The Fox Bikepacking Race Recap

Overall Fastest Fox rider, Jared Leppert and 18-39 age group winner. Amazing work!

The day after an event usually has me filled with a lot of emotions. Today it is a love of cycling and the amazing people that take part in our events. The Fox Bikepacking Race continues to bring together the best parts of the machine, the people and the environment. Thank you for all who made it a success.

Special thanks to our incredible volunteers: Lara, Ron, Shawn, Deb, Rob, Sue, Connie and Clara. They bring not only years of experience but also the passion to share it with you. We are very, very grateful.

We take note of what works well and what needs improvement. For now, a few captured moments from the trip with more thoughts to come soon. And please keep our sponsors in mind when shopping for your cycling provisions. They are some of the best of the best in cycling. Sponsors: Velocity Wheels, Otso/Wolf Tooth, Cedaero, Twin Six, Bearskin Lodge, Cornerstone Coaching and Boulder Trail Dental.

Jolene Holland, fastest Female overall and 18-39 age group winner. Congratulations!

Jackie Neve, fastest Nonbinary overall. Congratulations!

Christine (right) winner of the 56-65 age group, with close competitor, Jenny (left) within seconds. Congratulations!

Lauren, winner of the female 40-55 age group! Congratulations!

Buck, a North Shore legend at age 73, continues to show us how to do it right. Winner of the 66+ age category.

Joji is our Toughest Rider of the event. Finishing last means you have to be extra tough. He is a long time rider of our events and one of the best. Thanks Joji!

Matthew Rohrer is the lucky winner of Velocity Wheels sweet gift to our event. If you are looking for new hoops, consider them! One of the best of the best.

Ron, Lara, Connie, Shawn and Avesa had the checkpoint dialed even during a very nasty storm.

Deb sharing her usual joy even first thing in the morning.

Grand Marais brought the magic as we watched the rainbow aurora borealis (my name for it). Never seen that before!

Welcome to The Fox Bikepacking Race

Going for it. Photo Josh Kowaleski Pointed North Photography

The Fox is our favorite event of the season. (I’ve also been known to say that a few times a season.) Part race, part gathering and totally unique. That’s how I think of The Fox.

I’ll say it again, there is a place in this world for racing hard, even bikepack style. As much as I value going slow and taking photos and fishing and watching the birds, the process of getting ready for an event like The Fox is special. I just don’t think you can replace the experience of touching the boundaries of your endurance, your fortitude and logistical preparedness like in bikepack style racing. But what makes The Fox different is that we build in the time to meet new people, nap in your tent, shop in town and eat several meals in one evening. The Fox is not the Tour Divide. But there are whispers of that grand event in even something like The Fox. You got your stuff. You have a destination. And all you have to do for a couple of days is turn those pedals, eat, drink and find a good place to camp. It’s simplifying. It’s good to do every now and then.

I want to give a mid-Summer shout out to our amazing racing partners:

Our sponsors help make this event very special. Velocity Wheels  is donating a beautiful set of wheels. Bearskin Lodge is donating a stay at their stunning lodge on the Gunflint Trail on the edge of the Boundary Waters. Cedaero bike bags are donating gift certificates for the fastest riders toward their handmade bags (Two Harbors. Make sure to stop in to Cedar Coffee there and pick up last minute bike good at Spokengear.) Boulder Trail Dental in Duluth is once again supplying us with the best in bikepacking tooth care provisions. Twin Six is offering a special gift card to the 6th place rider. Voyageur Brewing Company is our go-to spot for hydration in Grand Marais. 

• Special thanks to Patrick at Cornerstone Coaching in Duluth for helping financially support three riders into The Fox.

• Otso/Wolf Tooth Components will be filming (discreetly) a short piece with two of their riders during the event. They have been great partners of our events for years. 

I hope your Summer is good and full of bike time. Be Graveleer.

Photo Josh Kowaleski Pointed North Photography

Graveleer Jersey Preorder

This is our design of the year. Working with one of the finest wool jersey makers in the world, Cima Coppi of Oviedo Spain, we have tailored a new classic Heck jersey. Pulling from vintage design, we have created a jersey you will wear for years to come in all types of weather and cycling conditions. 

We are doing a preorder from July 5-August 15. Jerseys will be available by pickup (in Duluth) or at The Heck of the North (Two Harbors) by October 4, 2025 (hopefully a little sooner.) We will only do shipments by rare, special request.  Preorder will be via the Heck of the North registration site. This sale corresponds with the start of Heck of the North registration, July 5, 9am.

Please see this for sizing guidelines.

Please see this jersey for construction design details only. Again the jersey you are ordering is the red, Graveleer jersey pictured here.

It's an expensive jersey but one you will have for many years to come. Be Graveleer! Wear a piece of cycling art. 

Heck of the North Registration

Registration for The Heck of the North Gravel Classic begins Saturday, July 5 at 9 AM! We expect the event to fill quickly. Please consider welcoming someone new to gravel cycling this year! Please go to RunSignup to register.

We are putting the finishing touches on The Fox Bikepacking Race, July 26-27. We love this event and the community we build over the weekend. And we have some stellar sponsors again including: Velocity Wheels, Wolf Tooth Components, Boulder Trail Dental and Bearskin Lodge.

We hope your Summer has been safe and full of cycling adventures both fast and slow.

Summer Holiday

We are away from the Heck table for a few weeks on Summer Holiday (actually still working, but a bit less.) We hope your Summer plans and travel are taking shape and fulfilling. The Fox Bikepacking Race is set for July 26-27 and it’s one of our favorites to host. In the meanwhile, we welcome back Velocity Wheels who will be giving away a beautiful set of bikepacking worthy wheels for one lucky Fox racer. Our friends up the Gunflint trail at Bearskin Lodge will also be donating a multi night stay at their beautiful northwoods resort. And Dr Jeff at Boulder Trail Dental will have us covered with the finest in bikepacking tooth care per usual.

Thank you for a great start to the season at Le Grand du Nord. Until next time, Ride the Good Line!

Jeremy