Today we're announcing our very first signature destination Gravel Guide at Wedges Creek Hideaway in Wisconsin. Wedges Creek is a wood-fired pizza farm and bar with camping and tiny cabins in the middle of gravel country. Early Access to this Gravel Guide is now available to Patrons on our Adventure Team tier. Join us on Patreon to get access now.

As our eyes turn to the 2024 gravel season, we're releasing a brand new northern lights-inspired 2024 Nxrth jersey in time for gravel races and woodsy rambles. Designed and manufactured right here in Wisconsin's beautiful Driftless region by Borah Teamwear, these Pro jerseys are available until Thursday, Feb 22. Every jersey comes with: Fit Guarantee Recycled materials Silicone waist gripper Three rear pockets Lightweight Moisture wicking Made in Wisconsin Shop the 2024 Nxrth Jersey

In this week's installment of our Gravel Goals series, coach Paul Warloski talks about balancing the key components of a training plan into your busy life. Follow along with the Gravel Goals series to improve your performance in your 100+ mile gravel events. Words by Paul Warloski of Simple Endurance Coaching . To learn more, visit our Introduction to the Gravel Goals series . This week in our series on training for a long gravel race, we’re focusing on how to actually create a schedule that can work in your daily lives. It’s important to create a schedule that maximizes your training time. And we need to include endurance training, strength training, and yoga to improve our health, mobility, and fitness. How do you do all of that? Set up a gravel base training schedule around your life and work schedule Remember, here’s what we talked about in the last post : One long day of endurance riding Three to four days of short endurance riding Two days a week of strength training Two days a week of yoga - recovery and/or strength One or two days a week of intervals One rest day Scheduling Your Key Long Easy Ride Generally, most people have more time on the weekends, so schedule your long rides on weekends if that works. Plus more people are free on the weekends for group rides. Your other workouts can be scheduled for 30 to 90 minutes on days you’re working, again, depending on your schedule. You might find it easier to do double days or maybe you can ride to work and ride home the long way. You have lots of options to fit your schedule! Remember to practice your fueling and hydration along with using potential race gear like bags. Strength Training on Hard Days Generally, I advise athletes to have hard days and easier days. That means on hard days, couple your strength and your intervals. Unless there’s a specific reason you’re working on strength training, I’d suggest doing the intervals in the morning and strength training after work. We’re not trying to become Olympic lifters or bodybuilders so it doesn’t matter if we’re a little fatigued when we lift. Our goal is to lift to fatigue the muscles a little more than usual. Base Training Endurance Days I schedule longer base endurance days for the weekend when I have more time. If I’m training for a gravel century, I don’t necessarily need to eventually ride 100 miles in training. On the other hand, doing 60 miles Saturday and 60 miles Sunday at an endurance pace puts a lot of training stress in the bank and doesn’t cause as much muscle damage. During the week, you can add in as much endurance riding as you’re able to muster with your schedule. The more volume you can build with easy endurance miles, the better off you’ll be. But make sure you increase the volume incrementally each week. If you try to ride 60 miles and you’ve never done more than 20 before, you’re going to set yourself back! Scheduling Yoga Sessions Yoga for recovery - shorter sessions based on simple movements - can happen any time. For example, I have an 8pm Yoga Recovery session for my athletes every Monday on Zoom. Yoga for strength, a Hatha or Flow class, can be counted as strength training or done as part of a double day when you do your ride in the morning or after work. Do the yoga AFTER you ride. The 80/20 Model Keeps You Focused The idea of the 80/20 model is that 80 percent of your sessions or four out of five rides are endurance and the others are intensity. As we’ve talked about in the previous article, endurance rides are key elements of your training plan. You can build up a lot of training volume and stress without as much of the fatigue that builds up with higher intensity. So generally, do mostly easy endurance miles and some hard interval days, and you’ll get the adaptations you need in your muscles and cardiovascular system without too much fatigue. Sample Week Monday: Rest day Tuesday: intervals and strength Wednesday: easy endurance Thursday: easy endurance and strength Friday: rest or recovery ride Saturday: intervals and endurance Sunday: long endurance day You can always switch the weekend days. Try to get at least 48 hours in between interval sessions for full 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 .

The newest episode of The Northwoods Ramble podcast recently dropped. Seeley Dave and TJ talk about ice riding, the lack of normal winters lately, and the conditions and snow making up around Seeley and Cable. From the Northwoods Ramble Podcast: It’s been a month since the last Ramble. I guess that is better than the two months between show 9 and 10. Anyway, Seeley Dave and TJ are back for Northwoods Ramble Show 11 and a review of the winter that wasn’t. 2024 started out with a New Years Day paddle down the Namekagon River for Dave and Liz. With almost no snow this winter, we go swale watching to see the piles of manmade snow the Birkie has stored and intends to spread out to create a 10K loop for the 50th. TJ explains a bit about the Birkie’s snowmaking capabilities. We discuss the huge economic hit the area has taken from winter lack of visitors. Dave gives an update on his frozen lake riding goals.

Today's Reader's Route comes from Scott Haraldson and includes a few hours of driftless climbing hear Lake Pepin. A short and enjoyable one hour fifteen minute drive from the Twin Cities lands you in the small town of Maiden Rock. This route packs as many climbs and gravel roads as possible while keeping the distance under 60 miles. Submission from Scott Haraldson With eight categorized climbs (Based on Garmin's ClimbPro calculations) and up to 15 percent grades you'll get the lungs and heart pumping. To start your day park your vehicle in the Maiden Rock Village Park before pedaling north out of town. Before long you'll already be pedaling yourself up out of the river valley and quickly onto gravel. There are a not many water stops so make sure to bring enough bottles and food to get you through the day. At mile 41 you'll ride through the town of Plum which has a well stocked convenience store and a couple of great options for food for those who want to sit. My very favorite portion of the route comes near the end where at mile 52 you begin a three mile downhill on a very narrow, rough road, that depending on the weather may have multiple stream crossings (that are easy to navigate across). Finish up back in Maiden Rock and stand elbow to elbow with other two wheelers (of the motorcycle variety) at the Six String Saloon. Submit Your Reader's Route All Reader's Routes So Far

As our eyes turn to the 2024 gravel season, we're releasing a brand new northern lights-inspired 2024 Nxrth jersey in time for gravel races and woodsy rambles. Designed and manufactured right here in Wisconsin's beautiful Driftless region by Borah Teamwear, these Pro jerseys are available until Thursday, Feb 22. Every jersey comes with: Fit Guarantee Recycled materials Silicone waist gripper Three rear pockets Lightweight Moisture wicking Made in Wisconsin Shop the 2024 Nxrth Jersey

We recently launched a new series called " Gravel Goals " to help you train for your 100 mile gravel races. Today Coach Paul Warloski discusses how to build a strong base to have a solid foundation as you lengthen your distances this spring and summer. Words by Paul Warloski of Simple Endurance Coaching . To learn more, visit our Introduction to the Gravel Goals series . If you are preparing for a long gravel race this year, laying a solid foundation or "base" right now is crucial. This base is not just about logging miles but also about incorporating strength training and yoga to enhance strength and mobility. This is a general preparation phase where you build the capacity to train harder before the main event. You’re getting your body ready to tackle the tough training you need to do to comfortably finish a long gravel race. Think of base training as the foundation of a building; the larger the foundation, the taller and larger the building can be. Understanding the Importance of Base Building Base training is the first phase of a structured training plan. It's about developing a strong aerobic engine, which is essential for endurance sports like gravel racing. A well-developed aerobic base allows your body to efficiently use oxygen and conserve glycogen stores in your muscles and liver - critical for long-distance events - by becoming better at burning fat. Plus, you build more and larger mitochondria in your cells to produce energy, which also helps your body’s capacity to burn fat as a fuel, which we all have in virtually unlimited stores. Key Components of Base Training Endurance rides: These are long, steady rides at a moderate intensity, roughly 50 to 70 percent of the maximum heart rate you’ve seen. They should form the bulk of your base training, helping to increase your aerobic capacity and endurance. You should be able to talk easily with another person and breathe mostly through your nose. Strength training: Incorporating strength training is vital. It builds muscle strength, improves power output, and reduces the risk of overuse or injury. Focus on full-body compound movements like deadlifts, as well as push (chest press) and pull (row) exercises. Yoga and mobility work: Yoga improves flexibility, balance, and core strength. Regular yoga practice can also aid in recovery, reduce muscle soreness, and enhance overall mobility, crucial for long hours in the saddle. Structuring Your Base Training Building Endurance Duration: 8-12 weeks. Focus: Gradually increase the length of your endurance rides. Start with what you're comfortable with and aim to increase volume by about five to 10 percent each week. In the beginning, you might be able to increase it more, but as you work up to longer distances, you’ll increase it less. Intensity: Keep the intensity easy. Use heart rate zones or perceived exertion to stay in the aerobic zone. One good way of monitoring your intensity is breathing through your nose and keeping your mouth closed. You should also be able to have an easy conversation with others. Frequency: Get in one long as possible ride in a week, plus three to four shorter endurance rides. Strength and Mobility Duration: Concurrent with endurance training. Strength training: Two to three times a week for 30 to 45 minutes. Focus on your entire body, especially core strength. We’ll get into strength training more fully in a later article. Yoga: Incorporate yoga sessions 1-2 times a week. Focus on poses that target typical cyclists' problem areas like hips, hip flexors, and lower back. Think mobility, not flexibility. Nutrition and Recovery Nutrition: Fuel your body with a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats. Don't forget to hydrate adequately. Recovery: Prioritize rest and recovery. Ensure you're getting enough sleep, and consider active recovery days where you focus on light activities like walking or gentle yoga. Include Some Intervals During Base Generally, I do recommend that you include one hard session a week. For my athletes, we work on weaknesses, like your capacity to go really hard, or higher cadence work. This is also a good time to get in some Zwift racing to keep your winter training more interesting. Your primary focus, though, is the slow, easy miles that bring about a lot of adaptations in your muscular and cardiovascular systems without much fatigue. Building a Base is Holistic Building a strong base for a long gravel race is about more than just racking up slow, endurance miles. It's a holistic approach that includes endurance training, strength workouts, and yoga for improved strength and mobility. By following these guidelines, you're setting yourself up for a successful and enjoyable race experience. Remember, consistency is key, and always listen to your body to prevent overtraining. 3 Things to Know About Building a Base for Gravel Racing 1. Ride lots but go slower than you expect so that your heart rate is 50 to 70 percent of your maximum. 2. Do several rides during the week, and increase the time length of one of them each week to build up to a long ride. 3. Make sure you’re recovering with good nutrition and yoga. 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 recently concluded our January Fat Bike & Coffee challenge. Despite not having a lot of snow, many of you still got out to join the adventure and share your photos. Check out a few of the photos and adventures from around the community to see what everyone was up to in January.

Tofte Trails cabins just opened last fall on the north shore of Lake Superior. Near Lutsen mountains and some amazing gravel, MTB, fat, and bikepacking adventures, they offer beautiful and relaxing cabins designed for couples and solo travelers surrounded by wild adventures. Enjoy a Q&A with the owners and photo gallery then start dreaming up your next adventure. To learn more, visit Tofte Trails . Q&A with owners Chris & Kelsey: Congrats on opening Tofte Trails last fall! Seems like a great location for bike adventures? We actually have a direct connection to Jackpot/High Climber trail off of Onion River Road which connects to Britton Peak Trail head. So guests can either drive 10 minutes to Britton Peak or head left out of Tofte Trails up Onion River Rd and access world class trails. Guests can bring their fat bikes and head out directly from the property and get to Jackpot and Britton Peak. Jackpot/High Climber is a point to point 16 mile wilderness trail through the Sawtooth Mountains that connects Britton Peak to Tofte to Lutsen Mountains built by Rock Solid. Sustainably built with the environment in mind, it’s a flowy trail with awesome features and jumps along the way. Onion River Rd is a forest service gravel road and reaches the Gitchi Gami paved trail and the new gravel connection to Lutsen Mountains. They recently expanded the gravel to paved connections around Lutsen Mountains. Britton Peak also offers a connection to the dead end Carlton Peak Trail and is another awesome gravel option with an amazing view pay off of Lake Superior and the surrounding valleys at the top. We absolutely love our location as it is proximal to all of these great adventures. SugarBush Trail system is 2 minutes up Onion River road. The best cross country ski and snowshoeing trail system in the state and it offers incredible summer hiking too. Jeff of Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte has all of the outdoor gear anyone would need to make the most of these adventures just in case anyone needs to rent any bikes, boards, skis etc. Excitingly we can now share the news that another trail system build out is set to begin at the top of Onion River Rd and will offer another world class trail system. Which is amazing as there will be even more great rides right out your door from Tofte Trails. Riders can fuel up and get a bite to eat at Coho Cafe, Lutsen Lockport Marketplace, Bluefin Grill, and the Tofte General Store all within 5 minutes away. You’re at a pretty cool intersection of rugged outdoors and luxury indoors. Where do you see those two things coming together for gravel and fat bikers? Our goal is to bring nature lovers to the doorstep of the outdoors in comfort. We want our guests to have an incredible experience and feel a certain moody vibe when they stay at Tofte Trails which is why we poured so much energy into the details and outfitted the cabins with 140 year old barnwood. Secondly, our cabins offer an aesthetic that guests love and the size and layout makes you feel entrenched in nature. Again, our location on Onion River Rd offers gravel and fat bikers everything they would want for trail access to get to Britton Peak, Jackpot, Carlton Peak and so on. Many of our guests are among the play hard, chill hard variety. We really encourage everyone to get out, get dirty and come back to your cabin for a restful retreat. The cabins are built to be an experience in and of themselves and to complement your outdoor adventure. You started with Cuyuna Cove and now you’re now adding Tofte Trails. How has the Cuyuna cycling community influenced what you built into your Tofte Trails experience? We built Cuyuna Cove to be an access point to all of the adventures we love to have in the outdoors and Tofte really is an extension of the same. We love the North Shore and the feeling you get amongst the wilderness is largely unmatched in Minnesota. Cuyuna’s trail system built around crystal clear, spring fed mine pit lakes is unrivaled in the state but this differs from what the North Shore offers in scope of its biking, hiking, skiing, views of Lake Superior, paved trail and so on. It takes years to even come close to touching all of the North Shore adventures one can have. Kelsey and I continue to go on new hikes, new exploration up and down the shore and we haven’t even chipped the tip of the iceberg. So it really is endless with more to come. There are great people behind the scenes for the trail associations that are making these new systems come to life and we are thankful to all of those who diligently work against bureaucracy to make it happen. Then the general public gets to benefit further from these efforts. Specifically to outdoor gear and bikes we added storage en suite on the back side of the cabins at Tofte Trails and made some systems modifications to accommodate winter and summer even more sustainably. Our cabins are an artistic endeavor for us that we do our best to combine or weave into nature versus forcing into nature. We want you to feel like you’re IN the woods even when you’re inside one of our cabins. A lot of our guests talk about loving to get dirty and get after it but having an experience based stay to come back to afterwards is the cherry on top for the day. Separately we have a ton of wildlife that comes through our corridor so if you are quietly relaxing at your cabin you’ll see an array of animals go by the cabins. Mornings in particular are great for waking up slowly with more wildlife slipping through. We are mulling over an off grid stay option in the future at Tofte Trails for those riders who just want to crush trails and crash or use the property as a basecamp to head into the boundary waters, but of course we will still put our take on this variety of stay as well. You guys built some incredibly thoughtful amenities into these cabins. What are your personal favorite things about them? We appreciate this question as this is where the labor of love lies. It took a ton of effort to outfit these cabins with 140 year old barn wood and avoid drywalling a cabin. Even cedar finish has a certain feel to it. Beautiful but not what we were going for. The barn wood is unmatched and given how labor intensive it was to acquire, clean, sand and install it is likely to stay one of the most unique aspects of our Tofte Trails cabins. With so much imitation and 1 off cabin stays being offered through Airbnb we truly wanted to build another one of a kind stay that juxtaposed the old world with new amenities and we wanted guests to feel this heavy, moody vibe. The cabins push you into a reflective and pensive frame of mind. As for the amenities we went all out. The cabins are equipped with dishwashers, large mini fridges, in floor heat, supplemental heat gas fireplaces, mini splits for AC in the summer as we are getting hotter temps, spa inspired shower/bath layout and design, en suite storage for outdoor gear, brass finishes, custom concrete countertops & fireplace stand, king size beds on custom oak frames, oak cabinets & shelving, and projectors for movie nights or for stormy/rainy days. Automatic blinds double as the screen for the projectors. The fireplace, mini split, projectors and blinds are all on remote for convenience. Board games provide those nostalgic vibes from a simpler time that so many of us crave these days. There are other small artful pieces in the cabins that guests really enjoy as well. We took note of how our best stays from our travels always offered decor and items that when interacted with add to the overall experience. We are all so overwhelmed by the constant stimuli of today’s world that we wanted guests to really be able to check out, relax and unwind. At the same time we recognize many cannot unplug fully so we provide fiber internet for those that need to stay connected for work. Cell service is still bad on the North Shore so having great wifi also helps out in that regard. Besides the abundance of forest around Tofte Trails, we additionally brought in 17 trees (Moonglow Juniper, Red Cedar, Bonny Blues) that further contribute to the beautifully landscaped property and will only get better year after year as they will all grow to be sizeable trees providing more privacy to each cabin. We also planted hoards of natives throughout the property and around each cabin and privacy fencing that will begin to grow taller and flower this coming year. Boulder retaining walls around the cabins further add to the North Shore mystique.

Today we're introducing a brand new training series called "Gravel Goals" with coach Paul Warloski. Over the next few weeks and months we'll be publishing helpful articles for training for your 100 mile gravel rides. Whether you're training for your first one or looking to improve your performance, we want to support your goals and help you have a successful gravel ride. Gravel Goals with Coach Paul Warloski Words by Paul Warloski of Simple Endurance Coaching Any long gravel race, especially 100 miles and longer, is a physical and mental challenge. But that’s why we do it! And there’s a difference between just surviving to finish a long gravel race and finishing one comfortably, maybe even racing it. Preparing your body with good training and good nutrition along with some mental training goes a long way toward a successful event. Our goal throughout several articles in the Gravel Goals series is to give you the framework of what to do to prepare for a long gravel race. We’ll cover these topics over the next several weeks: Base training Intervals Training schedule for working people Nutrition and hydration Recovery Mental preparation Five Keys to Training for a 100 Mile Gravel Race For now, let’s start with the big picture of training for a gravel century ride. Here are the five keys to a successful event: Lots of base endurance miles. Intervals that prepare you for the challenges of gravel racing Strength training Yoga for mobility Recovery 1. Base Endurance Miles The key to a successful event is building up your endurance. This means as many miles as possible at a very easy pace, roughly 50 to 70 percent of your maximum heart rate. Essentially, you’re riding at a pace where you can easily talk with someone about everything except maybe politics or religion. This kind of riding builds the adaptations in your cardiovascular system and your muscles to be ready for a long gravel race. 2. Intervals You can improve your gravel fitness by doing intervals - short, hard sessions where you ride at a specific pace or heart rate to improve your cycling performance. For example, you might do really hard, maximum effort intervals for two minutes in the winter and then more gravel-racing-specific intervals of eight to 15 minutes closer to your event. Intervals are a great way to improve your body’s capacity to work hard, but they require more recovery time. So we do them sparingly to target weaknesses and race-specific needs. 3. Strength Training Gravel racing can really take a toll on your body. Consistent strength training can prepare you for more and better training as well as keep you strong for the uneven gravel and dirt roads and paths we race on. I’d suggest two, even three days a week of full-body strength training for 30 to 45 minutes. You might do your strength training on the same day as an interval session or use it as a cross-training day. I always start new athletes off with this Back and Booty routine to build the muscles of their back and glutes to prepare them for heavier lifting. 4. Yoga for Mobility When we ride our bicycles, we are in a pretty limited range of motion. We’re hunched over, trying to keep our upper bodies mostly still while using our legs to push. Clearly, this is not optimal human movement! Yoga can move us in all different directions, create better mobility in our hips and shoulders, and build up our joint strength. Mobility in our joints allows us to move better, which creates more strength and stability as we ride. 5. Recovery When we ride, strength train, or even do yoga, we cause damage to our bodies. Only during recovery does our body rebuild itself stronger and more ready to take on challenges. Getting good sleep, seven to nine hours a night, and good nutrition are ways to get 99 percent of your recovery dialed in. Focusing on good sleep and eating habits will help you reach your gravel racing goals. Training plus experience 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 .

The 2024 US Fat Bike Open, part of the SnowCrown series, was recently held at a new venue, Ariens Nordic Center. The race day brought sunshine and blue skies to the fast and hilly course. Stacee Goedtel took second place in the Women's Advanced Category and shares her story of racing, dropping a chain, and making it to the podium. To learn more, visit the Snow Crown series . Words by Stacee Goedtel . Photos by Mitchell Vincent ( Website & Instagram ) Ariens Nordic Center hosted the US Fat Bike Open for the first time this year. Approaching this course race morning left me in awe. Despite the weather’s ups and downs this season Arien’s was able to create a pristine course for fat bikers from all around. With snow making and grooming capabilities we were presented with a 2.7 mile lap and a wide open fast hilly course for this year’s US Open. The temperature was about 15-17 degrees Fahrenheit with a decent breeze on race day. Just getting out in the cold in your race attire takes discipline. This year I signed up for the advanced women’s category. Got on the bike for a short 10 minutes prior to race start time to stay warm. My goal going into race day first and foremost is always to have fun. Second goal was to grab a podium spot hopefully alongside some of my Broken Spoke Racing teammates. I was happy to hear they increased our category to a five lap race. The longer the better in my mind. As it began it wasn’t long before we were climbing up wide steep double track hills diving into sharp turns with a mix of tracks and slippery fresh powder. It wasn’t long before the heat of racing set in and I found myself hastily wanting to shed as many layers as I could under the bright sun. After the first lap I took off my gloves, unzipped my jacket and settled into the rest of the race working with teammate Brandi McVeigh to stay in the front of the pack. For each race category at this venue the field of riders tend to spread out due to the fast course and somewhat technical turns and hills. By the end of the second lap unfortunately I dropped my chain and had to replace it while going up a hill. I ran the rest of the hill and hopped back on the bike separated from the front rider. I began passing racers from different categories. We exchanged words of encouragement while pushing up more elevation and diving into sketchy turns. I was able to secure second place in the women’s advanced category along with Brandi McVeigh in first and Jamie Zarda in third. Both my fellow Broken Spoke riders! My goal has always been to be competitive in the advanced category, so I am thrilled with a podium at this event this year. Even better to have so many people in the Broken Spoke community to race with and spectate. Highlights outside of my race consisted of a few things. Those who are participating in their first season of fat biking take the top of that list! This race had very different conditions compared to the first race in the Snow Crown Series giving our new fat bikers a completely different taste of winter riding. Their reactions to the difference was exciting. Next would be watching Josh Lasley win a sprint battle for 4th against Aaron Stroebel in men’s advanced category. This was the best finish of the day. Watching Cayden Budd and Casey Hildebrant battle for the top of the podium in the elite men’s race always keeps people around. They stuck with each other each lap. Cayden taking first right at the end with Casey not far behind. Also a shout out to Jenny Youngwerth who took the top spot for the women’s elite category. The Snow Crown Series has had their work cut out for them planning their races with the weather changes. Having Ariens being a part of this was an amazing addition to help with the unpredictable weather. Thank you to both organizations for all your hard work.

The 2024 Arrowhead 135 race starts on Jan 29 and has 13 women signed up for the bike category. We reached out to the women with a few questions about their 2024 race and how they get through the darkest parts of winter fat bike ultra races. Enjoy the respones they wrote and photos from past winter ultras. To learn more visit Arrowhead 135 . Jump to Rider Laura Hrubes Amanda Harvey Sveta Vold Jill Martindale Aga Fine Claire Richard Beth Freymiller The Arrowhead 135 is considered one of the hardest races on earth and takes place during the coldest time of year in the coldest place in the lower 48 states. On average, the finish rate is less than 50%. The races starts in International Falls, Minnesota and follows the rugged and scenic Arrowhead snowmobile rail. Each year the race registration is done with a lottery style. Before being eligible to register, riders must have completed a prior Arrowhead 135, Tuscobia 160, Susitna, or similar race as well as finishing a 24 hour bike race, with minimum of 100 miles completed for off-road, or 200 miles on road. We reach out to the women doing the bike category of this year's Arrowhead 135 and here were there responses: Laura Hrubes What brought you to the 2024 Arrowhead 135? I’ve wanted to do arrowhead for a long time, ever since I heard about it years ago. It’s taken years of increasingly longer and more challenging off-road and winter adventures to feel like I understood what something like arrowhead would actually take. A couple official Tuscobias and one solo Tuscobia on my own during the pandemic, the polar roll snowflake and polar roll ultra, the Green Bay winter ultra, some marjis, a bunch of Crushers, and more 100+ mile off-road adventures than I could possibly remember have brought me to a place where I feel ready to try. There’s really nowhere I would rather be than in the wild, desolate wilderness of the north country; it’s where I grew up and will always feel more like home to me than anywhere else. I can’t wait to be out there! How do you keep the momentum going when things get dark? I’m not sure if you mean when the sun goes down and it gets dark, or when it feels dark. Dealing with the sun going down is something I practice, as it can feel overwhelming and scary. The experience feels a lot more intense in the dark and if you have any insecurities or fears they are heightened. But you do it enough and it becomes much less of a big deal. Be ready for the temperature to drop, be aware of your lights and gear and spare batteries and know where everything is and have it all ready to go (I always make sure I have a headlamp around my neck when the sun goes down) and the darkness becomes an adventure rather than something to fear. And if you mean darkness in a more metaphorical sense, the mental game is the hardest part! The most important thing is to fuel your body so you can keep feeling good. Whenever I start to feel discouraged or sad or defeated, I think “aha, I’m hungry, that’s my body telling me I need something right now!” Most of the time that takes care of it immediately. I have a bunch of mantras or affirmations ready to go that I can remind myself of if I need them…I chose this, I wanted to be here, I deserve to be here, people believe in me, it’s ok to be uncomfortable, right now is not forever and I’ll get through this, this is a privilege and I’m grateful, there’s a lot of people that would love to be able to be here and I owe this to them to try my hardest, etc etc etc. Music helps too, I usually have that handy for a pick me up if needed. Reminding myself that right now, everything is ok, and if it’s not, I’ll fix it. And at the end of the day, finishing what you started feels a whole heck of a lot better than quitting. Any gear highlights you want to mention? I decided this year that I would be very, very intentional with my gear, and support USA made and local companies as much as possible. To that end, all of my bike bags are made by Cedaero. I have a bunch of gear from Empire Wool and Canvas. I’ll be wearing base layers from Superior Fleece, an anorak from Wintergreen Ely, Steger Mukluks, and the best socks and hat on the planet from Hollow Alpaca. I’ve got a really cool tool kit setup from Johnny D’s Bike Bags. I’ll be using a Cold Avenger mask as well as needed. All of this stuff is, in my opinion, the best quality goods out there, and it’s all made by small companies in the USA. Local is beautiful. Amanda Harvey What Brought You to the 2024 Arrowhead 135? In 2016 I started racing at the NSC Velodrome. I was welcomed into the community and introduced to different types of racing. I started racing crits, road and had one ordeal of a gravel race. Fat biking started when I borrowed my husband's bike for a race in mashed potato snow. It was awful, but for some reason I wanted to do more. When I did the St Croix 40 in 2019, that was my longest race ever. Since then I've been building up to longer distances because they're more of an adventure than a race. This is my 4th start at Arrowhead, I have 1 finish and 2 DNFs unsupported. I keep coming back because of the unique challenges of the race, no two years are the same, which gives me lots of things to learn and adapt to for the next year. I have lots of Minnesota pride in the people and the environment of the race. How do you keep the momentum going when things get dark? If we're talking literal darkness, then that's the part I enjoy the most. The focus of the headlamp, the stars, seeing shapes in the snow. Metaphorical darkness? I try to find the humor in the situation, or what is going well. "Sure I've been hiking with my bike on my back for 6 hours, but at least the weather is sunny." And also it's ok to cry; usually I feel better after and my tears haven't yet frozen to my face. Any gear highlights you want to mention? I'm excited to test out my Osto Arctodus at this year's race. There hasn't been much snow to play in yet this year, but it's handled my training rides like a champ. Sveta Vold What brought you to the 2024 Arrowhead 135? This is my AH135 #9 (finished 2 supported 3 unsupported as well as 3 DNF) How do you keep the momentum going when things get dark? I love to be in the woods by myself. Lots of thoughts. Any gear highlights you want to mention? I always have LOTs of gear. It depends on the year and weather conditions . I did it in very cold and very warm conditions with lots of extra stuff as well as the minimum. But always after the race I have the stuff I never used and food I never ate. When we started to have the unsupported category - the only one I sign up for now - it is a changed game. The gear I use and the way I pack are all completely different now. In the unsupported category, the amount of the stuff you need is more. I hope one day that the unsupported category will take more attention than the supported category. You carry all you need without the option of warm check -points and drying out, and eating hot food at the check-point. Now it's all you have to take care of what is much harder. Jill Martindale What brought you to the 2024 Arrowhead 135? I've been to Arrowhead 5 times (3 finishes) and am looking forward to seeing the community again this year! I love winter ultras and have finished Tuscobia, Fat Pursuit, White Mountains 100, ITI 350, and ITI 1000 - AH is one of my favorites and one of the closest for me to get to, so of course I want to come play! How do you keep the momentum going when things get dark? I keep myself pretty entertained with a busy mind - I'll make lists of things, celebrate the little victories, and daydream. I don't allow myself to say negative things out loud and try to avoid people who can be verbally negative while out on the trail. Laughing and making up jokes, sarcastically saying that I love things when they aren't that enjoyable - it all helps to trick my brain out of the dark times. It also helps to know that things will get hard, but that they won't be tough forever (so long as you're taking care of yourself.) Conditions will always get better - you just don't know when, or if it'll be while you're out there (ope!) Any gear highlights you want to mention? Studded 45NRTH tires are always a hit out on winter trails, and they keep me confidently riding when there could be a potential for ice. Their Wolfgar boots have always keep my feet toasty, too! My Salsa Beargrease is a comfortable bike that I like to play around with year-round, and spending time getting to know the bike loaded up with gear also inspires confidence. Removing any "what ifs" and doubts before race day means there's less negative and intrusive thoughts out in the cold, and I can spend more time listening for creatures out in the woods or day-dreaming about the grilled cheeses at Melgeoge. Aga Fine What brought you to the 2024 Arrowhead 135? I have done Arrowhead a few times and I just love this race so I keep on coming back. I bike a ton all year long. But I never have done anything like tour Divide. Lots of gravel stuff. Love the winter I think I do well in this race because of my mountaineering background. I feel comfortable not being comfortable. How do you keep the momentum going when things get dark? I just keep moving forward one pedal stroke at a time, or if I’m pushing my bike one step at a time. I break the trail into three checkpoints. I just tell myself I need to make it to the next check point. I never look at it as 135 miles all at once. I break it into mileage between check points. I talk to myself. I regroup at checkpoints. And at times as much as I love the solitude I really like running into other people on the trail. Any gear highlights you want to mention? I love my Salsa Beargrease. As to my bike I trust my mechanic that sets up my bike before the race. I always have a few pairs of hats and gloves/mittens so I know my hands always will be warm and dry. As long as your head is warm your core stays warm. OR mountaineering mittens I swear by them. Claire Richard What brought you to the 2024 Arrowhead 135? I've always enjoyed outdoor physical activity, but during COVID I was introduced to MTB and endurance cycling and dove in head first. Over the past 3.5 years I've done several ultra events including 906 events Crusher and Polar Roll Ultra, Lumberjack 100 and Coast to Coast along with some extended bikepacking trips with my partner, Ken. I love to challenge myself, am a little bit of a box checker and am ITI curious so Arrowhead seemed like the next logical step from PRU. I am looking forward to meeting more people in the winter ultra community! How do you keep the momentum going when things get dark? I rely a lot on my competitive nature, but I guess I also pull from what I would consider a toolbox of mental exercises. These generally involve talking to myself in some way; hyping myself up, positive self talk, mantras, in the moment gratitude practice, letting myself feel my emotion and then making a plan with myself to make things better, picking a small goal to focus on that I know I can achieve and then building on that. I'll sometimes sing (badly) out loud or in my head and change lyrics to include something about spinning. Any gear highlights you want to mention? New to me this year for winter riding is a fur ruff that I put on the jacket I plan to wear most of the race. So far it's been one of my favorite pieces especially when snowing or windy; it makes a nice little micro environment for my face! Beth Freymiller What brought you to the 2024 Arrowhead 135? There aren't many races that I make time for on the calendar every year, but Arrowhead is special. I love the course, the people at the checkpoints and the experience of the solitude on the trail. 2023 will be my third consecutive year. I love that the trail has been so different each year. How do you keep the momentum going when things get dark? I like to switch things up when things get dark. It's usually a good sign that I need to eat something, drink something or maybe hike a bike for a little while to warm up my toes. Any gear highlights you want to mention? I'm tinkering with my gear every year. I keep learning new things and am still trying to sort out the ideal layering strategy. If I had to pick a gear highlight, I'd say my onyx hubs. I love the quiet, quick engagement and how tough they are. I learned the hard way that a good set of hubs can make or break your race.