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- New for 2025: Midwest MTB Festival in Cuyuna?!
Just announced, the new 2025 Midwest Mountain Bike Festival is coming to Cuyuna, MN this June 20-22. It'll includes rides, expo, demo, music, scavenger hunt, and parties and here are the details have we know so far. Learn more at Midwest Mountain Bike Festival The first Midwest Mountain Bike Festival will take place in Cuyuna, Minnesota this summer. The non-competitive festival welcomes riders of all skill levels to experience the region's red dirt trails while connecting with the mountain biking community and developing new skills. Located at Cuyuna's trail system, which includes over 60 miles of singletrack trails and lakes, the festival combines riding opportunities with educational programs. The event will be based at Croft Historical Park in Crosby, Minnesota, which will serve as the main festival area. The festival includes several components designed for different types of riders. An expo area will feature new mountain biking equipment, with bike demos available throughout the weekend. Instructors will lead skills clinics at multiple levels, from beginner classes covering balance and control to advanced sessions focusing on technical features like drops and jumps. The event includes a Scavenger Hunt Challenge that encourages participants to ride various trails in the system. Riders who complete the challenge receive a finisher's patch and enter a drawing for cycling gear. Guided rides are available for all ability levels, ranging from beginner-friendly green trails to technical black diamond routes. Evening activities round out the daily programming. The schedule includes a Fat Tire Happy Hour, a group swim, and outdoor movies. A vintage mountain bike meetup and group ride are also planned, offering participants a look at earlier mountain bike designs. The festival will raise funds for local trail development and maintenance. This new event combines riding opportunities with skill development and community building activities. Registration includes a weekend festival pass, access to the Scavenger Hunt, demo bikes, guided rides, skills clinics, an event t-shirt, sticker, and complimentary beverages at select evening events. Learn more at Midwest Mountain Bike Festival
- Announcing: Northwoods Gravel Day
You're invited to the 2025 Northwoods Gravel Day , a virtual event where we geek out about all the gravel races, adventures, and gear we're most excited for in 2025. Guests Jenna Rinehart, Trenton Raygor, and Chase Wark will be joining us on Wednesday, March 5 at 7pm CST. Learn more and register for FREE here. It's time to start planning your 2025 gravel rides and dreaming about the gear that'll help you go further and have more fun this summer. On March 5, The Nxrth is hosting a virtual event called " Northwoods Gravel Day ". We have some fun guests joining the event and we want you to be a part of it too. REGISTER HERE We'll talk about: Favorite gear picks for 2025 Best gravel bike races Incredible gravel destinations in the Northwoods and beyond Q&A with your questions about racing, adventures, and gear Join us on Wednesday, March 5 at 7PM CST for this live gravel event. Register for FREE below. REGISTER HERE
- Founder's Blog: Top 8 Worst Nxrth Ideas We Ever Had (That Never Became a Reality)
MEMBER EXCLUSIVE Words by Josh from The Nxrth The Nxrth officially kicked off one of the very first days of 2022. It was an idea that had been spiraling around in my mind for a long time and in various forms. Before the launch as well as after the launch, I had a lot of ideas and many of them were quite awful. Here are 8 of the worst ideas I had that never became a reality.
- All the Story Lines to Follow in Pro Gravel Racing in 2025
Pictured: SBT GRVL The 2025 gravel race season kicks off in March. As the sport evolves and the community and events experience shifts for a new era, here are the story lines we're watching most closely. These all started showing up in the spotlight in 2024 and continue to gain global attention moving into 2025. Pro gravel racing is entering a transformative era. From skyrocketing prize purses to growing competition between race series and the growing international appeal of the sport, the gravel scene is evolving in many ways. These story lines are sparking spirited conversations, challenging traditions, and creating new opportunities for both elite athletes and amateur racers. As the gravel calendar fills with high-stakes events, here are the storylines shaping the sport this year: Rapidly Increasing Prize Purses More and more races are competing for elite athletes to participate in their events followed by the online engagement of audiences following along with races, series, and the sponsors that support those races. Lauf Gravel Worlds announced that 2025 would include a $100,000 prize purse, the largest single day prize purse in gravel history. Life Time Grand Prix also increased their total prize purse to $380,000 across their many events. Shortly after, Gravel Burn announced a record breaking $150,000 prize purse, the largest for a single event. Competition for attracting elite races is heating up. Some say the prize money is ruining gravel, others say it's making it more exciting while giving elite athletes the ability to make a legitmate career of this. [ Local Storyline ]: Can Chase Wark Fight His Way Back Into the Life Time Grand Prix? Chase Wark was a surprise late addition to the 2024 Life Time Grand Prix. Chase is from Minnesota and is a self-proclaimed aero-dork with the most unique bike setup at Unbound last year. During the Grand Prix last year, he didn't attend Leadville and then crashed out at Chequamegon which hurt his Grand Prix total points and he finished the season in 24th place overall. For 2025, the field shrunk to just 22 racers each for men and women and Chase did not make it back in to the Grand Prix. But there are 3 men and 3 women 'wild card' spots for the best results at Sea Otter and Unbound and Chase plans on racing both of those events to see if he can sneak back in the back door of the Grand Prix through one of those wild card spots. Follow along with his season on Instagram to see if he can fight his way back in. Competing Series & Competing Dates for Big Races Massive events that are part of massive race series are competing more and more for pro and amateur attendance. Life Time Grand Prix is on it's 4th season while the Gravel Earth series is on it's 3rd season trying to build a following of races all round the world without such an exclusive cast of riders. Meanwhile, the long standing Belgian Waffle Rides also started the Quad Trippel Crown of Gravel with a yet to be announced prize purse. Dates for 2025 are already packed with major rides competing for overlapping weekends. SBT GRVL, the inaugural Montana Belgian Waffle Ride, and Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder all taking place on the weekend of June 28. The SBT GRVL Drama SBT GRVL , in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, has faced several challenges in recent years, primarily stemming from tensions with local ranchers and community members. Concerns have been raised about the event's impact on rural roads, disruptions to daily life, and instances of public misconduct by participants. In response to these issues, organizers have implemented measures such as altering race routes, adjusting start times, and eliminating organized pre-rides to mitigate conflicts. Despite these efforts, local authorities, including the Routt County Sheriff and Colorado State Patrol, have recommended significant changes. These include reducing the number of participants from 3,000 to between 1,500 and 1,800, eliminating prize money, and transforming the event into a non-competitive gran fondo on Saturday, followed by a closed-course circuit race on Sunday. For the 2024 event, organizers introduced new courses featuring more remote and rugged terrain to address community concerns. The Black course, for instance, was shortened from 141 to 125 miles. Additionally, SBT GRVL has continued its commitment to inclusivity by partnering with organizations like Ride for Racial Justice and All Bodies on Bikes, aiming to create a welcoming environment for all participants. The 2025 installment of SBT GRVL will include a non-competitive gran fondo-style event for up to 1,800 riders on Saturday, June 28, and the Sunday race takes place June 29th on a brand new spectator friendly 37-mile rolling champagne gravel loop. The elite race will consist of 3 laps with top pros competing for their share of a prize purse, and amateurs will do 2 laps and compete for age group podiums and prizes. Separate Starts for Elite Women (And No Drafting Rules?) To illustrate where we are on this one, take SBT GRVL. It's one of the most famous gravel races in the world but even in 2024, elite women didn't have their own start times. Lauren Stephens won the women's category while riding alongside and drafting with a group of men, including her husband, Mat Stephens, for over half the race. This led to discussions within the gravel cycling community about the fairness of such race dynamics. In response, SBT GRVL organizers announced that, starting in 2025, they will implement separate start times for elite men's and women's fields to ensure fair competition. Last year, Life Time Grand Prix introduced separate start times for all 7 events which marked a significant step toward promoting fairness and inclusivity in gravel racing. It also directly led to one of the most epic finishes ever, a 9 up sprint, for the women's Unbound finish. Expect more races, like SBT GRVL to follow suit this year and in years to come. While women are are finally getting the separate start times they've been asking for, there continues to be heated debates around the idea of women still being able to draft behind men in these races. Sofia Gomez Villafane has been one of the most vocal proponents of a 'no drafting' policy for women drafting behind men. Interestingly however, she took 2nd place at the 2024 Rad Dirt Fest by drafting behind men for several miles to get ahead of Cecily Decker who had been sitting in 2nd place. When Sofia crossed the finish line, she held up a number 3 with her fingers indicating she quickly recognized she didn't feel like she fairly earned the 2nd spot which goes to show that if it's legal, people who will do it even if they feel like it should be officially against the rules. Accelerating Global Growth Gravel cycling's global appeal is accelerating, with series like Gravel Earth expanding from 12 events in 8 countries in 2023 to 25 events in 15 countries in 2025. The UCI Gravel World Series is expanding from 18 to 33 races in 2025. These series show not only localized growth of international gravel communities but the globalized collective expansion of the sport's interest. Kenya’s Migration Gravel Race and Australia’s RDL GRVL (new in 2024) and Seven are drawing elite riders from around the world as well. Life Time Grand Prix also saw a record number of international athletes in 2024, reflecting a growing trend of riders traveling to compete in marquee events like Unbound Gravel and Big Sugar.
- Founder's Blog: 8 Totally Random Rides I Want to Do Around the World
Photo by Josh Kowaleski of Pointed North Photo Inspired by some recent wishful thinking, I decided to jot down some wish list rides from deep down in my cycling heart that I'd love to do some day. Some are long, some are short. Some are stateside and some are in Central America, Africa, and Europe. Will I ever do any of these? Well, one can always hope. MEMBER EXCLUSIVE
- New Gravel Guide: Brainerd Lakes & Cuyuna Country
Plan a gravel adventure in Minnesota's beautiful Brainerd Lakes and Cuyuna Country areas with our newest Gravel Guide. The guide has 13 of the region's best routes in addition to all the favorite local eating, drinking, and lodging options. Browse the guide for everything you need to plan an entire gravel weekend exploring Brainerd and Cuyuna. View the Gravel Guide .
- The 4 Best Northwood Adventure Destinations That Still Lack an Official Bikepacking Route
The Northwoods is really lucky to have 17+ official bikepacking routes across The Nxrth, bikepacking.com, and Bikepacking Roots. It's a special region with deep, dense, expansive forests, endless miles of gravel roads, and the most lakes and rivers anywhere in the lower 48. Here we share a few more beautiful nooks of the Northwoods that we'd love to see get an official bikepacking route. MEMBER EXCLUSIVE
- The Rough Stuff Rally is Back in Copper Harbor for 2025: Details
The 3rd annual Rough Stuff Rally , a non-competitive mountain bike festival, is scheduled for August 1-3, 2025, in Copper Harbor, Michigan. The event features two days of riding on renowned trails. On Friday, shuttles will operate from 4-8 PM, providing access to trails such as Overflow and Danimal, followed by a sunset gathering. Saturday offers participants a choice between a 22-mile or 43-mile loop, showcasing a variety of singletrack routes. The day concludes with a family dinner prepared by Chef Adam Blake, accompanied by refreshments, music, and a bonfire. Registration is priced at $100 until March 1, after which it increases to $120. Participants will receive shuttle service on Friday, a t-shirt, a sticker, access to an aid station on Saturday, the post-ride family dinner, and complimentary beverages on both Friday and Saturday nights. The event is designed for experienced mountain bikers and offers routes suitable for various skill levels. Riders should be self-sufficient, as there is no cell service in the area. Camping is available at Trail's End Campground, the central hub for the event. For detailed information, including gear recommendations and the event schedule, please visit the official event page. Learn more at Bike Jerks .
- Fat Bike Clubs: Check Out Borah's Thermal Ski Pants & Bike Jacket Combo
I've been testing the Borah cross country ski pants in combination with the thermal cycling jacket this winter. Both pieces are full of performance features that keep you comfortable in freezing temperatures. Here are our thoughts on this winter combo for biking. Learn more about Borah XC ski pants and thermal cycling jacket . Borah Teamwear makes handmade custom team cycling and ski apparel in Coon Valley, Wisconsin. 100% of their apparel is made in house at their solar-powered facility. Every year, Borah makes The Nxrth's summer cycling jerseys and winter long sleeve jerseys. But for the first time, we're testing out their XC ski pants in combination with their thermal OTW long sleeve cycling jerseys for our fat bike rides. Curious about the idea of using ski pants for fat biking, I've had fun rambling through the woods with this unique performance combo. Let's dive into the ski pants and then the bike jacket. Thermal XC Ski Pants & My Favorite Features When I first got these pants, I wondered if cross country ski pants are really the best idea for winter fat biking. I normally wear some kind of thermal tights or an over pant that's a little more baggy. Using pants that are purpose built for cross country skiing ended up being a perfect option (and now my go-to option) for fat biking. The crossover from xc skiing to fat biking is a natural fit with similar thermal, mobility, and access needs in both skiing and fat biking. Here were my favorite features. Designed for Super Cold Weather These pants are marked as being ideal for 0 - 40 degree weather. Skiers obviously spend hours on end skiing deep into the northwoods frigid temps. I used them in below zero windchill with ~15mph winds and never felt cold wearing them with both tights and bare skin underneath and never got cold while riding. 4-Way Stretch for Mobility The knees are made from 4-stretch fabric and feel great riding. Again, like skiing, the motion isn't that different and these pants have a great fit that also flexes with your motion while riding. Blocks Wind in the Front, Breathes Freely in the Back I've had a hard time dialing in my pants in the cold and I can get a little numb in my sensitive region. Windproof options keep all the wind out but the cost is that they're not breathable when you work up a sweat. But fully breathable pants are freezing when it's cold and windy. These cut out the wind in the front and are breathable in the back. Long Pant Leg Zippers A lot of pants have ankle zippers but these ones are long . They go on easy and then when you're done biking and overheating indoors they slip off super fast. These make layering with tights, warm socks, and boots really simple. Thermal Cycling Jacket & My Favorite Features Top & Bottom Zippers Even in the freezing cold, I usually end up overheating when riding long enough. The bottom zipper is my favorite way to ventilate. The bottom zipper lets you loosen the jersey tension and get some ventilation without opening all the way and flapping all over the place. Raglan Sleeve Design (And What the Heck is a Raglan Sleeve?) Again, these are not just cold-weather jerseys, they're built for all-day peformance and comfort. A raglan sleeve is a sleeve made from a single piece of fabric all the way from the collar to under the armpit. This gives a better fit that's made for movement. Light But Warm Layering can be such a gamble. Warm layers end up overheating and cold layers are...well...cold. This is a lightweight fabric with a brushed inner lining. So the fabric has some stretch, warmth, and breathability which helps you stay warm in freezing temps but ventilate when you start to cook. Triple Rear Pockets Not too much needs to be said here but it's easy to just look for a warm jacket and forgo the cargo needs of long bike rides. Toss your gels, liner gloves, and cellphone in your winter jersey pockets just like you're used to shoving stuff in your summer jersey pockets. Bottom Line: Ski Pants & Bike Jacket Combo The Borah XC ski pants and thermal cycling jacket are a winning combination for winter fat biking. With thoughtful features like wind-blocking fabrics, 4-way stretch, and ventilating zippers, these pieces deliver comfort, warmth, and performance in freezing temperatures. Whether you're tackling icy trails or cruising snowy paths, this gear is built to handle it all.
- Follow Arrowhead 135 Live: Map Tracking Starts Monday Morning
The Arrowhead 135 winter ultra race is starting on Monday January 27 at 7am in International Falls, Minnesota. The race includes a ski, run, and bike category with racers required to complete qualifying events prior to registering. Follow along live with the 2025 race on the Track Leaders map below. To learn more, visit the Arrowhead 135 .
- Your Answer: What's the Northwoods' Worst Natural Disaster?
We recently polled Nxrth readers in our annual reader survey and asked you what you think is the Northwoods' worst natural disaster. We gave you 3 options that Northwoods bikers are all too familiar and here are the results. First, here were your choices: Black Flies That You Can't Out-Bike There's a certain speed threshold that you need to maintain in order to stay faster than black flies that want to murder you in the woods. For a variety of reasons, sometimes you simply can't out-bike them no matter how hard you try. Going up really long hills, traversing soft and slow gravel, or carrying heavy gear on a bikepacking trip are just a few reasons you may not be able to out bike them. Or sometimes they're just freakishly fast and our legs are no match for them. Is this the absolute worst part of riding in the Northwoods? Mosquitoes That Kill You If You Stop Biking Thankfully, mosquitoes are MUCH easier to out-bike than black flies. They don't have quite as much horsepower in their wings and don't have the same physique as flies. But unfortunately, as soon as you stop biking, they attack you by the thousands and even if you're on full on splatting mode, their are just too many and there's no way you're going to get out of the situation unbitten. Are mosquitoes the absolute worst part of riding in the Northwoods? Cold, Cold, Miserably Cold Winters As a publication that enthusiastically enjoys and promotes fat biking, should this really have been an option? Shouldn't we just pretend that the cold never bothers us and that the snow is always just a joy and a delight? Yes, winter can be magical, wild, and adventurous, and yes, the sight of fresh snow as you wake up to pour a cup of hipster espresso in the morning can take your breath away. But is it also possible that we also acknowledge that sometimes winter kinda sucks? Well we're not going to officially go on record saying that but we did give our readers the opportunity to voice their opinion if that's how you feel. No judgement. Are miserable cold winters the worst part of riding in the Northwoods? Survey Results We emailed our readers to get your insight and these were the results. Our pick for worst natural disaster is mosquitoes but the actual winner is black flies. Then 17% of you weren't ashamed to admit the winters are in face the worst thing about the Northwoods. Northwoods Worst Natural Disaster:
- The 5 Best Everday Benefits of Joining The Nxrth+
Last fall, we launched The Nxrth+ a brand new website membership that gives you access to deeper resources, master maps, and better adventure ideas than ever on The Nxrth. Since then, we've been able to build out more and more resources to help you plan incredible bike experiences all year long. Interested in The Nxrth+ here our the top 5 everyday benefits of becoming a member. Join the Nxrth+ HERE . 1. Master Map of Every Gravel Guide Destination Northfield, Minnesota Gravel Guide Every route, restaurant, brewery, and breakfast recommended by local riders, all in a single map for each of our Gravel Guide destinations. Want to spend a weekend (or just a Saturday) experiencing the best of La Crosse gravel roads or the deep woods of Cable? Use these master maps to visualize the entire Gravel Guide to make planning a gravel getaway fast and memorable. 2. Member-Exclusive Guides & Resources All Year Make every bike season more memorable with deep plan resources for making the most out of seasons, destinations, races, routes, and more. We're regularly publishing top-to-bottom planning resources to help you discover the best adventures all year long. 3. Exclusive Bikepacking Routes The Nxrth is the number one resource for bikepacking routes in the Northwoods with 17 official bikepacking guides. Members now have exclusive access to several of those route such as Itasca Lakenights, Chasing the Train, the Coon Fork Overnighter, and Following the Gandy Dancers. Join The Nxrth+ and explore wild places with fully documented route guides. 4. View the Gravel and MTB Race Calendars as a Map Map of the 2025 Gravel Race Calendar Plan your race season around the parts of the Northwoods you want to explore. The master event maps for Gravel and MTB lay out all the events in an easy to use format. 5. $50 Off a Professional Bike Fitting from Paulie at GO PHYSIO Address knee, neck, or back pain and perform at your very best with a professional bike fitting from certified physical therapist, Paulie Glatt. Members of The Nxrth+ get $50 off a fitting. Don't wait feel better on your bike. Get Unlimited Access to Guides, Routes, Maps, & Stories on The Nxrth+