Minnesota Gravel Grinders You Can Still Get In On

If you missed early registration deadlines or rider caps were reached before you could sign up, here are some gravel rides and races that are still taking registrations.

The 2014 Mammoth Gravel Classic is Saturday, April 19th in St. Croix Falls, WI.  Registration opens at 7am at the new Cyclova XC location the morning of the ride.  There are three route options to choose from, the 100 mile route rolls out at 8am, the 70 and 35 mile routes roll out at 9am.  This ride is free but the 70 & 35 mile routes will require the purchase of a $5 Gandy Dancer Bike Trail Day Pass.  Updates can also be found on the Mammoth Gravel Classic 2014 Facebook event page.

Image Credit:  Drew Wilson

The Dickie Scramble takes place on Saturday, April 26th in Elgin, MN.  Registration is free and there are three ways to sign up.  In order of preference from the ride organizer, they are as follows:

• Join the "Dickie Scramble 2014" Facebook event page
• State that you want in by sending an email to cyclocarbon@gmail.com
• Show up race day and sign up

This race is going to be "75 miles of incredible roads, potluck checkpoint, great food/drinks/gathering place at the finish line."

 

The Dirty Lemming Gravel Grinder is going down Saturday, July 26th in Watertown, MN.  I spoke with race organizer Jim Smith and he informed me that there are still some spots available before they reach their race cap of 80.  Postcard registrations are currently being accepted until the cap is reached and this one is free.  The Dirty Lemming has two route options this year, 100 miles or 100 km and are stated to include "at least three of the following:  water crossing, cornice, cliff, rockband, outcrop, malt shop, church, or small town bar."  Get those postcards in soon as this one is bound to reach its cap shortly.

Head down to La Crosse Labor Day Weekend to get in on the Skullsplitter Ride/Race taking place on Sunday, August 31st as part of the La Crosse Area Bicycle Festival.  This half gravel half pavement ride is a challenging 56 mile tour through SE Minnesota with some big climbs and great scenery.  Registration/packet pick up starts at 7am and the ride/race rolls out at 8am at Cameron Park in downtown La Crosse.  Visit the Bicycle Festival Registration page to register for the Festival in advance.

Image Credit:  Derek Chinn

The Inspiration 100 is a free gravel race that starts and finishes in Garfield, MN on Saturday, September 6th.  This is a challenging race with a mix of terrain as the course travels through the Leaf Mountain area around Inspiration Peak providing some great scenery along the way.  Postcard registration opens July 1st and closes July 31st.  This one has a cap, so the first 135 entries are in the race.

Image Credit: Heck of the North

Heck of the North is a 100+ mile gravel race that takes place Saturday, October 4th in Two Harbors, MN.  This race has become a fall gravel classic here in Minnesota and the course takes racers through some spectacular northwoods scenery.  Registration opened March 1st and will remain open until September 15th or when a 400 rider cap is reached.  This one does require a fee and a percentage will be donated to a Minnesota cycling advocacy organization.  To register, visit the Heck of the North online registration page.

Image Credit:  Drew Wilson

The Tour of Filmore is a 65 mile Fall classic from the gravel enthusiast that brought you the Dickie Scramble.  This event showcases the beauty and challenge of gravel roads in the Root River Valley around Lanesboro and takes place on Sunday, October 5th.  Registration is informal and can be done by sending an email to drew@cyclocarbon.com or by visiting the Tour of Filmore Facebook event page and select "Going".  Registration will run until 8:30 day-of the event unless more than 150 people have registered prior to that date.  Assuming 150 riders has not been hit before the day of, all riders who show up will be allowed to ride.

The Filthy 50 takes place on Sunday, October 12th in Sterwartville, MN as it enters its second year after a very successful inaugural race last fall.  The racer cap for 2014 was doubled to 600 and over 450 people signed up in the first eight days of registration.  The race is free and space is becoming limited, so sign up quickly if you haven't already.  Online registration is easy and only takes a minute.  I raced this one last year and it was a blast.  It was very well organized, challenging and the scenery along the course was amazing.  Don't miss this one.  Visit my post The Filthy 50 Returns for Second Year & Announces “This Filthy World” Series for all the details from my original announcement.