SV100

The 2025 Spring Valley Gravel Races are in the books! Thank you to all the hearty souls who clipped in and latched onto their handle bars for a “Whirlwind” of a day; it was a Winnie-the-Pooh kind of blustery day for sure with 20-30 mph sustained winds and occasional gusts of 40 mph, no record times would be set this day. The bank thermometer showed 42 degrees Fahrenheit when we put our wheels to the Start Line, which is the warmest kit I happened to bring from home in Ohio when the weather guessers were predicting 69 and partly cloudy, thankfully I packed the cold weather kit just in case. The good news was, no sleet, no rain, and until the climb out of Preston for the 100 milers, we could take advantage of the lee in the shelter of the valleys and forests for a good stretch.

All in all it was far from the worst weather conditions we’ve faced for the past 11 years I’ve saddled up for these epic, first Saturday after Mother’s Day gravel races. For those that chose to bomb down the hill just past the Fillmore County Airport, at approximately mile 38, the hill with the decision point sign, “100 mile route to the challenging left switchback, or stay straight for the 65 miler route” you probably felt the same elation my riding sidekick and I did, the blood rushing through our bodies in relief that we both silently and simultaneously stayed straight to bypass the Preston loop. Next stop, Forestville Historic Site and the Race Angels pit stop, some of the best eats and drinks you’ll find on any gravel races, and this is an entry free race! Special shout out to Sunshine Foods Spring Valley for providing fresh bananas, hydration…and “ice?” Probably could have skipped the ice this year, and thanks to the pit stop host and hostess, Greg and my little sis Elizabeth for braving the elements to ensure we stayed fueled. Also, a big thank you to our friends at Bluff Brothers Brewing who provided a complimentary beverage to all finishers. Bluff Brothers will be next years race stewards and we look forward to their leadership to keep these historic races perpetual.

It was great to be able to utilize the Forestville State Park route after a 3-year hiatus due to bridge removal and a mandatory Park bypass. After a climb out of Forestville and a climb out of the Rock Quarry, we were in a stiff headwind for the next 10 miles, all the way to everyone’s favorite climb, Oriole Hill, where my GPS logged a 17% peak incline, that’s when I made the cardinal mistake, I tried to stand on my pedals just before the crest of the first incline to get over the hump…oh yeah, a- – over tea kettle I went, thankfully, no witnesses, I laughed enough for everyone who didn’t get to witness the boneheaded move.

With 10 miles and one more epic climb to the finish, Masonic Park, we drank the last of our pickle juice to quell the cramps that were lurking after Oriole Hill. We were delighted to see our favorite race timer, Kathy Simpson, who had braved the elements and was at the finish to greet us with a smile and a congratulatory hug after she logged our times. Our time was definitely something to write home about…if it was a time for the 100 miles instead of the 65-mile route…😉. On this blustery day, we made it to the Finish Line, and felt we had accomplished what we set out to do…we answered the bell and passed the ultimate test of mind, body and soul that keeps us coming back to these historic gravel races year after year. See you next year!

Congrats to all our riders, here are our top finishers: Top female 65-miles: Sally Matson, London, England, who actually ended up logging 75 miles due to listening to her father who insisted the route was wrong and that she had to do the Cherry Grove loop, what’s an extra 10-miles on a cold and blustery day for someone who flew all the way from London to check a box off on her bucket list? Thanks Sally’s dad! Top male 65-miles: Eric Cleveland, Rochester, MN and Robert Kim, Shoreview, MN, who were so close they share bragging rights. Top male 100-miles: Joe Moyer, Rochester, MN. See complete race results.

Welcome Spring Valley Gravel Racers! It’s race week and it’s time to prep your race wardrobe. The weather guessers are predicting a cool start and, once we’ve all climbed the first couple hills, a near perfect temperature for a day of gravel racing. We recommend packing a little extra something for your fingers, toes and ears to have available until your body’s radiator kicks in. Think of the predicted wind as your friend and take full advantage of what it gives you when you can.

We’ll see you at registration and the Start and Finish Lines. Registration is Friday night from 4:30-6:30 pm at the Spring Valley Community Center and from 6:30-7:30 am Saturday morning, same place. Parking on race day is available in the large gravel lot adjacent to the Willow Park Finish Line, it will be marked, first ones in set the pattern. Bring your questions to registration or text me at 440-829-2652 (Paul).

Reminders: Races are self-supported (small pit stop (asst gels, bars, cookies, salty snacks, pickle juice, water, Cokes, bananas and sports drinks) in Historic Forestville provided by Sunshine Foods and Race Angels, while supplies last)

• “Walk the Forestville Bridge”
• Modern restrooms available at the pavilion in the State Park, approx 1/4 mile after you “Walk the Bridge”
• First cup of cheer for racers, present race number, at Bluff Brothers after you finish your selected race.

Safe travels and we’re looking forward to seeing you real soon, bring a friend.

Let’s go!

Alan, Mike and Paul

We’re two weeks and a wake-up away from the rollout of the 2025 Spring Valley Gravel Races.

We have important route update news that re-adds the Historic Forestville Site and Forestville State Park Back to the race route after the opening of a new footbridge, reopening the bridge crossing that was impassable the past 3 years. This means the historic Almanzo 100 route is back! This is great news as the Park has always been a welcomed site for riders (and there are modern restrooms), but comes with a golden rule: “Walk the Bridge”: When riders on both the 65 and 100 mile routes stop at or pass the pit stop at the Forestville Historic Site, you are required to dismount and walk bikes across the footbridge, it’s a narrow bridge that empties into a parking area and the State Park has this as a requirement for the safety of all riders and visitors to the park. The pit crew will remind you of this requirement, help us retain the privilege of utilizing the Forestville route: 100% compliance please, “Walk the Bridge.”

The updated routes are now available on the Spring Valley EDA Gravel Races site. For SV 60-mile participants, adding Forestville and the River crossing increased the actual miles traveled from 62 to 65 miles. We think you’ll appreciate the relief that Forestville provides for the 3 miles it adds to the route.

We’ll see you real soon.

Alan, Mike and Paul

Gravel Racers, picture yourself here (Masonic Park). I took full advantage of the weather last week to get a training ride in on the Spring Valley course. What did I choose? A loop that included everybody’s favorite, Oriole Hill, where my GPS’ grade topped out at 17%, wow! I needed that friendly reminder I dish out each year, to find a hill, and climb it and climb it again and again and again. I was reminded, in my 25-mile ride, that Indoor training is not a total substitute for the real deal climbs like Oriole Hill and the climb out of Masonic Park. Traditionally our ride-group carries some adult hydration for the Oriole Hill leg of our incredible journey; those that make it up without tapping out, get to partake, those who do not, have to watch the others toast a victory.

Speaking of toasting, our good friends from Bluff Brothers Brewing are offering a complimentary adult beverage for registered finishers of your SV Gravel Race experience, just bring your dusty 2025 SV Gravel race number in for verification. Just when you thought your Free, barrier-free, grand daddy of all gravel race experiences couldn’t get any better; a free micro? “Priceless!” There is a wide variety of after-race food choices around town and Bluff Brothers will have a food truck available all afternoon to satisfy your cravings for something other than a shot of pickle juice, another protein bar, chew or gel. What better way to share your race adventure than over some suds and sustenance?

I hear word that the new 7′ wide bridge is in place in Forestville State Park, so be on the lookout for course updates that “may”, once again, include a ride through the scenic forest canopy and modern rest stop that we’ve missed the last three years due to the bridge being out and river crossing being prohibited.

I know it’s hard to think of getting a long gravel training ride in outdoors with yet another snow storm coming through portions of the Midwest, but the SV Gravel Races will be here before you know it, so keep your feet on the pedals and see you real soon. Paul, Mike and Alan, your SV Gravel Races stewards.

With the Spring Valley Gravel Races a little over two months away, now is a great time to tune up your ride, fresh tubes or a tubeless fluid refresh are great ideas before taking on a new gravel season. There’s nothing worse than hitting the first downhill with that dreaded pop or hissing of a flat; been there, done that.

While you’re busy tuning and training, the City of Spring Valley and local businesses are making preps for your arrival. Keep a watchful eye for periodic race reports on this site and look for a potential update to the route this year, rumor has it that there is now a pedestrian bridge that would enable us to utilize the traditional route through Forestville State Park.

With the 2025-2026 Gravel National Championships being held in the Fall of both years from nearby La Crescent, both the SV 60-mile and 100-mile race routes here are a great way to test your training and get familiar with the unique conditions Bluff Country has to offer; where the prairies meet the bluffs and where Superheroes come to be humbled.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. We are looking forward to seeing you. Continue to spread the word, the city will be ordering the bib numbers soon, so get your team/friends off the fence and onto the registration site. Let’s get ready to crush some gravel!