With the winding down of fall, we're taking a look at the 5 most popular stories on The Nxrth from September, October, and November of 2022. This roundup covers some portraits, Gordon the blacksmith, and a whole lot of gravel racing. 1. Gravel Pizza Portraits The inaugural Gravel Pizza Overnighter took place in September. 37 new friends biked the Northwoods and camped at a pizza farm together. Here are the portraits of the original crew of riders who biked a little gravel, hiked through a little sand, rolled through a little rain, climbed a couple hills, ate a few slices of pizza, and got to see one 10-inch pumpkin get blasted 700 yards from the largest cannon I've ever seen. READ THE STORY. 2. Filthy 50 Interview w Trenton Raygor Chatting About the Soldout Year 9 and the Community That Built It The Filthy is a sellout gravel biking event in beautiful Lanesboro, Minnesota. In this story, we talked with co-organizer Trenton Raygor about October snow, the move to Lanesboro, and why the heck it fills up so stinking fast. READ THE STORY. 3. Meeting Gordon Gearhart, the 906 Awards Blacksmith In 2015, Todd Poquette asked a local blacksmith, Gordon Gearhart about making belt buckles for an upcoming endurance cycling event. Since then, the iron-forged awards have been adopted for the Polar Roll, The Crusher, and Marji Geskick 100. They've become an iconic symbol of ruggedness, pain, and glory that only a small number of people ever get. READ THE STORY. 4. Winston County Gravel Cup Sophomore Year Recap & Gallery The Winston County Gravel Cup recently had its sophomore year of gravel in September. Year two saw nearly doubled attendance, great weather, and some stunning photos to relive the event. Here race director Jake Ellefsen shares a recap of the event and save-the-date for net year. READ THE STORY. 5. Red Granite Grinder Q&A with Shane Hitz The Red Granite Grinder was a perfect way to close out the fall gravel riding season. This year's event gave access to private property segments and trails that aren't open to the public. In this interview, we talked with Shane Hitz about how he dreams up such unique courses. READ THE STORY.

You're invited to the first ever "Fatbike Gear & Adventure Day", a virtual event where we geek out about the the fatbike gear and adventures we're most excited for this winter. Guests George Kapitz, Jill Martindale, and Laura Hrubes will be joining us on Monday, December 12 at 7pm CST. Learn more and register for FREE here. It's time to start putting some epic fatbike adventures on the calendar and planning the gear that'll help you go further and have more fun this winter up north. The Nxrth is thrilled to announce a brand new virtual event called "Fatbike Gear & Adventure Day" presented by Wren Sports. We have some fun guests joining the event and we want you to be a part of it too. REGISTER HERE We'll talk about: Favorite gear picks for 2023 Best fatbike races and events Incredible fatbike adventure destinations in WI, MN, and the U.P. Q&A with your questions about gear and adventures Join us on Monday, December 12 at 7PM CST for this live fatbike event. Register for FREE here. REGISTER HERE

I asked email subscribers to share their favorite gravel race moment from the 2022 gravel racing season. Here are some of their favorite photos and memories of racing and community from this year's events. Jack Durand This was a Brainerd YMCA Gravel Grinders ride so I got to share it with my favorite riding companions. At 210.8 miles, I achieved my longest activity on Strava and for the sake of efficiency; my first two centuries in the same day. Josh Rizzo During my Heck of The North 105 race, my family was waiting at the mile-97 portrait stop. It was my first gravel century and the thought of seeing them on course filled me with strength and adrenaline to push through the last mile. Photo: Josh Kowaleski of Pointed North Photo Josh Kowaleski Cracked. This rider is at mile 95 of Le Grand Du Nord and it shows. This is probably my favorite portrait from project portrait bike this season. Rachel McCloskey On October 15th I took on the Gray Duck Grit 111 miler with wind gusts of 25-35mph and temps around the low 40s. Two of us female cyclists are helping each other try to stay warm as we await the start to our day long journey across Minnesota's driftless region. 8 hours and 30 minutes later both of us would cross the finish line together to secure 1st and 2nd place. Joe Roy The Heywood ride this spring in Northfield, MN was the longest gravel ride that most of our group had done at the time, of course we did it in flannel! Shoutout to Ben, Marty and Michael for a wonderful event! And thanks to Greg for the picture!

Global Fatbike Day is coming up on December 3rd. We've assembled a little list of celebrations around our region including some beach riding, woodsy rides, and surprise rides (one of them even comes with an adorable ginger bread cookie coupon). Get your fatbike fired up and join in on the community celebrations. 1. CAMBA Global Fatbike Day Join us to kick off the winter fat bike season! We’ll have guided rides for all levels. Following the ride, enjoy a light lunch with gourmet soup and refreshments. Receive a pair of wool CAMBA winter-design socks. DISCOUNT for CAMBA members! Location: CAMBA’s Hatchery Creek Trailhead Time: Ride departure time is 1:00 pm with check in starting at 12:30. Registration: The first 50 registrants are guaranteed a pair of CAMBA winter socks. Registration also includes a lunch ticket. All levels are welcome. To register, head to CAMBA. 2. Cuyuna, MN Come experience the brand new adaptive trails and Sagamore Rally Center!! When the snow falls, there will be over 9 miles of groomed trail!! The Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails Crew will be hosting rides in the Sagamore Unit. Pre-ride meet up time: 10:00 AM Rides start time: 10:30 AM Ride participants will receive a coupon from The Hudson to be redeemed later in the day for a coffee and gingerbread cookie as part of the Sunset Ride into the Cuyuna Christmas events at Crosby Memorial Park. Sunset Ride: Meet at The Hudson and be ready to roll out at 4:30 PM. The ride will roll down 3rd St from Ironton to the Crosby Memorial Park for Cuyuna Christmas music and fireworks!! Riders are encouraged to have bike lights and festive decorations. There is no planned group ride back to The Hudson. More info on the Facebook event. 3. Two Rivers, WI Join us for Global Fat Bike Day 2022 in Two Rivers, WI! We’ll have 2 rides planned for the day. Ride one at 7:00am and ride two at 12:30am. Both rides start and finish at Port Sandy Bay Pizza. Need a rental bike? Broken Spoke will have rentals available. Please call the shop to reserve. 920-634-2040. Fat bikes can be picked up Friday or Saturday morning from the shop and returned Saturday afternoon. Pizza will be available for $10 after the ride at Port Sandy Bay. To learn more, visit the Facebook event. 4. Deep Woods - Bloomington, MN Calling all fat bikers!! Snow is almost here and Global Fat Bike day Is coming Dec. 3rd! Join us and MORC at the bottoms at Lyndale landing between 10-2. Donate $50 to Deep Woods and receive a Global Fat Bike tshirt (limited quantity.) Also sign up with MORC and become a member to help keep trail maintenance going! To learn more to the Deep Woods Trail Groomers Facebook page . 5. Standing Rocks - Stevens Point, WI Come out and ride fat bikes on the mountain bike trails at Standing Rocks Park (hopefully snow covered and groomed). Everyone is invited to get together and join in the fun! Trail pass required. Use link to purchase passes. Where: BOORC (lodge) at the Standing Rocks Trail Head 7695 Standing Rocks Rd, Stevens Point, WI 54482 Event Schedule: 11:15 am Group photo. 11:30 am Group rides roll out for all skill levels. 1:00 pm Food, fire & fun! To learn more, visit the Facebook event. 6. Adventure Coffee Join us for adventure coffee on Global Fat Bike Day. We will have a fire, donuts, hot chocolate and coffee from Northern Coffeeworks on the bank of the Minnesota River between the Sibley House and the 494 bridge at the overturned car (2 miles from the Sibley House or about 5 miles from the Old Cedar Bridge). Hit us up at the start of your ride or the end of your ride or anywhere in between, it doesn’t matter when you get there, we just want to provide you with one more reason to get out and ride. We will have a limited number of disposable cups, so please bring your own cup. To learn more, visit the Facebook event. 7. Kate & Jeremy's Place - Winona, MN Who are Kate and Jeremy, you might ask? No clue, but it sounds like a fun party. Fat bikes Fire Food (variety of chilli) Shenanigans. Bring a bike, helmet, light, and a smile. Oh, and warm clothing, might be a cold one. To learn more, visit the Facebook event. 8. Thang Nguyen's Ride - Mendota Heights, MN Not a lot of details on this one. But surprises are more fun, right? Head to the Facebook event to learn more. 9. St. Cloud, MN Morning riding followed by evening membership drive, fundraiser, and pizza. Visit the Facebook event to learn more. 10. Michael's Cycles - Chaska, MN Join us in celebrate Global Fat Bike Day. We will be embarking on fat bike ride along side the Minnesota river south to the Louisville swamp. We will have several deferent paced groups so that every member of the family can enjoy. After the ride enjoy a freshly made breakfast and door prizes! Last year we had 96 riders join us and we would like to get that number well over 100 so bring your family and tell your friends! To learn more, visit the Facebook event.

The Birkie is hosting a Ladies Fatbike Getaway this January 6-8. It will be a weekend to ride the legendary Birkie Trail, polish your fat biking skills, and meet other women who aspire to or love to ride. To learn more or register, visit the Ladies Fatbike Getaway Interview with Kristy Maki, Event Director All Photos: American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation ® How many years has this been done and what were other year's like? This is the 4th year of the event. We first held the event in 2018, but didn’t hold the event in December of 2020. In the past, we have held the event in December. The December event was a shorter event and snow wasn’t always reliable. In 2023, we are holding the event the first weekend in January with the hopes of more riding possibilities and a longer weekend to add in more skills, expert talks, good food, and fun! How did Ladies Fatbike Getaway come about? As fat bike riders ourselves, we recognized that the skills required for riding fat bikes are a little different than mountain bike skills- different body positioning, pedaling, gearing, etc. Skills plus the care and maintenance of a bike in winter meant there were plenty of things to discuss and share with other women. It’s become a fun weekend of community building, sharing stories and knowledge, and increasing skills. Tell me about the importance of women-specific events and why you chose to have it be this format. Traditionally speaking, there aren’t as many women in bike and ski events. We felt a women-led event might help break down some of the worries that women have over trying fat biking. It quickly became a time for women to share experiences, knowledge, and passion with each other in a fun and community building way. The Ladies Fat Bike Getaway is a time for women to focus on themselves, their health, and sport. We want everyone to have fun biking and feel prepared- the more questions the better, we have a lot to share with each other! What would you want to tell someone who is new to fatbiking and doesn't know anyone else? Visit your local bike shop, attend an event, and meet people that like to fat bike! Fat biking is so much fun with a group and you can increase your skills much faster with a few pointers. Lots of fat bike tips and tricks aren’t things that are common (ex. lemon essential oil in water bottle to help it not freeze), so finding people to help you learn faster and make things more enjoyable helps you stay prepared and motivated! And bike at night- winter nights are so beautiful!

In 2015, Todd Poquette asked a local blacksmith, Gordon Gearhart about making belt buckles for an upcoming endurance cycling event. Since then, the iron-forged awards have been adopted for the Polar Roll, The Crusher, and Marji Geskick 100. They've become an iconic symbol of ruggedness, pain, and glory that only a small number of people ever get. Gordon Gearhart is an artist-blacksmith living and working in Marquette, Michigan. He has been blacksmithing since 1981 and currently produces architectural, sculptural, and utilitarian pieces.To learn more about Gordon Gearhart, follow him on Facebook and Instagram. What's the back story on how your buckles became the symbol of pain and glory for the 906 events? In 2014 my son, Zechariah McCarthy, was working with Todd Poquette. He was doing a snow biking video promoting the first Polar Roll. He suggested to Todd that the award be a metal sculpture. Todd was receptive to the idea. Zech designed the sculpture and he and I built a prototype. This was accepted and we proceeded to make the awards for the Polar Roll. The design was also used for the 2015 Polar Roll. In the summer of 2015, Todd contacted me about the possibility of making awards for an upcoming endurance ride called the Marji Gesick 100. I played with various ideas, none of which captured the essence of the soon to be MG100. Todd suggested a belt buckle, nothing fancy, something to symbolize the ruggedness of the trails to be ridden and to commemorate the ruggedness of the early settlers who emigrated to this area to dig iron ore and refine it into useable form. A blacksmith made, iron belt buckle was appropriate to the occasion. After the first MG100, belt buckles became the awards for the Polar Roll event. So it is that I am the maker of awards for 906 Adventure Team. Todd-conceived events such as the Crusher and Polar Roll EX have pushed me creatively, challenging my metal working skills. Probably akin to how the bike events challenge the riders participating in them. A bit about my son. Zech is a rider. He started with BMX and gravitated to mountain biking. He rode with 906 Adventure Team, participating in the early Polar Rolls and MG100s. Now he is riding downhill and enduro, participating regularly in the Lake Superior Gravity Series. Somewhere along the way he picked up a video recorder and started filming. He did some promotional footage for the early Polar Rolls under the Far North Productions label. Several years ago he found work building bike trails in the Hibbing Minnesota area. He has since started his own business, Far North Trail Company, building trails local and beyond. What's it like being a part of the Crusher, Marji Gesick, Polar Roll culture? It’s always been an honor to make the awards for these rides that Todd and 906 AT put together. I know that every award I’ve made has been earned by the riders receiving them. I’m impressed and inspired by the dedication of the riders and those who organize the events. I’m proud to be a part of it. What do you think the buckles mean to the racers? I think the meaning of the buckles varies with the riders and has changed over the years. At first they were simply an award for having accomplished a challenging ride. As the years have passed and the reality of the MG100 has settled in, the buckle has become a symbol of overcoming the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a brutal ride. From its conception, the MG 100 buckle was meant to highlight the rugged rawness of this part of the U.P, paying homage to the iron heritage of the area. The buckle is not fancy. It’s not crude, but not adorned with frivolous decoration. Much like the Marji Gesick itself. I think the riders understand that stripping away of the extraneous. Are you a biker? Have you ever done any of Todd's events? And if not, do you think you ever will? I am not a biker and I have not participated in any of Todd’s events. It is possible I might ride some year. The Marji Gesick 100 gets me thinking about it. Go into training to give it a go. Could I do it? Am I too over the hill ( physically) to accomplish such a task? I have the urge to test myself. Not just regarding the event but regarding the discipline to prepare for it. Dedicate a year to riding the Marji? Of course, who would stamp dates on the belt buckles. There is that.

The 2022 Polar Roll opens this Sunday morning, November 6, at 8am ET. (If you're on Central Time take note that you'll be an hour late if you think this is in your time zone). This event has generally garnered some legendary status thanks to the massive amounts of snow, ridiculous weather, challenging course, and overall shenanigans that you sign up for anytime you saddle up to a 906 Adventure Team race. There are 2 headline events: MS & EX You've got a couple main options for the Polar Roll (plus some ill advised duathlon choices and one registration called "something dumb" that you don't know what it is yet). MS (Mass Start) The Mass start is Polar Roll central. This is the big gathering and the central community where everyone comes together to roll out through historic west end of Marquette County. Registration is limited to 400 people. Race day is 2-18-2023. There are 2 lengths. Although the website calls it 13 & 25 miles but the registration page calls it 15 & 30 miles. Either way, you can count on it being more than whatever you thought you were riding. It's open for both biking and snowshoeing. EX (Expedition) The EX format was born in response to the pandemic when large group gatherings weren't really happening. 906 AT seemed to really pioneered this format or least leaned into way harder and wider than any other event I've seen (and led to record numbers 2022). Simply put, EX is done by yourself on your own time. Mass starts aren't for everyone. Sometimes registration sells out too quick or you have a cousin from Chicago named Victor who schedules a wedding on the MS weekend and EX is your only option. Dates: Do it anytime that fits for your schedule between 1-13-2023 and 3-15-2023 From the Polar Roll website: "EX also means “extra enhanced”. There’s no guarantee conditions will be good, or that the trail will even be groomed but that’s why people sign up… because predictable and easy gets boring. The expedition series scores a 10 out of 10 on the Adventure Scale." Set your alarm for Eastern Time To register for the Polar Roll, set your alarm for this Sunday morning at 8am ET (not Central Time) and head on over the Polar Roll website or directly to their registration page.

We just dropped new Nxrth trucker hats that prominently sport every single color in the gravel rainbow: Brown, light brown, and another brown. These hats look great on anyone who has a head and they support all of the community, stories, routes, and events that The Nxrth shares throughout the year. Shop Nxrth Trucker Hats HERE.

The 2022 Filthy 50 took place on a beautiful windy day on October 8. If you want to relive this year's Filthy 50 or just see what the ride feels like, check out this 5 minute blitz set to a questionable soundtrack.

In the final part of "Intro to Winter Fatbike Ultras", we talk with four experienced ultra athletes about their top tips for researching, planning, and preparing for your first winter fatbike ultra. If you're signed up for your first event or curious about trying one someday, check out these tips and then start planning. Winter fatbike ultras aren't for everyone. They require critical planning, training, and mitigation of serious risks. The Nxrth is partnering with Jamison Swift, Co-Founder of the St. Croix 40 to present a 3-part series on winter fatbike ultras. We'll walk through: Who should consider winter fatbike ultras What risks you need to be aware of How to pack your gear How to stay warm and dry Food and water planning Much more Read the introduction Here or catch up on Part 1 (Races, Risks, & Resources) and Part 2 (Food, Water, Gear, & Staying Warm) PART 3 OF 3: #1 Tips From Experienced Ultra Athletes Of all the adventure cycling disciplines, it's hard to imagine a micro niche that requires more planning and preparation than fatbike winter ultras. These events take participants to the coldest, most remote places. Riders spend long days and dark nights alone in the harshest weather with no support. In the final installment of "Intro to Winter Fatbike Ultras", we ask seasoned ultra veterans what their number one tips are for trying your first winter fatbike ultra. Here they share their personal experiences of planning for success and learning some lessons the hard way. James Kiffmeyer: My most important lesson for winter ultras was a training ride I did that I expected to be easy. I started in beautiful weather, 28 degrees outside, I assumed I had nothing to worry about. Roughly 15 miles into the 30 mile ride it warmed up a bit more and started to mist. Due to the wet sweat I already had built up, and the mist coming down, I got incredibly cold. I didn't have any way of drying off on the trail, and it brought home the true danger of the combination of wet and cold, even in relatively mild conditions. It doesn't matter if it is in the 30s or in the -40s, if you get wet down to your core, it is very likely going to end your ride early, and could be very dangerous. Staying dry by moderating your energy output, adjusting layers, protecting yourself in whatever way it takes, is critical to completing a winter ultra fat bike ride. That lesson served me well during many ultra races, where I learned to reduce layers and find that balance of staying warm while never being warm enough to sweat significantly. Amanda Harvey Clothing and gear choices are personal. There is no one perfect piece of gear that everyone needs. So experiment, borrow gear from friends, be open to things not being perfect but working good enough. When I was first getting into ultras I was stressed about getting the right gear, it kept me up at night. It's a slow process dialing in your bike, clothes, and boots. There's depth of stuff in the community, so if you need to borrow something, ask! We want to see new folks join this niche sport within a niche sport. Sue Lucas I'd say my #1 tip is do your research. Read everything you can about the race you are planning on doing. I know I read everything I could find on Arrowhead 135 back in the day. I remember scouring the old AH forum over and over again reading every post that was written. I also read all the race reports I could find and talked to race vets. By doing your research you are not going in blind to an event and you can learn so many things that can help you out in a difficult situation. Another big tip I would say is to believe in yourself. That Leadville 100 race quote by Ken Chlouber " You're better than you think you are, you can do more than you think you can" really sums up what people can do if they believe in themselves. I know that is always my race mantra and it's served me well. Paul Fickle The most important lesson I've learned from Winter Ultra's is to test your gear, especially clothes. Just like summer biking clothes, there are lots of fancy winter riding clothes that work well for a certain size range of humans. If you're outside that range they might not work as well for you. I've heard all kinds of rave reviews about different winter clothes from people and then tried them out on long winter rides and found them to be lacking. The clothes that will work best are the ones that fit you the best. Period. Don't cram or stretch yourself into that cool new thing. Ride with the clothes you have and find out for yourself! Do the work! It always comes back around to that. Do the work. There's just no getting around it. You'll never know how a thing works for you out in the cold long night until you've tried it. And I can't wait to try more! Trying Your First Winter Fatbike Ultra Throughout this series, we've talked through many of the risks, logistics, and insider tips for trying your first winter fatbike ultra. Every ride and ever rider is different, so do your planning and make sure to train and practice long before getting to the starting line. If you try your first event this year, let us know. We'd love to hear your story and hear the lessons you learned along the way.

The Tour de Chequamegon is an annual 3-day supported and catered bikepacking trip along the Wisconsin route of the same name. This year, organizer Dave Schlabowske started an equity program for 2022 with Brooke Goudy & Devin Cowens offering 5 BIPOC and gender equity scholarships. See the event recap, photos, and way to support next year's event here. Story by Dave Schlabowske This year the Wheel & Sprocket Tour de Chequamegon started a week earlier than usual. With that timing and a warm dry summer and early fall, the colors were not as popping as in years past. And because the event was the same weekend as Cable Fall Fest, we started at Telehenge rather than from the town of Cable parking lot. That did offer a new opportunity for a great group photo next to the elevator shafts that are all that remain of the former Telemark Lodge. For the latest on the exciting future of the Telemark property, see what the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation has planned. Another change this year was a new grant program to try to increase diversity on the guided ride we lead each fall and tempt more people of color to visit and ride in the Wisconsin Northwoods. The program was created and managed by Brooke Goudy and Devin Cowens and by all accounts, the first year was a great success. Brooke and Devin and five BIPOC riders new to bikepacking joined the 30 other people who signed up, and everyone had successful rides and enjoyed the challenge of pedaling the hilly gravel roads through the Chequamegon Forest for three days the last weekend in September. I have to say, it was pretty cool to have such a stacked group of pro ride guides this year. In addition to Brooke and Devin, we also had Tom Schuler, Shane Hitz and local super volunteer Jerry Wright back! One of our experienced Wheel & Sprocket ride support crew came down with Covid and had to skip the event this year, so I filled in for him. That meant I was not able to ride along and take a bunch of photos like I usually do. So our pics are limited this year, but you can see all the images I took and download high resolution files on the event gallery on my photoshelter site linked below. This guided, organized ride, which follows the Tour de Chequamegon route, was designed to introduce people to bikepacking by removing some of the barriers that might keep people from trying it on their own. So while riders must carry their own gear, navigate the route and camp each night, the ride is supported by Wheel & Sprocket with ride guides to help during the day, a support vehicle with mechanics in case of a breakdown, and we cater the camp meals. For about two thirds of the people who join us each year, this is their first experience bikepacking in the forest so this is an ideal ride to include an equity program. The ride also attracts some more experienced bikepackers who just enjoy the glamping aspect of catered meals, great local craft beer in camp and the Wisconsin tradition of Brandy Old Fashioneds Friday night. The diversity grant program was such a success this year that Brooke and Devin would like to continue it next year and perhaps expand it to more than five BIPOC grant spots. We fund this program with profits from the Hungry Bear 100, a small gravel race in Cable, WI that I organize each spring. That race only attracts 200-400 riders, and we try to keep the registration price low, so the profits we can devote to this new diversity program are limited. In order to expand the program Brooke and Devin created, we will need to pay another BIPOC ride guide. To help raise the additional revenue for those and other costs associated with additional grant recipients next year, we are seeking some new sponsors, but also selling new Tour de Chequamegon shirts and hoodies. All profits from the the Tour de Chequamegon, Hungry Bear 100 and Life Above 8 merchandise sales will go directly to the diversity program expansion.

Lisa Gose-Nelson was sick of medical challenges weighing her down while sitting on the sideline watching her husband Chris' adventures. In 2021, she did her first Filthy 50 and proceeded to do eight more 50+ mile challenges since then including this year's 2022 Filthy 50. Read her story of overcoming challenges and finding the life-changing love of riding gravel. A year ago, I made a major life change due to a medical condition that cropped up with March 2020 Covid. I spent 8 months in chronic pain - partly due to a bad hand injury (bike crash) and partly due to expected post long-Covid consequences that flared a few very nasty, lifelong, auto-immune issues that I have lived with. People ask me what it felt like – I can’t explain it better than the pain was like walking or sleeping on fire and sharp rocks. I actually purchased eight new mattresses during this time period because I could simply not get comfortable. With the support of my family, I started to track everything I did including what I ate and all of the symptoms that followed food and drink I took in. Every day I wondered how I would live the rest of my life feeling the pain I did - I did not see it. It was a lot to get through and the good news is today I am 98% pain free. A little more than a year ago I re-dedicated my entire life to feeling better, eating better (mostly clean and vegetarian), having less pain, and embracing physical and emotional well-being. Part of that was taking a huge step forward in challenging myself to ride and exercise more, in new ways and to places that push my comfort level. I took on a new, less stressful career, and I learned how to sleep again. I had my bikes fit by Paulie at GO Physio – he gets physical challenge and bike fitting; he is skilled true Doctor of Physical Therapy. All of this brought me to the Filthy 50, 2021, I finished it on a tandem bike that my husband Chris and I bought for our 30th anniversary. I had never ridden a gravel ride and it changed my life. Funny enough it was also our first, true tandem ride and we are still married. I am a work in progress, we all are, and I hope we can all share our story and support and encourage each other. This past weekend I finished my 2nd Filthy-50 on the tandem bike. A week ago, I would have finished my first solo gravel at the Heck of the North - but more importantly I fought through unexpected flats on the route and had a third at the trailhead. I was mostly on my own, I worked out a plan to get back and had a great time, I was so proud of myself! Not only was this my first solo gravel ride; it was also the first time I changed tire tubes out on my own. Rookie mistake - I did not check the inside of the tube – that wire shard got me three times, live and learn! Here is the better part of the story - in the last twelve months I have finished eight 50 miles +, 1000+ high elevation endurance challenges, including some high elevation mountain hikes. Until the 2021 Filthy I had never achieved even one challenge that was 1000+ elevation. I have taken on strength training, positive mental conditioning, started to bike camp on the Fox bike camping race, increased my Pilates practice and I am officially ready to start my instructor training and certificates with Basi Pilates – they have a focus on healing and inclusion. The Filthy handed me a terrifying challenge and I finished it. When 900+ people start the ride and finish to talk about it is exciting! Starting this at age 53 is a whole new world and is refreshing. Why I got into gravel - frankly I felt like I was missing out sitting on the sidelines watching my husband Chris and wanted my own story to tell. Being in the elements, outside and away from everything brought my appreciation back for being in the moment. At the beginning I thought I would like to listen to music when I am riding on gravel. Now I like hearing the crushing sound of rock and the wind noise and feeling the air - it brings a gritty sense of joy. I extend a heartfelt thank you to Trenton J. Raygor (Filthy-50) and Jeremy Kershaw (Heck of the North and the Fox), Dr. Paulie Glatt (GO Physio), Tonka Cycles and my life partner Chris Nelson and all of you who are the most embracing and supportive people and inspire me with your incredible power and inclusivity! My gravel bikes: 2022 Surly Midnight Special and a 2021 custom Co-Motion Java Tandem