Fashion designer and gravel athlete: this video is the perfect example of why this sport is thriving among so many people

The gravel continues to expand its territory beyond competition, and in this new piece, This Is Gravel, Behind The Bike With Cesar Villalba, it focuses on a figure that well represents where this discipline is evolving: hybrid profiles, distanced from the classic structure of cycling and with a more open relationship with performance.

César Villalba, between design and gravel in Los Angeles: “This Is Gravel”

César Villalba does not come from pure cycling. His background is in triathlon, an environment marked by meticulous planning and constant repetition. After years within that dynamic, he decided to seek another balance. Today, he maintains a clear focus on performance, but without subjecting his day-to-day life to a rigid structure. That change is precisely the thread that runs through the video.

The story unfolds in Los Angeles, a setting that perfectly fits the concept. The city serves as a constant contrast between asphalt and paths, highways and dirt tracks, urban routine and quick escapes to nature. In that context, the gravel bike appears as a tool that connects both worlds without friction.

One of the most interesting points of the approach is how Villalba's creative work is linked to his way of riding a bike. As a designer, his understanding of processes is based on simplicity, functionality, and adaptability. Exactly the same principles he applies on the bike.

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There are no completely closed routes or unchangeable plans. It starts from an idea and adjusts on the go based on the terrain, the weather, or even physical condition. That parallelism between design and cycling is what gives coherence to the narrative, distancing it from typical aspirational content and bringing it closer to something more recognizable.

Beyond individual performance, the video also introduces another key element in current gravel: the community. Villalba is an active part of the local cycling scene, but his lifestyle—marked by creative projects and DJ sessions—does not fit traditional schedules.

From there, “Siesta Ponies” was born, a group that breaks with the classic scheme of early morning rides. The proposal is simple but significant: later rides, a more flexible pace, and a social approach that prioritizes shared experience without giving up on riding hard when it’s time.

This type of initiative reflects a clear change in urban cycling culture, where performance is still present but leaves room for other ways of understanding the bike.

The final message of the episode is quite clear. Gravel is not just seen as a surface or a specific modality, but as a way of moving— in every sense— with a certain freedom. It allows for improvisation, making mistakes, changing plans, and still moving forward.