The Ponderosa Escapade is our main event at the Pine Island Gravel Odyssey! Riders taking on this course should be able to maintain a 10mph average speed. The event is intended to be a fun, yet challenging endurance gravel road race/ride that will use open public-access gravel and dirt roads, through the Black Hills National forest and into Wyyyooommming!  The course will consist of mostly gravel, some dirt, possible mud, and a bit of pavement (gasp)! while rolling over open prairie, meandering through beautiful canyons with flowing creeks, and navigating the beautiful Black Hills Ponderosa Pine Forest. 

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Race start: Spearfish City Park at 6:30am. The start is a short escort out of town.  Once across the bridge, about 1/2 mile up the Canyon, the racing can begin. Riders may not cross the center line while riding up the Canyon and should remain on the shoulder of the road.

 

Aid Station 1 mile 23.4: Cut-off time is 9:45am. Water, food items, and Heed sports drink.

 

Aid Station 2 mile 39.5: Cut-off time of 12:30pm.  Aid station was moved up the road and will no longer go to Trailshead Lodge. Riders may still meet with their support crew here for supplies (see support crew directions above). We will provide water, food items, Heed sports drink, and a drop-bag if you need one. 

If you want a drop bag you must use the bag we supply at packet pick up. Only food Items will be allowed in drop bags. No drinks, tools, camelbacks or clothing items. The drop bags need to be dropped off in the tote at the Start area of the race (by the arch) on Saturday morning no later than 6:15. 

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Aid Station 3 mile 63 : Cut-off time of 2:30pm.  Water, food items, and Heed Sports drink!

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Aid Station 4 mile 81.5 : Cut-off time of 4:30pm.  Water, food items, and Heed Sports drink! 

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​*You must leave the aid station by the cut off time.  Aid stations will be closed after cut-off time.

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Support Crew: It is highly suggested  that all riders have a support crew for the event.  Your support crew is there to come and get you off the course should you break down, get injured, or just need a ride back to the finish area.  Support crew will not be allowed anywhere out on course unless they are picking you up, but they are allowed to meet you at the Trailshead Lodge checkpoint for resupply. If a riders support crew is spotted on course at any time, the rider will be disqualified.  

 

If you do not have a support peron, we will have a SAG vehicle and some on course patrol who will be able to assist you in getting back to town for a small fee, if you should need it.   If you are relying on our drivers you may be on course for a period of time before we can get you back to town.  You must purchase our support during registration.  

 

Navigation: The intersections on course will be marked, but we highly suggest downloading the GPX and carrying the Map and Cue sheets which can be printed off from the above link.  Sometimes markers can get taken down by weather, animals or even people! 

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