EMPORIA, Kan. (BRAIN) — The All Things Gravel Expo takes place Thursday and Friday, featuring 150 international, national, and regional exhibitors.
The expo is organized in conjunction with the Unbound Gravel races that begin on Friday, and will start in downtown Emporia. Expo hours on Thursday are 3-8 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The expanded expo will span two city blocks, and a spokesperson for Life Time, which is handling publicity for the expo, told BRAIN that crowds likely will be in the 4,000-5,000 range, including spectators, athletes, and exhibitors.
Brands debuting new products include:
- Allied Cycle Works: The road/gravel bike Echo debuts Thursday. The Echo can be transformed from road racer to gravel grinder with the adjustments of "flip chips" at the front and rear dropouts. The eccentric chips and corresponding dropout design allow the rider to alter the geometry, effectively changing the chainstay length and fork length by 1 centimeter. Small, medium, and large models will be on display. Allied also is showing its novel hidden-cable stem system and its new GRAX chain lube.
- Boyd Cycling: An updated version of the Jocassee Gravel wheelset in 700c and 650b. The new design is 26mm internal width and weighs just over 1,300 grams in the 700c size. It's handbuilt in Greenville, South Carolina.
- Calfee Design: A new hardtail, the Cephal, which can be adjusted to become anything from a gravel rig to full trail hardtail.
- Canyon Bicycles: Launched a new gravel bike on May 11 and will have it on display.
- Skratch Labs: A new crispy marshmallow treat made with a blend of puffed rice and toasted grains, providing complex carbohydrates.
- Tannus Airless Tires: A new gravel option of its tubed and tubeless tires, which allows riders to run lower pressure while providing more support and cushion.
- CHPT3, an apparel brand led by former pro racer David Millar, will release a new Garmin kit developed in collaboration with the Kansas-based GPS company, which is Unbound's title sponsor.
The spokesperson said demo bike availability for all brands was uncertain as of Wednesday.
Because mask mandates and restrictions in the area have been lifted, the expo will not require them, and crowd size will not be capped. However, all exhibitors and attendees will be encouraged by the expo to wear masks and social distance when possible and signage reflecting this will be prevalent throughout.
Racing begins at 10 a.m. Friday with the Unbound Gravel Juniors, followed by the 50- and 25-mile races at 10:30, and XL race at 3 p.m. On Saturday, the Unbound Gravel 200 begins at 6 a.m. followed by the 100 at 7 a.m.
More information: VeloNews coverage of Unbound Gravel.
