Black Hills Gravel Series - Season 4!

The Black Hills Gravel Series returns for Season 4, with a full slate of free rides. Mark your calendars. This is grass roots gravel at its finest. And now it's going to last all summer!

Information on FaceBook group:  Black Hills Gravel. Sign up here:  BHGravel Signup.

Peerless Leader Lucas Haan directs the troops at the start of the Sturgis ride of the 2019 Black Hills Gravel Series.

Lucas Haan, the Grand Poo-Bah of the Black Hills Gravel Series, hand crafts each of the unique, creative routes through postcard-perfect back country, provides cue sheets and gpx files for self-navigating the unmarked roads, and offers the enriching experience of riding self-supported. All of this free of entry fees, elitism, and pomposity. Just show up with most any bike, wearing most anything weather appropriate, and ride. Everyone is welcome.

At each event, three courses will be available, increasing in length and difficulty. They're named by color:  Green (10-15 miles, some elevation gain), Blue (20-30 miles, more elevation gain), and Black (50+ miles, significantly more elevation gain + an added challenge is likely). There truly is a course for every level of ability, experience, and ambition. Better yet, you will find cyclists of all kinds gathering to enjoy these rides.

Riders stream toward the sloppy muck at the Sugar Shack ride of the 2019 Black Hills Gravel Series.

To join the fun, go to the start/finish, sign a waiver, receive the route information, and ride a remote, rough road ride in the amazing Black Hills of South Dakota. If you choose, hang out afterward for lunch with old and new friends. Lucas generally posts updated information on the FaceBook group Black Hills Gravel, as well as the group Black Hills Drop Bar, Dirt & CycloCross Riders. If you sign up in advance, he will also send you timely e-mails. Lucas does all the ground work. You just ride.

Make the Black Hills Gravel Series a priority. Bring your family. Invite your friends. Do not take this for granted.

Grandfather and Grandson enjoying a day of sunny gravel together at the 2019 Black Hills Gravel Series.

The Black Hills Gravel Series is a remarkable happening, but it's not going to go on like this forever. The amount of time and life energy put into this by Lucas is staggering. And it's on top of all the other things Lucas does for the local cycling community, while managing a burgeoning engineering career and nurturing a growing, active family.

Enjoy these gatherings of our cycling community. And thank Lucas for his tireless work to make it happen.

Fun for all at the Black Hills Gravel Series.