Mid Summer Life!

Photo by Josh Kowaleski

Summer! I am loving how incredibly lush it is this year. No wildfire smoke. The creeks are full. Our local woods are greener than any time I can remember. It’s really good to see.

With that life has come some pretty powerful destruction to person-made things, too, courtesy of the June 16 storm. Roads and trails here on the North Shore have been battered by that event. It has forced us to make significant changes to our Wolf Bikepacking Race. In fact, our whole stage to Ely had to be omitted. We are saddened by this change but are making adaptive changes to continue on. The Wolf is a two day event now but it remains challenging, beautiful and a lively community of cyclists in the making. We do have a few spots open if you want to join us this July 20-21. Go to our BikeReg page to register!.

Our Fox Bikepacking Race was has been moved to September 14-15. We will have a few spots opening for that event, too, after July 12. Stay tuned for that announcement. The route thankfully remains the same for that event now that crews have worked diligently to repair troubled areas and the Baptism River has receded.

In the meanwhile, we hope you are enjoying watching the last dots of the Tour Divide, the freaks of the Tour de France and most importantly your own time on two wheels.

Ride the Good Line. Jeremy

Sponsors of The Fox Bikepacking Race

Velocity USA really bring their game to The Fox and The Wolf. Photo Josh Kowaleski

We are so grateful for the amazing business partners that help bring our events to life. We work only with the best in the business and are proud of the relationships we have built over the years. North Shore, Minnesota, and USA made products that add greatness to the gravel cycling community. Please consider these partners when shopping for your provisions or planning your Fox Bikepacking weekend. Thank you!

Cedaero  Two Harbors based bike bag sewers and designers are the best in the business! They are offering gift certificates for our fastest riders. Dan and his crew are great and we are so fortunate to have them as partners here on the North Shore.

Embark Maple Syrup Our Wisconsin based maple syrup suppliers. Eric, Bree and their team are the best maple energy makers in the business. We are so glad they became part of our sponsor team!

Lake Superior Dental Associates This amazing crew! They generously supply bikepacking approved toothbrushes, floss and toothpaste. We will have the healthiest bikepackers in the country again this year. Thanks for your gracious support!

Lovin Lake County The resource for all of your Lake County vacation and lodging needs.

Velocity USA We are so lucky to have Velocity USA Wheels sponsoring our bikepacking events this year! We will be giving away a beautiful set of Blunt SS wheels, with a dyno hub, that will knock your socks off! These are some of the best wheels in the business and I have used Velocity’s for years.

Visit Cook County Original partners of Heck of the North Prodcutions. If only every event company could have a county based resource like Visit Cook County. Your go-to for Grand Marais and Cook County travel, event and logistical information. 

Voyageur Brewing Company Enjoy one of their great craft beers and delicious menu items. We appreciate their support from day one. Be generous and kind to their hard working crew!

Twin Six is generously donating $106 (naturally) to one of our lucky riders. They are a classic Minnesota cycling design, bike and gear maker and we are so happy to have them back as sponsors

Bearskin Lodge is one of the Gunflint Trails most beautiful lodges. They are offering a very cool,3 night Winter stay certificate to one of our lucky riders. I wish I was riding to be able to qualify for this one. Thank you Quinn and family!

Cornerstone Coaching

This season, we are giving special attention to people who are doing great work in the fields of training and coaching. Hailey Corradi at Northern Movement PT was our first. Today, we are giving a nod to Patrick Greehan at Cornerstone Coaching.

Patrick has been a steady and guiding force in Duluth coaching for years. In particular, his participation in the Duluth Devo Mountain Bike Program has been especially inspirational. Emphasizing life-long appreciation for cycling, Patrick has helped mentor young riders for years.

Patrick’s coaching is one that emphasizes a holistic approach to your cycling goals. Grounded in solid cycling physiological best practice and research, Patrick can help guide you toward your strongest season yet.

Contact Patrick to begin planning!

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!