Single Speed On The Great Plains Gravel Route - Andy Phillips

Shout out to Andy Phillips, endurance cyclist extraordinaire and good cheer ambassador from Topeka, Kansas.

Andy is powering his single speed bikepacking bike across the country from the Texas/Mexico border to the North Dakota/Canada border on the new Great Plains Gravel Route ("GPGR"). That's about 3,500 miles with about 130,000 feet of elevation gain straight through the heart of the great plains, primarily on gravel roads. Self-supported, of course, re-supplying as he can along the way.

This route is new. Unlike the long established Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (1998) or the TransAmerica Trail (1976), the GPGR does not yet feature bike specific hostels or well-known campsites, recognized water/food re-supply spots, established alternative routes, or even locals familiar with scraggly bikepackers wandering along their backroads.

Andy is a pioneer blazing the trail for others to follow.

Andy Phillips rides into the sunset on Day 23 of his ride of the Great Plains Gravel Route.

I caught up with Andy earlier this week as he climbed out of the prairie and into the Black Hills on Pilger Mountain Road (USFS 317), a bit north of Edgemont, South Dakota. Although he had started riding that day at 5:00 am, he planned to keep pedaling for several more hours, even as the sun was setting and more storm clouds gathered.

That's how he's rolling over 125 miles/day for his first 23 days. Long days, often before sunrise and well after sunset. Short nights. Quick meals. Occasional showers. With thunderstorms and rain softening the gravel roads. And incessant winds, with little relief on the open prairie.

Always with a big smile. As in a "I-can't-believe-I get-to-do-this" smile. 

He's quite a sight to behold.

Andy Phillips climbing into the southern Black Hills on Pleasant Valley Road (USFS 715).

Just look at these images. 

By the time I caught up with him that evening, he'd already been on the road for about fifteen hours, weathering a series of fronts pounding the prairie with wind and rain. Some sections of gravel roads became too muddy to ride and even difficult to push, with clogging mud preventing the tires from rotating.  The rapidly moving fronts also brought stiff winds, sometimes tailwinds, but often not.

You'd never know any of that, from his beaming smile and infectious enthusiasm. The conditions do not detract from his joy. It's all just part of it, and he's just out doing what he loves to do.

Andy Phillips is all smiles topping off the climb up Pilger Mountain Road (USFS 317).

I hope to catch up with Andy sometime after he completes this journey and share more of his story. In the meantime, here's a link to follow his GPS tracker as he makes his way toward Canada. Andy Phillips - 2026 GPGR.