Thank you Cornerstone Coaching

We want to give special recognition to Patrick Greehan of Cornerstone Coaching this year for his work in the cycling community. Patrick has generously donated to The Heck of the North Gravel Cycling Classic so that several riders can participate. These are folks that might not have had the opportunity to join us…and we are so happy they can.

Patrick has been a cornerstone of cycling in the Duluth cycling community for many years. His work as a cycling coach at Duluth Devo Mountain Bike Program has been huge. He has helped introduce hundreds of young riders to the joy of cycling.

If you are looking for a coach to take your own cycling life to the next level, Cornerstone Coaching is the place to start. It’s never too late to learn, build and grow your own talents as a rider. Patrick will help you get there.

Thank you again for all you bring to the cycling world of Duluth and beyond!

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!