The 2024 "Best of Gravel" Nxrth reader poll recently concluded as our readers voted on their favorite gravel things from the last year. What are the best events? Where are the best destinations? Find the community's favorites as well as the runners up in our Winner's roundup here. Results are in! Earlier this spring we launched the first ever Best of Gravel reader poll where you got to pick your favorite gravel races and destinations. We wanted to hear your top picks for gravel experiences in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Upper Peninsula and these are what you voted on. The best gravel races in our region cover everything from Southern Minnesota all the way to Marquette, Michigan and everything in between. Do you agree/disagree with the results? Let us know or chime in on social media and share YOUR picks. Here are this year's winners: Best Gravel Event for Racing 1. Heck of the North (TIE) A fall North Shore classic, The Heck of the North is rugged and beautiful. Several distances and a thriving community that comes back to race year after year to race October gravel make this a top pick in our region. Learn More. 1. The Filthy 50 (TIE) In 2023, The Filthy 50 celebrated 10 years and is now taking the year off in 2024. Exceptionally beautiful driftless scenery and an after party in the charming town of Lanesboro, Minnesota bring 1,000 people onto Parkway Ave. For one October Saturday of the year, it feels like the midwest capital of gravel. Learn More. 3. Red Granite Grinder Known for their unique routes and memorable climbs, the Red Granite Grinder is part of a whole suite of adventures and races from IRONBULL. Centrally located and with events for all types of riders, keep an eye on this growing event. Learn More. Runner Up: Freedhem 76 Celebrate independence day on some of North Central Minnesota's finest gravel and MMR roads. Taking place in the unincorporated town of Freedhem, Minnesota, the gravel community comes together to celebrate the love of gravel and camaraderie. Learn More. Runner Up: The Day Across Minnesota Back for 2024 after taking some time off, The Day Across Minnesota is a 240-mile border to border event created for average humans to discover something within themselves. Learn More. Best Gravel Event for Community Vibes 1. The Filthy 50 Showing up as the number one favorite event for gravel community, The Filthy 50 has been turned into an annual must-ride event. Between the massive group rollout in downtown Lanesboro, the amish school house halfway stop, and the the afterparty at Sylvan Brewing, it's a wonderful event to gather with the gravel community. Learn More. 2. Heck of the North One of the longest standing gravel events in the region, the 2023 Heck of the North marked 15 years of gravel. This sellout event brings people back each year for an annual fall adventure pilgrimage. Two Harbors is a great town and home to the much loved Cedaero, SpokeNGear, and Cedar Coffee trilogy. Learn More. 3. The Heywood Ride Turning into one the biggest gravel gatherings in our regions, nearly 1,000 riders showed up in Northfield, Minnesota for a true grassroots, community gravel event. They've lowered the barrier to entry as the Heywood is a nearly free event in order to be welcoming and inclusive to all. Learn More. Runner Up: Dairy Roubaix This is a classic spring gravel event near Viroqua, Wisconsin. They rent out the entire Sugar Creek Bible Camp for camping, cabins, and gravel riding the beautiful driftless region to kick off the spring gravel season. Learn More. Runner Up: Day Across Minnesota A 240 mile midnight-to-midnight event, this year's 500-limit roster sold out in just 4 hours. Beauty, challenge, and a great community of people all make up this incredible event. Learn More. Most Beautiful Gravel Event 1. The Filthy 50 Already mentioned in each of the categories above, the driftless bluffs, river valleys and amish farms make this course the reader's choice for most beautiful route. Learn More. 2. The Heywood Ride Taking place in Northfield, Minnesota, this favorite event draws the whole gravel family for a giant celebration of hills, woods, and gravel in the spring. Learn More. 3. Heck of the North The Heck of the North routes are all carefully and beautifully designed. They're full of variety with winding atv trails, deep woods gravel, and north shore fall colors. Learn More. Runner Up: The Crusher A hard-as-heck Upper Peninsula adventure, the routes are always challenging and the community is always thriving. The Crusher is non-traditional in every way and it just doesn't care. Whether you come for The Crusher's unpredictability or just love suffering, it's an unforgettable experience you might not be able to stop coming back for. Learn More. Runner Up: Le Grand du Nord The furthest north gravel race (that we know of), Le Grand Du North starts in the beautiful downtown of Grand Marais, Minnesota on Lake Superior and winds through gravel roads into the Sawtooth Range. A great way to start your gravel cycling season, it's well worth the trip up the north shore. Learn More. Best Gravel Destinations 1. Cable/Seeley, Wisconsin The home to a ton of amazing off road events all year long and hundreds of miles of gravel and singletrack, the Cable area is only going to continue to grow as an adventure cycling destination. With the development around Mt. Telemark Village and the Birkie's continued investment in the trails and events, expect this area to grow as a crowd favorite across several cycling disciplines and seasons. Cable & Seeley Gravel Guide. 2. Northfield, Minnesota Surrounded by a network of gravel roads, woods, and farmland, Northfield is where gravel community thrives. Catch weekly group rides, great events like the Heywood and Tour de Save, or stop in at Heath Creek Cycles. Northfield Gravel Guide Coming Soon. 3. Lanesboro, Minnesota A beautiful town to visit and spend an entire weekend (or more), Lanesboro has great food, lodging, and a brewery to enjoy before and after your gavel rides. Lanesboro Gravel Guide. Best Bikepacking/Bike Camping Event Tour de Chequamegon The longest running bikepacking event in our region, the Tour de Chequamegon takes it's name from Wisconsin's very first official published bikepacking route. Created by Dave Schlabowske, this adventure is full great gravel, amazing meals, and strong community. Learn More. The Fox A 2-day bikepacking race around the Finland and Grand Marais, Minnesota area, this is a great introduction to bikepacking racing. The field of riders is capped at 75 riders which keeps it an intimate event. Learn More. Hodag Country Ramble The newest and largest event on this list, Hodag Country Ramble has become a gravel homecoming near Rhinelander, Wisconsin at Jeff Frane's parent's property. FInd late summer rides, swimming, giant picnics, and bonfires in the beautiful northwoods of Wisconsin. Learn More.

Iron Mountain MIchigan straddles the WI/MI border and has some nice towns right in a generous network of wild gravel routes. Check out this lakeside cabin 25 minutes from Iron Mountain and close to several routes on the Iron Mountain Gravel Guide. View this cabin on Airbnb. Details Entire Cabin 12 guests 5 bedrooms 10 beds 3 baths This lakeside retreat offers a serene environment to hang out by the lake after long gravel biking days. You and your riding crew can relax by the fire pit overlooking the lake or on the porch with a scenic view. Enjoy swimming, fishing, kayaking, or simply soaking in the sights and sounds of nature. The property features a living room with a wood stove and TV, a well-equipped kitchen, multiple bedrooms accommodating various group sizes, and recreational amenities such as air hockey and a bar. With its tranquil setting and array of activities, this retreat provides the perfect escape for relaxation and adventure. Gravel Routes Near This Cabin This cabin is right in the heart of the Iron Mountain gravel biking routes. Check out several handpicked gravel routes plus some stops for food, drink, and other fun. Plan a Gravel Getaway Near Iron Mountain

This year we launched a new series called "Gravel Goals" to help you train for your 100 mile gravel races. Today Coach Paul Warloski discusses how to plan and manage your hydration and nutrition during long endurance rides. Words by Paul Warloski of Simple Endurance Coaching. To learn more, visit our Introduction to the Gravel Goals series. Optimizing Nutrition and Hydration for Success in Endurance Gravel Racing If you’re going to do any kind of long gravel race, you need to plan and prepare your hydration and nutrition. Your goal is to maintain energy levels, support muscle function, and prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. You want to finish the race strong and feel good rather than limping across the line with a significant nutrition or hydration deficit. Here's a guide based on current sports nutrition research to prepare you for race day. We’re not talking about general guidelines for fueling, just race-day nutrition and hydration for a successful event. Using the 80/20 model to schedule workouts. Learn More. Building a base for gravel racing performance. Learn More. Five keys to training for gravel racing. Learn More. Why you should do intervals and how to do them right. Learn More. Strength training for endurance, power, and comfort. Learn More. Hydration Essentials As we exert ourselves, our bodies heat up, prompting sweat to cool down, leading to fluid and electrolyte losses. Without adequate replacement, this can lead to dehydration, hyponatremia (low sodium), heat cramps, and other heat-induced ailments. Proper electrolyte replenishment ensures peak performance and effective post-exercise recovery. Pre-Race Hydration. It’s important to start the race with optimal hydration and electrolyte levels. Drink approximately 500 ml (17 ounces) of water or an electrolyte solution 2-3 hours before the race, avoiding high-sugar options for healthier alternatives. Hydration During the Race. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 200-300 ml (7-10 ounces) of fluid every 10-20 minutes during exercise, tailored to individual sweat rates and environmental conditions. A 20-ounce bottle per hour, with electrolytes, is a general guide, with adjustments based on personal needs. On long rides, I generally take two large bottles with electrolyte powder, and I take a couple of extra packs of electrolytes with me. I also have a hydration pack filled with plain water. Monitoring Hydration. Use thirst and urine color—aiming for light yellow—as hydration indicators. Regularly refill your bottles at rest stops to maintain hydration levels. Electrolyte intake for endurance cycling The quantity of electrolytes, including sodium, endurance cyclists need varies by individual sweat rates, electrolyte concentration in sweat, climate, and exercise duration and intensity. Here are general recommendations: Sodium: 500-700 mg per liter of sweat lost, translating to 500-700 mg per hour during intense or prolonged activity. Potassium: 120-400 mg per hour to aid fluid balance and muscle function. Calcium and Magnesium: Approximately 100-200 mg each per hour, supporting muscle and nerve function. Select electrolyte products containing these minerals in balanced amounts and test them before major events. That means try out different electrolyte mixes in different weather conditions to see how they affect your performance. Sodium intake considerations Hydration and electrolyte needs are highly individualized. Factors to consider include: Sweat Rate and concentration: Higher sweat rates or sodium levels may necessitate increased intake. Environment: Increased sweat loss in hotter, more humid conditions requires more sodium and electrolytes. Duration and acclimatization: Longer exercises and acclimatization to heat affect sodium needs and sweat composition. Nutritional strategies Carbohydrates: Aim for 40 to 70g per hour for sustained energy, utilizing hydration packs and bottles mixed with carbohydrate and electrolyte powders, supplemented with easily digestible foods. Protein: There’s some evidence that you might want to incorporate small amounts during the ride for muscle repair, though the primary intake should be post-exercise. Food Choices: Experiment on long training rides with energy gels, chews, bars, and real foods like bananas and sandwiches to discover what best suits your digestive system and preferences. It can be a challenge to eat solid food because the digestion process can take energy away from your muscles. So again, practice consuming what you’re going to eat during the race. Generally, I will have water in my hydration pack and bottles filled with carbohydrate and electrolyte powders. I supplement that with Embark Maple Syrup. Pre-Ride Meal: Consume a balanced meal 2-4 hours before the race, focusing on complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and protein. Practical Advice Personalization: Tailor hydration and nutrition plans to your body's responses and training experiences. Practice: I’ve said it often in this article, practice on long training rides to see what works. Test your strategies on long training rides to determine what works best. Flexibility: Be ready to adapt your plan based on race day conditions and how your body feels, possibly increasing intake as needed. The research underscores the importance of maintaining energy balance and hydration to enhance performance and facilitate recovery. Effective race fueling, distinct from everyday nutrition, is pivotal for a successful and fast gravel century finish. It's also recommended to continue hydrating and refueling immediately after the ride to support recovery. About Coach Paul Warloski Paul Warloski is a Level 2 USA-Cycling Coach, a certified yoga instructor, and a certified personal trainer. He supports everyday endurance athletes at Simple Endurance Coaching, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He's been racing gravel, road, mountain bike, and cyclocross for decades, so he brings both experience and training knowledge to help you to your best gravel race performances in 2024. He'll be racing the Big Rivers Gravel Series in Illinois, the Hungry Bear in Cable, likely the Coon Fork 40 in Eau Claire, and other gravel races this year. To learn more, or for a free 30-minute Virtual Coffee to talk about your training and your goals, visit Simple Endurance Coaching.

We're always looking for gravel weekend destinations and found a nice secluded cabin on the north edge of the La Crosse Gravel Guide routes. If you're looking for a place to launch a gravel vacation with friends or family, this could be a nice option. View this cabin on Airbnb. Right on the gravel network, this cabin offers a nice setting for a bike weekend and could serve as a basecamp for those looking to explore the La Crosse Gravel Guide routes. It sleeps 4 and is near the Mississippi River and La Crosse, Wisconsin. The knotty pines are sure to get you in a woodsy mood for exploring the surrounding gravel roads. Gravel Routes Near This Cabin This cabin is right in the heart of the La Crosse Gravel Guide gravel routes. Check out several handpicked gravel routes plus some stops for food, drink, and other fun. Plan a Gravel Getaway Near La Crosse

Today's Readers' Route comes from Laura Grovogel from a spring gravel ride in Northeast Wisconsin. It takes you down a few logging roads and some ATV routes and through the Marinette County Forest. Submission from Laura Grovogel We did this route in the spring and it was a great challenge. Early season peanut butter mud/dirt mixed with stretches of firm gravel. Be prepared for sections of sand in dry condition and mud in extremely wet conditions. There are a few logging roads that will have variable conditions. The route ends on pavement and has a few pavement connections between gravel stretches, but mostly off-road gravel. Watch for ATVs. No gas stations. Have fun! Submit Your Reader's Route All Reader's Routes So Far

Following the Gandy Dancers is a new bikepacking route from Todd Gunzenhauser that connects St. Paul to Duluth, Minnesota. Enjoy cycling through rich history, remote roads, and great handpicked spots for camping, food, and more. This route is available to Patrons on our Adventure Team tier. Join us on Patreon to access now. Route & Photos by Todd Gunzenhauser Escape the Twin Cities' rhythm and find gravel freedom on this multi-day route from Saint Paul to Duluth. Each part of the ride offers unique charm, from urban trails to charming towns and remote forests. Much of the route follows the Gandy Dancer Trail which is named after the railroad workers who laid the railroad tracks in the early 1900s. Using tools known for their rhythmic work style made by the Gandy Tool Company of Chicago, the early railroad workers laid down rails from Duluth down to St. Croix Falls and beyond. While many cyclists have completed the Twin Cities to Duluth via the paved Munger Trail we wanted a little something more remote. This route is about 60% gravel ranging from smooth crushed stone to soft-sandy ATV track. Route at a Glance Distance: 166 Miles Days: 2-3 Days Elevation: 4,110 ft Gravel: 60% Pavement: 40% Full Route Guide Includes 10 Camping Options Parks Grocery Options Pizza Stops Pubs & Taverns Coffee Shops Trail Info Lots more

The second annual Coon Fork 40 is taking place on Saturday, Aug 24, 2024. The beach-to-beach woodsy adventure has 3 routes and includes 2 lakeside parties and free food and drink. Registration goes up after March 31st. On the fence? Check out some of the best parts about the adventure. To learn more or get registered, visit the Coon Fork 40. The Nxrth is a partner of this event. Prices increase on April 1. Photos by Branden Nall, Michael Lundebrek, and Nick Meyer 5 New Things for the 2024 Coon Fork 40 The first year of the Coon Fork 40 in 2023 saw nearly 300 people come out to ride and hang out. 2024 is looking forward to even more riders and some upgrades to the inaugural year. Check out what's in store. 1. Brand New Finish Line & Final Mile They've reworked the finish line to drop everybody right in the heart of the beachside afterparty after riding along the wooded backwaters of Coon Fork Lake. 2. Chip Timing New for 2024, they're adding chip timing to ensure accurate info and same-day awards 3. Halfway Hang & Finish Line Party Enhancements Even more food, music, and good vibes for the beach to beach adventure. 4. New Bathrooms & Trails at the Finish Line Party Coon Fork is getting some upgrades which will make hanging out with friends and family even more comfortable. 5. Camping! Maybe this isn't entirely new but it's fun! Coon Fork campground is BEAUTIFUL. Bring your family or friends and make it an entire weekend of community and biking. Our Favorite 7 Things About This Year's Coon Fork 40 1. Brand New Finish Line & Final Mile Already mentioned above, but this will be fun. One of the new thing for 2024 is a brand new re-worked finished line and final mile of the Coon Fork 40 routes. The final mile takes you along the wooded backwaters of Coon Fork Lake and the finish line dumps everyone right into the fun of the After Party at the beach. 2. The Hidden Waterfall Bridge This is the bridge I drove right past a whole bunch of times and never knew it was there. It's nicely hidden and is the perfect way to start a mass rollout for a deep woods adventure. 3. Hundreds of Friends Scrambling Around the Woods Sure, there are three different routes with three different distances. But the fun part is seeing friends rambling all around the woods and having the halfway hang roughly in the middle of everyone's ride so that you can intersect with friends racing different distances and different speeds. Then the everyone congregates again at the final beach at the finish line and the community fun just continues. 4. Winding Wooded Roads Let's just say that a lot of text messages have been exchanged in a group effort to put all the best segments of these woods into the best possible gravel adventures for the three distances. It's a deep woods adventure and we take a lot of pride into inviting you into some of our favorite backyard winding gravel roads. 5. Stopping at the Halfway Hang Beach Party Coon Fork 40 is more about community than speed and this is especially true with the Halfway Hang and Finish Line Party. Both parties have enhancements for 2024 and we're already looking forward to intersecting with friends from different routes at both of these spots and enjoying some lakeside food and drink. 6. Off-Grid Double Track Segments Finding a great stretch of doubletrack is the creme de la creme of exploring the woods. They're tightly treelined and are an intimate way to experience a remote ride. These segments of single lane gravel tracks are sprinkled throughout the day and are all rewarding. 7. Lakeside After Party Your registration includes a free drink, free meal, and free friends. When the races are said and done, everything keeps going long after bike are put away. We'll be hanging around enjoying some awesome people in a beautiful place. Join the Adventure! Be a part of fun and get registered at the Coon Fork 40. Registration is $55 through March 31 then goes up by 10 bucks. Hope to see you there!

Today's Reader's Route is from Bob Small and circles the Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. This relatively flat route incorporates some state trail and WDNR maintained roads. Submission from Bob Small The Horicon Hustle is a mostly flat route on a variety of surfaces crossing Horicon Marsh twice: once across the WDNR maintained Main Dike Road in the south and once across the US Fish and Wildlife Service Old Marsh Road in the north. It also incorporates gravel on the Wild Goose state trail and some tarmac on the scenic auto loop and lightly trafficked CTH Z. While it is quite flat, the rough surfaces on the dike roads can be challenging. And if you get a headwind crossing the open marsh, it can be downright punishing. *Note that Old Marsh road is closed in parts of spring and fall to protect migrating birds. Submit Your Reader's Route All Reader's Routes So Far

We recently launched a new series called "Gravel Goals" to help you train for your 100 mile gravel races. Today Coach Paul Warloski discusses why you should include strength training in your training plan and how it leads to improved endurance and more comfort on the bike. Words by Paul Warloski of Simple Endurance Coaching. To learn more, visit our Introduction to the Gravel Goals series. Strength Training Gives Gravel Racers Better Endurance, Comfort, and Power One of the most important parts of your training for long gravel races should be strength or resistance training. Strength training not only improves your strength and power, but it can help you prevent injuries and improve your endurance. Anyone who’s done a long gravel race knows we need to have full-body strength to withstand the challenges of gravel racing. Using the 80/20 model to schedule workouts. Learn More. Building a base for gravel racing performance. Learn More. Five keys to training for gravel racing. Learn More. Why you should do intervals and how to do them right. Learn More. Benefits of strength training Improved power output: Strength training can enhance the rider's ability to produce power, especially useful for climbing and sprinting. Injury prevention: Riders can reduce their risk of common cycling-related injuries by strengthening muscles and connective tissues. Cycling primarily moves the body in one direction and we need to strengthen supporting muscles to prevent overuse injuries. Endurance and efficiency: Stronger muscles fatigue less quickly, leading to more efficient pedaling over long distances. Strengthening back and shoulder muscles lead to a stronger position on the bike. Improved bike handling: Core and upper body strength contribute to better stability and control on rough terrain, preventing fatigue and boosting confidence. How to start strength training First of all, it’s important to start slowly when you are strength training for gravel racing. When I start working with a new athlete, I give them this Back and Booty video to start training their back and glutes, which are often weaker in cyclists. After a couple of weeks of doing this series of exercises several times a week, we’ll start with weights at the gym. Going to the gym is often easier simply because of the variety of exercise equipment. But you can use adjustable dumbbells, resistance bands, or suspension straps like the TRX at home as well. Key strength training exercises for gravel racing Build full-body strength to be fully ready for gravel racing. This means including the following with an example Squat movement: Goblet Squat Hip hinge: a deadlift or Single-Leg Romanian Deadlift Chest push: a pushup or dumbbell bench press Chest pull: a dumbbell bent-over row Shoulder press: dumbbell overhead press Shoulder pull: pullups Core: Hollow Hold Timing and structure of strength training Generally, I tell my athletes to do two sets of repetitions. The first set should be about eight to 10 repetitions to get a sense of how you’re feeling with the weights. Maybe the weight you chose needs to be lighter - or heavier - for your effort today. Your goal is to use the second set to do six to 10 repetitions to fatigue. This means you stop when you feel like you could do one or two more repetitions. Do your strength training all year long Structure strength training around the cycling season, with more intense strength work in the off-season and maintenance during the racing season. This means training two to three times a week during the preparation and base phase, and then maintaining your strength gains with once a week training during the race season. If you’re racing from April until November like I am, continue training twice a week. Don’t do your strength training the week of your race. Generally, I tell my athletes to do their strength training around 12 hours after their interval work so that they get a hard day. This means intervals in the morning and strength training in the evening. Or you might simply have a day when you do strength training without any endurance work. Nutrition and recovery When you add strength training to your program, you’ll need to eat more and probably add more protein to your diet. When you break the muscles down during strength work, they require protein to rebuild. And because you’re adding in additional training stress, you’ll need to eat more calories to maintain your muscle mass. You’ll be surprised how much more you need to eat! That’s why protein shakes or smoothies are a great way to add in more nutrients when it’s tough to physically eat that much food. Research supporting strength training for cycling One study found that both male and female cyclists experience beneficial effects from concurrent strength and endurance training on cycling performance. The study suggested that increased muscle cross-sectional area is an important adaptation for improved performance, countering the belief that cyclists should avoid muscle gain​​. Another review found that combining endurance and heavy or explosive strength training improves running economy and cycling performance. Specifically, heavy strength training is recommended for enhancing cycling economy. It also suggested that improved endurance performance might be related to delayed activation of less efficient muscle fibers, improved neuromuscular efficiency, or conversion of fast-twitch fibers into more fatigue-resistant types​. A third review indicated that strength training enhances cycling economy and can improve short-term cycling performance, including maximal performance gains and time to exhaustion, in both untrained individuals and high-level trained cycling athletes. About Coach Paul Warloski Paul Warloski is a Level 2 USA-Cycling Coach, a certified yoga instructor, and a certified personal trainer. He supports everyday endurance athletes at Simple Endurance Coaching, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He's been racing gravel, road, mountain bike, and cyclocross for decades, so he brings both experience and training knowledge to help you to your best gravel race performances in 2024. He'll be racing the Big Rivers Gravel Series in Illinois, the Hungry Bear in Cable, likely the Coon Fork 40 in Eau Claire, and other gravel races this year. To learn more, or for a free 30-minute Virtual Coffee to talk about your training and your goals, visit Simple Endurance Coaching.

Old Fashioned Gravel is a brand new, full-driftless gravel race coming to Hokah, Minnesota this October. Starting and ending at a farm, this race promises to bring you back to your gravel roots with a variety of routes, post-ride gathering, and an unforgettable gravel adventure. To learn more, visit Old Fashioned Gravel or follow along on Facebook and Instagram. Q&A Paul Reardon, Race Director Why is this event happening at a farm and what's special about that spot for starting and finishing? The property the ride will be starting and finishing on has been in our friends Gabe and Annie's family for years. They purchased it last year. It is a big farm nestled in a valley with beautiful views. The barn is going to be the center of the event, it is a cool old structure with a rustic feel, like really rustic. Gabe and his family have been working hard to spruce things up for all of you. The really neat thing about this property is the fact that they are working with the State of MN to develop a sustainability plan for the property. Their goal is create a partnership with the State to restore and invigorate the land in a way can easily be maintained for generations to come. We will also be donating a portion of the proceeds to help with this project. Also did we mention the farm is surrounded by fabulous gravel roads? "Old Fashioned". Tell me about the name. Is this a nod to the wonderful supper club drink or a nod to grassroots old school gravel? The name as you said has a couple of meanings. There is a definite nod to Supper Clubs. Meeting with friends and family and enjoying each others company, and maybe a delicious beverage or two. There is always a nod to the hard-working folks that are the root of this sport, we welcome them all to come ride some fun roads! 3. Who is putting this race on? Putting bike races on simply could not be done without all of the industry friends we have made over the years, and our amazing community. Working closely with local businesses, volunteers, friends and family that help make this all happen. I am the director of this one, all by myself. I live in La Crosse and own Blue Steel Bike where in the winter I build custom titanium and steel bicycle frames. In the summer I work as a race mechanic with Education First/ONTO Cycling development team. When I am not on the road with the team, I work a number of gravel races around the U.S. In all my free time, I like to organize and put on races and puppies, I really like puppies. 4. What kind of riding should people expect and who should participate? These routes will be challenging. We have everything from an 18 mile route, on the shorter end of things, but you will still have to climb the bluff twice with 1300 feet of climbing. You will encounter rolling hills once on top of the bluffs, lots of farms (and animals), and a good amount of wide open to wooded descents. All of the routes have spectacular views. On the other end of the spectrum, there is the 100 mile route with 8200 feet of climbing. A challenge for the most seasoned rider. As I say with all the rides I have helped produce, if you want to race, we will be timing, and we wish you luck. If you want to come challenge yourself, or just go for a ride with other rad people, make new friends, eat, drink, and laugh, that's what it is all about! We would love to hang out with all of you!

On Thursday, March 21st we're launching the vey first "Best of Gravel" reader poll. Readers of The Nxrth will get a chance to vote for their 2024 favorite gravel things in a few select categories in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Add your voice to the gravel community and vote for the best gravel things in the 2024 Best of Gravel reader poll. Voting opens on Thursday, March 21st and runs until Thursday, April 4 at midnight. Here are the categories you can vote on: Voting Categories 1. Best Gravel Race for Competitive Racing 2. Best Gravel Race for Community Vibes 3. Most Beautiful Gravel Race 4. Best Adventure Hub for Gravel Biking 5. Best Bikepacking or Bike Camping Event Help Your Gravel Community Vote for You Let your community know to vote for you in the Best of Gravel reader poll. Download our free promotional tools and share them on social media and on your website to spread the word and get the most votes.

Today's Reader's Route is from Katrina Hase and wanders from Hugo, Minnesota into bluff country and through Osceola, Wisconsin and back. Enjoy some curated stops for food and coffee along this scenic gravel route. Submission from Katrina Hase Wander out of Hugo on quiet gravel roads as you wind through lakes, rolling farmlands, tree-canopied lanes and into bluff country. Resupply, if needed, in Scandia before flowing on and down into historic Osceola, Wisconsin for coffee or lunch and a photo opportunity by a waterfall. After a brief climb out, enjoy some tarmac and wide shoulders before before passing by Big Marine Lake. Refuel once more, if needed, at the Big Marine Convenience Store, before a scenic gravel return to Hugo. Submit Your Reader's Route All Reader's Routes So Far