precursors to gravel racing in its current form include road races like the Tour of the Battenkill and Boulder–Roubaix (named after Paris–Roubaix) which are road races with gravel sections. The distinguishing features of gravel racing include long distances, often , and mass starts that include all categories of racers, similar to Gran Fondo rides. The bicycles and courses in gravel racing vary widely, from road bicycles with wide tires used on smooth gravel roads to bicycles that are similar to mountain bike used on courses that include technical trails. Average speeds Speeds achieved on indoor tracks are usually greater than those on roads. Other factors affecting speed are the route profile (flats and hills), wind conditions, temperatures and elevation. At a 2013 event in Mexico, François Pervis achieved an average of with a flying start over . The top average speed over the men's time trial at the 2004 Summer Olympics was recorded by Chris Hoy. Average speeds clearly drop with increasing distance, so that over the Cootamundra Annual Classic it is . In the 2010 Paris–Roubaix, Fabian Cancellara set a speed of , while over the Furnace Creek 508, the speed drops dramatically to . For an extreme road distance such as the Race Across America, the average speed of the record holder is , while the Freedom Trail over mountainous terrain in South Africa is at a record speed of . Mountain bike trials Mountain bike trials is a sport where riders navigate natural and human-made obstacles without putting down their foot, or "dabbing". It is similar to motorcycle trials. Points are awarded for bike handling skills. The first UCI Trials World Championships took place in 1986. Non-racing disciplines Freestyle BMX Freestyle BMX is an extreme sport of stunt riding BMX bikes. Artistic cycling Artistic cycling is a discipline where athletes perform tricks (called exercises) in a format similar to ballet or gymnastics. See also References External links cycling shoes Cycling on International Paralympic Committee website Summer Olympic sports Athletic sports