Monday, July 28, 2014

Black Hills Expedition Race, coming September 2014!

BLACK HILLS EXPEDITION RACE.  SEPTEMBER 24, 2014.  425 MILES.  SPEARFISH, SD.
Check back here for more information about the first running of the Black Hills Expedition Race, starting September 24, 2014.  This race is a self-supported bike-packing race in the same vein as the CTR, the Arizona Trail Race or the Tour Divide.  This race will take you around the Black Hills in one grand loop!
Course photo.
Live Tracking

Brief course desciption:  Start in Spearfish on the Tinton Trail and enjoy 22 miles of single track to Rod and Gun Campground.  Ride some gravel to Savoy and then up and over to the historic town of Deadwood.  Mickelson Trail and then some gravel and blacktop to Sturgis, to the  start of the 116 mile Centennial Trail.  The Centennial has one wilderness detour that takes you to Mt. Rushmore! Ride the Mickelson Trail northbound from Pringle to Hill City.  Other highlights after Hill City include the Deerfield Lake Loop Trail, the Deerfield Trail, Eagle Cliff Trail System, Little Spearfish Trail, Cement Ridge Lookout in Wyoming, Old Baldy Trail, etc. 

The gpx file of course will be posted before August 1, 2014

17 comments:

  1. I guess this is where you sign up? Haha. I'm in. Matt Slater, 34, from Emporia KS.

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  2. Keep us updated if this is a go!

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  3. It is a go! Still a lot of snow on the trails around Spearfish and Lead. When things dry out I will be gathering more gpx data to put it all together. Thanks

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    1. If you need any help organizing this, let me know!!

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  5. Intrigued and interested. Look forward to more specifics. Clemens (Austrian living in Ohio)

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  6. Very very interested-- but 425 miles including rough rocky Centennial trail (2+ days right there)--guessing about 4-6+ days for mere mortal riders--
    Any possibility of moving the start date to the 21st? That gives Sat for travel to SD for out of state riders--then basically 1 week time (which is a typical vac request) to travel in, finish and get back home.

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  7. The Bearlodge Mtn Classic bike race is on the 21st. Race Bearlodge then take two days off to prep for the Expedition! I am going to keep the group start date as the 24th but the race can be started at anytime since it is based on a ITT. Planning on having the gps track done the first week of August! The course will not be easy as you said and will take me 6+ days for sure. Thanks for your interest.

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  8. Posting a few pictures on instagram #blackhillsexpedition

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  9. I am going to try to work it in if my work schedule allows.
    Any Idea how many are starting on the 24th?
    Group Start time/location?

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  10. I really don't know how many will show up at the group start but I would guess more then ten. Group start at Crow Peak Brewery, Wednesday, September 24 at 6 a.m. On Tuesday racers can meet at Brewery at 5 p.m. and then ride to Killian's Tavern at 6 p.m. for some prerace chow.

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  11. High probability that I'll do this, though I'll likely get rolling a day or two before the group start. Where will be able to park our vehicles for the duration of the race?

    Thanks for setting this up!

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    1. If you stay at the Days Inn in Spearfish they will let you park your car in their lot for a week. The Days Inn is about one mile from start/finish. If you camp the KOA is about one block from start finish. You could work something out with them easy enough. If those don't work just let me know and we will find a spot.

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  13. trackleaders.com is the correct web address.

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