every year, the gravel cycling world turns its attention toward Emporia, Kansas.

Thousands of riders from around the world travel to Unbound Gravel. The event attracts roughly 5,000 participants and generates millions of dollars in economic activity for the community. For a few days each year, Emporia becomes the center of the gravel universe.

It’s an impressive success story.

But I think many rural communities are asking the wrong question.

The question isn’t, “How do we become the next Emporia?”
The better question might be, “What is our version of Dufur?”

What can rural communities learn from Dufur, Oregon and the Gorge Gravel race? Explore how cycling events, tourism, and community partnerships can create new economic opportunities.

06/02/2026

With big gravel events like Unbound Gravel garnering millions of social media impressions and global attention, it raises an interesting question:

Is this a viable path forward for rural communities?

Unbound attracts roughly 5,000 racers and generates millions of dollars in economic impact for Emporia, Kansas, each year.

But perhaps the bigger story isn’t the race itself.

It’s what happens when a small town embraces an event, tells its story well, and creates an experience people want to travel for.

Not every community needs an Unbound. Most shouldn’t try to be.

06/01/2026

It’s easy for small towns to look at places like Bentonville, Arkansas, or Moab, Utah, and think: “Well, sure ... but we could never do that here.”

Truth be told, most communities are looking at the finished product instead of the starting point.

What many of today’s well-known cycling destinations figured out early was something surprisingly simple: People will travel for experiences. Especially experiences that feel authentic, scenic, adventurous, and different from everyday life.

That’s where cycling events come into the picture.

Discover how cycling events help small towns grow tourism, create economic impact, and generate long-term visibility through storytelling, social media, and community momentum.