Gravel 80s Style!
January 27, 2023 9:29am
by
rob
The 1989 Specialized Rock Combo build kit listed on BikeList yesterday got me thinking about the evolution of "gravel" riding in this country. 
I grew up in Palo Alto and worked at Palo Alto Bicycles from 1985 to 1990. This was a big Jobst Brandt era and all the cool kids rode their road bikes in the dirt. Here's a classic pic of Jobst on the washed out section of Alpine Road--we used to hit this dirt road on our road bikes several times per week, which would connect us into a network of other paved and dirt roads between Palo Alto and the ocean.
BTW, there is a new book coming out on Jobst. Check it out!
Back then you'd still see drop bars in mountain bike races. Here's my good buddy Dave Mac racing at the 1985 NORBA Nationals (pic via Road Bike Action). I wonder what ever happened to that pink Specialized?
So the whole gravel thing isn't really that "new" is it? The more things change, the more they stay the same?
Right now my "gravel" bike is an old IndyFab Planet Cross. But I'm planning to build up a new Ritchey Outback in the next few months. Sure, the drivetrain, brakes and tires are gonna be a lot better than what we had in the 80s, but the spirit is the same!
Shop gravel bikes on BikeList!
Feeling retro? Shop vintage on BikeList!
Tagged:
gravel
Comments
In the process of converting my 88 rockhopper to a gravel bike earlier this year, I saw the rockcombo in one of the specialized catalogs I looked up. I was surprised to see the gravel bike wasn't a truly new concept after all! I've seen some anecdotes on forums that the rockcombos were difficult to sell back then. Maybe it was ahead of its time.
I never sold Specialized but at PAB in 1988 the bikes were divided into distinct road, touring and mtb categories so I can see that the Rock Combo might have confused people (we did have one or two Cunninghams but those were a true rarity!)
lived in PA 72-97. Road every day. In Pab, WS everyweek. GREAT culture there. Every wed night was a bluegrass potluck pickin party somewhere. Friends come from marin to jam and ride in the 70's. They'd always bring their newly welded/mods bikes that were to be early mt.bikes. i rode many of them...then in mid 80's bought a stumpjumper....put big road tires and drop bars on it so i could ride it anywhere. My go to errands bike. It was my curb jumper. Then bought an xo-1 bridgstone 89 or 90. Riding endurance horses and cycling out of the Auburn area. David Putnam
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