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We will NOT be hosting the Lodgepole Voyage in 2024.  This is due in part to some personal circumstances and also due to our growing numbers in the shorter distances and the small number of riders in this longer distance (we had 20 last year).  We will be focusing our efforts on improving the 100, 65, and 45 mile races at this time. 

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The Lodgepole Voyage: If you are an ultra endurance, adventure type of racer, than this is the race for you!  This race is not for beginners as it is a very challenging ride.  You must have completed the Pine Island-Gravel Odyssey 110 miler, or a similar race of at least 100 miles before registering for this event! It is an ultra, 210 mile ride that will take you on a tour through both the Northern and Southern Black Hills of South Dakota. There is a total of approx. 185-190 miles of gravel, with the rest being pavement. It is a challenging course with about 13,000 ft. of climbing!! The gravel in the hills is unique in that there aren’t a lot of rolling hills.  You will usually be doing long steady climbs and descents on roads that don’t make many 90 degree turns, but rather wind their way through the beautiful Black Hills landscape.  During the ride you will get to enjoy a section of the famed Mickelson Trail where you will take a “car free”, winding path through the woods, crossing a multitude of bridges and going through 3 tunnels!  There are no aid stations and you are responsible for getting yourself back to the start if you can't finish the race.  But don't worry, you can get aid by bringing along your support crew where they can meet you at the 4 checkpoints for resupply, give you moral support, and will be there should you need to abandon the race for any reason.  Or you can purchase a Ridge Rider Rescue to get you drop bags to each of the 4 checkpoints and who will get you a ride back to town should you have to abandon the race.

All riders will have from 5am to 2:30am to complete the ride!  After this you will not be given a finishing time, and there won’t be anyone or anything at the finish line!

 

Race Start: 5am in the Spearfish City Park. The start is a 5 mile, neutral roll-out, with an escort out of town.  Once onto the gravel, the racing will ‘officially’ begin. 

 

Aid Station: Mile 36 *you are not required to stop/check in here. Food and water is available here.

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Checkpoint 1: mile 69 at Trailshead Lodge, with a 12:45pm cut off time

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Checkpoint 2: mile 123 at Mountain Meadows, with a 6:00pm cut off time

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Checkpoint 3: mile 152 at Moonshine Gulch Saloon, with a 9pm cut off time

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Checkpoint 4: mile 172 back at Trailshead Lodge with an 11:30pm cut off time

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These four checkpoints all have cut-off times based on an average traveling speed of about 9-10mph, and dependent upon which checkpoints you are riding between (we’ve given a little more leniency to the checkpoints with a lot of climbing involved, and only 3 hours for the last 40 miles due to the fact that it is predominantly downhill).   This speed includes all of your stop time, so if you like to stop a lot you will have to ride faster in order to make the cut-off times. If you fail to reach a checkpoint before the cut-off time, we ask that you discontinue the race. Each checkpoint will have water and food items to purchase.

If you are abandoning the event for any reason, please text Kristi Jewett 605-641-4967 to let her know so we aren't out looking for you all night!.

 

Support Crew: EVERY RIDER MUST HAVE A SUPPORT PERSON. It is the support persons job to meet their rider at each check point and make sure they are accounted for at the end of the day!  Support crews will not be allowed out on course unless they are picking you up, but they can meet you at any one, or all, of the 4 checkpoints for resupply. If a riders support crew is spotted on course at any time, the rider will be disqualified. A data sheet and directions to each checkpoint are available to print  for all support crew.  You can not use another rider for your support crew. 

Tripple R : If you don't have a support crew and need to hire one, we offer "Tripple R" insurance, aka Ridge Rider Rescue.  This service can be purchased for $50 during registration, and must be bought before June 1st. Triple R is there to make sure you get through each checkpoint before the cut-off time, and to give you a ride back to town if you don't make the cut-off or need to abandon the event for any reason.  It will also provide a dropbag at all of the checkpoints.

Spot Tracking :All riders will be required to have a Spot Tracker for safety measures.  If you do not have one, we will provide one for you at an added cost of $40.  You will also be required to sign up your spot tracker on Trackleaders.  This will help us to track you throughout the race and will give your support person and spectators a visual of where you are at on course.  

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Navigation and support : This is not a marked course!  Participants must use cue sheets and a map, along with their own personal cycling computer, or download the GPX, to navigate the course.  You will need to print off your own Cue Sheets/Map and bring them to the race with you.  A GPX or TCX file is provided for download, and is highly recommended, especially if you are ‘racing’ as cue sheets can be hard to read when traveling at fast speeds and over bumpy gravel roads. The Cue Sheets contain notes on various places with cell reception, water, and other important information. If you are only using Cue Sheets we suggest printing several sets in the event you loose one.

The race takes place on open roads and it is the riders responsibility to ride according to the rules of the road.  If you fail to do so you are putting yourself at a high risk of a collision with a vehicle.  Most of the gravel is fast and hard packed, but at times graders will come through and make the gravel thick and sometimes dirty/muddy, and difficult to ride. Please be aware that many of the roads are also narrow with little to no shoulder and blind corners, so you must use caution and ride only on the right side of the road.  Logging trucks, farm trucks, ATV's and cars travel rapidly on these roads, and if they come around a corner and you are in their lane, you could get seriously injured.  Stay on the right side of the road, and be very careful in blind corners and when cresting hills!! Per our permit you are required to ride on the shoulder of the road when riding the last 13 miles down Spearfish Canyon to the finish. June is a beautiful month, with flowers in full force, but it can also be a very wet month …..so be prepared for anything! We are often frequented with late afternoon thunderstorms, even when there are none in the forecast! 

There is very limited cell reception on course.  Due to this we will have a sag vehicle on course to check on riders throughout the race.  But DO NOT count on this sag person, as they may miss you on course and they WILL NOT give you a ride all the way back to the finish area, only to the nearest checkpoint where you can call your support crew to come and get you. Also your cue sheets provide you the locations of several ‘Bail-out spots’ early on in the race (mile 15 and mile 38) where you will have cell reception/phone and can call your support and Bail Out early on if needed. Be aware that you may have to walk for miles to reach the nearest checkpoint or bail-out point.  In all, participants are solely responsible for their personal well-being, will have to make their own informed decisions, and suffer the consequences of those decisions.

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Cash and prize guidelines:

• A finishers Award for everyone who makes all the cut-off times, checks in at every checkpoint, and crosses the finish line before the 2:30am deadline.

• Award to top 3 in each class 

• Overall top 3 finishers, mens and womens (equal cash)

        1st Place= $150 + special prize from our sponsors at Quarq!

        2nd Place=$100

        3rd Place= $75​

• Many prizes will be given out, by random drawing after the awards ceremony Sunday morning!

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These races will happen, regardless of rain, sleet, snow or whatever mother nature decides to throw at us.  So be prepared!  Check the local weather forecast for the day and dress accordingly.  June in South Dakota is a very beautiful, but sometimes wet month, so be prepared to bring your rain gear if needed!  Remember , there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear choice!

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