Summary: Gravel cycling and backcountry mountain bike racing are booming, with events like the Dirty Kanza, Epic Rides, and SBT GRVL races attracting throngs of participants each year. As it turns out, these events are also bringing female cyclists into our sport, and providing a new challenge for women who are longtime participants. On this week's episode of The VeloNews Podcast, we sit down with VeloNews contributor Betsy Welch, who covered gravel and mountain bike racing this season. Betsy attended events like Leadville 100 MTB, Dirty Kanza, and Epic Rides, and also participated in them as well. In her reporting, she examined why these events and their respective communities are so welcoming to female riders. Cycling fans, the holidays are right around the corner, and we have the perfect gifts for those cyclists in your lives. Right now you can subscribe to VeloNews print magazine and receive a free Velopress book of your choice. That's right, popular titles like "Zinn and the Art of Mountain-Bike Maintenance," "Sagan: My World," and "The Cyclists's Training Bible" can be yours. Plus, on Monday Dec. 2 all titles at Velopress.com will be discounted by 33 percent. Shop now at www.velopress.com
