Got Grit?
Pro triathlete turned gravel breakout star (6th at Outbound!) Angela Naeth wants to join forces with you.
By Angela Naeth
@angelanaeth
I love cycling, and the gravel scene always looked very appealing to me. When I first got my gravel bike, I literally had that feeling of being a kid again—that joyous feeling of freedom you get from being able to ride anywhere and everywhere. I started riding my gravel bike all the time, added some aerobars and now I train with it often. It’s my new favorite ride.
When I was given the opportunity by my bike sponsor, OBED, to take part in Unbound Gravel I jumped at it. It looked like the race of all gravel races—a big, tough challenge that you’ve got to experience to really understand. To say it was fun is an understatement. I loved it. The duration (just under 13 hours for me), the terrain, the heat—everything about this epic race had me grinning from ear to ear.
“Community is everything, and having like-minded friends to train and race with makes it that much more fun. ”
During the ride, I noticed that while there were a number of us female competitors, we were far outnumbered by the male contingency. I immediately saw the need for getting more women on the start line, and this need is something I’ve been passionate about addressing in triathlon. After creating IRACELIKEAGIRL, a thriving women’s endurance community that has brought so much to my life and to the lives of our members, I want to share that same opportunity in my new sport. Community is everything, and having like-minded friends to train and race with makes it that much more fun. IRACELIKEAGIRL has connected me to new friends, and this group inspires me to do more in all areas of my life, not just in sport.
And now I am thrilled to introduce an all new women’s gravel team, GirlsGetGritty! GGG is an inclusive community created to support all adventurists, from competitive Unbound Gravel 200 racers to the beginner rider looking to get off the road and into gravel.
Naeth started the 2021 Unbound Gravel, a 200-mile race in Kansas, as a relative gravel newbie and finished in an impressive 6th place.
I invite you to join us in our mission to…
Empower and support other women in various stages of their endurance journey that are seeking adventure and fun with gravel cycling.
Envision a world in which all women are able to be empowered, nurtured and grow through gravel riding.
Get more women on bikes and promote gravel cycling as an inclusive community for all.
The team launch for members closes July 15, so check out www.girlsgetgritty.com/gravel to learn more!
Pro triathlete Angela Naeth is a multiple IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 champion, gravel cyclist, and founder of GirlsGetGritty women’s gravel team. Follow the team on Instagram at @girlsgetgritty.
