2020 Ridge Riders Trifecta - Come Together

Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah
Come together, yeah

Come Together, John Lennon (1969)

A fat bike, a gravel bike, and a mountain bike roll into the Black Hills.

"Rad!" said the fat bike, "Groomed trails that climb to a mountain top lookout tower!"

"Cool!" said the gravel bike, "Forest gravel roads that climb the highest mountain pass!"

"Dude!" said the mountain bike, "Twisty single track that climb everything around!"

With all the bikes happily riding their separate ways, the Ridge Riders Racing Club dreamt of gathering the fat bike clan, the gravel family, and the mountain bike tribe together to celebrate all cycling in the Black Hills. So, they created a singular series, comprising a fat bike race (28 Below) in March, a gravel race (Gold Rush) in June, and a mountain bike race (Dakota Five-O) in September.

"Gather 'round!" said the Ridge Riders, "Let's ride together!"

The Ridge Riders Trifecta.

T-shirts and race plates from the 28 Below Fat Bike Race, Gold Rush Gravel Grinder,
 and Dakota Five-O Mountain Bike Race, along with the coveted Ridge Riders Trifecta mug.

1. 28 Below Fat Bike Race

Back in March, I started the Ridge Riders Trifecta with the 28 Below, a 31 mile fat bike race on snowmobile trails up 3,000 feet to the Cement Ridge Lookout Tower and back down. Not only was this my first fat bike race, it was the first ride on a fat bike on snow. And on a bike borrowed from race co-director Kristi Jewett.

Not surprisingly, my learning curve is steeper than the climbs. With a pile of fresh snow overnight to bury the groom, I struggle mightily all day to stay upright and occasionally ride a straight line. I've never worked so hard to ride so slow.

It's all good. I eventually finish. Everyone is so positive, encouraging, enthusiastic and welcoming. Fastest to slowest. Veteran to rookie. Old to young. Not unlike the grass roots gravel scene, or the early days of mountain biking. What a great boost at the end of a long winter!

For my race report on the 2020 28 Below Fat Bike Race, go to A Maiden Voyage To FatBikLand. For my fat bike "lessons learned" post, go to Exploring FatBikLand.

Fully decked out FatBack bike, loaned to me by race co-director Kristi Jewett for the 28 Below.

Soaking in the scenery along the initial 10 mile climb at the 28 Below.

2. Gold Rush Gravel Grinder

The second leg of the Ridge Riders Trifecta is the very familiar 110 mile Gold Rush Gravel Grinder. Since 2013, I have ridden the 110 mile course three times in the Gold Rush and three times as part of the 210 mile Mother Lode race. With the same course each year and straight forward navigation on local gravel roads, I need no course markings or even cue sheets.

Good thing, because there was no actual event. Due to governmental permit issues arising from virus concerns, the Gold Rush officially was cancelled. Shouting GO! in the face of NO!, Kristi and Perry forge forward with a "virtual" event. As a local, I am able to ride the actual course on the originally scheduled weekend in June, although it is more than a bit odd to see only one other cyclist out there all day.

With no aid stations, I carry supplies for the long, hot, windy day. But with no racing concerns, I stop after 70 miles at The TrailsHead Lodge near O'Neil Pass for a burger, fries and bottomless Coke. That certainly is a refreshing change! 

For my post on the Jewett's decision to manage a virtual event, go to GO in the face of NO. For my race report on the 2020 Gold Rush Gravel Grinder, go to Not A Virtual Ride.

My beloved Black Mountain Cycles MonsterCross set for a solo Gold Rush Gravel Grinder.

A welcoming herd of local cycling fans fill the road to cheer on passing racers at the Gold Rush.

3. Dakota Five-O Mountain Bike Race

The final leg of the Ridge Riders Trifecta is the venerable Dakota Five-O, a 50 mile single track mountain bike race. Poised to celebrate its 20th birthday with hundreds of stoked mountain bikers from 30 states, the Five-O also fell to permitting issues related to virus concerns. Another one bites the dust.

Not about to walk away, Kristi and Perry again make the most of a tough hand by offering a virtual event. As a local, I fortunately can ride the actual race course on the scheduled weekend in September. But that is possible only because the Ridge Riders rousted a posse of volunteers to clear miles and miles of trail blocked by downed timber from a freak tornado. Then they marked the entire course, with some necessary detours, right before the originally scheduled start. Stellar community service.

Like the Gold Rush, this is a long, hot day, with no aid stations. I carry 4.5 liters of water, which is barely enough. Early on, several other riders pass me and later a few more leap-frog with me. So, I'm not entirely alone, but I miss was the energy and encouragement from the typically hundreds of other riders, all the volunteers, and the finish line party. 

Well, a day on the bike is always a good day, especially when cruising sweet single track lovingly built and maintained by passionate locals.

For my report on the 2020 Dakota Five-O Mountain Bike Race, go to 2020 DaCOVID Five-O.

Jones 29+ to navigate the 20th Annual Dakota Five-O course.

Rolling along on the 2020 Dakota Five-O course.

In a year of closed doors, covered faces and cancelled events, when many voices screamed "NO!," a few found a way to responsibly shout "GO! GO! GO!"

Thank you, Kristi and Perry Jewett, the Ridge Riders Racing Club, volunteers, sponsors and riders who worked together to keep the vibe alive. Pedal Power!

The Ridge Riders Trifecta. Mission Accomplished.

Come Together, The Beatles (1969)

Not A Virtual Ride

Give me your heart, make it real, or else forget about it.

Smooth, by Itaal Shur & Rob Thomas, performed by Santana (1999).

My 2020 Gold Rush Gravel Grinder is in the books. The real route. On real gravel. Through real mud. Over real rocks. Against real wind. In real heat. With real sunburn. And, in the end, real tired.

No virtual ride here. 

Hard Forest Service gravel abounds at the Gold Rush Gravel Grinder in the Black Hills of South Dakota. 

Like events of all kinds all over, the Gold Rush Gravel Grinder will not occur in 2020, due to uncertainties with governmental licenses and permits. Gone is the pre-race gathering, the mass start, the check point enthusiasm, and the post-race festivities at a city park. There will be no Gold Rush block party this year.

Determined to make the most from a bad hand, Race Co-Directors Kristi and Perry Jewett create an alternative event. One can participate in a "virtual" Gold Rush by riding one of the four race distances (45, 70, 110 and 210 miles) on any route, anywhere, between June 1-15. Kristi and Perry will post "results," ship out event schwag, and even award door prizes and other awards.

Kristi and Perry are doing what they can do, making the most of it for everyone. And I understand others choosing not to gather in large groups or to travel to the Black Hills for a bike race. But I live here. I ride many miles solo. I've looked forward to this all year.

So, I enter the "virtual" Gold Rush Gravel Grinder to ride the actual race course. Solo. Single Speed. Self-supported. Self-navigated.

The event is "virtual," but my ride is real.

The start of my "virtual" Gold Rush Gravel Grinder from an empty Spearfish City Park.

With a late start to clear the vestiges of last night's hail storm, I arrive at Spearfish City Park full of anticipation. The "virtual" weather as forecast and the real weather outside actually match with relatively clear skies, no wind and 60 degrees. The day promises to be very good.

It's oddly quiet and a bit eerie to stand at a Gold Rush start line alone. Memories flood my mind of many starts here, with many friends, both old and new. I see their excited faces and hear their friendly chatter. Abruptly, a crowing rooster breaks the clutter and a familiar voice shouts "PEDAL POWER!" I look around. The park is empty. The streets are empty. So, I quickly reply, "Pedal Power," take off and don't look back. 

From Spearfish heading west into Wyoming, the gravel roads still hold water from last night.

As the sun burns off the last of the cloud cover, I roll through the early prairie miles below big, blue skies. Before long, I turn onto Sand Creek Road for a serene 22 mile climb along a quiet creek. This pretty, protected stretch of gentle uphill offers a great opportunity to settle into a sustainable rhythm and just enjoy the ride. My mind drifts.

What's that? A cyclist! Flying down Sand Creek Road toward me! It's Angie Kent from Spearfish, out riding her own "virtual" Gold Rush event. What a nice surprise. We chat for a few minutes before returning to our individual journeys. That brief encounter lifts my spirits for miles.

Spearfish cyclist Angie Kent on her own "virtual" Gold Rush Gravel Grinder.
Great to see you, Angie, and congrats on your successful ride!

Emerging from Sand Creek Road at mile 36, I stop at would have been a Check Point/Aid Station brimming with encouraging volunteers and baked treats. Although now there's nothing but a remote intersection, I take a break, stretch, and eat a little. I'm right on track for me, a little over 3 hours into the ride and starting to warm up.

Looking ahead, Moskee Road looms large, with some significantly steeper rollers and then rougher road along the ponds. After a couple of hours of steady climbing along Sand Creek, I always enjoy this stretch of short, hard uphill pulls and screaming descents.

OK. Short stops are great, but long stops will break. Time to roll.

Spinning up Sand Creek Road on the Gold Rush Gravel Grinder.

By the time I turn southeast onto Grand Canyon Road, both the sun and wind are fully awake. My cycle computer reads 94 degrees and a stiff, steady headwind greets me for the final 20+ mile climb to the next Check Point at O'Neil Pass. There's not much to do now, but keep pedaling up the hill, in the heat and into the wind. Here lies the heart of the ride.

About half-way up that final climb to O'Neil Pass, at about 60 miles into the course, Grand Canyon Road turns decidedly upward. Not only steeper, the road also straightens out to flaunt its might. It simply looks endlessly up. Gut check time.

Keep at it. Keep pedaling. Walk if you must. Keep moving. There is a summit. You will make it.

Nearing the 70 mile Check Point at O'Neil Pass, after a whole lot of uphill, upwind, hot gravel.

Eventually, I reach Trails Head Lodge at the top of O'Neil Pass. Rather than check-in, re-load, and dash, I plop down for a cheese burger, french fries and a bottomless Coke. No, that's not premium racing fuel. But I'm not racing anyone, anyhow. Today, I'm out riding my bike.

After an exceptionally long break, I ease onto the roads for the 40 mile descent home, starting with 9 downhill miles on Rifle Pit Road. But even that doesn't come easy. This rocky, rutted, rough, often barely-a-road is no time to relax. I bounce all over, checking speed to avoid breaking bike or body. At least this year it's mostly dry.

Of course, there are a few uphills along the way down to Spearfish, particularly that nasty pitch up to the last Check Point at the Cement Ridge Lookout. But now, the heavy lifting is done. After a spell, it's a spun-out coast down Roughlock Falls Road and then Spearfish Canyon.

Cooked by the sun, battered by the wind, and worn down by the hills, I am done for the day. My 2020 Gold Rush Gravel Grinder "virtual" event is complete after riding a very real 110 miles in just over 10 hours.

The most bellicose, unruly gang of wildlife I've seen since the virus.

Give me your heart, make it real, or else forget about it.

Smooth, performed by Rob Thomas and Carlos Santana (1999).