Deep into Le Grand du Nord, Photo Clint Austin
This year, registration for all three events will open on Thursday, January 2, 2020, at www.heckofthenorth.com. We are trying this to allow better planning for riders. We are also predicting, based on registration trends from 2019, that our rider limit caps for the events will be reached at a much quicker pace when compared to the last two years. So, begin thinking about your cycling trips soon in order to secure a spot. We hope to see you there.
Here are some early details about the 2020 season:
Le Grand du Nord: Saturday, May 23, 2020 Grand Marais, Minnesota
We will again offer three course distances: 20, 50-ish and 100-ish.
Registration opens January 2, 2020 via www.heckofthenorth.com
We will cap this event at 600 total riders this year
Don’t miss one of the most beautiful gravel courses in the USA. And, one of the coolest small towns in Minnesota!
The Heck Epic: Friday, July 17- Sunday July 19, 2020 Two Harbors-Ely-Grand Marais-Two Harbors, Minnesota
This year, we are adding another day to the event! Three days of bikepacking as we bring Ely, MN. back into the event. It’s going to be great to have three of my favorite towns connected by some amazing North Shore wildness.
Expect daily course distances to be between 100-115 miles each.
Mandatory meeting on Thursday, July 16 in Two Harbors (at approximately 7 pm, details to come.)
Rider cap for this event is 150
Registration opens January 2, 2020 via www.heckofthenorth.com
The Heck of the North: Saturday, September 26, 2020 Two Harbors, Minnesota
Our 12th annual running of our original gravel cycling classic
We will continue to build on more camping, more food (food trucks being ordered already!) and more bonfires at the event!
We will continue to offer courses of 20, 50-ish and 100-ish miles.
We welcome all types of cyclists! Just come prepared for a challenge and with a bike that you know can handle the rigors of the day.
We will cap this event at 600 riders total.
Registration opens January 2, 2020 via www.heckofthenorth.com
The Flight
The Flight is our three event challenge: Le Grand du Nord 100 mile, The Heck Epic (three day event), and The Heck of the North 100 mile event (again, ONLY 100 mile events and the Heck Epic!)
We will offer a special discounted price for those determined enough to be part of our entire season.
We will offer a special award to those who complete The Flight challenge. Last year, 24 tough souls got it done. Congratulations to them!
Registration opens January 2, 2020 via www.heckofthenorth.com See special registration button for this event.
Gravel for Good
This year, we will encourage participants to “offset” their event racing mileage with equal amounts of commuting mileage (either by cycling or walking.)
We believe that cycling contributes to healthier people, communities and world.
Stay tuned for a special tracking app that will allow riders to log their Gravel for Good mileage.
TRY THIS!
We encourage you to consider other regional cycling events, as well. Our friends at Minnesota Randonneurs have a big season planned of long distance events throughout the state. If you are not familiar with this style of cycling, you owe it to yourself to try one. They are a great group of people and an amazing organization (with a deep tradition, as well.)
And, a special reminder to ride with our Canadian friends at the Thunder Grinder, Thunder Bay, Ontario (Sometime in August, 2020 DTBD.) If you have not already noticed, they have some really talented cyclists and some beautiful country, too. I’ll be there. Hope to see you.
Save April 25 for the Earth Day Gravel Grinder in Northfield, MN. Great people doing the right thing.
We have three beta rides that are in the works for 2020. They might involve winter bikepacking, trout fishing and bikepacking and one rather long continuous jaunt between Two Harbors-Grand Marais-Two Harbors (think a mix of Heck Epic and Minnesota Randonneurs.) I will post more info about these via this blog and Facebook.
We thank you for making the 2019 season one to remember, in the best sort of way. These events are my passion. They would not be the same without the incredible people that bring them to life, though. Thank you to the riders, volunteers, communities and sponsors that are part of Heck of the North Productions!
We welcome comments and suggestions for the upcoming season. If there is something that you would really like to see, please email me, Jeremy Kershaw, at jeremybkershaw@gmail.com
So, keep riding, keep advocating for cycling, and Ride the Good Line!
Jeremy Kershaw