Tutti Gravel Inn

A conversation with Inn owner, Kelly Servinski

Many years ago I had dreamt of creating a space for people to come and stay while have cycling adventures. So now, every time I come across someone who is living that similar dream, I immediately reach out and need to speak to them. Recently I came across the Tutti Gravel Inn, a welcoming and fun base for gravel cyclists to gather and explore the beauty of the South Cariboo region in British COlumbia. We chatted with Kelly Servinski, owner of the inn and immediately felt inspired. Here’s our conversation.

MK: What was your first memory of a gravel ride or gravel event that you rode in?

Kelly: My first gravel event was the 2012 L'Eroica in Tuscany, Italy. Still to this day this is the best cycling event I have ever done. I went back again in 2016. Hopefully I could do it again sometime. 

MK: What was the inspiration or spark for creating the mix of the inn and gravel riding? Tell us a bit about the idea behind Tutti Gravel Inn.

Kelly: I had worked for many years in the bike industry as a rep and could see where things were going with regards to “gravel”. Road cyclists were getting tired of the danger out on the paved roads, and mountain bikers were starting to come around to realize some of the cool aspects of what drop bar bikes could give them — they liked the speed, the amount of ground you could cover. Enduro racers were getting increasingly focused on fitness to compliment their technical riding skills and so on. Everything I was seeing, hearing and feeling was telling me that drop bar bikes would again make a return to the gravel roads where they started out being ridden prior to the paved road period.

I had travelled for many years around the world cycling in all of my dream locations mountain biking and later on road riding. I did some racing too. I really enjoyed going to Europe especially to hit all the classic climbs steeped in history with road cycling. I nailed them all. I loved all the racing history, the scenery, the great people I met along the way and the adventures we had. I was stoked to ride all those alpine switchbacks I had seen in pictures or in a race. I also really enjoyed the great network of bike hotels that I had the pleasure of staying at. They were so dialed-in and full of passionate people excited to share the beauty of cycling in their area. We had nothing like that here in Canada. I filed that one away in my brain.

A few years ago I ended up doing a few trips to the Cariboo to ride and instantly I knew “this is a gravel mecca”. At the time we were living in Squamish which is a mecca for many sports especially mountain biking so I knew what a true mecca was. The final straw was when I was asked to participate in a film shoot for the brand 7mesh up here. I really wanted to go but I had a 3-week trip to Italy planned right around that time to travel for fun but also race the Haute Route Stelvio event in Bormio. Time was tight but I had to get up to the Cariboo again because it was that good, it was getting into my veins. So happy I made that trip, it changed my life!

On the final day of the shoot I was filming a segment down by the river and it all just hit me like a ton of bricks that this was paradise and that this was where I was meant to be. I started laughing and the photographer asked, “What's so funny?” I said, “What the hell am I going to Italy for? This is heaven!” He said, “Yeah man”. That was it. The next day I contacted a realtor and found a big old house in the tiny village of Clinton that looked like it could be a perfect spot to create a bike accommodation. As I drove up I noticed a couple of huge boulders in the old fence. I immediately said to myself, “That's a gravel bike house right there!” I looked around the property with the realtor but tried to pretend not to be interested but inside I knew it was perfect for what was to become “tutti gravel inn”. The Italy trip was awesome and we returned home as new owners of a big old house in a small town most people had never paid much attention to especially for cycling. The dream had begun.

So really all those factors played a part in what has become our business tutti gravel inn. The timing of everything was perfect. I don't like to believe in fate but I truly feel we were destined to be here and make this gravel dream a reality.

The name “tutti” in Italian means “everyone” or “all together” and that's the vibe we live by with the business. It doesn't matter who you are or what bike you ride — just ride.

MK: Why focus on gravel rides?

I really love everything that gravel gives me as a cyclist and a person at this time in my life. It's pure freedom. I love getting way out there on a long ride, seeing the beauty of nature, exploring and pushing myself physically and mentally. I see all sorts of wildlife, meet up randomly with all sorts of different people out on the gravel roads we ride here in the Cariboo. I love how my mind wanders over  the course of a big ride of 250+ km. I do my best thinking while I'm out on these missions. I think about plans for the business, personal goals with my riding, failures, successes, all the strikes and gutters I have experienced through my life. I really zone out. I love it. Plus I really love to eat so all the big rides allow me to enjoy eating what I want, haha.

MK: Why is gravel the new gold?

Kelly: That idea came to me out on one of my long solo rides here. The Cariboo region has a deep history and a lot of it is connected to the gold rush period. I have really enjoyed learning about it and it fascinates me in many ways.

As I was riding I was thinking about all of the history I had started reading up on with regards to the area. All the people who came here in search of riches, the ones to made a fortune, the ones who lost everything, the ones who perished. They were truly hardcore! The rugged beauty of the area. The first nations peoples who experienced monumental changes to their lives. The hardship everyone endured really struck me. They were all in search of gold. My mind shifted to asking myself, “Well what does that have to do with gravel cycling?” As I pedalled I began to think in our own small way gravel cyclists are like those who came to the Cariboo so many years ago — we are adventurous, we are dreamers, we endure a bit of hardship to get where we want to go, to find the magic in life via riding our bikes. 

Then it hit me that gravel is the modern day riches that we seek as riders. Sure I would still love to find some gold haha but what set my heart on fire was gravel.

A few more pedal strokes and it popped in my head “Gravel is the new Gold!”

MK: Tell us about some of the routes you’ve developed in the area.

Kelly: This part of the Cariboo has everything. Big climbs, switchbacks, really full on descents to mellow rolling terrain. In the space of say a 5 hour ride I can ride through a number of different ecological zones — forested areas, semi desert to grasslands. Tons of lakes here and real deal mountains in the Marble Range well over 2000m. The Fraser River cuts right through the area creating its own climate down there. I love taking the ferry across the river to access gravel roads to the west. I've ridden my butt off exploring and have found a bit of everything. The real mind blower is that there is so much more out there, it seems endless!

MK: What’s a typical day like at the Inn?

Kelly: During the season my day starts early and always with coffee. Most everyday I'm out riding as long as I can. I love doing my ride and coming back to work around the property. There is always something to do around here.

Our guests are up early and keen to roll. We live on site and can hear their chatter and excitement to get out riding. It's infectious. One of the most exciting things for us as hosts is when our guests return and we ask them how their ride was. To hear about their adventures and how much fun they had and how happy they are really makes everything we do worth it.

Later in the evening we love hanging out in the backyard having a few beers with them and enjoying some laughs together. It's times like this that we really feel like we are a part of the gravel riding community.

We have become extremely popular very quickly and fully booked the entire season. I knew we could have a chance to succeed but I must say I didn't think it would happen this fast.

MK: How have the local communities around Clinton reacted to the cycling and events you’ve been organizing? What has been the impact?

Kelly: The response from locals has been so incredibly positive and supportive we were blown away. I wasn't honestly expecting that reaction. Locals are curious and ask lots of questions about all the riders coming to Clinton. Mountain bikers always drive right through the village but don't stop because there is not much here for trails. Locals are really excited to have new people making Clinton a destination for gravel cycling.

This area is ranch country, horse country, small town life. The ranchers that pass me in their pickup trucks with big cowboy hats all slow down give a wave.Most can't believe the distances we ride in a day. I've had many road side conversations with many different folks who are not people who you think might be into spandex clad cyclists but i must say they are so nice to us. As I said to one rancher, “Hey I'm into horses too... I ride the iron horse!”.

Really at the heart of it these folks want the same things as I do and that most gravel guests we have want — freedom. The ability to be out there doing their thing and not being hassled. We respect them by riding responsibly and being good people in the backcountry and we have experienced the same respect. 

We truly love this place and are full time residents here. They know our hearts are in the right place.

The impact we have made in a short amount a time is huge. There is a buzz about Clinton now and this place called Tutti Gravel Inn. Our guests are bringing their tourist dollars to small village that has struggled the last number of years. The forestry industry that has been a big driver of the local economy has completely shut down. Mills have closed, people have moved away. We are bringing new people here and that creates energy and excitement. There is so much potential here. We see it, and that's why we moved here.

MK: There’s a video by Shimano that feature’s yourself along with other bike specific folks in your area. Tell us a bit about the cycling community in Clinton and the southern Cariboo.

Kelly: We had the guys from Anthill come up here to shoot the Shimano video and we were blown away for the opportunity to shine a light on what we are trying to create here in the Cariboo with tutti gravel inn. We love our zone and feel it's a mecca for gravel that's why we moved our lives here and started the business. But as you can see from the video British Columbia has many different versions of gravel paradise. We are blessed in this province with the natural rugged beauty that is the envy of others outside our borders. What I love about gravel is that you can do it anywhere. Growing up in Saskatchewan I sometimes think how much gravel is out there , it's mind blowing. 

Our scene in Clinton is quite a bit different than the other places shown on the video. We are the only ones in Clinton with gravel bikes. Horses and cattle far outnumber bicycles. Cycling isn't a big thing for locals… YET! So much potential here to start from scratch and really build something special.

The Shimano video was a wicked stamp of approval which said to me "Clinton and the Cariboo are rad for gravel and people gotta go see for themselves".

MK: Why is the Southern Cariboo mountain region you are in so awesome?

Kelly: Location.Location.Location. Within a 4 hour drive of metro Vancouver you can be in this other world. Endless gravel roads, low population and natural beauty. 

I look at the area around Clinton with regards to gravel riding the same way the Chilcotins fire up mountain bikers. It's paradise on two wheels. 

Gravel to me still has a very grassroots vibe to it. You don't need to be anywhere near a major city, ski resort or park to have a great gravel scene. The less of all that you have the better. That's why a small village like Clinton can pop its head up and show people the huge potential of gravel riding is EVERYWHERE here in BC.

MK: What’s on the menu at Tutti? We heard you have an outdoor pizza oven!

Kelly: We love good pizza. We loved travelling to Italy to eat pizza. We bought a wood fired pizza oven and my wife makes the dough from scratch. It's so fun. We have guests who book a pizza dinner for celebrations things like birthdays etc. We fire it up for special events and fundraising rides.

We ride so we can eat! It's all part of the experience. As I say, “If you can't be in Italy you might as well be in the Cariboo.”

MK: We hear you have a special coffee mobile! Tell us more about that.

We have 2 Rocket espresso machines that keep us fired up. One is for us and the other is in our espresso bar for guests out back in our clubhouse. I love hitting the morning javas then heading out riding and then thinking about my "recovery coffee” when i get back. It motivates me to pedal faster! Haha.

We also serve coffee out of our little car “Tutti” which is a 1973 Fiat 500 Giardinera, one of only a handful in North America. The Tutti mobile was a way for me to spread the vibes of tutti to others at events. I did mobile espresso at a few gran fondos out here in BC. People love seeing the car and the whole bike/coffee vibe!

MK: BC. Cycling. Gravel. Food. Community. Culture. You seemed to have hit the nail on the head with these words. What have you found happens when you combine all these things together?

Kelly: People get excited!  They book in with us to experience it for themselves. And they get stoked, and tell their friends and it begins to roll. It's so fun to see your dream taking shape. We get messages from people all around the world who can't wait to come stay with us here. It's so awesome to feel the good vibes, kind words and support.

MK: Do you see yourselves establishing more gravel destinations around the Cariboos or in other locations?

Kelly: 100% we will expand and grow, but in no other locations outside the Cariboo. We want to focus all of our efforts here. Our goal is to do what we can to grow this area into a true gravel mecca. While doing this we want to help the gravel scene in BC reach it's full potential.

MK: What do you think is the future of gravel or adventure riding?

Kelly: Someone said to me when we first opened, “You've hung your hat all on gravel, what are you going to do when it all stops?” My answer was simple, “it's not going to”.

Drop bar bikes were ridden on the dirt years ago and maybe that's where they belong. I don't see people changing their mind and wanting less freedom, less adventure, less exploration.

To me gravel cycling is the true centre of the sport of cycling. It can pull in riders from other disciplines very easily. It has a something for everyone.

 MK: Where do you see Tutti going in the future and what are you most excited about?

Kelly: I don't know where this whole thing will go in the future but one thing I can tell you is “that it's going to be one helluva ride!” We're all in 100% and that's all we can do.

MK: Kelly, the love, energy and passion really comes out in your words when you speak about the Tutti Gravel Inn. We can’t wait to see where it goes!

Note: photos courtesy of @eyeroam @stirlandraemediahaus @kellyservinski