Amity Rockwell: Grinding Gravel + Supporting Community

Gravel, says Amity Rockwell, is the “great equalizer.” As a professional cyclist currently dominating the national gravel biking scene, Rockwell appreciates how, as a woman, she can roll up to the start line alongside all pro riders — not just other females — and all go out to race the same course and the same distance.

“We are basically just treated as another human being,” Rockwell explains. “It’s not a short course, toned down, women’s-only race at an inconvenient time. You’re in the race and you’re another cyclist. Unfortunately, nothing else in cycling can really offer that right now, but hopefully someday.”

Rockwell’s momentum in gravel racing has seemed to propel at the same rapid rate as the sport itself. Now 27, Rockwell was a cross country runner growing up and into her early college years. She also pursued an interest and talent in the ultra-running scene, but nagging injuries and burnout led Rockwell to riding, then racing, at age 20.

Her increasing success as a cyclist can certainly be attributed to her impressive endurance engine and a family history of very strong athleticism, yet it’s apparent that Rockwell’s determination and focus is what keeps her climbing toward greatness.

When Rockwell started riding, she owned only a road bike. The hashtag and ideology of #roadbikesoffroad was gaining momentum where she was in Northern California.

“We all had road bikes, but looking back we rode a lot of dirt,” she recalls. “We would just do it. You flatted a bunch, you messed up your bike and you would come home kind of wrecked, but we loved it.”

Photo courtesy of Backbone Media

COLORADO GRAVEL

Rockwell is currently based out of the San Francisco Bay Area, yet she comes to Colorado often for riding and racing.

“Colorado is a place that never stops asking if you want to ride just a little bit farther,” shares Rockwell. “It’s seems like I barely scratch the surface every time I go ride there. It’s impossible not to ask what’s around the next corner, and the next, and the next, and every time, what you find is worth the effort.”

When Rockwell leaves the Colorado border and heads west into Utah, she mentions one area that creates a “ride experience like no other.”

“White Rim is relentless,” she explains, “both in how difficult it is and in how content the draw-dropping views are.”

Rockwell’s Pinarello GREVIL gravel bike gets her around, that’s for certain. I had the joy of riding with her up and down the steep Boulder foothills. She mentioned how she could just ride the winding canyon roads all day — up and down, then up and up and up.

This past summer, Rockwell finished an impressive 2nd place at Unbound 200 in Kansas (formally Dirty Kanza), quite arguably the largest North American gravel race and the race of which she was defending champion.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Rockwell says support for women in the sport has increased in the years she has been riding, yet she always feels like it could, and should, be happening faster. Whether it’s getting women into cycling or keeping them in it, Rockwell says it’s important to focus on continuing to break down financial and social barriers that exist.

“It is encouraging and it’s nice to feel like I am a small part of advocating for it, as one of the rare and lucky women who has been able to take it professional in such a short amount of time,” says Rockwell.

Making used gear accessible for new riders can help get them into the sport, and for women, more visibility on a global level could serve to balance the male-dominated culture.

“When cycling first piqued my interest, I got really into watching world tour races, and I found them really interesting,” shares Rockwell, “but there was not a way to watch a women’s world tour race. And, there just weren’t that many happening to begin with.

“So, tuning in to watch a men’s Tour de France and knowing there is no equivalent for women,” she adds, “how then do you as a young woman be like ‘Here’s something I want to work towards’ when it doesn’t exist?”

Rockwell’s soft green gravel steed isn’t the only support she gets as a U.S. ambassador for Pinarello. The Italian bicycle manufacturer and global brand has set out to support each of their ambassador’s personal goals, projects and organizations to benefit their local cycling communities.

To give back to the sport she loves, Rockwell started Fast Friends, an online discussion forum about all things biking that engages and includes women and non-binary individuals. Rockwell says to message her Instagram @amityvil to receive a link to join Fast Friends.

“We talk to each other and share resources, knowledge, advice and gear, and just generally communicate about cycling,” says Rockwell. “It’s not gravel specific and it’s not competition specific — it’s literally like ‘Do you ride in any capacity and how can we help stay unified as a community?’”

Originally published in the Fall 2021 issue of Spoke+Blossom