Click here for the 2022 SV100 Race Results

Congratulations to all SV100 racers who formed up on the Starting Line on a brisk Saturday morning. I believe all in attendance will agree that after the first hill climb the conditions were ideal for gravel racing; previous days’ rains kept the dust in check, the temp was absolutely perfect, the wind was extremely favorable to push us to Preston and the sun/passing cloud mix was just right, although my son has a classic race kit sunburn he didn’t expect at the day’s outset…yes, the weather guessers missed the mark on predictions for Saturday, we all forgive you, yours can often be a thankless job.

Despite the rain during the week, not a single rider got their feet wet during the crossing this year, unless they went out of their way to hit the tadpole pool, Oriole Hill’s grade hasn’t eroded and the scenery was as fantastic as it ever is.

For those at the finish line when the first two bikes raced to the finish line you witnessed one of, if not the closest finishes since the routes’ inception.  Winona’s Chase Wark finished 2 seconds ahead of Wayzata’s Steve Marshall. Congratulations to Neenah, WI’s Jennifer Youngwerth who was this year’s top female finisher.

Many thanks to the community for welcoming us back, to the downtown businesses who took care of us before during and after the race, a special thanks to Hop n Barrel, Stellar 181, the Pizza Place, Root River Auto, Bus and Diesel, Sunshine Foods, Minnesota Metals, Ody’s Country Meats & Catering, the City of Spring Valley, Spring Valley EDA, Fire and Ambulance crews (who gave up their early Saturday morning activities) and County Law Enforcement who show up each year to provide a safe route to the race course. A big thanks to all the businesses that contributed to the best-of-the-best pop-up aid station at Forestville! We all owe a big thanks to Greg and Suzie Brooks, our perpetual hosts at Forestville; if you stopped there, you know how welcomed and comfortable you can get there…it’s downright hard to leave.

How about Cherry Grove?  Shout it out for the Community Center caretaker at Cherry Grove for opening up the Center and putting a pot of coffee on and providing a cozy recharge station to help prep us for the final 26-mile grind and last four major climbs of the day. Let’s not forget about those mystery race-angels who set out random water and snack stations; for those of us racing, it’s akin to someone seeing a mirage in the desert…only our mirages turn out to be real! Whoever you are, we salute you!

While we present ourselves as grassroots and barebones to the core; making the process as simple for the riders as possible, it takes many volunteers and coordination work to pull a race like this off, many thanks to all who keep this Granddaddy of all Gravel Routes alive. See you next year!

Check out some of this year’s Race Footage courtesy of the Hugo Gravel Group below!

The long-term forecasts for the SV100 are hitting the weather sites, and today’s version looks sweet. Cloudy, rain unlikely, high of 65 and moderate winds (18 mph SSW) for this area. Having just ridden portions of the course in crazy winds and 90 degree temps this week, I think we should all hope this forecast holds. The forecasted winds will help on that mind bending stretch from the river crossing to Oriole Hill where some will hit the wall…but press on.

Over the past 3 days, I’ve (Alan, one of your tri-chair race stewards) ridden most of the 2nd half of the course–some of it backwards. Roads are quite dry (dusty) and there’s a lot of fresh gravel but the farm equipment is giving us some well-packed tracks. That same farm equipment, though, tends to create instant washboard–so the rides have been firm and bumpy.

I am currently riding 700×33 tires, and they’re what I’ve ridden on gravel for years. Only speaking for myself, I would probably prefer a slightly wider tire, but I’m a bit too lazy and cheap to upgrade at this point.

Finally, given everything I see this week, I expect we’ll see some really fast times (others) and at least one really slow time (me). Hope to see you all at bid distro!

See you at the starting line real soon! I hope you are as excited as we are to get the journey started.  Two weeks until one of the ultimate tests of mind, body and soul rolls out from historic downtown Spring Valley; welcome to the race.

I hear the graders are busy fluffing up the gravel on the roads throughout the region; working on the boils from the spring thaw and spreading a fresh bed of mis-shapen limestone marbles where needed.

As you’re preparing your kits, tuning your bike and calculating what and where to carry your nutrition and hydration needs, perhaps consider packing your favorite service or patriotic outer layer…it is Armed Forces Day; what a simple way to recognize those who fought for our many freedoms…and one of the freedoms that we’ll all personally celebrate on the 21st…the freedom to roam on scenic public roads.

So, grab a friend, pick up your race day bib and see you at the starting line, along the route and at the afterglow on E. Jefferson, we are looking forward to meeting you…afterglow is come as you are…or Race Day tip: with a beach towel, washcloth and two bottles of water we can almost see you as you were when the day started.

SV100: “Where Superheroes Come to be Humbled.”

Grassroots and still free!

Picture yourself here…if not as a rider, how about as a volunteer? While the SV100 is grassroots and self-supported at its core, it is a race, as such, it takes volunteers to distribute official bibs and to help with timing at the finish; we are seeking volunteers who are willing to help at the finish line with recording finishing times, 2-hour shifts starting at 12:30 pm on Sat 21May and/or with registration(Fri 20May 4-6pm and/or Sat 21May 6:30-7:50am). With 15 states represented so far, why not come on out and meet new people. Contact Paul Vogel, one of your race stewards, pvogel3634@gmail, to help support the SV100.

On a related volunteer topic, the number one question I get is, will the race angels be at Forestville again this year? While we remain self-supported, rumor has it, a few City businesses are coming together to provide a free Sweet n Salty snack and rehydration station at Forestville under the tree canopy by the main pavilion. If there is something specific you’d like to see on the table, why not bring enough to share and it will transported out to the stop with the rest of the re-fuel.

With the race only a little over a month away, I’ve been seeing lots of activity describing early Spring gravel training/fun/club rides. I too took part in a memorable one, the Chili March Metric…although, instead of being greeted at the mid-point turn around with a hot bowl of Chili, we were handed the Chilly race report, 31 degrees, 25 mph winds and we were pelted by ice pellets the entire ride back to the finish line…I know, a normal Spring gravel training day in the upper Midwest, but here in NE Ohio it’s normally in the mid 50s. As many of our route’s veteran riders celebrated the date selected by the city this year after the near 100 degree temps in June of last year, please keep a watchful eye on the weather; you never know, could be a Balaclava and fender day this race day in May.

Great news, the city has opened up the city campgrounds for those of you wishing to camp out the night before the race. Use of the campground is free to SV100 riders and companions. It has primitive facilities and a dump station, but facilities none the less. If you desire a site with electrical hookup, please be sure to contact the city at 507-346-7367 ext 1 or 3 for availability.

See you soon!

Wow! What a welcomed relief, Mother Nature is drawing out the Spring bulbs and is letting us shed some layers and get out and train this week under relatively mild conditions…but that all depends on where you’re riding as I see we have 13 states represented on the roster so far, thanks for spreading the word, this is great news! Welcome one and all to the 13th consecutive year of gravel century racing hosted by Spring Valley; grassroots, and still free.

With the SV100 race 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.

While you’re busy tuning and training, the City of Spring Valley and local businesses are making preps for your arrival and an awesome afterglow after crossing the finish line. Have you heard? We teased it last year, but when you arrive at the start line this year you will see two new marquees, a new Taphouse and a new Microbrewery. So plan on a hotwash on Jefferson and Main a block from the finish line. There will be live music at the Microbrew and a variety of food choices to satisfy your palettes after a day of sweet n salty fuel intake.  Hotwash you ask? A term often used in my military days of a gathering to recap the day’s operation… and often to tell tall tales of adventure and challenges overcome along the way.

Keep a watchful eye for periodic race reports on this site and feel free to reach out if you have any questions. We are looking forward to seeing you soon. Continue to spread the word, we will be ordering the bibs very soon, so get your friends off the fence and onto the registration site.