This fall, Noelle Battle from Bikepacking Roots, took on a solo bikepacking trip of the Northwoods Route through Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Traveling here from the East Coast to do this route, she shares a reflection of her trip as well some highs and lows. Words by Noelle Battle, Executive Director of Bikepacking Roots . Learn more about the Northwoods Route . After a long drive out from the East Coast, I arrived in Ironwood, Michigan which would be my base for starting my journey on the Northwoods Route. It’s been over a year since I had set off on an extended bikepacking adventure like this, and the first time since early 2020 that I was taking on a 500+ mile trip solo (almost getting stuck in Cuba as the COVID-19 lockdowns started is a story for another time). I’d been so busy getting settled into my new role at Bikepacking Roots, that I hadn’t spent that much time on my bike leading up to the trip, but "hey, I’ve done this before, ~50 miles a day is no big deal" is what I kept telling myself. I got my trusty bike and gear in order and headed toward Wisconsin to start the first leg of my journey. For those of you who might not be familiar, the Northwoods Route was envisioned by Kurt Refsnider and was first launched to the public in 2021, thanks to the work of many dedicated volunteers who participated in the Route Test Team and contributors who wrote sections of the 70-page guidebook that was developed to accompany the route. It is a 630-mile route circumnavigating the western half of Lake Superior, primarily following gravel roads, two-tracks, logging roads, rail trails and sections of pavement through thick forests and past too many picturesque lakes to keep count. A unique feature of the route is that the loop is closed by utilizing passenger ferries across Lake Superior to travel to Isle Royale National Park, connecting the Minnesota and Michigan sections of the route. I wanted to share some of my reflections from my trip to give other riders a bit of a feel for the route, and maybe inspire some others to take the same challenging adventure in the future. I completed the trip in 14 days (12 days of riding and 2 days for the transit via Isle Royale). This worked out to be an average of just over 50 miles a day, with 4 days in each state since there are approximately 200 miles in each state segment. My trip is proof that you can survive this ride with average fitness level and minimal training, but I’ll advise that it definitely would have helped if I had ridden my bike a bit more in advance. The route is challenging. Even though it isn’t overly technical and the physical difficulty isn’t super high because it doesn’t have big mountain climbs, it will definitely challenge folks. But the good thing is that it is a really accessible route for all types of people with the right planning, understanding of your capabilities, and plotting out the time needed to make the route most enjoyable for you. I certainly wouldn’t have minded extending my trip to allow for more time for lake swimming and taking advantage of the countless other activities along the route. For folks that are looking for more technical riding, the route has several published singletrack alternative segments where you can take a different route following some amazing trail networks such as the Duluth Traverse and the CAMBA Singletrack Network. I can’t speak from personal experience on those alternates, but the little bit of singletrack that was mixed into the main route on the CAMBA system was super fun. In addition to those alternatives, the MTB culture is really strong around here and our guidebook highlights a number of other trail systems touching the route that folks may want to spend additional time exploring. I ended up in Copper Harbor at the start of their annual Trails Fest and learned about the world-class trails being built up there which are attracting people from all over. One of my biggest impressions from the trip was how quiet the roads were, especially in the Wisconsin and Minnesota sections. Apart from the sections getting into and out of Duluth, time spent on any busier roads was usually very short and then you were back on roads where there may not be a motor vehicle for hours. I ran into more ATVs in Michigan on the rail trail and other ATV roads, but I also rode that section on Labor Day weekend, so I am guessing traffic was higher than normal. Another aspect I loved (and sometimes hated) about the route was the variety of surfaces. This isn’t a route that was seeking out only the smooth gravel roads in the region. I laughed to myself once in particular when riding along a perfectly smooth gravel road in the Minnesota section, being amazed by these perfectly maintained, traffic-free roads, only to make the next turn off onto a chunky, sandy ATV trail for the next 10 miles. I thought to myself, so this is what it is like to ride a Bikepacking Roots route, always something to keep it interesting! I might have huffed and puffed and sometimes pushed my bike up the short, steep gravel climbs, but that was often followed by getting to charge through flowy sections with a big grin on my face. I think the rideability percentages for the route are accurate, but that all depends on who you are and what bike you are on. Expect some chunky gravel and sandy sections. I was happy with my 2.25” tires and just personally chose to walk some climbs as I was nursing some knee pain (or just feeling tired!). The good news though is that most of the steep and loose gravel climbs that may be challenging to ride for some are pretty short. Some other questions that seem to come up a lot in regard to the route are the weather and the BUGS! I am happy to report that despite being told that it was a bad year for mosquitos in that they were still around in August at all, I didn’t find them to be too bad – I have definitely experienced much worse biking in the Northeast! That being said, black flies were around, particularly in Wisconsin. They liked to buzz around me while riding if I was going particularly slow. I never found mosquitos to be that bad where I camped, but they often were really bad if I ever stopped to do anything while on a narrower trail or heavily wooded section. I understand that bugs are worse in June-July so I can’t speak to how the route would be earlier in the year. Beyond that, I had trouble deciding what I thought the optimal time would be. I enjoyed the weather being warm enough that I could take advantage of plenty of lake dips, one of my favorite parts of bikepacking. I actually started my trip in weather that felt like early fall, but then ended the loop on a 92-degree day! The leaves were already changing a bit, but I imagine going just a little bit later into fall would be amazingly beautiful. Note that ferry schedules limit the season so you will need to plan accordingly. As a part of my trip, I got to meet lots of great folks along the way. I stayed at some cool, bike-focused accommodation such as ROAM Adventure Basecamp in Wisconsin and Trails End Campground in Michigan . I got to chat with folks from several local trail stewardship organizations and brainstorm about how we can better connect in the future. I also met with a Ranger on Isle Royale and talked about the increase of bikepacker visitation on the island. Encouragingly, she is excited to work with us to understand bikepackers’ experience on the island and to continue the relationship going forward as the route becomes more popular, within the confines of what is feasible and in consideration of other challenges the park is facing (such as record visitation). I’m excited to see the interest and enthusiasm folks have for the Northwoods Route and I hope that the number of people getting out there on a section or the full route continues to grow over time. As I often talk about, I am really excited to grow Bikepacking Roots’ presence around the country and I’m excited to have one of our early signature routes highlighting the extensive gravel and singletrack options of this region (which understandably is also great for winter fatbiking too). I’m grateful to have had this time to connect deeply with the region, as bikepacking allows us to do, to understand a little more about the culture, the history, and the landscape. Next up, I’m excited to be heading a few hours south to the inaugural Midwest Bikepacking Summit in Wisconsin this weekend! To purchase a print version of the Northwoods Route Guidebook and GPX files, click here . To purchase a PDF version of the Northwoods Route Guidebook and GPX files, click here . Keep an eye out on their Instagram and Facebook for more photos and videos from Noelle's recent trip.

Maple syrup is fantastically delicious on panakes but is also a natural, locally-produced, nutrient-rich energy source for endurance cycling. Here we round up all of the options on the market and share what makes maple syrup such a great energy source for athletes. What is Maple Syrup Energy Gel? Maple syrup energy gel contains way more than meets the eye. In springtime when the temperature is above freezing during the day and below freezing during the night, sap starts to run and a single maple tree can produce 10-20 gallons of sap. When you boil tsyhe sap down 40 to 1, you get maple syrup. It's golden in color, is incredibly sweet, and turns pancakes into magical circles of delight. In just the last decade or so, maple syrup gel companies have started to realize the incredible benefits of maple syrup for endurance sports energy. With a lot of artificial energy gels on the market, maple syrup gel is completely natural and contains many of the nutrients (and more) that you'll see in conventional gels. What are the benefits of maple syrup gels for athletes and adventurers? Maple Syrup is incredible. I mean, sure, holy crap it's delicious to just drink it straight from the pack with no pancakes. But it's also naturally full of many of the exact nutrients that support endurance sports like cycling while being easier to swallow and digest than conventional energy gels. Without any additives, just 1oz of maple syrup energy gel has: 110 Calories 27g Carbs 90mg Potassium .3mg Zinc .9mg Manganese .51mg Riboflavin 30mg Calcium 60 antioxidants Source: Pure Fuel maple syrup If you compare these maple syrup gel packets to a mainstream option like Vanilla Bean GU, maple syrup has more of every single one of these mentioned nutrients than the conventional energy gel. This is pretty cool because it's 100% natural, can come right from our local maple trees, and has the nutrients you need to produce energy and feel great while pushing yourself physically. Maple syrup is also low-glycemic. The carbs are natural derived and produce long sustained energy production rather than energy that rises and crashes quickly. It provides quick energy that lasts long and prevents you from hitting a wall during a long ride. A note on salt: yes or no? I would break maple syrup energy gel sources into 2 main categories: salted and unsalted . Coincidentally, we have 3 salted and 3 unsalted maple syrup packets in this list. Personally, I prefer salted. Salt plays a key role in physical activities as it helps with hydration and restores what's lost from sweat. I also find salted syrup to be absurdly delicious but then again, so is maple syrup by itself. Those who prefer something simpler or don't want the taste of sweet and salty may prefer the unsalted options here. Embark Maple - Viroqua, Wisconsin What I love about Embark Maple is that they're local, their products are organic, and they're really active in the endurance cycling scene in The Nxrth's coverage area. Whether it's the Arrowhead 135 deep in heart of winter or riding gravel at Dairy Roubaix, you'll see them all over the place spreading good energy and supporting hard working cyclists. They make three flavors of packets, Salted, Coffee, and Elderberry and they're all made with simple, nutritious ingredients. Of all the maple syrup options I tried, they're the only ones with a close-able cap. They're also the largest packs at 3oz each which means one pack can give you a ton of fuel and can be opened and closed without getting sticky in your bike bags or jersey pockets My favorite is Salted. Candidly, I tried salting my own maple syrup and it tasted funky and got sticky all over the kitchen. These are delicious, convenient, and made by organic maple farmers who support the races you're probably signing up for. Website: embarkmaple.com ​ Size : 3 ounces Ingredients: Salted: Organic Maple Syrup, Sea Salt. Coffee : Organic maple syrup, organic Wonderstate coffee, sea salt, organic green tea extract (caffeine). Elderberry : Organic maple syrup, organic elderberry concentrate, sea salt Varieties: Salted, Elderberry, or Coffee Best Option For: Long distance rides with no mess. Try their Salted variety, it's amazing. Pure Fuel by Anderson's - Cumberland, Wisconsin Anderson's Pure Maple Syrup has been been making organic syrup for over 90 years. After realizing that maple syrup has the same nutrients that endurance athletes need they created Pure Fuel. They're avid supporters of Northwoods cycling and sponsor Fat Bike Worlds, Fat Bike Birkie, and Apex Cycling team. They just updated their packaging to now include a little loop that connects the main syrup pouch to the tear-off lid. You've probably seen plastic tear-off tops tossed on the ground at races, and this little improvement helps to stop that.This is the only maple syrup packet with a connected top piece which I instantly appreciated after losing track of other tear offs. Pure Fuel has nothing added whatsoever. It's 100% pure organic maple syrup without additives that you'll find in the majority of conventional energy gels. Pure Fuel was the first maple energy that I discovered and I love the family history behind these products and their commitment to fueling athletes with nature's simplest form of energy. Website: organicpurefuel.com ​ Size : 1 ounce Ingredients: 100% pure organic maple syrup Varieties: Maple syrup Best Option For: High quality maple syrup with nothing added and a litter free tear-off. Sure, maple syrup is always good, but this stuff is unbelievably delicious when you need some energy. The Maple Dude - Granton, Wisconsin The Maple Dude maple syrup has literally almost been around since the bicycle itself. Okay, not quite, but it's been in the family since 1858 (8 years before Brooks saddles was founded in England). They make a wide variety of maple syrup products including maple sugar, popcorn, suckers, candles, and of course, maple syrup for pancakes. Their 'Maple Shot' packets are their 1 ounce packets of maple syrup. They include the 1 ingredient they've been perfecting their entire history, pure Wisconsin maple syrup. As a natural, simple, energy source, these are really simple to add to your bike bag and use when you need a boost. Website: themapledude.com ​ Size : 1 ounce Ingredients: 100% pure maple syrup Varieties: Maple syrup Best Option For: Simple, perfected maple syrup with deep history in the Wisconsin Northwoods. Untapped - Richmond, Vermont Untapped is by far the most built out maple syrup energy company out there. They're from Vermont and have an extensive lineup of maple syrup, mini waffles, and hydration options. If you're taking a lot of maple energy packets, it's really nice to have flavor variety. Even if you have a favorite flavor, it's still nice to change it up sometimes, and Untapped has you totally covered. Like many others on this list, they have the simple maple syrup option, but I personally like salt in mine. Their raspberry and cocoa both have salt and their coffee syrup has 27g of caffeine. Even their waffles are vegan organic and are made with their same pure maple syrup. Those and their syrup packets fit perfectly in a jersey pocket or stem bag and make awesome energy snacks when you're cranking. Lastly, their hydration products are called Mapleaid which has only 4 ingredients or less, including maple syrup. I didn't care for the Ginger Mapleaid; the ginger was too strong and it didn't sit well in my stomach but Lemon Tea Mapleaid was great. Website: untapped.cc ​ Size : 1 ounce Ingredients: Organic Vermont Maple Syrup (Varieties also contain Coffee : coffee. Salted Raspberry : Organic Raspberry Juice, Sea Salt. Salted Cocoa: Organic cocoa, sea salt) Varieties: Pure, Salted Raspberry, Salted Cocoa, and Coffee Best Option For: There's no better option for delicious flavors and variety. Get their variety packs and try them all. Endurance Tap - Coldwater, Ontario Endurance Tap is from our Canadian neighbors up in Ontario. They're designed around the idea that the best solution is often the simplest and that with nutritious, performance-built fuel, athletes can achieve their best performance. They only sell a few products and they're all super practical including a 28-serving bulk syrup bottle to fill your own energy flasks and reduce waste. Their flagship maple syrup packets are Classic and Caffeinated. They're salted and both include ginger, which interestingly enough, I couldn't taste. Which is fine because the purpose of the ginger is a digestive aid. They add it to help digestion on the hottest days with the most intense physical activity. When I'm working out, my stomach can get some gut rot with traditional energy gels and I found Endurance Tap was really easy to stomach on long rides. The Caffeinated variety is the same recipe plus 35mg of caffeine from green coffee bean extract. Lastly, they make stroopwafels from their maple syrup in both regular and gluten-free 10packs. I just recently had to go gluten free and really appreciate having this option. I only tried their regular stroopwafels (prior to going off gluten) but I hope to try their gluten free 10-packs soon. Website: www.endurancetap.com​ Size : 1.3 ounce Ingredients: Canadian maple syrup, Canadian sea salt, ginger, natural caffeine from green coffee bean extract (caffeine is only in the caffeinated variety) Varieties: Classic and Caffeinated Best Option For: Salted maple syrup that goes down easy and tastes heavenly. They're extremely practical and taste heavenly. Maple Rise - Vermont Much like several other of the options on this list, Maple Rise only has one ingredient, pure maple syrup. But the thing that makes them unique is that their maple syrup is heated and whipped. The end result is that it tastes like normal maple syrup but has a creamy thicker texture. Because of the thicker consistency, this one most closely resembles the thickness of a traditional energy gel. Originally founded to provide a boost to people who suffer from low blood sugar episodes, Maple Rise started making these for athletes who work hard and prefer natural energy. They also have larger containers of maple cream as well as maple crystallized sugar. Website: www.maplerisevt.com ​ Size : 1 ounce Ingredients: 100% pure maple syrup, heated and whipped Varieties: Maple cream Best Option For: Maple syrup flavor with rich, creamy texture and super convenient energy. Maple syrup energy gels for bike adventures all year Being somebody who has always stashed a bag of gummy bears in my stem bag on long bike rides, I've enjoyed replacing them with maple syrup packets on a lot of rides. Personally, it's great to have an excuse to drink straight maple syrup and I got the energy I needed without having my energy crash on any rides. Better yet? Maple syrup doesn't freeze so you can enjoy it for the entire fatbiking season without having to engineer a way to keep them warm on the course. These maple syrup packets have the convenience of traditional energy gels without all the additives and artificial ingredients. Many of these maple syrup packets are from trees tapped right in our home states by people who support the races we ride. Give em' a try and enjoy nature's delicious energy.

Embark Maple is hosting a bike/camping/foraging weekend this April. The Ramp Romp Ride is a playful exploration of the watershed and the unique, delicious and interesting ecosystem we are a part of. Learn more about the Ramp Romp Ride and sign up for this spring bike adventure. To learn more and sign up, visit the Ramp Romp Ride . Chatting with Eric from Embark Maple: Where did this idea spring from to mix biking, camping, and foraging? The Ramp Romp Ride is a mix of Bree & Eric’s favorite things: riding bikes, good food, & playing in the woods! We love sharing the unique area we call home, and started a spring campout over 10 years ago with a focus on sustainable ramp harvesting, foraging education, and a celebration of spring and community. What is the route, camping, and scenery like where this will be taking place? The Ramp Romp Ride is a 30-40 mile educational exploration of our watershed. The route consists of mostly lightly traveled rural roads, the majority of which are paved, and broken up by off-road romps along field paths, logging roads, forest trails with a bit of optional singletrack. The hip kids would call this an ATB ride, we call it playing bikes! Being the Driftless Area, the route is quite hilly with ~3000-4000 ft of elevation gain, where steep climbs are rewarded with awe-inspiring vistas overlooking the coulees below, and fast sometimes rugged descents. There will be 4 stops along the route to learn about different unique ecosystems, their significance to the watershed, and particularly how to identify wild edibles along side experienced foragers! Rompers can bring back their wild edibles to build their own wood-fired pizza, and enjoy an evening of additional foraging and revelry. Camping is available at our off-grid farm and is best described as rustic. We will have drinking water, a port-a-potty, as well as a large tent for socializing under in case of inclement weather, and of course, bonfires and a welcoming atmosphere for everyone! Who Should Do the Ramp Romp ? We’re putting the Ramp Romp Ride together for fun adventurous folks who like to play, learn & explore, particularly by bike. The off-road sections will be adventurous, involving bushwhacking, stream crossings, and hike-a-bike, however there will also be a road-alternative route for folks looking for a more relaxed journey. It is not necessary to carry your camping gear on your bike, so a bikepacking specific setup is not required. It is suggested that folks be comfortable with the elevation gain, however the route is more rural than remote so there are some bail-out options. What are ramps, where are they found, what do you do with them, and how does this connect to Embark and maple syrup? The roots of Embark Maple are found at B&E’s Trees Farm, the Driftless Wisconsin home and source of good energy for founders/owners Bree & Eric. Embark Maple makes maple syrup energy gels . The Driftless Region is an ecological wonderland, rich in wild edibles including ramps. Ramps are a wild garlic onion, latin name Allium Tricoccum, and are often found in the rich soils of sugar maple forests in North America. They are one of the first wild foods to be harvested, and have become popular amongst foragers and foodies alike for their uniquely pungent flavor and aroma. However, in recent years there has been significant over-harvesting of ramps, so we started teaching sustainable harvesting techniques, as well as general foraging knowledge, based at our farm. What gear would people need to have to take part in this? The only things folks really need are a bicycle, basic camping gear, and a sense of adventure. You can sleep in your car/van if you like, or trek out into our forest and setup a remote camp. We recommend watching the forecast and to be prepared for potentially cold, wet weather (we do not cancel because of weather); raingear is always a good idea, as is a moderately warm sleeping bag (20-30°F). Eric will be riding a singlespeed 29er MTB, a good fit for the off-road sections albeit a bit pokey on the pavement; perfect for a day of fun foraging with friends! To learn more and sign up, visit the Ramp Romp Ride .

Anderson's maple syrup has been a labor of love in Cumberland Wisconsin since 1928. What started as a hobby blossomed into a tradition of organic maple syrup that is now fueling endurance athletes. Pure Fuel is single-serve maple syrup gel packets that are meant for athletes to consume during their activities. With no additives of any kind, Pure Fuel is a plant-based, high quality, all-natural carbohydrate, with extra benefits like minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Pure Fuel has become a staple in the up-north adventure cycling community. You'll see them at events like the Birkie and Fat Bike Worlds as well as supporting cycling teams in the area. In this interview, I chatted with Christine Anderson on why they're so supportive of the cycling community and how maple syrup benefits athletes. Interview with Christine Anderson: Why did you decide to add Pure Fuel to your maple syrup offerings? I am a marathon runner and a few years ago, I was talking with my brother about the difficulty swallowing those thick energy gels. Some of my friend also had stomach issues and even more difficulty with those gels. We did some research and found that Pure Maple Syrup naturally contains many of the vitamins and minerals that are helpful for endurance athletes in terms of energy source (Mix of glucose/fructose & low glycemic index) and muscle recovery (potassium, vitamin B, zinc, and over 65 antioxidants)---and it tastes better and is easier to swallow. Steve thought it would be worth a try to package our maple syrup for athletes and Pure Fuel was started. We also discovered that people who struggle with stomach issues when taking in fuel did much better with pure maple syrup. That may be because it’s 100% pure, it’s thinner viscosity or the natural glucose to fructose ratio— whatever the reason-- it is easy to digest. Pure maple syrup also won’t freeze during those winter runs. Andersons seems really involved in the cycling community; why is that important to you? One of our production managers is a fat biker and he started using it during his training and bringing some pouches to his races to pass out. We got a lot of positive feedback from the bike (and running) communities about the natural alternative to energy gels. Around that same time Chris Stevens just happened to be one of the project managers for the company that built my brother, Steve’s, house. We got to know him through that process and when he heard about Pure Fuel he immediately called us up and we’ve been thrilled to work together ever since. We have been involved with quite a few cycling events such as Lutsen 99er, Maah Da Hey trail rides, Chequamegon 40 and trail rides, Fat Bike Birkie, etc. We’ve also been a sponsor for the American Birkebeiner ski races and Twin Cities, Fargo and Grandma’s marathons as well as other shorter races. How has the cycling community received your product as a processed energy gel alternative? The cycling community, and the broader endurance sport community, has been extremely interested in pure maple syrup as a natural alternative to energy gels. We have been able to be involved with some great races and have heard feedback from riders of all levels and distances (ie. Gravel 240, fat bike, mid-distance gravel, etc.) Is there a growing demand for natural energy options? We believe athletes of all types are looking for natural energy sources. Not only that, but Pure Maple syrup production allows producers and land owners to maintain healthy old growth hardwood forests which are so important to combating climate change. Our industry's maple stands are actively maintained in order to promote growth over the long term. So pure maple syrup is a natural choice for our bodies as well as the environment.

Untapped from Vermont recently announced new bulk versions of their popular maple syrup energy gels. With 16 one ounce servings each, they allow you to stock up and reduce the need for single serve packets. To learn more about their bulk bottles, visit Untapped . I'm pretty hooked on maple syrup gels for cycling, especially the salted varieties. They have many of the exact same nutrients that come in artificial gels while being all natural and easier to digest. But nearly all of them come in single use individually packaged containers of one ounce. They're small and the packaging is sticky and impossible to get off if you get it on your hands while cycling. Untapped's new bulk bottles delivery more servings in a single container while pretty much eliminating the sticky mess that comes with tear off packets. How Untapped Bulk Bottles Work The bulk bottles have a pretty neat design that pre-measures one ounce at a time. This makes it really easy to control how fast you use up syrup servings and minimizes spilling while pouring it into your reusable container. Your first bulk bottle comes with a free soft flask (a $14.95 value). The soft flask is great because it easily packs down when empty but can hold all the way up to 5 servings. The material is impressively strong and also spill proof. The maple syrup can't come out unless you're sucking on it and instantly stops when you're done. With the flasks being five ounces, the bulk bottles' integrated one -ounce reservoir almost seems unnecessarily small. In practice, I almost always filled the flask up either half or all of the way and had to re-squeeze the one ounce pre-pour reservoir three to five times to get the syrup out that I needed. My preference would be to either have smaller flasks to more easily carry only 1-2 servings with me at a time or have even larger sized bulk bottles that fill the flask more than three times. Using the Soft Flask on the Bike I love the ritual of preparing my tires, chain, bottles, and energy the night before my early morning rides and I like measuring out my maple syrup using the bulk bottle that easily fits in the back of the fridge. I had no issues with spilling whatsoever (have I mentioned how impossibly sticky maple syrup can be?) though I'd love to see how long the soft flask lasts and I imagine it could get a puncture if I shove my keys in my stem bag without thinking. The cap is slightly hard to open while riding. It usually requires two hands but so do all of the tear off packets. The translucent siding is also nice to know how much syrup I have left at a glance. Pros and cons Between the pre-measure feature of the bulk bottle and the durability and spill-proof nature of the soft flask, this is a fantastic system for those who go through a lot of syrup. Buying in bulk is also a cost savings. The bulk bottle is about $1.56 per ounce whereas a 10-pack of one ounce packets is $2.00 per ounce or $1.85 per ounce in a pack of 20 one ounce packets. As mentioned previously, I'd like to see these be even larger, especially since they're accompanied by a 5 ounce soft flask. I also imagine that at this size, the packaging of a thick plastic bulk bottle probably isn't much less than a corresponding amount of several of the ultra thin single serve packets. Untapped bulk bottles come in Salted Cocao, Salted Citrus, Salted Raspberry, Coffee, and Unsalted Maple. To learn more or shop bulk bottles, visit Untapped .

Jeremy Kershaw is always the Race Director at Heck of the North, but this year he got sick and his partner Avesa Rockwell took over. In this story we talk about how they made the decision to move forward, what changed while Jeremy was out, and how it went with Avesa at the reins. To learn more, visit Heck of the North . All photos by Josh Kowaleski of Pointed North Photography and @pointed_north Interview with Avesa Rockwell. What’s the story behind how you ended up running race day and what's normally your role on race day? Three days before the big dance, Jeremy developed a fever and a headache. At 6 am he drove to Walgreens to get a Covid test. When he came home and announced it was positive, all I could say was "Well, that sucks." For years I have tried to imagine how, if god forbid something happened to Jeremy, I would be able to manage the event on my own. Now I was going to find out. For about five minutes we discussed canceling because we had no idea what we'd do if I got sick too. We decided that it was worth the risk-- we had a record number of registered riders (820) coming from places as far as Seattle, Portland, and Europe. All the pieces were in place. We just had to keep the momentum. Normally I have plenty to do in the weeks leading up to the race-- I manage about 40 volunteers who work two hour shifts from Thursday afternoon to Sunday morning. I also buy all of the checkpoint food, prepare and manage the merchandise store, and help Jeremy with whatever needs to get done, which for him, means dealing with all the route details (including gps files, cue sheets, and trail markers), registration glitches and requests, and all communication with the screenprinter, timer, biffy deliverer, caterer, photographer, sponsors, riders, permit issuers, tourism bureaus, landowners, ATV club leaders-- the list goes on and on. And then he does all the heavy lifting at our storage facility and at the start area. Sidenote: He has always insisted on setting up the giant circus tent on our own to avoid the steep assembly fee. The minute we decided to go forward with the race I said, "We're paying Doucettes to set up the tent." Removing that task, for some reason, made everything seem more doable. During the event he's the MC and greets every rider at the finish. I really had no idea how I was going to do all my stuff AND his. Luckily, the day before the race he had enough energy to place signs along the route and respond to emails, but on the day of the race Covid laid him flat. I felt really bad for him-- he spends all year preparing for this one day, attending to lots of menial and stressful details that are instantly rewarded by the collective energy of hundreds of revved up and happy riders on a beautiful fall day in the northwoods. And this year he would not get that reward. This was definitely the lowpoint-- to answer the second part of your next question. How did the day go from your perspective and were there any highs and lows that you want to mention? Once Jeremy posted the update, many long-time riders contacted us to say they would be willing to not ride so they could help out. I took Matt Ryan up on his offer because he knows the routes and the timing company we use. It was such a relief to send questions about tire widths and requests to switch distances to him. And in true Matt fashion, about one minute before the 55 miler started he asked if he could ride. I said no problem and he took first in his age category. Another highpoint, not only this year, but at all of our events, is having the Mangen family from Grand Forks, North Dakota join us. They have volunteered at every single Heck, from dawn to dusk, since it started as a group ride in 2009. Rick brought his family when his daughters were little. His eldest Gabby is now fully grown and coaches a high school debate team. She baked 12 dozen cookies for riders, managed our store (with our 13 year old daughter Silvi, who is older than Gabby when she started volunteering!) and together, they presented the medals and prizes for the winners. Rick helped us manifest our parking lot engineer's plan to fit as many cars as possible in the northern lot at Alger Grade (a major triumph!), and his wife Sarah delivered coffee for riders at 6:30 am. Their 13 year devotion to this race makes me realize that Jeremy and I do not own the Heck--- it lives in the hearts of many, and comes to life each year like a magical little circus in the woods. We also couldn’t do the Heck without solid checkpoint volunteers like Lara Sullivan and Ron Pruitt, Kate Ratkovich, Sue Weum, and John Hatcher. And it was a relief to know Scott Risdal, Mark Hagley, Nate Eide, and Dr. John Wood and his friend were sweeping the course. And also good having Jer’s buddies Charles Parsons and Charlie Farrow camping with me in the empty lot. Thanks for the coffee and the beer! Every year is so different. What was the weather and vibe like this year? It looked pretty muddy out there. Just the weekend prior the area got almost six inches of rain, so the roads were soft and there were many ephemeral stream crossings. A puddle on Fox Farm Road was reported to be chin-deep! Lots of ruined drive trains. These kinds of conditions give lots of business to the bike shops! This year we made little red pins for finishers with Jeremy's neologism "Graveleer" printed over our Ride the Good Line wings symbol. They are kind of like the wing pins we got as kids when we first rode a plane. When I walked through the crowd to hand out pins I could easily spot the riders because their faces were sprayed with mud freckles, and their backs and legs were literally stuccoed. When I told riders “they earned their wings” most broke into wide smiles. It is so cute how people love getting little mementos. Now that you’ve been race director on race day, will we be seeing more of you running the show for future races? Maybe. We survived, but I think most people missed Jeremy's dry wit at the start and his handshake at the finish. Some of his friends have suggested having me run another Heck so he can finally get the chance to race it. I don't think he will, but he may surprise me. For the past few years I have been organizing informal non-competitive all-women bikepacking rides with the thought I might add one to the annual event roster. This might be the nudge I needed.

Today's Reader's Route comes from reader Nicolette Reker. This route connects the towns of Winona and La Crosse and rides on both sides of the Minnesota/Wisconsin border. It also includes several food and drink recommendations and the Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge. Submission from Nicolette Reker: The gravel roads between Winona, MN and La Crosse, WI are remote, offering a sense of solitude that is hard to find elsewhere. The route took me into deep valleys 500 feet below the ridge-line and the ascents present a mix of gradual and steep grades which can be quite challenging but incredibly rewarding. This route only features three bluff climbs in total, which when stretched out over an 85 mile route makes it accessible to many different levels of riders. The route passes through the town of Pickwick, MN where you will find the historic gristmill that was constructed in the 1850s and is one of Minnesota's oldest surviving water-powered mills. This route also has an option to stop for lunch (and a beer?) in Winona at the halfway point, and there are so many places to try in this sweet little river town. My favorites are the Blue Heron Cafe for lunch and Island City Brewing Co. for beverages. On the way back to La Crosse, the route cuts through the Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge, which is known for hundreds of migrating birds especially in the springtime. To top it off, I swung through Pearl Street Brewing Co. in La Crosse for a beer (pro tip: if you ride your bike to this brewery on Wednesdays, you get a free beer). This route is one of my favorites because it features so many beautiful aspects of the driftless region and the surrounding communities. Add Your Name to The Map SUBMIT YOUR READER'S ROUTE All Reader's Routes So Far

The second annual Gravel Pizza Overnighter was full of brilliant colors, cold downpours, and a wonderful evening at Wedges Creek after the rain finally let up. We enjoyed music in the barn, delicious pizza, and cool fall evenings around the campfire. Here is a recap of the event and gallery of photos. Friday Color Ride & Josh's Campfire Apple Crisp Pulling into our camp, I was surprised how colorful the fall was. Last year we did Gravel Pizza this exact same weekend and the colors had just barely started changing colors. This year the colors were brilliant and in full transition. The overhanging storm clouds gave the the forest deep shadows and warm reds, yellows, and oranges. We gathered together underneath a pine tree to meet everyone, talk about the Friday plan, and roll out for the social ride. Our route was about 20 miles and ended at Boondock's bar for drinks and apps. The clouds made the nighttime feel like it set in early. We pushed through a few miles of alternating sand and gravel before breaking onto one of my favorite sections of Eau Claire County gravel. The occasional logging opened up some wide fall colorscapes and inviting views. We hung out at Boondocks while the rain pounded the rooftop and a campfire felt completely off the table. We waited through constant on/off rain until finally dashing back to our tents. Lucky for us there was a pavilion so we just moved the fire pit right next to rooftop, made a blazing fire, and enjoyed some homemade tinfoil warm apple crisp and melting ice cream together under the dryness of the pavilion. Saturday Storms, A Short Break, Then More Storms. Waking up to pouring rain wasn't exactly the way I imagined starting the main ride. Originally the weather predicted it drying out around 9am but now it was a solid block of rain until at least mid afternoon. Still, cars full of bikes kept showing up ready to take on whatever conditions the day would dish out and despite the dismal forecast, 35 people came in for the group rollout. My wife Nicole, our great friend Molly, and a few friends from my hometown of Eau Claire joined so it was nice having close friends to ride with knowing it'd be a rainy day out there. My favorite part is the group rollout. I love meeting everyone, hearing stories of what brought everyone together and beginning the gravel fellowship that we'd all build on during the weekend. The ride included two planned stops, The Stockyard for cheese curds and AKA Lakeside for a beverage. Riding into the Stockyard, the rain gave us a proper beating. The wind was powerful and the gravel was sticky. We even opted to ride a longer route around one section of gravel just to keep our wheels moving a little faster than the mushy gravel. Everyone congregated at The Stockyard and my fingers were numb. I ordered a cup of hot water just to try to re-gain feeling in my digits and stop shivering. This was a big turning point in the ride. We opted to bike back to our vehicle on paved roads so that we could get out of the cold rain and trace the route making sure everyone was okay. Many others got shuttled back to their vehicles as well while a few handfuls of people pushed onwards. We met up with everyone at Wedges Creek and it was so good to dry out and here everyone's stories of the rain ride. Burning the Evening Away at Wedges Creek Getting to Wedges Creek felt like it made the downpour worth it. People took showers, ordered their free welcome drink and settled in for the evening with hot pizza. It was great having a cozy revamped barn with drinks, pizza, music, and giant fire right outside the door for settling in for the evening with everyone. We sat around tables eating pizza and listening to the Sliced Bread Jug Band make a ruckus. Bikers continued to trickle in throughout the evening and it was fun hearing their stories. Tenters set up tents and others rented tiny cabins for the night. Before tucking into the truck bed where I'd be sleeping, I slipped out for a few night photos. The cool fall air felt healing and the quiet wind in the pines made for a beautiful lullaby. Even though the day didn't have the best circumstances, I went to bed full of joy for the people I got to meet, the challenge we shared, and having my wife there for the adventure. Farm Breakfast & Riding Back to the Start Once again, the rain woke me up on Sunday morning. I snoozed a few more minutes before throwing on a rain coat and walking over to the barn for the farm breakfast where everyone was congregating. There were tons of eggs, sausage, and hash browns and I mashed it all together into a big pile on my plate. Riders packed up wet tents and deliberated about biking back or looking for a ride. A handful of people took a slow morning eating breakfast and then started out on bikes when it looked like the rain might be done for the day. My wife rode back solo while I stayed at Wedges Creek to make sure everything wrapped up and I drove the course checking on everyone. I climbed on top of my CRV at the very end of the long straightaway marking the route conclusion to grab photos of people finishing their adventure. High fives, a few more photos, and we cleaned up and said goodbye to the Gravel Pizza Overnighter. Next Year: Gravel Pizza Festival? We're already cooking up plans for next year with ideas to make it a basecamp event with multiple distance options, two nights of camping at Wedges Creek, and more fall adventure ideas to explore together. What will be the same and what will be different? What other activities might be included? Will it still be in September? Stay tuned. We'll share more details as it develops. Announcements always go Patrons first then email subscribers so make sure to join us on Patreon and subscribe to our email list to get updated. Goodnight, Gravel Pizza.

Josh from The Nxrth recently joined Seeley Dave from Home Base at the base of Mt. Telemark in Cable on Episode #8 of the Northwoods Ramble podcast. They chat about Homebase, the recent Gravel Pizza Overnighter, and the new Trek Trails at Mt. Telemark. Listen in here: From the Northwoods Ramble: This episode features an interview with return guest Josh Rizzo of The Nxrth.com website. We record that interview outside at Home Base Lodging at Mt Telemark and discuss the cool new trailside lodging there as well as go through the remaining regional gravel races of the season on his website’s calendar. First though, Seeley Dave gives a fall seasonal update on Life Above 8 that includes the Cable Fall Festival, his recon rides on the 2023 Tour de Chequamegon route and he gets into the modifications he has been making to his Yuba Sweet Curry to turn it from an urban utility ride to a Northwoods capable UTV also good for dogpacking with Cowboy. Dave also mentions the Northwoods Ramble will be at the Ironbull Red Granite Grinder the weekend of Oct. 14th to record some race reports at the finish for a future podcast. So be sure to look for Dave somewhere near the finish, most likely close to wherever Redeye Brewing is serving up their latest beer release!

The Winston County Gravel Cup recently took place in Houston, Minnesota after a stormy time delay. Jamie Thiel and his wife rode the third annual event and share their story of waiting out the storm, winning some prizes, and enjoying beautiful driftless gravel community during their race. Words by Jamie Thiel All Photos by Baxter Cochennet of Heelclickers photography. See the full race gallery HERE . Our weekend at the Winston County Gravel Cup…let’s first rewind to earlier this summer. I was having some bike issues that I just couldn’t solve myself. I was stumped and ended up coming across Paul Reardon's Instagram for his brand Blue Steel Bike . I gave him a call and he agreed to look at it. We ended up meeting him and his friends Nathan and Pete and while we were sorting my bike out, we got to talking about this ride Paul was one of the organizers of, the Winston County Gravel Cup . We really hadn’t done any rides like this as a couple, so we thought why not give it a shot. The terrain and scenery in that area are amazing, it helps out some great causes, and after having met Paul, Nathan, and Pete we knew we’d be with good people. Fast forward a couple months later, it’s Winston week. As of Monday and Tuesday the forecast looks perfect, but as the week went on it was looking like dust wasn’t going to be an issue. Friday morning we’re up early to get bikes ready and load up, we get on the road early afternoon. It’s a 3 hour trip from our home in Central Wisconsin to Houston Minnesota, but it’s a beautiful drive and we only encountered a few rain drops on the way. We get to our hotel in Houston that evening, drop off our bags, and head to registration to pick up our numbers and anything else we need, still no rain. We hit up JT’s Corner Bar and Grill (which has amazing food) and the rain shows up. Race day and the rain hasn’t left, but looking at the forecast it seems like the rain should stop by early morning. We have some breakfast and head to the Houston Nature Center for the start of the race. We pull up and park, it’s pouring, thundering, and lightning, but warm! The organizers made the call to delay our start for a half hour for the storm to pass. By the time we roll up to the start the rain has stopped and we’re off! We rolled out a little bit later, but we were dry. 10 minutes after the start we’re climbing, it’s steep, some people are walking and some people are riding. But once we’re at the top we’re rewarded with amazing views, and a pretty nice descent. Even with all the rain the gravel is in really good shape with very few puddles. We continue on some amazing roads with outstanding scenery along with some good conversation with fellow riders. The next big climb comes around halfway through our route, it’s a long way up, but at the top of this climb we’re rewarded with a rest stop! We grab a quick snack and continue on. Everything continues to dry up and it's a smooth, fast descent back in to Houston. We roll across the finish line hungry but happy and ready to grab some tacos and beer! We head back to the van, change, grab our food, and find a spot to eat. We stick around for the raffle and awards, and while neither one of us got on the podium we did win some tires and a hat and man did they give out the swag! It seemed like everybody ended up getting something, and atmosphere was really upbeat even after such a soggy start to the day. After that we load up and head home eagerly awaiting next years Winston County Gravel Cup.

Today's Reader's Route comes from Valentin Bitsin in Juneau County, Wisconsin. The route is about half gravel on quiet rolling hills where you're hardly see anyone else. Submission from Valentin Bitsin This is a 50 mile route (about 25 of which are gravel) of peaceful roads roaming around farmlands and a state natural area. Chances to see wildlife are pretty high. You can hardly see anyone, which in my opinion is a good thing. The gravel surface varies from smooth gravel to some chunky parts on steeper roads so I'd recommend tires that are 40mm or wider. One could be up for a surprise on Pekala Rd between Clark Rd and Plaff Rd especially after rainfall as the road is uneven and lowest points turn into pretty deep puddles. Add Your Name to the Map SUBMIT YOUR READER'S ROUTE All Reader's Routes So Far

After a long hiatus, the Northwoods Ramble is back. This episode opens with an update on Life Above 8 that includes a discussion of the 40th running of the Chequamegon MTB Festival , including the new route for the long course the joins the end of the Short and Fat. The intro also includes some photos of current flora/fauna, and a couple of photos from Seeley professional nature photographer Paul Ostrum . After the Update on Life Above 8, Dave interviews a couple from Florida who wanted to meet him after bikepacking the Wisconsin Waterfall Loop he developed. Michelle and Dwayne Allgire also have their own Youtube Channel called Pedal Power Adventures , which has nice videos of their many bikepacking adventures. As soon as they finish the video from the Waterfall Loop, Dave will share it here. Listen in here: