Not Corporate, Not Expensive, in what we like to call around here, 100% legit grass roots, not just calling themselves grass roots. More to come soon from other regions of the USA, and possibly outside of the USA. Stay tuned…
Enjoy – JOM, Founder of Gravel Cyclist
Gravel Events You Should Know About: SE USA Video Volume 2
Alternative Video Link for those reading via email subscription
Reminder: ALWAYS BE A STEWARD FOR GRAVEL CYCLING: Respect the roads, respect the locals, respect the land, respect your fellow cyclists.
Southeast Gravel Series
Southeast Gravel Series has an entire series of events through South and North Carolina, and is hosted by that boffin of wheel designs (aka really smart bloke), Boyd Johnson of Boyd Wheels, and his team of volunteers. While I have not ridden any of Boyd’s events, they traverse many fabulous areas of the Carolinas, areas I have been fortunate to ride in the past. The Valhalla race in particular, is hosted in Walhalla, South Carolina, an area I’m very familiar with. Bring your climbing geats! – Southeast Gravel Series
Skratch Ankle
Skratch Ankle been around for a very long time, and visits the unique Blackwater River State Forest area of Florida. While I have not ridden this event, I’ve ridden out of Milton, Florida where this event begins, and into the Blackwater River State Forest and beyond. There are four distances on offer, something for everyone including a 200 miler, if you are so inclined – Skratch Ankle
Fried Clay 200K
Presenting its fifth edition for 2025, Fried Clay 200k starts and ends in Eatonton, Georgia. I’ve ridden this event, and it royally, or is that presidentially?, kicked my arse, 130 miles or 200 km if you will, of excellent mixed surface roads through the Chattahoochee – Oconee national forest. This event is in middle Georgia, and combines routes from the Red Clay ramble, and Fried Green 50, an event which no longer exists? The Promoter of Fried Clay 200k, Pat, add crazy $hit to make the Fried Clay even tougher. You can race it, ride it, bikepack it, however you like – Fried Clay 200K
Spaghetti 100 Dirt Version
Spaghetti 100, the dirt version, is a long-standing event hosted by Capital City Cyclists, of Tallahassee, Florida. I’ve been fortunate to have ridden this event many times over the years, and it starts and ends east of Tallahassee, Florida, in the small town of Miccosukee. This event supports a Local Kids on Bikes Program, and traverses the beautiful clay roads of this part of Florida. The longer route extends into Southern Georgia, visiting Boston Georgia, the other Boston! – Spaghetti 100
Piggy’s Revenge
Piggy’s Revenge of Venice, Florida, a little south of Sarasota, goes into its 13th year for 2025 and is hosted by SCORR (Sarasota County Offroad Riders). There are many route distances on offer, including a gravel specific distance of 20 miles. However, along with some mates of mine many many years ago, we rode the 60 mile endurance distance (link to my 2014 video pre-Gravel Cyclist), the longest on offer, which is the one I recommend. This distance has everything including a lot of singletrack – Piggy’s Revenge
Rule of Three
I didn’t realize Arkansas was considered as part of the Southeastern USA, but apparently it is. Feel free to debate this topic; this bonkers event features three rides across tarmac, gravel, and singletrack, but the rule is, you can only use one bike for all three surface types – Rule of Three
Arkansas Graveler
Located in the Ozarks of Arkansas, a beautiful area of the USA, made somewhat famous by a certain TV show not long ago. This event was founded in 2024, but worthy of your attention considering how lovely this part of the country is. This is a multi-day gravel tour event, it isn’t a race. There are several days or distances on offer – Arkansas Graveler
Arkansas High Country Race
This isn’t your average event because it’s so bloody long, 1000 miles or 1600kms. Dafuq! It will test everything; your mental fortitude, your bike, your sanity. Because of its length, ascending, descending and rocky terrain, this event won’t be for everyone. A unique challenge – Arkansas High Country Race
Chinkapin Hollow Gravel Grinder
Another long-standing event is the Chinkapin Hollow, based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The route takes you across the border into Eastern Oklahoma, a nice little bonus right there. There are a bunch of distances on offer from 24 miles up to 110 miles – Chinkapin Hollow Gravel Grinder
Croatan Buck Fifty
Croatan Buck Fifty of Cape Carteret, North Carolina, another long standing event, this one being held in the Croatan National Forest. If I’ve gotten it right, this event was started by the founder of Ridge Supply Socks. As the name alludes to, the mac daddy event distance is 150 miles, but if you don’t like that, they’ve got 100, 50 and a 20 miler distance, all starting and ending at the Carteret County Speeday, North Carolina – Croatan Buck Fifty
Trans-Sylvania Productions
Transylvania Productions host two events, the Uwharrie Forest Gravel Grinder and Holly Shelter Gravel Grinder – Uwharrie has been around for a long time, with two distances on offer for your gravel cycling pleasure. Bring your climbing gears because both distances aren’t exactly flat. The Holly Shelter Gravel Grinder out of Rocky Point, North Carolina, is not far from the coast, and there’s plenty to see and do in that area. By comparison to Uwharrie, this course is pretty flat, which means if you’re racing it, it’s likely going to be fast as – Transylvania Productions
Dirt Diggler
Dirt Diggler is hosted out of Hendersonville, North Carolina, conveniently located between Asheville, North Carolina, and Greenville, South Carolina. This event is essentially next door to the Dupont State Recreational Rorest. This area isn’t flat for either the short or long course, thus, bring your climbing gears – Dirt Diggler
Gosh Darn Gravel Gathering
Held in the Tennessee gravel hotspot of Hickman County, 2025 marks the eighth running of the Gosh Darn Gravel Gathering. This is a super fun, multi-day campout and gravel ride, and benefits the Oasis Center’s Bicycle Workshop, a program that has impacted the lives of some 4000 youth in middle Tennessee; truly giving back to the community – Gosh Darn Gravel Gathering
Hardford 50 & Harderford 75
These two events take you into the Cherokee and Pisgah national forests, areas I have ridden in many times. With nary a flat road to be found, these events will test your stamina, bike, and gearing. For example, the Harderford75 has over 10,000 feet of climbing in 75 miles. Good luck! – Rapid Expeditions (host of Hardford 50 & Harderford 75)
Reliance Deep Woods Gravel Grinder
Marking a big weekend of grassroots gravel cycling in the Cherokee National Forest, very close to Chattanooga, Tennessee. There are ride and race options, with the race options being over two days, and totaling 115 miles in total… with 15,000 feet of elevation. Yikes! – Tennessee Gravel (hosts of Reliance Deep Woods Gravel Grinder)
More to come soon; Gravel Events You Should Know About
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Links of Interest:
- Southeast Gravel Series – https://www.southeastgravel.com
- Skratch Ankle – https://www.scratchanklegravel.com
- Fried Clay 200K – https://www.facebook.com/Friedclay
- Spaghetti 100 – https://cccyclists.org/spaghetti100
- Piggy’s Revenge – https://www.scorrider.com/piggys-revenge
- Rule of Three – https://www.ruleofthree.bike
- Arkansas Graveler – https://www.arkansasgraveler.com
- Arkansas High Country Race – https://www.arkansashighcountry.com
- Chinkapin Hollow Gravel Grinder – https://www.chinkapinhollowgravelgrinder.com
- Croatan Buck Fifty – https://croatanbuckfifty.com
- Trans-Sylvania Productions – https://www.trans-sylvaniaproductions.com
- Dirt Diggler – https://www.blueridgeadventures.net/ddgg
- Gosh Darn Gravel Gathering – https://goshdarn.org
- Rapid Expeditions – Hardford 50 & Harderford 75 – https://www.rapidexpeditions.com
- Reliance Deep Woods Gravel Grinder – https://www.tennesseegravel.com
- How to Create Amazing & Fun Gravel Routes!
- Gravel Cyclist’s Route Library
- Gravel Bike Tire / Tyre Pressure Recommendations
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