MN Bike Trail Navigator: Almanzo 100

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12/31/2018

2019 Minnesota Gravel Events

Rural Minnesota is home to quite a few long standing gravel road races and with the growing popularity of the sport, rides to introduce those new to gravel are beginning to pop up, too. With varying terrain, minimum maintenance roads, elevation changes, great rural scenery and unpredictable weather in the Spring and Fall, these events are sure to be fun and challenging. Almost all of them are free, but unsupported requiring the participants to be their own repair and support crew.

This season's calendar will include all types of gravel races and rides from around the state. Some of these have registration cutoff dates, have a rider cap, or more information and registration details that are yet to be announced. Below is a list of all of the gravel events in Minnesota that I'm aware of in chronological order. I will continue to update and add events to this post as they become available. If you are a race or event organizer and would like your event listed here and on my 2019 Minnesota Bike Tours, Rides, Races & Events Schedule, please send me an e-mail.

Saturday Gravel 1/5 : it’s a new year, let’s start it off right-January 5, 2019
Caribou Coffee
Lakeville, MN
35-45 miles

February 43 mi Fat Bike Gravel - Hugo, MN #1-February 16, 2019
Dunn Brothers Coffee
Hugo, MN
43 miles

Gravel Bicycle Ride Through the Sax/Zim Bog-March 9, 2019
Forbes, MN

March 43 mi Fat Bike Gravel - Hugo, MN #2-March 9, 2019
Dunn Brothers Coffee
Hugo, MN
43 miles

Gravel Training Ride 62 mi - Hugo to Marine #3-March 16, 2019
Dunn Brothers Coffee
Hugo, MN
62 miles

Gravel Training Ride 62 mi - Hugo to Marine #4-March 23, 2019
Dunn Brothers Coffee
Hugo, MN
62 miles

Mixed surface gravel training ride #5 - Hugo to Marine, 63mi.-March 30, 2019
Dunn Brothers Coffee
Hugo, MN
63 miles

Saturday Gravel 3/30: Almanzo is Coming-March 30, 2019
Caribou Coffee
Lakeville, MN
40+ miles

Mixed surface gravel training ride - Hugo to Marine, 63mi.-April 6, 2019
Dunn Brothers Coffee
Hugo, MN
63 miles

Ragnarök 105-April 6, 2019
Mississippi National Golf Course
Red Wing, MN
Postcard Registration open November 23-December 31, 2018
Facebook Event Page

Lyme Grinder-April 13, 2019
Blacksmith Lounge & Broaster
Hugo, MN
63 miles
Facebook Event Page

Crankin To Cure Cancer’s Gravel Scavenger-April 14, 2019
North Folk Winery
Harris, MN
61, 25 miles

Gear up for Gravel (Gravel racing prep)-April 18, 2019
Farmstead Bike Shop
Minneapolis, MN

Saturday Gravel: 4/20-April 20, 2019
Caribou Coffee
Lakeville, MN
60 miles

Dickie Scramble-April 27, 2019
JJ's Tailgators Bar & Grill
Elgin, MN
80+ miles

Miesville FiftySix-April 28, 2019
Jack Ruhr Stadium
Miesville, MN
56 miles
Registration full

ACF Spring Social Ride-May 4, 2019
Imminent Brewing
Northfield, MN
83 miles

Cannon Gravel: Alexander Route Preview-May 4, 2019
Cannon Falls, MN
80 miles

Choose Your Ride!-May 4, 2019
West Lake Marion Mountain Bike Trail
Lakeville, MN

Lyme Grinder Gravel Rides-May 4, 2019
Dunn Brothers Coffee
Hugo, MN
47, 31 miles

Dutch Liberation Day Gravel Ride-May 5, 2019
Oliver Tavern
Superior, WI
50+ miles

RiotGRRRavel Q&A-May 6, 2019
Seven Spokes Bike Shop
St. Paul, MN

Friday Night Ride (Gravel edition)-May 10, 2019
South Lake Cycle
Excelsior, MN
30-45 miles

Earth Day Gravel Grinder!-May 11, 2019
Imminent Brewing
Northfield, MN
51, 26, 13 miles
Online Registration

Lyme Grinder Gravel Ride-May 11, 2019
Dunn Brothers Coffee
Hugo, MN
47 miles

Alexander 380-May 17-18, 2019
Northfield, MN
380 miles
Facebook Page
Registration

Friday Night Ride (Gravel edition)-May 17, 2019
South Lake Cycle
Excelsior, MN
30-45 miles

Malanzo 50/Almanzo 100/Royal 162-May 18, 2019
Northfield, MN
162, 100, 50 miles
Facebook Page
Registration

RiotGrrravel-May 18, 2019
Hope Lutheran Church
Hastings, MN
33, 21, 10 miles
Online Registration

Saturday Night Gravel 2019-May 18, 2019
Victoria, MN

Wired Rooster-Saxon Hall gravel ride-May 19, 2019
Post Office-Brownsville
Brownsville, MN
47 miles

Le Grand Du Nord-May 25, 2019
Grand Marais, MN
120, 66, 20 miles
500 Rider Cap
Facebook Page
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Lyme Grinder Gravel Ride-May 25, 2019
Dunn Brothers
Hugo, MN

Friday Night Ride (Gravel edition)-May 31, 2019
South Lake Cycle
Excelsior, MN
30-45 miles

Extreme North Dakota Terrifically Intense Country Klassic (END-TICK)-June 1, 2019
Lake Park, MN
210 km, 115 km, 50 km
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Spring Valley 100: Keep Gravel Weird Volume I-June 1, 2019
Masonic Park
Spring Valley, MN

Gravel Group Rides-June 3, 2019
Continental Ski & Bike
Duluth, MN

Friday Night Ride (Gravel edition)-June 7, 2019
South Lake Cycle
Excelsior, MN
30-45 miles

Westside Dirty Benjamin-June 8, 2019
Chaska, MN
Mileage TBD
Facebook Page
Registration

Luce Line Loops Bike Ride-June 9, 2019
Crow River Winery
Hutchinson, MN
75k gravel grinder, 50, 25, 12 miles

Gravel Group Rides-June 10, 2019
Continental Ski & Bike
Duluth, MN

Wednesday Gravel Rides-June 12, 2019
Ski Hut
Duluth, MN
40-60 miles

Believe In Me Bike Ride-June 15, 2019
Eagles Fraternal Organization
Rochester, MN
102, 82, 60, 34, 14, 6 miles
43 mile gravel
Registration

Lyme Grinder - 50 mi. Gravel training ride-June 15, 2019
Dunn Brothers Coffee
Hugo, MN
50+ miles

Dirt Church-June 16, 2019
Twin Lakes City Park
Nowthen, MN
30, 10 miles

Prairie Grade RC Social Gravel Ride-June 16, 2019
Wayzata Brew Works
Wayzata, MN
80+ miles

Gravel Group Rides-June 17, 2019
Continental Ski & Bike
Duluth, MN

Wednesday Gravel Rides-June 19, 2019
Ski Hut
Duluth, MN
40-60 miles

Friday Night Ride (Gravel edition)-June 21, 2019
South Lake Cycle
Excelsior, MN
30-45 miles

Summer Solstice Night Gravel Ride-June 21, 2019
Stewartville, MN
30, 24 miles

Gravel Group Rides-June 24, 2019
Continental Ski & Bike
Duluth, MN

Saturday Night Gravel (June Bug Edition)-June 29, 2019
Angry Catfish Bicycle Shop and Coffee Bar
Minneapolis, MN

Zumbro Gravel Challenge-June 29, 2019
Zumbrota, MN
135 km

Gravel Group Rides-July 1, 2019
Continental Ski & Bike
Duluth, MN

Friday Night Ride (Gravel edition)-July 5, 2019
South Lake Cycle
Excelsior, MN
30-45 miles

Saturday Gravel: Will Bike for Donuts-July 6, 2019
Caribou Coffee
Lakeville, MN
65-70 miles

Freedhem 76-July 7, 2019
Freedhem Store
Little Falls, MN
76 miles

Gravel Group Rides-July 8, 2019
Continental Ski & Bike
Duluth, MN

Gravel Group Rides-July 15, 2019
Continental Ski & Bike
Duluth, MN

Heck Epic-July 20-21, 2019
Two Harbors, MN
225 miles
100 Rider Cap
Facebook Page
Online Registration

Gravel Group Rides-July 22, 2019
Continental Ski & Bike
Duluth, MN

Wednesday Gravel Rides-June 26, 2019
Ski Hut
Duluth, MN
40-60 miles

Wednesday Gravel Rides-July 3, 2019
Ski Hut
Duluth, MN
40-60 miles

Wednesday Gravel Rides-July 10, 2019
Ski Hut
Duluth, MN
40-60 miles

50mi. Gravel Training Ride. H-M-H-July 13, 2019
Dun Brothers Coffee-Hugo
Hugo, MN
50 miles

Wednesday Gravel Rides-July 17, 2019
Ski Hut
Duluth, MN
40-60 miles

Hokah Hilly Hundred-July 21, 2019
Hokah City Park
Hokah, MN
67,40.5, 34 miles
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Wednesday Gravel Rides-July 24, 2019
Ski Hut
Duluth, MN
40-60 miles

Dirty Lemming Gravel Ride-July 27, 2019
Watertown, MN

Tour de SAVE Gravel-July 27, 2019
Sechler Park Pavilion
Northfield, MN
57, 55, 29 miles
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Gravel Group Rides-July 29, 2019
Continental Ski & Bike
Duluth, MN

Wednesday Gravel Rides-July 31, 2019
Ski Hut
Duluth, MN
40-60 miles

Day Across Minnesota (DAMN)-August 3, 2019
Gary, SD to Hager City, WI
240 miles
300 racer cap
Facebook Page
Online Registration (Opens December 21, 2018)

8/4 Sunday no-drop gravel ride-August 4, 2019
Lakeville Hasse Arena
Lakeville, MN
8.5 miles

Gravel Group Rides-August 5, 2019
Continental Ski & Bike
Duluth, MN

Wednesday Gravel Rides-August 7, 2019
Ski Hut
Duluth, MN
40-60 miles

Sunday Gravel-August 11, 2019
Cedar Coffee Company
Two Harbors, MN

The Rugged Growler!!-August 11, 2019
Gate City Events
Canton, SD

Gravel Group Rides-August 12, 2019
Continental Ski & Bike
Duluth, MN

Wednesday Gravel Rides-August 14, 2019
Ski Hut
Duluth, MN
40-60 miles

Sunday 8/18 no-drop gravel ride-August 18, 2019
Lakeville Hasse Arena
Lakeville, MN
10 miles

Swede Bottom Gravel Ride-August 18, 2019
Houston Nature Center
Houston, MN
102, 76, 52 miles

Gravel Group Rides-August 19, 2019
Continental Ski & Bike
Duluth, MN

Wednesday Gravel Rides-August 21, 2019
Ski Hut
Duluth, MN
40-60 miles

HERO Gravel Event Pre-ride-August 24, 2019
Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter
Stillwater, MN

Grit&Gratitude-August 25, 2019
Spokengear
Two Harbors, MN
50, 20 miles, 50 miles gravel/pavement
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

River Valley 100 Gravel-August 25, 2019
Mankato Brewery
Mankato, MN
100 km

Gravel Group Rides-August 26, 2019
Continental Ski & Bike
Duluth, MN

Wednesday Gravel Rides-August 28, 2019
Ski Hut
Duluth, MN
40-60 miles

La Crosse Area Bicycle Festival-August 30-September 2, 2019
La Crosse, WI
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Chasing the Wind - Gravel Bike Steeplechase Fundraiser-September 7, 2019
Jackson, MN
Solo 100, Team 100, 15 miles
Online Registration

Jesse James Bike Tour-September 7, 2019
Northfield, MN
100, 60, 45, 30, 10 miles, 58 miles gravel
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Luce Line Luci-September 7, 2019
Luce Line State Trail
Long Lake, MN

MN State Gravel Championship-September 7, 2019
Location TBD
Minnesota

BIKE! Grand Portage-September 14, 2019
Grand Portage National Monument Heritage Center parking lot
Grand Portage, MN
17 miles

Manchester Gravel Pub Roll-September 14, 2019
Bend in the Road
Manchester, MN
70 miles

Utepils Oktoberfest Fall Fondo-September 14, 2019
Utepils Brewing
Minneapolis, MN
100, 70 & 40 miles w/ gravel sections, 20 miles
Online Registration

Woodtick 100-September 14, 2019
The Woodtick Inn
Deerwood, MN
100, 50 miles
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Ridgeway Rampage-September 15, 2019
Houston Nature Center
Houston, MN
56, 41 miles
RideWithGPS Event Page

Zumbro Gravel Challenge-September 21, 2019
Minnesota Randonneurs
Zumbrota, MN
200 km

Hero Gravel Classic-September 22, 2019
Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter
Stillwater, MN
Online Registration

Chippewa National Forest "Lost 40" Gravel Ride-September 28, 2019
Fish Tales Bar and Grill
Squaw Lake, MN
53, 30 miles

Heck of the North-September 28, 2019
Two Harbors, MN
100, 55, 20 miles
500 Rider Cap
Facebook Page
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Dirt Bag-October 5, 2019
Clearwater Sportsman's Park
Clearwater, MN
90, 70, 37 miles

Extreme North Dakota Country Hills Invoking Plaudits (END-CHIP)-October 5, 2019
Lake Park, MN
160, 100, 50 kilometers
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

The Robyn 56 (20 mile race, 8 mile ride, and 4 mile walk)-October 5, 2019
The Garage Rentals, LLC
St. Charles, MN
56, 20, 8 miles

Gravel Grovel 2019!-October 6, 2019
Jack Ruhr Field
Miesville, MN
85 miles
Facebook Event Page

The Filthy 50-October 12, 2019
Lanesboro. MN
50 miles
Online Registration

Green Acres Half Hundo Grav Fundo-October 13, 2019
Green Acres Recreation Area
Lake Elmo, MN
Online Registration

L-M-L Bootleg Gravel Ride-October 19, 2019
Harry's Cafe
Lakeville, MN
85, 65 miles

Gravel West Adventure Ride-October 20, 2019
Gear West
Long Lake, MN
75, 25 miles
100 rider cap

Halloween Gravel Ride!-October 31, 2019
Harlan's Bike and Tour
Sioux Falls, SD

Red Wing Gravel Ride-November 3, 2019
Lot behind Red Wing Cycle & Outfitters
Red Wing, MN
80, 30 miles

6/10/2018

2018 Almanzo Stories

The 2018 Almanzo Gravel Races took place May 18-19 in the small town of Spring Valley, Minnesota just south of Rochester. What was started by Chris Skogen with a small group of friends back in 2007 has grown over the years into something truly special. The gravel community has embraced the Almanzo 100 as the "Granddaddy" of all gravel races. Spring Valley Tourism with the assistance of Penn Cycle made sure that one of the largest free gravel races in the country continued with the traditions that founder Chris Skogen set forth for this yearly event.

The weather for the 2018 Almanzo gravel races was the best it's been in years bringing out a combined total of 1014 riders to the start line for the Royal 162 and Almanzo 100. Seven brave souls were on the start line at 5am on Friday morning for the start of the Alexander 380. After last year's dismal rain, cold temperatures and wind, this was a welcome change for cyclist that came to Spring Valley from all over the US, Japan and the Netherlands. I have compiled a list of racer accounts from blogs, local & national press as well as links to photo galleries and videos.

Almanzo 100

Race Report: 2018 Almanzo 100 – Spring Valley, Minnesota
Nicholas Garbis

It’s the Saturday after Mother’s Day in the town of Spring Valley in the southern corner of the state of Minnesota. About 70 miles to the east is the Mississippi river, past Bratsberg, Houston, and Hokan, you will find the big river down below the bluffs and across from there, La Crosse, Wisconsin. The land on either side of the Mississippi in this area, once you are above the bluff line, is wrinkled and rolling where streams and creeks have dug their paths, leaving high grounds, natural quarries, and rolling vistas of green lushness. Read the full story

Couch to 160k | Almanzo 2018
Shimano Gravel Alliance ambassador Ben Popper

I had developed a foolproof training plan for the ALMANZO 100 in Spring Hill, MN and was calling it "Couch to 160k." It mimicked in premise the couch to 5k program that aspiring runners use to overcome the uncertainties of doing their first running race. Start small by, in my case, getting my butt out of my desk chair and pedaling around the block. Then slowly build over the course of weeks, doing longer and longer rides, until I’d be ready for race day and fit enough to ride 100 miles. It is a proven strategy for building fitness. I started the program with a solid base of couch sitting. Then skipped everything in the middle, finishing my training by showing up on the day of the ride with about ten miles in my legs total. I needed to find a supplemental plan. Read the full story

Shimano Goes Graveling - Almanzo 100

An email invite arrived in my inbox. Something to the effect of "Would you like to race the Almanzo 100 and try Shimano's new clutch road derailleur in the process?" Would I?! Well, the Almanzo has been on my gravel bucket list for some time. Checking out a new derailleur was icing on the cake. So I flew to Minnesota where I met up with what seemed like a battalion of Shimano and PRO engineers, product managers, PR peeps, and Shimano's large crew of gravel ambassadors. Also along for the fun were several other journalists, all keen to ride an event that none of us had experienced. Read the full story

“THAT WHICH DOES NOT KILL US…
Stevil Kinevil

The short version for those who perhaps missed it previously, is that roughly ten days ago, I was half conscious in the back of an ambulance not only not able to recall my name, but even how to say it. So what better physical condition to fly to Minnesota for the whateverth annual Almanzo 100? Read the full story

℞: Racing the Almanzo 100 with Shimano’s Gravel Alliance
Parker Bloom

Add another tally to my listing of improbable spots I’ve been to for bike racing. This weekend pastime– of packing up a bag to bursting with spandex, shoes and a helmet and departing for somewhere strange to line up and race my bike– continues to surprise me. I’ve raced in freezing rain, and under Las Vegas lights, had snow build up on my bars, and have been cradled between craggy Rockies. But this trip to Minnesota was a first. Read the full story

Almanzo 100 2018: Cherry Grove Report

Guitar Ted Productions

"Gee, you're here kinda early, aren't ya?", said the salt and pepper haired man. He was a local, and had been loading up a motor scooter on a trailer from what was once likely a thriving business 100 years ago, but was now serving as a storage shed. The village of Cherry Grove, Minnesota is not much on retail business these days. The man with the salt and pepper hair was curious as to what we were up to and I think he figured out we were with the Almanzo 100 in some capacity, so he sauntered over to have a word with my son and I. I replied to the man by saying, "Yeah, I like to be early." I said that because he was right, by the way. We were a bit early. Read the full story

Royal 162

Almanzo Royal 162

Mike Nichols

For me, endurance cycling, and endurance gravel riding especially, has always been about testing and pushing my boundaries. That includes pushing my athletic ability. But, it is also very often about testing my will. My experience at the 2018 Almanzo Royal 162 was very much about testing my will. It was also an up-close, intimate encounter with suffering. Read the full story

Almanzo 100/Royal 162/Alexander 380 Race Results

Press

Bicyclists blessed with ideal weather in Almanzo 100

Spring Valley Tribune-David Phillips

Although the weather earlier in the week called for rain last weekend, bicyclists in the endurance gravel road races that make up Wilder Fest enjoyed ideal conditions May 18 and 19. About 700 bicyclists took part in the annual races that start from downtown Spring Valley. The majority of riders were in the Almanzo 100, which had a temperature of 60 degrees at the start, rising to about 70 later in the day. More importantly, winds were calm until the evening when they neared 15 miles per hour, and the riders stayed dry under cloudy skies. Read the full story

LITTLE RACE ON THE PRAIRIE: WINFIELD, RUSSELL WIN 2018 ALMANZO 100 GRAVEL RACE – RESULTS