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!

Plans for E-Bikes and Field Notes 2025 and Just Riding your Bike in the Woods

Jim Reed, Charlie Farrow and Jeremy on the other side of the tunnel, Finland area. Photo Jeremy with assistance from pile of rocks

Warning, today’s Cadence is a nod to someone I quite admire, Grant Petersen. In particular, the guy who shaped Bridgestone in the US in the early 90’s and later created his own bicycle company, Rivendell Bicycle Works. And even more in particular, Grant’s writing, Petersen’s Blahg. If you have not experienced either the world that was/is Bridgestone and especially Rivendell, please take the plunge. It is worth it.

Now, onto e-bikes and field notes (cue cards.) I was honored to have so many thoughtful responses sent my way regarding opinions on both. I knew there was a nerve here, just did not know how deep it went. Apparently, it’s a whole body nerve. Here are my decisions on the topic. And thank you for your participation.

Field Notes: It was an even split between those who appreciate the analog nature of paper navigation and those who prefer GPX files. Some loved the history, challenge, nostalgia and art of a field note. The other half love the perceived safety of GPS navigation and also the freedom that it allows by way of not having to pay such close attention to navigation. Both camps have very solid points. Fascinating. In light of this, with some semblance of egalitarianism, I will offer both at the rider’s discretion. So it goes, make your own decision at time of registration.

E-Bikes: Again, there were strong opinions. On this subject, I think more leaned away from e-bike inclusion (for various reasons.) And, somewhat to my own surprise, I have decided to run a beta year for e-bikes. It will look like this: Le Grand du Nord and The Heck of the North will each have a category within the short course (26 mile at Le Grand, 18 mile at The Heck.) This category will be a team where one rider of the team is on an e-bike, the other on a “traditional” bike. This category will be non-competitive. And, most importantly, both riders of the team are required to cross the finish line at the same time. The spirit of this division is to ride with someone who otherwise may not have been part of the event. I will not be fiddling around with motor size or other foolishness. I am hoping that the natural governors of the category (non-competetive and finishing together) will help add some restraint.

Registration for all Events: Here is an advance notice. I am changing the registration process this season. Online registration will occur approximately 2.5 months before the event. There will be no waitlists or refunds. This is in response to the challenges we have faced with extreme weather events and staffing shortages with the partners we permit with. I also know this might affect your lodging arrangements and the ability to get a refund for them if for some reason you are not able to secure an entry for your chosen event.

Now, onto other less divisive topics: This past weekend, Jim Reed, Charlie Farrow and I did what I love to do most lately. We found a great campsite at a local state park, rode our bikes in the woods purposely going down trails that almost certainly would involve wet feet and dead ends, and then shared the experiences around a fire at night. It was great fun, hugely therapeutic and something that we hope to do every month this Winter. The joy of not racing and simply exploring is too often replaced with just about everything else in life these days. We made fun of beavers, rode up steep trails just to gain a view and laughed at stupid shit we have done in the past (and still continue to do.) I am fortunate to have friends and partners that share the pleasure in this pursuit. Here are a few photos.

Hope you are doing OK and we (here at Heck Central) all appreciate how each of you brings these events to life. Get someone new onto a bike and share this crazy power. Peace.

Cues and E-Bikes

I have been thinking for several months about two elephants in the room of gravel cycling, at least for our Heck of the North Productions events. To get right to it, they are the relevance and importance of cue cards, or what we call “field notes” and e-bikes. Here we go.

I have remained relatively quiet about the evolution of gravel cycling events in the last five years. Mostly, I think the boom of events and the increase in numbers of those who partake are overall good things. I like to see more people on bicycles. There has also been some discussion about how the growth of larger events may have possibly changed the feel, spirit or heart of gravel cycling, in general. This is probably most noticeable for those who rode in the first years of the sport (and I am talking in the last 20 years…not historically when ALL cycling was gravel cycling.)

I have pondered this at length and have come to the conclusion that I can only, kind of, control the events that we create and host. I am happy that we have remained relatively small. I am happy that we have been able to stay sustainable as a small, family business. And it makes me happy to see new faces, ages and personalities at our events.

But I do have a yearning for what I consider to be one of the icons of gravel cycling. The cue card. These used to carry a lot of significance. They were a form of artwork created by the director (I still remember Skogen’s craftsmanship with his at the Almanzo.) They were always a point of contention if the director made a mistake on a cue turn or on a mileage marker. And there was always the responsibility of the rider to follow their odometers and cue cards less they miss a turn and pay the price in bonus mileage and possibly even a significant change in race leadership.

I am considering bringing them back. And for this to happen, and effectively block the use of GPS units for the event, we would need to make some serious changes with our packet pickup.

But why even consider this? It’s about the heart of gravel cycling. I really like the idea of keeping some traditions alive. Yes it’s archaic. Yes, it will cause a few missed turns. Yes, I might even screw something up. Yet I still consider it to be a meaningful part of gravel cycling that I wished was still alive.

Now on to E-bikes. I am considering having a category, for the 18-26 mile events only, that would allow them. It would be non-competitive (meaning no awards for fastest.) I am also considering a design that would be team based: one rider on non-e-bike, the other on e-bike. The team would be have to cross the finish line together. I am no e-bike expert when it comes to motor class or types.

The intent to include e-bikes would be to allow people who feel that this style of bike is the one way they can still participate in cycling events. I will be honest…I have resisted this for years in fear that motorcycles are just a slide away. And nothing against motorcycles. But I had this thought of non-motor only at Heck events for a very long time. I’m struggling with this.

So I welcome feedback about both cue cards and e-bikes. Yes, email me at jeremybkershaw@gmail.com.

I’m camping and riding with Farrow and Reed this weekend and I am sure that we will come to some resolution to these issues. More to come!