One of the best parts of The Heck Epic is its social design. But now, in the time of Covid, one of the toughest parts of The Heck Epic —is its social design. We tried to figure out how over 100 of us could ride, camp, and dine together from July 17-19 without risking exposure to our riders, volunteers, and the communities we visit. It was a no-go. Therefore, we are canceling the event and giving riders the chance to complete the route independently.
We will
Refund each rider 95% of their entry fee
Refund 100% of tee shirt payment
We hope you will
Race an Individual Time Trial (ITT) sometime during this 2020 season. We are working with Trackleaders.com to mark your effort. More to come on this.
Travel to the North Shore of Minnesota in a safe and responsible way. The region’s small businesses are really taking a hit, while its health care resources are also limited. It’s a balancing act with, frankly, not many great alternatives. Please be considerate to the efforts our partners are making to promote healthy actions, including hand-washing, physical distancing, and wearing a mask when in public areas. Thanks to Fireweed Bike Coop, Ely Bike and Kicksled, Taiga Design + Build , Visit Cook County, The US Forest Service , Cedaero Custom Frame Bags , Epicurean, Fika Coffee, and Cascade Vacation Rentals. Our partners are the best. Thank you.
Buy a tee shirt if you complete the ITT version of the Heck Epic. These are in design now with our friends at Duluth Screen Printing
I know that riding the Heck Epic course solo is not the same as what we share together for our normal Heck Epic events. That being said, I also know that riding solo has special rewards. And I am 100% certain that more time spent cycling through the woods, challenging yourself in new ways and sleeping under the stars are all great actions in the time of Covid (or any other time, too.) We will have the route on Trackleaders.com by June 15. Stay tuned.
Thank you for being part of the Heck Epic experience. It’s just a tough year for us all. Let’s make the best of it and be leaders in creative, respectful, and responsible adventure cycling.
Keep Riding the Good Line.
Yours,
Jeremy Kershaw, Director Heck of the North Productions