Tips, Tricks, and Perspectives with Barry Wicks
Gone Fishin’
Depending on how you ride Gravel Royale, you’re likely to find yourself with significant portions of your day where you can do, well, whatever the hell you want. As a beginner fly fisherman, Barry Wicks is already looking forward to swapping out bib shorts for board shorts so he can practice his casting skills along the many creeks and rivers near each night’s camp.
When he’s not dirt surfing or trout hunting, expect to find Wicks mixing it up in various social circles. “That’s the beauty of these multi-day events, you get to go hang out and meet new people,” says Wicks from his home in Bend, Oregon where he’s rigging up his fly rod for an evening on the river. “To me, [Gravel Royale] is a vacation in the backcountry. There’s bad service, no wifi, and you get to totally unplug and relax, it’s the best.”
Having spent the better part of 20 years chasing the world’s highest levels of off-road racing, Wicks knows about the life of a fully-committed elite endurance athlete. But these days, he’s adopted a new approach to his riding style and he’s inviting us to join him.
Wicks’ days of tunnel vision hammering are over. Now he races for the ride. “I have this rule where if I’m trying hard and I’m staring at my feet, I back off a little bit and look around,” says Wicks. “It all comes down to perspective. The part that’s hard, the ‘race’ aspect can create these sensations of anxiety and pressure. But if you just remove that and tell yourself it’s just a bike riding event, I think that’s a good way to make a mental shift away from being stressed. Just be in the moment and enjoy it.”
On Forging Connections
Wicks recommends that people ease their way into the Gravel Royale but he doesn’t expect that to happen. “No matter what I say, everyone’s going to go out too hard and blow up on the first day, that’s just what happens. The thing to remember, is when you do have that experience and you blow up, you’ll probably find yourself riding around some people. Take that opportunity to just start talking to them. They’re probably suffering too. You can have a shared experience and hopefully get through it together.”
Tegart Pass is what Wicks is talking about. It’s a portal to the untamed and the crucible of the week. “You’re leaving civilization and venturing off into the wilderness,” says Wicks. “You start with a huge, cruisy descent, and then you’re climbing for like two hours. It just gets steeper and steeper and steeper. Eventually you’re on singletrack hiking your bike. It’s an adventure.”
“To me, that stage is cool because it transfers you from the city to this backcountry experience. You have to go through this big col to get there. You just have to know it’s going to be hard and you’re going to have to walk your bike for a little while, and that’s ok.”
While stage one sets the scene, stages two and four were Wicks’ favorites last year. “There are sections of stage two that feel almost lost to time. You’re on these old roads, in a green, overgrown tunnel with a singletrack path in the center of it. You’re out in the proper mountains with really cool, rocky peaks. That stage feels so remote and adventure-y, I really like it.” says Wicks.
“Then the last stage from Canal Flats to Fernie, it’s all about crossing terrain. I’ve done that as a drive and it’s a long one! You’re so deep out there. The rivers, the passes, you’re traversing terrain that you wouldn’t normally see.”
While he likely has the skill to get to Fernie on a fixie, Wicks and his partner opted for greater comfort last year and used hardtail mountain bikes instead of gravel bikes. If you do stick with a gravel bike, Wicks recommends you go all the way in terms of rubber choice. “You’re not going to lose much time having a bigger tire in terms of weight or rolling resistance. Plus, it’s nice for comfort and longevity. When you’re riding day after day, fatigue adds up. You’ll be best served with the biggest tire you can fit.”
On Packing
In addition to a pillow and travel-sized foam roller, Wicks highlighted how much he appreciated having two jackets with him. He brought a rain jacket that packs easily for the bike. And a big, comfy, waterproof jacket for camp. “That way you don’t have to wear your cycling jacket around for dinner,” he joked.
No matter how you ride, Wicks parting advice is simply to enjoy the experience. “You’re riding a bike through the woods in a cool place with awesome people and views. Regardless of if you’re there to win or just have a cool experience, it’s a vacation where you get to ride your bike, which is pretty awesome.”
Interview and Written by Marshal Opel