12th Annual Heartbreaker: 100% FREE Grass Roots Cycling

grassroots gravel cycling in florida — 60+ riders at the 12th running of the Heartbreaker

2023 marks the 12th running of the Heartbreaker Cycling Invitational, aka The Dirty Dozen, part of the 100% FREE, North Florida Freeride Gravel Series (NFFGS). This event is organized by JOM, founder of Gravel Cyclist, and is a ride event that traverses some of the most beautiful roads near Gainesville, Florida.

Featuring Live Oak canopies adorned with Spanish Moss, the course meanders across dirt, limerock, gravel sandy spots, paved roads, and more. The Heartbreaker isn’t a race, and the ride welcomes riders of all abilities and speeds, to ride the course at a speed of their choosing.

12th Annual Heartbreaker Ride Experience Video

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A little Heartbreaker History from JOM

Originally started as a lark over ten years ago, the Heartbreaker began as a Facebook event. The ride was named as a homage to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (RIP Tom) who began their musical careers in Gainesville, Florida. Technically, the original Tom Petty band was Mudcrutch (we have another event dedicated to that band) but either way, thought the Heartbreaker name lent itself well to my idea of a fun and challenging mixed-surface ride.

The ride has seen various formats since its foundation; charity ride hosted at a brewery, charity ride hosted at a cafe, and a ride starting and ending at a gas / petrol station. The ride always rolls out of town together in a neutral-like fashion, and later, back into town once everyone has regrouped at the designated “finish” point of the ride. The Heartbreaker pioneered the fun all together rollout concept at the first edition, long before the big-name gravel events and “influencers” came along claiming they are revolutionaries, blah blah blah. The Heartbreaker also features a designated Selfie Stop, and the long-established Beervagen, all of which retains the vibe fun.