Privacy

The short version: we collect your email only if you give it to us, we don't sell it, and you can opt out of ad tracking with one button below.

Last updated October 2026.

What we collect and why

Your email (only if you sign up)

When you sign up for race alerts, your email address goes to Beehiiv, the service we use to send the newsletter. Along with it we send where your visit came from (for example "facebook", "google" or "direct", taken from the link you clicked or the site that sent you), the race or page you signed up on, and the page you first landed on. That tells us which races and posts bring people in. Beehiiv also tells us whether our emails are opened and which links get clicked, which is standard for newsletters.

We use your email only to send the alerts and newsletter you asked for. We don't sell it or rent it to anyone.

How you found us (stored in your browser, not a cookie)

To know which posts and ads actually bring in readers, the site saves where you first arrived from (a link's utm tags, or the website that sent you, such as Reddit, X, Facebook or Google) in your browser's local storage under the name gs_src for up to 30 days. It stays on your device and is passed to Beehiiv only if you sign up. You can clear it by clearing this site's data in your browser.

Site hosting and security

The site runs on Cloudflare. Like any web host, Cloudflare processes your IP address and basic request details to deliver pages and block abuse. Our signup form uses your IP address briefly to stop spam signups; we don't store it.

Affiliate links

Some links to stores are affiliate links. We work with Impact (for retailers like Competitive Cyclist and Jenson USA) and Sovrn Commerce (for retailers like REI). When you click one, the link passes through the partner's tracking service and the store sets a cookie so it can credit us if you buy something. Those cookies are set by the partner and the store after you click, not by our pages. See how we make money.

Where-to-stay maps and travel links (Stay22)

Race pages include a Stay22 map of places to stay near the start. It loads from Stay22 when you scroll to it. We also run a Stay22 script on our pages that can turn travel and lodging links into affiliate links. Stay22 and the booking sites it links to (such as Booking.com, Expedia or Vrbo) may set their own cookies, especially when you click through.

Analytics and ads

We use the Meta pixel (from Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram) to measure whether our Facebook and Instagram posts and ads bring people to the site, and to show our ads to people who visited. It records page views, which race page you looked at, and that a signup happened (with the race name, never your email). We keep Meta's "advanced matching" off, so we never send Meta your email address or anything you type. Meta may connect the visit to your Facebook or Instagram account under Meta's privacy policy.

We don't use Google Analytics, and we don't sell your information for money.

Partners we use

Your privacy choices / Do Not Sell or Share My Info

Some privacy laws (like California's) treat ad tracking such as the Meta pixel as "sharing" your information. You can opt out on this browser with the button below. We'll then skip the Meta pixel on every page for as long as this browser keeps the setting. If you clear your browser data, press it again.

Ad tracking is allowed on this browser.

Global Privacy Control: if your browser sends a Global Privacy Control signal (or Do Not Track), we treat it as an opt-out automatically and never load the Meta pixel. You don't need to press anything.

You can also limit ad tracking across other sites:

Unsubscribe and your data

Every email has an unsubscribe link at the bottom. One click and you're off the list. To see, correct or delete the information we have about you, email chaney@thegearstash.com and we'll take care of it within 30 days.

Kids

The Gravel Stash is for adults planning races. We don't knowingly collect information from children under 16.

Changes

If we change what we collect, we'll update this page and the date at the top.

Contact

Questions about privacy? Email chaney@thegearstash.com.

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