Temecula Gravel Experience
A winter cycling escape in temecula Wine Country
The third annual Gravel and Whine took place on January 27, 2024. It is a newer event on the Southern California calendar, but carries on a tradition of drop-bar riding through Temecula wine country that goes back to the mid-2010s. Paul Dunlap, a well-known local mechanic and founder of Wrench House Cyclery, is the race director of G&W. Paul relies heavily on Stan Hill for course design, a great asset given his extensive knowledge of the area from 25 years working fire management for the U.S. Forest Service in the Cleveland National Forest. We hope you enjoy our recap of riding in Temecula from the 2024 edition of this new SoCal tradition.
Temecula Gravel
Temecula is located in southwestern Riverside County, about an hour drive north of San Diego and halfway between San Diego and Big Bear. The event takes place on the last weekend of January, the sweet spot for riding in this inland valley. 2024 participants experienced the best conditions possible, with moderate to warm temps all day, and perfect riding surfaces after a significant winter storm the week before created hero-dirt conditions. The window to ride in Temecula is short, as temperatures can easily reach the high 80s and 90s as early as March. Two courses were up for grabs on Saturday including a 75-mile Magnum, and 45-mile Piccolo. I opted for the shorter of the two, described as featuring “many climbs, rapid descents, some soft sand, and often rough roads with 4100 vert”. Looking back, I should’ve paid more attention to this description, as it was a fair warning for what lied ahead. By the end of the day, my Strava told the story of 47 miles and 5600 feet of elevation gain.
Rawson Road
After the Magnum race took off, we followed the instructions of Jim Miller to stage up for wave 2. The group broke up early as we entered the first dirt section on Buck Road, a 3-mile roller with packed dirt and the occasional puddle or rut to avoid. This was followed by the relatively flat and paved Washington Street, where riders did their best to group up and share pulls for the next 4 miles. The next long stretch of dirt covered 13 miles and was the highlight of the course for me. Rawson Road steadily climbs 1000 feet up through the Rawson Mountains and features unmaintained gravel roads, zero traffic, and impressive views of the surrounding region. I chatted with fellow riders and looked forward to even more surprises ahead.
The Second Half
Things ramped up quickly from here with a 4-mile road climb at about the halfway mark. The second half of the short course lost a bit of its flow for me as it seemed to be a constant cycle of pitchy climbs, rutted descents, short paved patches, and the occasional canine barking at us as we passed. The singletrack section was a blast to rip and gave the ride some variety, and there was more than one occasion when I wished I had a dropper post. A short hike-a-bike was also memorable, forcing me to throw my bike over one shoulder and grab a chain-link fence to pull myself up a very steep and loose chute. The course crisscrossed undeveloped lands and occasionally gave us impressive views of the snowcapped San Bernardino Mountains to the north.
See You At the Finish
The ride finished at Lorimar Vinyards and Winery, a fantastic host venue where riders gathered and relaxed in a grass courtyard while enjoying live music, Lorimar wines, and Pizza Port brews. All participants had their shot at taking something home at the post-ride raffle, and a portion of proceeds went to the Pablove Foundation. This ride is not for beginners as even the short course will test your technical riding skills, endurance, and navigational prowess. That being said, if you’re looking for a warm weather escape in January to an event with a grassroots feel and official race timing, Gravel and Whine should be at the top of your list.
Words and Photos by Dave Malwitz
The Route
What our community is Saying
“Gravel and Whine was an event that had multiple chapters to it, with a big block of climbing front loading the course, followed by more technical aspects in the last half. The people, vibe and festivities made it all worth it, and gave me the confidence to go for it on the long course. I didn’t regret it once during the ride, which means I was having fun! It’s one of those events that makes you either decide to quit or start getting fit.”
“The course was fun with a great mix of gravel climbs, technical descents, and a bit of single track. There was a nice stretch of pavement at the start to warm up and some pavement to finish. The venue was well suited to the relatively small event, making it easy to enjoy food, drinks and conversation after the ride. It will be on my calendar as the season opener from now on.”
“The single track was fun and not overridden. I like how it felt like a botanical garden with cactus placed at just the right spot so you would ride sensibly.”
“It’s events like Gravel and Whine that bring out the best in our community - great riders and competition, gorgeous views, a hard course to bring your best, and the time and space to be with new and old friends.”
“After the final climb I was really looking forward to a chill decent back to the winery, however, was served up a technical winding singletrack with strong wind gusts while dodging huge boulders and cactus. But at the end of the day all the pain and ‘whining’ was well worth it!”
“Paul and Stan pour a lot of heart and soul into Gravel and Whine and you can’t help but feel it.”
“My thoughts during Gravel and Whine….
I’ll take it easy today and just have fun …
It’s great to be out here! …
When will my legs wake up? …
Ouch! …
Why do I this? ….
Did I remember to close the garage door this morning? …
Why do I this? …
I’m selling all my bikes when I get home. And this time I mean it …
Almost there …
What’s the next event we’re doing?”
