A great looking race!

Here’s a really cool inaugural event happening August 21-23 near Grand Marais. The Sawtooth Stage Race. Our friends at Superior Cycling Association have created something very cool with this race. A three day stage race (mt bike) that brings together some of the best trails in northern Minnesota. Plus you get to be up on the North Shore! Check out the details here.

We also want to send our support for those folks living in the communities and working on the fires in/near our beloved Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The towns of Ely, Finland and Grand Marais are all feeling the effects of these blazes. Keep then and all the wild creatures in your thoughts this coming month.

Select photos from our amazing Wolf Bikepacking Race will be shared soon. Stay tuned!

Be safe with this smoke!

https://superiorcycling.org/event/sawtooth-stage-race/

Heck of the North Registration!

Maybe the second Heck? Navigating some dicey trail. Photo by Jeremy

Welcome to this special 18th year of The Heck of the North Gravel Cycling Classic. Registration goes live on Saturday, June 20 at 9 AM. This year, we are starting and finishing in Two Harbor's historic downtown. Our inaugural Heck Fest, with our friends at Castle Danger Brewery, will present a special live performance of one of our favorite local musicians Saturday afternoon. Food trucks, live music and Castle Danger Brewery’s finest drinks on tap. Bring a friend to celebrate with us. We are excited to start a new Heck tradition.

I love this photo that I grabbed on maybe the second edition of The Heck of the North. Somehow, I got to the sharp end of the race just as the lead group was navigating the mostly illegal crossing of some property a few miles from the finish (that’s Ross F in the Salsa jersey chasing.) Oh, the dumb stuff I did those first couple of years. We have gotten (somewhat) smarter and more savvy with permitting and the grown up parts of gravel cycling. But I hope to never lose that sense of adventure the Heck brings out in me and our riders. That’s what the Heck of the North has always been about. I almost laugh at how analog our Heck events are compared to some races these days. But we are OK with that. Our heart is still in grassroots gravel.

This year's courses are retooled and showcase the best sections of classic Heck routes. Come prepared for some of the most beautiful and challenging Heck routes to date.

I hope you an join us this year. And please welcome someone new to gravel cycling. It’s going to be a good Heck!

Le Grand du Nord Thank You

One of our fearless Graveleers from Grand Marais, Jay. Photo Jeremy

We want to thank you for being part of a very special, 10th anniversary edition of Le Grand du Nord Gravel Cycling Classic. In fact, we are putting it up there as probably our second hardest event we have hosted in 18 years of Heck of the North Production events. So congratulations to those who made it to the start line and even further to the finish line.

We also want to recognize again our amazing corp of volunteers. Many are folks we have known for years and their service to our events is hugely appreciated. They are just great people sharing their time, expertise and spirit. We could not do it without you.

There is a Summer full of cycling events here in Minnesota. Our Wolf Bikepacking Race has a couple of spots still available. Make sure to join Minnesota’s premier gravel cycling series, Gravel ‘Sota, too. For those looking to blend their passion for gravel cycling with the more traditional randonneuring scene, the Minnesota Randonneurs have some great events planned that include gravel.

And as always, a few shots by me at the finish line. I was amazed at the number of smiles I saw peeking through the mud, snot and spattered “sun” glasses. Your dedication to our events and ability to take on a challenge never ceases to amaze me. We feel so lucky to be part of this gravel community. It’s a pleasure hosting these races for such incredible people. We thank you. (Of note, I was not able to get photos of some of our fastest. I’m assuming they crossed the line and went straight to a warm blanket!)

Until next time, Ride the Good Line and keep being Graveleer!

Brett Brazerol, our fastest male rider in the 54 miler. Photo Jeremy

Josephine Ryan winner of the 26 mile Le Grand du Nord. Photo Jeremy

Friends from the ER…

More friends from the ER

Caleb and Tony, long time Graveleers of Heck Production events. Photo Jeremy

Our Toughest 26 milers! Photo Jeremy

and Toughest 54 miler (and neighbor!)