Balancing the responsibilities and changes of motherhood is a lot of pressure. Here Maria Drews shares her thoughts on prioritizing hobbies, relationships, and reclaiming parts of her life that are just for her. Look for her at next weekend's Red Granite Grinder which will be her first gravel race. Follow Maria on her YouTube channel.

The Gravel Pizza Overnighter took place on September 24-25 in Eau Claire and Clark County Wisconsin. A community bikepacking event, we spent two days exploring off-grid gravel, cheese curd and beer stops, and camping at Wedges Creek pizza farm. Read below for a full recap and event galleries. To see more about the 2022 Gravel Pizza Overnighter, check out the rider portraits and Katrina Hase's event video. The Group Rollout We all mingled before the ride dialing in our gear setup, packing our maple syrup, and getting pre-event portraits. I was definitely feeling nervous about how our first event would go and what to expect from the fragile weather forecast we seemed to be in. Riding through the woods in a pack always feels a little magical. Before the event I really only knew two people and had a wonderful time meeting new riders, hearing their stories, and working through the gravel and hills together. Our first 5 miles were on ATV trail without any major hills so we could start out riding in a nice group. Day 1: Meeting Everyone Over Curds, Beer, and Gravel I gave a fair warning that mile 4-5 had a nice section of sandy hike-a-bike and tried to prep everyone for the slow start. But afterwards a gal told me that I oversold that section and she was even hoping for a more challenging sandy section. So of course, I'm taking notes for next year (kidding). The weather was crisp with a little bit of morning mist still in the air for the first hour or so. The gatherings for cheese curds at Vojtik's Stockyard and beer at AKA Lakeside were great breaks and gave everyone a chance to meet each other and share riding stories. Camping at Wedges Creek To pack light, I brought my rain fly but no actual tent. With the misty weather, I thought I might be sleeping wet. But the ground was pretty dry so I set up camp and grabbed a drink from the farmhouse bar. We happened to be at Wedges Creek for the very last pizza night of the year. In celebration of the closing pizza season, the owner Jeff blasted a 10" pumpkin 700 yards into a field with the most massive cannon I've ever seen. The barn had live old time bluegrass playing Old Crow Medicine show and Charlie Daniels Band covers. Once it got dark, it started to rain for the first time so the bonfire crowd moved indoors for dessert pizza and a little bit of dancing. Day 2: Soggy Riding and Goodbye Until Next Time So on the ride home, it totally poured. I mean we got hammered with rain. The wind was relentless and the rain poured. But the weather couldn't make up it's mind so of course it turned into a gorgeous (and hot!) blue sky sunny day without a single cloud before completely closing up and drenching us all over again. Thankful that the pouring rain didn't unleash until Day 2 of riding, we packed up, said our goodbyes and now look forward to future gravel adventures.

When I first watched The Good Line, it became an instant favorite. The challenge of endurance gravel cycling combined with the beautiful honesty of life struggles makes it inspiring and relatable. In this interview, I talked with David Cowardin, the producer, and Jeremy Kershaw, owner of Heck of the North Productions. The Good Line is a short film by Blue Forest Films that follows Jeremy Kershaw, owner of Heck of the North Productions, as he processes the balance of endurance cycling, mental health, and the relationships that mean the most. Watch the film and read the full interview with David and Jeremy here. How did "The Good Line" story come together? David Cowardin: I loosely followed Jeremy’s gravel cycling events for a few years and two things immediately attracted me: the beauty of the routes, and this concept of riding the good line. I reached out to Jeremy and expressed an interest in shooting a short film about one of his riders and what motivates them to participate in his events. I was interested in finding someone who wasn’t necessarily participating to win, but rather someone who was participating to fulfill some other need or desire. After a few email exchanges, it quickly became evident that Jeremy was the person I was meant to feature. He was open, honest, and thoughtful … all of the things I look for when considering a story. Jeremy Kershaw: When David approached me with this idea, I jumped at the chance to work with him. Without a doubt one of the best parts of this experience for me was being part of David’s interview process. His questions were well conceived and that whole period of talking about the events and my life in cycling was powerful for me. It sounds selfish but I mean this in the most open sort of way. I think he did a great job of blending the verbal story into the visual film component. I loved the swimming scene. How did you come up with that & what role did it play in the film? David Cowardin: That scene was my favorite as well. When I interviewed Jeremy, he described his Great Divide adventure almost as an awakening, or a rite of passage from one level of self awareness to another. My goal with that scene was to visualize that awakening and take Jeremy off the bike. Watching Jeremy fully submerged in the river for several seconds, I thought, would be an effective way to let the viewer stop and feel what Jeremy was going through mentally. That feeling of being breathless and trapped, but to emerge from that low point feeling clean and whole again. The swimming scene was also the only scene that I decided to direct. The blend of documentary-style filming with a more directed scene like that was a lot of fun for me creatively. It allowed me to introduce a little of my own creative voice. We joke about that scene now because we filmed it in late September when the air and water temps were quite low. Jeremy felt his body temp drop quite dramatically and we had to blast the heat in the car and Jeremy wolfed down the tin of almonds I had in the console. I now refer to that spot as hypothermia hole. Jeremy Kershaw: Indeed, it was an intense experience, both physically and also for the story. I knew it was a logistically challenging shot for David and his other assistant for the day. It was without a doubt the coldest I have ever been. I think it took me three hours to fully re-warm! But as David describes, I knew it was a crux move in his story (though I had no idea how exactly he was going to weave it in.) All I knew is that my actor’s union was going to be contacting him for my catatonic condition afterward, lol. The songs in the film were perfect. How did you pick them? David Cowardin: Seth Bernard is an artist from Michigan that I was loosely familiar with. He combines music with activism around issues like clean water and racial equity. After casually listening to one of his tunes, I knew it was right for The Good Line. I found the Chris Coleman tune on a music licensing site while searching for something a bit darker and ethereal for the swimming scene. Jeremy Kershaw: LOL. Turkeys in the rain. Every time I hear that I’m not sure what to think. But the piece at the end just seemed to fit perfectly. What do you hope people feel after the film? David Cowardin: I hope people feel inspired to reflect on their own life experiences and perhaps how outdoor recreation has or could influence their lives for the better. I also hope people are left with a strengthened sense of empathy for others. Jeremy Kershaw: I think a great story has the power of universal connections. David took parts of my life and made it into a really solid story. It is a testament to his creativity more than anything I did in my life. We know, by the feedback that we have received, that it hit a nerve in many who watched. I’m proud of that and I hope people feel less alone, more connected. David, a lot of your films have deeper themes around personal growth, deep reflection, and outdoor beauty. What do you hope to accomplish with your storytelling? David Cowardin: That’s a good observation and one that is becoming more clear to me as well. As a storyteller, I’m really interested in showing what makes a person uniquely them, and the way I approach that is by telling a very specific story. Storytelling is also personally fulfilling for me. I love the process and I love learning from the subjects I work with. It’s my own version of the 100-mile gravel ride. How did the general community around Heck of the North and North Shore cycling receive the film? David Cowardin: The film was received quite well. A lot of people have mentioned how relatable the story is to them and some have even shared in detail some of their own similar experiences. That’s a great sign to me. It tells me that this film has created a space for people to feel a sense of belonging and community. Jeremy Kershaw: Right. I am touched by the people who have written to us, sharing their experiences with the film and their own lives. It was a leap of faith for Avesa and I to let this out into the open and we both feel like it took on a life of its own after being released. Again, another sign that David created a story worth viewing. David, I heard you gave Heck of the North a shot after doing the film. How did that experience go? David Cowardin: After filming the Heck of the North in 2019, I was very excited to participate in one of Jeremy’s events. My bike experience is mostly limited to commuting and shorter distance mountain biking, so I began trying some longer rides to get a feel for what it’s like. I got hooked and signed up for the 2020 event, which was cancelled due to the pandemic. I was finally able to participate in the 2021 Heck and was not prepared either physically or mentally: I dropped out at the 57-mile checkpoint due to knee pain. It was still a great experience, though. My favorite moment was when a fellow rider decided to slow down a bit and ride next to me and chat. He asked me about my bike, a beefy Surly ECR, and from there we talked about things strangers, let alone men, typically don’t talk about, but because of the environment Jeremy creates, it felt totally normal. It was, I think, a mini therapy session for the both of us. What gear did you shoot the film with? David Cowardin: The Good Line was shot primarily with a Panasonic EVA1 camera. The drone shots were captured with a DJI Mavic 2 Pro. My friend, Jasper Meddock, helped capture drone shots during the 2019 Heck event in addition to driving my vehicle while I filmed from the back. Is there anything else you’d like people to know about the Good Line? Jeremy Kershaw: Well, I’ll tell you that this past year has been a challenging one. I know it has been for many. I admit that I come back to this line, this idea on a regular basis in my own life, frequently. Where am I at? How are things flowing? How does this compare to the Good Line I have felt before? It’s dynamic and always needs to be reevaluated. I would never pretend it is the only way to view life…but it sticks for me and I think it helps me get back to that sweeter spot in life. Maybe that’s what gravel cycling and endurance events have taught me the most. They remind me on a daily basis that I can get through some pretty tough conditions. But when I can’t do it alone, I’ve got good people nearby to help me out. I hope that is the community we foster in our events. To learn more about Heck of the North or register to ride one of the events, visit their website. David Cowardin owns Blue Forest Film; visit his YouTube channel or check out his website for more information.

The Red Granite Grinder is a perfect way to close out your fall gravel riding season. This year's event gives you access to private property segments and trails that aren't open to the public. In this interview, we talk with Shane Hitz about how he dreams up such unique courses. The 2022 Red Granite Grinder takes place on October 15 and includes 12, 50, 85, and 144 mile races. New for this year's event are free group rides on Thursday and Friday and a special Red Granite Grinder beer release party on Friday. Head to Red Granite Grinder to learn more. Interview with Shane Hitz, Race Director of the Red Granite Grinder This event goes beyond drawing a line on a map. How do you come up with your route and getting exclusive access to private property? Coming up with a route as long as the 144 and 85 is very labor intensive. The current route for the 144 and 85 took me over 1600 miles of biking in the year leading up to the 2020 race. First thing I do is get a general idea of where most of the gravel roads are located. I then break up a larger picture of that area into small chunks in the general area of where I want the route to go. For example, on the 144 mile route, I wanted to go up to Lincoln County in the New Wood area. I drew up a 50 mile loop and rode that. Of course the first time out on a small loop like this it is not going to result in a perfect loop every time. But I do gain knowledge of what exactly is out there to work with. In the example of that 50 mile loop I did in the New Wood area, I actually went out there fatbiking the area for the first time on a cold January day and ran into multiple dead ends, even getting yelled at from a land owner for only just looking at his forest property. Luckily I ran into some local bobcat hunters who told me about a property that I may be able to get permission to use and they also knew that the two track in that property connected to another public road! I then went back home and looked on satellite, saw the two track they were talking about, called the landowners, and then rode it in the spring. The result netted us with a continuous 2.5 mile section that is on the current route. This was the process I use for just this small section. Now that my routes have been around for a couple years I look at satellite imagery or take mental notes of two track I see while riding the routes and then look at land atlases to find out who owns it and then I just take the chance at asking the landowner. Sometimes they say no but sometimes they say yes and are actually just excited to be part of the race. This year I got access to a section that is new for 2022 just by stopping on my bike and talking to a farmer who was out by his machine shed! What's your favorite part of the course? I always love the Averill Creek Fire Lane and love the creek crossing on that fire lane. Red Granite Grinder racers do not know this but in June that creek crossing is one of the most mosquito infested areas I have ever been through. Knowing you do not need to deal with those suckers is positive thoughts to think about when crossing on a crisp mid October day. Another fun thing about this section is that someone created a Strava segment titled "Self Mutilation". I love when people create fun names like this! Another section that I am super excited about is bringing an extremely fun section to the 50 mile course. Willow Springs in the town of Maine gave me permission to use their corn maze before it is open to the public. While I was out scouting this corn maze on my single speed last fall I saw a perfect two track that ran east into the neighboring farmer's land. I asked him if he would be interested in letting me use his property, again by just going up to him in person. He told me to jump in his UTV with him and he took me on the tour of his property and then he told me to ride my bike around and find a good line. The result of this little tour with him turned into one of my most exciting sections for the 2022 year. And I already put a Strava segment on it! You're definitely playing with dice by having an Oct 15 Northern Wisconsin gravel race. What do you want people to get out of the race? I don't feel like I am playing with dice with the time of the year. This is the time of the year when the singletrack starts to close down with the freeze/thaw cycles yet we have some of the best fall colors hanging around. The weather can be a challenge but most racers embrace that part of it. Looking back two years ago, we had snow coming down on the morning of the race. With the race starting in downtown we had a magical scene in the glow of the city lights. Nine mile forest was a winter wonderland. By the afternoon the snow had melted and according to racer feedback, most racers came away with one of their best riding memories. This is also a great time for some as it is possibly the last big ride of the year. To answer the second part of that question, I hope that most racers come away with the pride of completing this challenge whether they are a seasoned rider or someone who is brand new to gravel or gravel racing. I also hope that they come away with an appreciation for the hills that we have around Wausau as well as the fascination and wonder that comes with exploring new trails that are never open to the public. Didn't you break some bones this year? Are you back in the game now and will you be riding? I did break some bones this year. I had a mountain biking accident and broke five ribs. I was lucky enough to get back in the saddle pretty quickly and started doing gravel centuries two or three weeks out from the breaks. It took me a little longer to get back onto the single speed and even more time to get back on singletrack but I feel pretty lucky to have gravel in my back yard to rehab on. Race weekend: What are the best places to stay, eat, drink, and take in Wausau? For people who are coming into town for the race weekend, the best place to stay is right at the start and finish line at the Jefferson Street Inn. You just cannot beat the location of being right at the start line. Another great hotel that we have in the racer guide is the Hilton Garden Inn in Rib Mountain. As far as eating and drinking, Wausau is very lucky to have some great locally owned restaurants. There are a number of them downtown including Red Eye and Malarkey's where you can pick up dinner and a beer, Politos Pizza, and The Mint Cafe. Just a short distance from downtown is the super popular La Taqueria, as well as The Great Dane, and the unique atmosphere and great pizza at Wausau Mine Company. For people that want to do more riding along with their gravel adventure they can get on to some of our great singletrack trails in Ringle, Nine Mile, or the Underdown trail systems. Or if you want to check out the fall colors by way of water, bring the kayaks and paddle up the slow moving Rib River and launch in places like Oak Island or Gulliver's Landing. In addition to all of that we have some great hiking opportunities whether it is on the trails on Rib Mountain or the Ice Age Trail just outside of town. Also, I don't know if you heard this but this year we are adding some gravel group rides to the race weekend. On Thursday we have a 60 mile ride in the most northern section of the 144 and on Friday we have an easy 25 mile gravel ride with very little elevation change. Also, Friday evening on the square downtown we are having a special Red Granite Grinder beer release from Red Eye followed by a local rock band along with early bib pick up. So as you can see we have a big weekend of gravel coming up and we are super stoked to see everyone again this year!

Katrina Hase and her husband Tony joined last weekend's Gravel Pizza Overnighter. Katrina may have forgotten her helmet, but she remembered her GoPro. This video covers the gravel, pizza, and camping from the entire route. Enjoy. Video by Katrina Hase

The inaugural Gravel Pizza Overnighter took place last weekend, September 24-25. 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. Your Gravel Pizza Portraits If you want your high resolution portrait (or your head shot), just shoot me an email and I'll send you both.

With the winding down of summer, we're taking a look at the 5 most popular stories on The Nxrth from June, July, and August of 2022. This roundup covers gear, gravel racing, winter fatbike ultras, and the Wisconsin Waterfalls Loop. 1. VOILE STRAPS VS TAILFIN CARGO STRAPS: WHICH IS BETTER FOR BIKEPACKING? Strapping things securely to your bike is an important park of bikepacking. Voile Straps have always been the go-to original and in this story we look at some of the innovative improvements from Tailfin Cargo Straps in this side by side comparison. Read the Story. 2. ANNOUNCING: INTRO TO WINTER FATBIKE ULTRAS, A 3-PART SERIES Have you been curious about winter fatbike ultras? If you're considering exploring a winter ultra, now is the time to start planning. This summer/fall we launched a new 3-part series introducing you to the sport of winter fatbike ultra racing. Read the Introduction Read Part 1: Races, Risks, & Resources Read Part 2: Logistics, of Food, Water, Gear, & Staying Warm Read Part 3 (kidding, it's not published yet) 3. CLOSE THE GAP OR BLOW UP TRYING: CLAIRE O'LEARY'S FREEDHEM 76 & FINDING GRAVEL COMMUNITY The 2022 Freedhem 76 took place on Saturday, July 2, 2022. Claire O'Leary raced along with a strong field of women. In this story, she shares about her own race along with the push and pull of the gravel community. Read the Story. 4. Neil Beltchenko Bikepacks The Wisconsin Waterfalls Loop [VIDEO] Neil Beltchenko from Bikepacking.com recently checked out the Wisconsin Waterfalls Loop with 2 friends. It was an early season ride and their group made a video of the adventure. Watch the video right here. 5. THE 2022 BEAR 100: AN IOWAN'S ACCOUNT OF NORTHWOODS GRAVEL Earlier this year Ben Petty crossed the cheddar curtain for his first 100-mile ride up in the Northwoods. After making his way through Stevens Point, he and his friend did the Bear 100 and made it to Jar's Bar & Grill with photos and a story to tell. Read the Story. Share Your Story Want to share your story from a 2022 gravel race or bike adventure? Get in touch with us at info@thenxrth.com

Shirts and patches for the Gravel Pizza Overnighter just showed at my door. I snapped a few photos and we'll hand these out at registration if you got the Gold ticket. If you need to add the shirt/patch package to your ticket, shoot me an email. See you soon!

I reached out to The Nxrth email subscribers and invited them to share their favorite photo from summer of 2022. These adventures bring us to surprise campsites, epic through-the-night rides, first-time gravel adventures, and a friendly hawk eating dinner. Enjoy! Want to submit you photo next time? Roll over to our homepage and join The Nxrth newsletter. Rachel Hockert near Isabella, Minnesota The iconic Northwoods bikepacking photo. After a brutal, rocky, loose road with steep uphills and questionable downhills, I was worn out. Cresting one of the last hills near the end of the route I saw this glorious stack of wood. Nothing like a little motivation to get you there. Nick Meyer in Eau Claire & Clark County Forests, Wisconsin In my neck of the woods I’m usually more of a road rider, so this 45-mile gravel ride through the Eau Claire and Clark County Forest areas of Wisconsin, guided by some friends who’ve spent more time on such roads than me, was my first real gravel adventure. We covered every color and consistency of gravel I’ve seen, plus even a bit of tough-love sand, all either cradled by towering pines or expansive farmland. So now I think the gravel bug has bit! Chris Nelson tandem bikepacking The Fox in Northern Minnesota Lisa and I did our first bike camping event this summer, The Fox, and we dove in with both feet by riding our Co-Motion Java. I understand we are the first tandem team on The Fox (or Heck Epic). We had a great time and will be seeking more bikepacking adventures in the future. Paul Bolstad - Arrowhead Region, Minnesota Photos from spring trips to the Arrowhead, the first along Lake Superior last year, from Duluth to Grand Portage. A great ride along the inland sea, about half on the paved lakeside trail and half on gravel, weaving in and out of the Sawtooths 1000 feet above the lake. MN DNR has a policy of accommodating bikepackers, great lakeside campsites, and Lake County Rd 7 from The Grade to Finland is as pretty a stretch as I've found in the upper Midwest, up there with the Bayfield Peninsula and the northern Keweenaw. The second a 180 mile circuit in Lake and Cook Counties, early Spring, in the last days of snowmelt. Soft roads were a challenge, but no dust, no cars, full cascades, and maximal animal tracks. I was able to track and see two moose and a group of wolves, hard to do later in the years once the roads firm up. Katrina and Tony Hase - Driftless Region, Minnesota On a whim and craving adventure, my husband and I set out to ride our gravel bikes through the night. We wanted to experience riding under the stars and watching the sun rise. We selected a 160-mile Driftless region route from Ride with GPS —the longest either of us has ever ridden our bikes. We started in Red Wing, MN at 11pm, had breakfast in Lake City, MN around 9am, and arrived back at our car around 3pm. Tom Davey - Northeastern Iowa In July, with heat indexes soaring above 100F, we completed a 3-day gravel couples bikepacking trip through the beautiful bluffs of northeastern IA. Stops to cool off in spring fed rivers, Toppling Goliath, and Pulpit Rock brewery were essential. My favorite photo from the trip features my adventuring brother Scott G. cresting one of the innumerable farm studded climbs (looking mighty BA I would add). Nicolette Reker - Kickapoo Valley Reserve, Wisconsin The Kickapoo Valley Reserve is one of the Driftless region's best kept secrets- or so we thought! We finally scored a first come, first serve campsite on our fifth try right at dusk after a near 70-mile day. The site was quiet, and we were positioned within the reserve to start our next day right on the horse trail/singletrack system. The trails were old school, rugged, and messy; premium bikepacking terrain right here in the Midwest. John Miller at Bowman Lake, Lower Peninsula Michigan All great trips have trail magic when you look for it. On this particular trip, we had planned for dispersed camping in Michigan so had our hopes set on flat ground and not much more. We rolled up to these spots and it was an incredible surprise and a great night’s sleep. Phil Carlson: Heywood Ride & Bikepacking Photo 1: I found out about the Heywood Ride, which happened to be in my wife's hometown, via The Nxrth. It was a great event that I got to do with my wife and a sneaky way for me to dedicate another weekend of the summer to biking! It was her first ride of the year - all 55 miles - but she took it like a champ. Photo 2: A bikepacking trip to Blue Mounds with my daughter, and new riding buddy, was a great way to introduce her to the sport, get out of the house for a couple of days, and experience a beautiful part of the state by bike. Secret: if you show up at a WI state park via bike looking to camp - they can't turn you away, and you get to camp at an unmarked site! Josh from The Nxrth at Wedges Creek My favorite adventures on or off a bike are with my wife and kids. On this ride, we were checking out Wedges Creek Hideaway for the first time and doing some biking and camping. The company was great, the gravel was beautiful, and the setting was cozy. On the drive home, we started asking ourselves if we could pull off a group bikepacking overnighter and that's how the idea for Gravel Pizza was born. Michael Kedor near Lutsen, Minnesota These photos were from a trip up outside of Lutsen. Eagle Mountain is the highest point in Minnesota. Tim Kordula - Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest This was an overnight bikepacking trip on the Hidden Lakes Trail in the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest. Peaceful, awesome wild, listened to loons and trumpeter swans! Isaiah Worden on the Rotary Trail in Oregon, Wisconsin This was just a short adventure. But was quite fun while it lasted. Saw a hawk eating its dinner, deer wandering in front of me, and way too many rabbits. Ben Clarke near Escanaba, Michigan This photo says it all as I started the gravel / forest road stretch of my bikepacking adventure from Baltimore to San Diego on back roads. I routed through the UP, WI and MN to see my kids starting college at NMU and St. Scholastica. The photo was taken west of Escanaba as I crossed the UP. Steve Smith on The Crusher The beaver mafia hard at work. The Crusher EX-225, July 16-17th 2022…Ishpeming, Michigan. #greendot Joe Roy - Lakeville, Minnesota This is probably my favorite photo from this summer. This building has become a backdrop for bike photos at the end of our weekly ride over the past few years, sadly the building was torn down about a week after this photo was taken. Thanks for the memories! Zach Johnson near Madison, Wisconsin Last year, my doctor told me to stop biking if I wanted some wrist pain I was experiencing to go away and I laughed at them. I took a short multi-day trip this spring alone along the Pecatonica on the Cheese Country Trail, and it reaffirmed my stance that I need to keep biking to keep living. I took this picture on the way back into Madison that I think captures this sentiment. I bike to prolong my days. Steve Ruelle at Winsted Lake, Minnesota This photo overlooking Winsted Lake was taken on the deck of Crazi cafe about two and one-half hours west of Minneapolis and is just a few blocks off the Luce Line State Trail (former railroad tracks). I camped (no charge) at the terminus of Luce Line at Thompson Lake County Park. The city planners of nearby Cosmos, Minnesota (population 473) seem to have a good sense of humor….all of the streets are named after planets and galaxies

The Gravel Pizza Overnighter is a community bikepacking event tucked right where you'd expect it halfway between the woods, farm country, and the middle of nowhere, Wisconsin. Here we bring you to Part 3 of a series of getting to know the experience at a closer level. To learn more, visit the Gravel Pizza Overnighter page. Also check out Part 1 (The Gravel) and Part 2: (The Route Highlights). Between Forest & Farmland is Wedges Creek Wedges Creek turns 5 this year. I discovered it for the first time over national Bike Travel Weekend in June when my family went out there for a bike camping (and car, too) trip. As soon as I rolled up, I thought it'd be a heavenly place for a bikepacking gathering. From the pine-y and peaceful hiding place to the really nice shower house and indoor seating in case of rain, I couldn't wait to get home and invite everyone from The Nxrth to join me and my family out here. A few weeks ago, some friends and I pre-rode to route to grab some photos, sample the pizza (again), and make sure everything was ready to share. Here are a few more photos; can't wait to see you all in less than 2 weeks! 46 Miles of Gravel & Pizza Day 1 isn't too long or too short. It's just right for riding with friends, setting up camp, and then grabbing a drink and pizza. Set up your tent, take a hot shower, and grab your free welcome drink in the pavilion. There will be live music, blazing pizza ovens, and campfires to gather around as the fall evening sets in. To see more galleries of photos from our pre-ride to Wedges Creek, check out Part 1 (The Gravel) and Part 2 (Route Highlights). To learn more, visit the Gravel Pizza Overnighter page.

The Gravel Pizza Overnighter is a community bikepacking event tucked right where you'd expect it halfway between the woods, farm country, and the middle of nowhere, Wisconsin. Here we introduce you to Part 1 of a series of getting to know the experience at a closer level. To learn more, visit the Gravel Pizza Overnighter page. Also check out Part 2 (The Route Highlights) and stay tuned for Part 3 (Wedges Creek Pizza Farm). This is Gravel Pizza We've spent a lot of time hand-picking the best collection of rolling gravel, winding B-roads, a pinch of double-track, and a wholesome dose of gridded corn fields. The Nxrth is HQ'd in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin and we wanted to invite you all to join us riding our backyard gravel and camping together with incredible wood-fired pizza. A Mix of Everything We Love We'll roll out together from the event starting point and jump right onto 5 miles of windy ATV trail. This is the softest section of the route, includes some sand, and will almost certainly require you hop off and walk some sections. We'll then say goodbye soft sand/dirt for the rest of the day and start meandering through mixed gravel roads. The route snakes through maple-y forests that should be changing colors as well as tall rolling pine stands. Highlights on Day 1 include optional stops for ice cream, cheese curds, or a refreshing drink from Vojtik's Stockyard Food (mile 19) and another optional stop for a drink at Aka Lakeside (mile 34) in Rock Dam. Destination: Pizza in the Pines Our last leg of Day 1 brings us into the hilly farmland grid where we'll find a wooded gravel corner to gather for the evening at Wedges Creek hideaway. Set up your tent, take a hot shower, and grab your free welcome drink in the pavilion. There will be live music, blazing pizza ovens, and campfires to gather around as the fall evening sets in. To see more photos from our pre-ride to Wedges Creek, check out Part 2 (Route Highlights) and stay tuned for Part 3 of "Get to Know Gravel Pizza". To learn more, visit the Gravel Pizza Overnighter page.

The Gravel Pizza Overnighter is a community bikepacking event tucked right where you'd expect it halfway between the woods, farm country, and the middle of nowhere, Wisconsin. Here we bring you to Part 2 of a series of getting to know the experience at a closer level. To learn more, visit the Gravel Pizza Overnighter page. Also check out Part 1 (The Gravel) and stay tuned for Part 3 (Wedges Creek Pizza Farm). Rivers, Ice Cream, and Lakeside Drinks Part of enjoying the fall is taking time to slow down, be together, and stopping to take in your surroundings. Gravel Pizza takes us off the grid and off the race clock. We picked some stops we hope you love. Places to grab a cone or just look at the lake with a with a drink and some new friends. We pre-rode Gravel Pizza to share a few photos of what to expect along the route and the highlights we hope you'll check out during the ride. Vojtik's Stockyard [Mile 19] After crossing a few rivers and winding around Horse Creek Road, we'll get to Vojtik's (VOY-checks) Stockyard. It's a restaurant, meat market, ice cream shoppe, and gift shop all in one place. We can grab a drink to cool down, mid-ride ice cream, or just a meat stick for good measure. Heck, if you forgot to eat before the ride, you can fill up on deep friend onion rings like my friend Garrett on our pre-ride. RIVERS Sure, we tried to pick some nice establishments to stop at. But the real highlights? Rivers, forests, and empty gravel roads in the fall. We'll cross Horse Creek, Hay Creek, Dickerson Creek, and the Eau Claire River at least 3 times. Getting to ride our bikes is a blessing and living up north with so much to explore is what keeps inspiring us. A.K.A. Lakeside [Mile 34] To be honest, I wasn't sure if this was "Aka" or "A.K.A." until I saw the dots on the exterior sign. In the tiny town of Rock Dam on Hay Creek is a nice little lake with a nice little lakeside bar. They've got a great patio on the water and probably a whole butt ton of ATVs when the sun goes down at night. After rolling out of A.K.A. Lakeside, it's just 12 more miles until Wedges Creek. Wedges Creek Hideaway [Mile 46] Our last leg of Day 1 brings us into the hilly farmland grid where we'll find a wooded gravel corner to gather for the evening at Wedges Creek hideaway. Set up your tent, take a hot shower, and grab your free welcome drink in the pavilion. There will be live music, blazing pizza ovens, and campfires to gather around as the fall evening sets in. To see a gallery of photos from our pre-ride to Wedges Creek, check out Part 1 and stay tuned for Part 3 of "Get to Know Gravel Pizza". To learn more, visit the Gravel Pizza Overnighter page.