Mid Winter and Where we Stand

Won’t be long. Le Grand du Nord climbing up out of Cascade River. Photo Josh Kowaleski

Hello Graveleers! We hope your Winter has been full of all that the season has to offer. Skiing, fat tire biking and strength training have been on the menu. It’s so good to have snow and colder temps to keep life active on the North Shore.

Registration goes live March 1 for Le Grand du Nord!. We are as excited as ever to bring you three events this season (The Wolf is on hold as we balance family life with event hosting). We are trying a new Vintage category as well as a non-competitive team E-Bike category for the 26 mile event. We welcome all and if you’re a seasoned Le Grand rider, invite someone new to gravel racing this year! Links to our registration page will flow through this website.

OK. Time for some hard truths that we want you to be aware of. Our friends and event partners at the United States Forest Service are in a tough spot right now. Coming into the season, we were unsure if the Forest Service would be able to permit our events (all three Heck races rely on roads maintained by the USFS) due to extremely limited budgeting. But they pulled through by way of some incredible work and luck. But we fear that our luck may be running out due to the republican/Trump/Musk push to cut budgets event more within federally funded agencies that help us live our best lives.

I am a politically-minded person by nature and I have always viewed gravel cycling as a form of protest. And I have resisted the urge to be overtly political through our business. This is a complicated thing to balance in my brain and heart. Our primary goal is to bring all types of people together to share the experience of riding gravel. But there are times when world politics seep right into the core of what we do. This is one of those times. The facts are that how we run our family business are being directly impacted by the actions of Trump, Musk and the republican party. Theirs is a thoughtless wrecking ball of behavior that is tearing apart the lives of many hard-working Americans.

My heart hurts for what is going on right now. But we will continue to live within our motto to “Ride the Good Line” and being Graveleer. We will never stop welcoming everyone! Our events are a place to share the best of the cycling life. Be good to each other and learn how you can be part of something helpful in your community.

Jeremy Kershaw jeremybkershaw@gmail.com

...And a Rebuttal from Farrow

Farrow contemplating life after an early Heck of the North

The county asks that I do Well-Child checks on Charles Farrow on a somewhat regular basis. He usually responds well to email so I asked him yesterday, “Are you and Jim doing the Arrowhead 135?” Obviously this is a rhetorical question as Farrow has done it every year and a huge change in his mental and physical habitus would need to occur if he was to not toe the line. Jim is in the same boat. It’s also a form of self flagellation as I know that Farrow likes to correct the errors in my thinking often and usually without mercy.

His response today after I had shared my latest Cadence post as to why I was not training for the Arrowhead this year:

Farrow: “You contradict yourself:

Letz do pros versus cons....related to my question- Why are you NOT signed up for the Arrowhead?

I am missing the experience of training for a big event. (Tour Divide, Arrowhead 135, Birkebeiner) Okay...makes sense. Plus one for the Arrowhead.

I am trying to not believe that I need an extreme endurance event to learn new things about myself. A life not tested is a wasted life...Of course you need to test yourself. Plus two for the AH135

Extreme endurance events have have taught me a lot about myself over the years (Read any event that pushed me to my limits)...Yes. Plus three for doing the Arrowhead

I am craving new events and resisting the pull to do ones I have completed several times (Do I create these myself or commit to ones that are well vetted?) Why continue to do local races? So as to Support local race directors and their efforts. Good thing more people don't think that way. Neutral. AH135 is up three points in the pro category.

I am learning that no event, from dishwashing to racing, will be the same thing twice (Nothing stays the same, there are always new variables, new ways of experiencing) Yes. Another win for doing the AH135. Score so far: Cons-zero Pros: Plus four

With age, I am more amazed with my body’s physiology (Every body is fascinating in its adaptation, resilience, fragility, and capability) Yes. Body awareness is a good thing...neutral.

With age, I am getting more hypersensitive to minute changes in my body’s physiology (Is that A-fib or just palpitation? Am I getting sick? Why am I feeling light-headed…did I drink enough water?) Hey, forget that, you'll end up like (name removed)...or you will turn into a hypochondriac. N/A to AH

I think long distance athletic endeavors are a form of mindfulness (Being acutely aware of oneself, one’s surroundings, one’s movement through space.) Yes...Yet another win for the AH

Score: Don't do the AH-Zero. Do the Arrowhead-Plus Five.

I think long distance athletic endeavors are a form of mindlessness (On many rides and runs I often let my mind wander, not paying attention to where I am and subsequently receive sparks of creativity and answers to life’s riddles) Yes...

I am more appreciative of my time spent with loved ones and how fortunate we are (Children do grow up quickly and there are no guarantees in life)...Okay...Here is a win for the Cons.

I am interested in new experiences in new places with new people (Isolation is an epidemic in this country and I need group activities with people I do not know in places that are unfamiliar.)

Neutral.

So the final score is One point for Not doing the Arrowhead and Six points for doing the Arrowhead. Conclusion: Clearly if you are serious about following your own prescription for change, you should be doing the Arrowhead. “

Jeremy: And to all those fine folks racing the Arrowhead 135 this week, go get it. You won’t regret the experience no matter how it turns out.

January Observations

Boot-room sunrise photo Jeremy

Is this age or horseshit weather or curiosity or crumbs of insight? January is interesting…

I am missing the experience of training for a big event. (Tour Divide, Arrowhead 135, Birkebeiner)

I am more appreciative of day to day exercises, even those I once deemed mundane (Chester Creek loops, my commute to work, vacuuming our little house)

I am trying to not believe that I need an extreme endurance event to learn new things about myself (Read any event that pushes me to my limits)

Extreme endurance events have have taught me a lot about myself over the years (Read any event that pushed me to my limits)

I am craving new events and resisting the pull to do ones I have completed several times (Do I create these myself or commit to ones that are well vetted?)

I am learning that no event, from dishwashing to racing, will be the same thing twice (Nothing stays the same, there are always new variables, new ways of experiencing)

With age, I am more amazed with my body’s physiology (Every body is fascinating in its adaptation, resilience, fragility, and capability)

With age, I am getting more hypersensitive to minute changes in my body’s physiology (Is that A-fib or just palpitation? Am I getting sick? Why am I feeling light-headed…did I drink enough water?)

I think long distance athletic endeavors are a form of mindfulness (Being acutely aware of oneself, one’s surroundings, one’s movement through space.)

I think long distance athletic endeavors are a form of mindlessness (On many rides and runs I often let my mind wander, not paying attention to where I am and subsequently receive sparks of creativity and answers to life’s riddles)

I am more appreciative of my time spent with loved ones and how fortunate we are (Children do grow up quickly and there are no guarantees in life)

I am interested in new experiences in new places with new people (Isolation is an epidemic in this country and I need group activities with people I do not know in places that are unfamiliar.)

Gravel for Good 2025

Gravel For Good is our way of giving back to organizations and people who we feel are doing great work. Each organization will receive $500 from Heck of the North Productions. This year, we are also proud to sponsor Alexandera Houchin with a $1000 gift to assist her in her racing endeavors for 2025. Thank you all for the amazing work and spirit you bring to cycling and the greater North Shore.

Alexandera somewhere on the Colorado Trail (Race) Photo by Eszter Horanyi Instagram @ez_gone_coddiwompling

Alexandera Houchin is a special force among long distance cyclists. Her writing, will power, stories and wisdom are truly inspirational. She is arguably one of the most gifted cyclists racing today. Follow her this year at The Tour Divide and other epic bikepacking events (and maybe even at Le Grand du Nord!) We are honored to show a bit of financial support and help point some new folks toward her travels and stories via Instagram @alexanderahouchin. Her website is coming soon, too! Safe travels in 2025!

Some of the Collective Photo pulled from BSCC Facebook

Bone Saw Cycling Collective is one of our favorite clubs anywhere. They bring amazing spirit to every event they participate in. We always feel honored when they bring their gang to our races. From their site: Bone Saw Cycling Collective is a bicycle-focused group located around the TwinCities, Minnesota. The Collective was formed in 2019 as a group of friends wanting to meet for casual rides and attend bike events. Over the past 5 years, Bone Saw has grown and evolved into a community centered Collective with a large following of supporters. The mission of the Collective is and always has been to create a safe and inviting space for those new to cycling to feel welcome in a non-judgemental space. Our members offer support amongst each other and host skill shares in order to strengthen the knowledge of others. Mission Statement: Bone Saw Cycling Collective makes cycling better for all by improving its members' skills in any and all cycling disciplines, fostering a non-judgmental atmosphere of cycling, and giving back to the community.

This mural was completed in August 2017 by NSRGNTS (lead artist Votan Ik), with help from over 50 community members who came to assist the artists in finishing the designs on the jingle dress. The mural is located at Gimaajii-Mino-Bimaadizimin (202 W. 2nd Street, Duluth, MN) overlooking our solar rooftop gardens.

We are proud to donate to the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO.) In their words: “We started with nothing. Today, we offer an American Indian Community Center, 44 units of permanent supportive housing, a domestic violence emergency shelter, legal advocacy, a climate and cultural resiliency initiative, social enterprise activities, youth programming and an arts and culture initiative. All of our work is anchored in our mission to honor the resiliency of Indigenous people by strengthening communities and centering Indigenous values in all aspects of our work. Our philosophy is that every American Indian person deserves to live in non-violent and non-threatening environment and has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.”

We are proud to sponsor the Northwoods Cycling Team in Two Harbors and Lake County. This team promotes local racing, training and cycling education for all levels of cyclists. They always bring their A-game to our races and we love how they introduce young cyclists to the gravel experience. Thank you!

We will also be donating to the Superior Cycling Association in Grand Marais and Cook county. This organization works to build trail and promote cycling in this beautiful part of the world. They have done incredible things in this beautiful part of the world. Thank you for your dedication and hard work!

Save the Dates 2025

Be Graveleer in 2025!

We are doing registration dates differently this year. Mark your calendars!

Le Grand du Nord Gravel Classic

• Event date May 24, 2025

• Registration begins March 1, 2025

• 600 cyclist limit

The Fox Bikepacking Race

• Event date July 26-27, 2025

• Registration begins May 1, 2025

• 75 cyclist limit

The Heck of the North Gravel Classic

• Event date October 4, 2025

• Registration begins July 5, 2025

• 600 cyclist limit

Remember: Transfers to another cyclist are allowed. Distance changes are allowed. No waitlists this year. No refunds.

We have added two new categories in 2025. The Vintage Cycle (bicycles older than 1990) and the E-Bike Team (short course only. One team member on traditional bike, one on E-Bike. Both teammates must cross the finish line at the same time.)

Please welcome a new cyclist to our events this year and spread the joy of gravel cycling!