Why Race with your Stuff through Beautiful Places?

Photo by Josh Kowaleski

I have completed, attempted, quit and considered a lot of races in my life. Finished the Tour Divide in 21 days (I think this number gets shorter the older I get.) Finished the Arrowhead 135 five times in all categories. Not completed a bunch of them, too. Finished Trans Iowa’s and quit even more. I have dreamed of routes that do not exist yet. But why? Why race with a bunch of stuff through places that any normal person would travel slowly through and savor?

Short answer is, I do not know. People do weird things.

Here is where I am on the topic this morning. I think for some types of people, the act of racing, or pushing oneself more than normal, is an act of focusing in a world filled with distractions. I think the constraints of time and gear give shape to a story that is ancient yet new every time someone says, “Go!” The preparatory process is certainly part of the journey and enjoyment, too.

Paradoxically, I have been practicing slowing down, meditating and trying to fly fish every opportunity I can. Yet we create and host races that don’t lend themselves to any of those things. OK, maybe a hybrid form of meditation while riding. Yet the desire to use race formats persists.

I think there is room in ourselves and the world to do and hold contradictory beliefs and actions. I know that racing has given me clarity in ways that touring has not. I know that traveling, either by bikepacking, backpacking or canoe camping, reminds me that I really do not need more than what is in my packs. There are select times in my life where the intensity of going hard is a welcome-selfish, excuse to think of nothing other than food, water, breathing and moving forward.

Our races, The Fox and The Wolf, are consciously designed to be a bit more, though, than the typical sufferfest. We want participants to have time to unwind, meet other racers and relax in their beautiful surroundings. We have found the combination of racing hard and relaxing harder to be a sweet spot.

To be sure, no one yet has come up to me and asked me why we create the events we do. I hope those who join us in these cycling experiences gain more than just new Strava data. I know that there are powerful moments to be had while cycling, especially up here on the North Shore. Keep your mind open for these flashes of clarity. And even the chance to share it with someone, too.

On the way home, Cramer Rd, Finland, MN. Photo Josh Kowaleski

Thank you and more!

Every year, we are left with so many emotions after an event. But thankfully, again, we are feeling the love of doing what we do with amazing people. It is so good to be in that energy of Graveleers! Thank you to you the rider! Thank you to you the volunteer!

We would greatly appreciate your input and participation with these post event activities. We will have a random drawing for one lucky survey responder for a three night stay at Bearskin Lodge on the Gunflint Trail!

We want to offer our sincere gratitude to the City of Grand Marais and the folks who live and work here. We thank Josh and Robby at Cook Co Highway Dept with their assistance in laying out the new finish line. Thank you to the volunteers of the STOP Team who help shepherd our riders safely to the finish. Thank you to Buck Benson who graciously offered accommodations for our family during the event. And to Kris and Carrie of Duluth Timing and Events for once again keeping track of all the times! Thank you SPONSORS!

Ride the Good Line!

Le Grand Route Scout

Greenwood Lake Rd heading east for the 110 milers

I delayed a route scout until after the latest batch of rain. Looks like a Nor’Easter will be arriving right on time for packet pickup on Friday in Grand Marais. So it goes. Saturday is looking pretty darn good, though!

Early this Spring we were still very worried about an aggressive fire season and smoke. Thankfully, the state and the North Shore are hydrated again. The course is unbelievably green right now! Overall, the roads held up well to the deluge of water over the last week.

110 Mile Course: Course looks good overall. Expect random puddles after tomorrow’s rain. In particular, the Powers Lake Rd section is as tough as always. From about mile 46-50, the going is wet and full of rocky sections. You will get your feet wet going through some very water-over-road sections. Hang in there. You have the hills of Shoe Lake Rd to look forward to after that.

54 Mile Course: Course looks good overall. Murmur Creek Rd mile 11-16 has puddles. Remember to follow the gravel road…don’t go off-roading into the woods (old gps file still shows that) Clara Lake Rd and Bally Creek Rd are stunning roads…but narrow and twisty. Please stay far right!

26 Mile Course: Course looks good overall. You need to watch your cue card and odometers! There are TWO County Road 48’s! Take the second one, at mile 4.5 like your cue cards shows. The first CR 48 at mile 3.2 is not on course and VERY steep.

Safe Travels to Grand Marais. Remember to help offset your carbon emissions via this calculator~

Jeremy

Caught this Moose taking a swim on the Assinika Creek on the 110 course.

Heading into the Sawtooth Range

Welcome to Le Grand du Nord!

Will you earn your Graveleer Wings at the Finish?

Welcome to the 2024 Le Grand du Nord Gravel Classic. Here are a few important bits of info to know before the big day.

  • We are honored to be partnering with The National Indian Carbon Coalition. This year, for all Heck Productions events, we are asking that you help offset your carbon emissions while traveling to one of our events with their carbon calculator. This money goes directly to a local project at the Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Please consider being part of this mission to offset emissions while simultaneously supporting a local carbon sequestration project. Thank you!

  • Remember that our new Official Timing Finish Line is on County Rd 7, just before entering Grand Marais. After having your time marked, all riders MUST proceed, SLOWLY, to the Ceremonial Finish Line (also the start line) by Voyageur Brewing Co. via the official route. This is for important safety reasons.

  • We have one of the best teams of volunteers in cycling. Please be appreciative, patient and thankful to these folks who donate their precious time and expertise to our event(s)

  • Awards Ceremonies will be at noon for the 26 mile race, 2 PM for the 54 mile race, and 4 PM for the 110 mile race. This will be at the Ceremonial Finish Line/Big Tent by Voyageur Brewing Co.

  • Earn your Graveleer Wings (above photo) by finishing your race! I’ll be handing these out at the Ceremonial Finish Line!

  • We will be randomly drawing a recipient for a beautiful set of HED Wheels. This will be announced at 4 PM at the 110 mile award ceremony. Andy Tetmeyer, the HED design guru and artisan checkpoint chef, will be making fresh crepes for the 110 mile racers at the checkpoint. This is an amazing HED tradition and we are very appreciative of their support of our events from the very beginning!

  • Grand Marais sadly does not have a bike shop (we miss you Fireweed Bike Coop!) Make sure to come supplied, or, make a last minute stop at Spokengear/Cedaero Bags in Two Harbors.

  • Lastly, and most importantly, we are guests to this part of the world. Let’s be friendly, welcoming, respectful and CAREFUL while doing this thing we love. NO ROADS are CLOSED. There will be cars. RIDE far RIGHT and share the road. Do not jeopardize your safety or another motorists safety because of your need for speed.

  • Safe travels and Ride the Good Line- Jeremy and Le Grand Team

  • PS! We have some really cool new items for sale at the Le Grand Big Tent. USA made waxed canvas trucker hats and newly sewn (by yours truly) Adventure Cycling Equipment ACE Tool Rolls, too. Plus a very sweet co-branded hip bag from Cedaero!

  • Thank you SPONSORS! If you are shopping for provisions or North Shore services, check out our event sponsors. Hand picked, local and best in what they do.

ACE Tool Roll

USA made waxed canvas trucker from Bradley Mountain

Bone Saw Cycling Collective

Some of the Collective Photo pulled from BSCC Facebook

I’m not sure, but it may have been 2019 when, standing on the finishing line, I noticed a raucous crew of riders hanging out under a logo’d pop up tent not far from the line. Lots of tattoos and cut-off’s. But above all else, the loudest cheering section I had ever seen at one of our events. I remember asking Avesa the next morning if she had caught sight of that motorcycle gang looking bunch. She had and said they seemed pretty nice. Huh.

But then they kept showing up. And there were more of them. And they had matching patches and vests and tee shirts. And they were even louder and friendlier than before. Not wanting to get on the wrong side of this crew, I acted friendly toward them in fear that a wrong look might mean a missing rear wheel. But I was obviously mistaken.

The Bone Saw Cycling Collective is, in fact, one of my favorite things I have seen come out of gravel cycling. An extremely welcoming, diverse, and supportive group of people who like to ride gravel. They define Graveleer. This is BSCC in their own words:

Bone Saw Cycling Collective is a bicycle-focused group located around the Twin

Cities, 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.

I started seeing BSCC at other events, offering pickle hand ups and maybe shots of some special drink. And again, more encouraging words.

And, unquestionably the baddest logo and teamwear anywhere.

If you should be so fortunate to see this crew at your next event, and certainly at Le Grand du Nord and The Heck of the North, say hello and take a page from their club book. We are honored to have them at our events. Bone Saw Cycling Collective