Getting Ready!

We welcome ALL to The Heck of the North Gravel Classic! What a good time to share the experience of racing your bike through a beautiful part of the world with a whole bunch of great people.

We are putting the finishing touches on Heck of the North planning. Among them is an upcoming decision on a very key part of the 100 and 50 mile routes. Being in the gravel cycling game means having to be increasingly nimble due to sever weather events. We are still coming to terms with the June 2024 storm that hammered the North Shore. So…

We will have route files ready to share hopefully early next week! I will send these out to every registered rider with good instructions on how to use the Ride with GPS files. We will have paper field note cues for those wanting to stay analog, too!

We thank our amazing county, federal and local business partners who help support our Heck of the North. If you are looking for last minute lodging ideas, please talk to our friends at Lovin Lake County

In the meantime, peace to all and Ride the Good Line!

Accomodations and other Heck Details

We wanted to get the word out that lodging can be tough to find on the North Shore during peak Fall colors. So we strongly encourage you to tent camp with your amazing Heck hosts at Agate Acres. We have partnered with them for the last several years to help provide a groovy camping community during your Heck weekend. There are a few spots left so grab them while you can via your Runsignup Heck Dashboard. A supper option will be offered and it is truly a great place to be for the weekend.

We thank Lovin Lake County for being a great resource for all things Lake County (The Heck of the North’s home county). Visit their website for info on other lodging and cool stuff to do while you are up in this part of the world.

You only have two more days to change your Heck distance! Please do this via your Runsignup Heck Dashboard.

Volunteers! Calling all volunteers! We need folks to bring their incredible Heck energy to help make this dance happen. It’s a great way to participate and see what The Heck is all about. We take good care of you, too! Register for a job at Heck Volunteer.

We have a few more Graveleer Wool Jerseys left for sale. They will be ready for pick up later in September and at The Heck. These are works of art and maybe just the unique piece of cycling kit you were looking for. Order here.

…and I am making a fresh batch of ACE (Adventure Cycling Equipment) wallets. Available by local pickup and at The Heck. Get yours while they are hot!

Keep being Graveleer and Ride the Good Line!

ACE (Adventure Cycling Equipment) wallets sewn by yours truly. Available by local pickup and at The Heck.

The Gunflint Scramble

Quinn and his team at Bearskin Lodge have one awesome event at the end of September. The Gunflint Scramble is the perfect reason to venture way up the North Shore to test yourself in a beautiful setting. Consider it a preamble for The Heck of the North. Just the right distance to shake it out and see how the legs are holding up. Still time to register but spots are going fast. See you up North for The GS.

The Grand Oak Opry

Dylan Salfer live at The Grand Oak Opry last Saturday night. Photo by Jeremy

Last Saturday night, I had the great fortune to see Dylan Salfer (holy cow, this man and his band can play. Do not miss the next opportunity to see them) at The Grand Oak Opry (also follow on Instagram.) It was a thing of beauty. Live music under the branches of a 235 year old oak tree. In the heart of St Paul. In my brothers’ Sean and Tim’s backyard. It’s an amazing experience.

Sean and his husband Tim started The Grand Oak Opry in their backyard in 2014. The guiding principles have remained unchanged. The asked $15 donation goes straight to the performing artists (with the typical audience of 250-400 friends, that’s a pretty good night’s take for the performers.) Local artists are preferred. All expenses are covered by generous donations from community sponsors. And the house bathroom is THE bathroom. All of this plus fireflies, a true sense of community connection and sultry St Paul Summer nights.

The Grand Oak Opry paralleled the rise of gravel cycling. Unbeknownst to the two of us, we were simultaneously attempting to create more community via activities we were passionate about. Sean and Tim’s connection to talented Minnesota and regional up and coming acts is impressive. And their commitment to providing a unique venue for not only the community but also the artists is second to none.

You have one more chance to be part of this ephemeral Summer experience. Saturday, August 23 at 7:30, they present TABAH. Bone Saw Cycling Collective I’m looking at you. What a perfect destination for a cycling date. It really is something special and you’d be foolish to miss this last show of the season.

The world needs more connections like this. Thanks Sean and Tim and your amazingly dedicated team of volunteers for opening up your home to share live music under an oak tree. (And make sure to wear your finest Heck wears!)

The tree. Photo Jeremy

Sean and Tim. Photo Jeremy

Dylan bends the blues genre effortlessly into funk, R&B and even psychedelic. Photo Jeremy

Photo Jeremy

Our Heck Store

Our Heck Store is open for a limited time of the special order of our Graveleer Wool Jerseys. Quantities are limited. These are coming from Cima Coppi in Spain and should be in Duluth sometime mid September. We are doing pickup only in Duluth and at The Heck of the North. Shipping is an option for rare occasions only.

We hope your Summer has been filled with miles/km’s of trail and gravel. Here are a few thoughts before the big dance, Heck of the North, October 4th!

• Remember, your bike is faster than you are! For training and speed and endurance, focus on quality sleep, whole food nutrition, and good bike fit!

• If you are going to spend money on gear, think local. We have some of the best bike sponsors in the business.

• And you really want to spend money? Look at quality tires. I go to Rene Herse almost exclusively now. We are not affiliated with them in any way. I just think they have become the leaders in tire design, science and practical use.

• Back to bike fit. Comfort on your bike is one of the easiest ways to go faster. Consider a local bike fitter to assess you and your ride. It is worth it!

• And finally, a small rant, all in good fun. The next person that notifies me that they are unable to start a Heck event, or finish a Heck event due to one of their batteries not working on their bike…will be publicly shamed at the event and penalized 3 hours at the next Heck event. Talk about a problem that did not exist (poor or slow shifting) with a solution that is just another problem. Ugh! Ok, moving on…

• And finally, a special thank you again to the fine people that made The Fox Bikepacking Race a truly special event. It is people like you who seek adventure, share your experiences and are just plain fun to be with why we do what we do. Thank you!

One of finest doing what she does best. Thank you DV!