The Ponderosa Escapade is our main event at the Pine Island Gravel Odyssey! 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: 6:30am in the Spearfish City Park. The start is a 5 mile, neutral roll-out, with an escort out of town. If you miss or get behind the police escort, you will need the GPX to navigate out of town.

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Aid Station 1 mile 32: Cut off time of 9:45am. Water, Food items, and Heed sports drink provided.  

 

Aid Station/checkpoint mile 55 : Cut-off time of 1:30pm.  Riders are required to “check in” at this Lodge.  If they fail to do so, they will receive a DNF.   This is the only spot on course where riders may meet with their support crew for supplies. We will provide water, Heed sports drink, and a drop-bag.  If you want a drop bag you must use the bag we supply at packet pick up.  You can purchase food items inside the store if needed.

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Aid Station 3 mile 72: Cut-off time of 3:45pm.  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.  Sometimes markers can get taken down by weather, animals or even people! 

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