Events: The 2024 Spring Event Calendar
Behold, the spring calendar went from relatively blank to heavily scribbled over the last few weeks. In a first for us, we decided to release two separate articles full of cycling events in our area. Fortunately for the cycling scene - and unfortunately for diehard participants - there are multiple instances of double-booked weekends. Further, many of these events are near capacity, so act quickly. Some of the events listed below can be found on our site such as the Philly Bike Expo, Monkey Knife Fight, and Black Fly Challenge. Every event on this list is a bucket list experience, enlist early to get those preseason miles over and done with.
Philly Bike Expo - March 16 - 17
Moved to the spring, the Philly Bike Expo is a great way to experience cycling without getting on a bike necessarily. Located at the PA Convention Center, the Expo is easily accessible by SEPTA Regional Rail. Should riding to the event be required, the Philly Bike Expo offers valet bike parking as a service. Once at the Expo, expect to be entertained for the afternoon by as little or as much industry immersion as requested.
Each year we’ve connected with passionate bike crafters like East Coast Cycles (returning for 2024) and Josh founder of the chain lube company NixFrixShun Speed Shop. The Expo also features seminars for a diverse field of topics. That’s the part that has us coming back - the accessibility to people behind the products and the sales reps behind boutique-level products as well as the passionate people guiding the industry. We’ve experienced the Philly Bike Expo several times and always seem to run out of time each year. Register ahead of the event for ticket prices starting at $15.
Rasputitsa Dirt - April 19 - 21
As of publishing time, there are only 300 spots left for this true weekend ritual called Rasputitsa Dirt. Based in northern Vermont and within sight of the Canadian border, Rasputitsa looks approachable on paper. It is a manageable 100 kilometers until one dives into the statistics of events past. Expect snow, mud (Vermont spring), and events like Dirt Church, Abenaki People, or Ian Boswell. If you’re asking what all that means, it’s time to register.
The pull here is the community feel. Friday before the event features a shakeout ride at 3pm from Dirt Church Brewery with LGBTQ+ riders and allies. This is the perfect way to welcome those who have come from far away to be at Jay, VT. The shakeout ride is followed by a slightly dangerous party (remember this is the night before). Then there’s the main event Saturday followed by a Recovery Ride Sunday. Need further convincing to snatch up one of those last spots? Rasputitsa features the Lantern Rouge award to the last rider. Some say the award is so coveted, riders will hide in the bushes in the off chance of coming DFL. This is definitely a bucket list event, so don’t sit on the Lantern Rouge registration only to find out you missed the time cutoff to get in.
Monkey Knife Fight - April 20
Monkey Knife Fight is one of the hardest spring events we’ve done. Actually, our bike still hasn’t forgiven us from the 2022 event. Monkey Knife Fight presented by UnPAved Pennsylvania features Goat Hill, one of the three climbs we’ve ever walked our bike up. This Emmaus, PA, based event is a fight indeed, and the ending always feels ever fleeting. There are three distances: Gorilla (70 miles and eight categorized climbs), Baboon (50 miles), and Marmoset (30 miles). Think of the route like a clover, constantly coming back to a feed zone before flogging oneself into the next seemingly endless gravel climb.
But it’s all worth it. The ride benefits Dream Come True, a Lehigh-based charity whose mission is to promote the lives of children who are seriously, chronically, or terminally ill, offering the chance to hope, dream, and live out their fantasies. Each entrant is helping a wonderful cause. The event is limited, so hurry to register.
Lu Lacka Wyco Hundo - April 28
There is a behemoth event in NePA where people argue with themselves mid-participation, only to get excited again for next year’s registration. Lu Lacka Wyco Hundo crosses three counties with an incredible amount of unpaved action. Based in Pittston, PA, the route adds a little sweetness to the century by tacking on three miles.
Featuring 100, 75, and 40-mile options, Lu Lacka Wyco Hundo dashes back and forth over the Susquehanna River. The Hundo riders can expect nearly 9,000 feet of climbing on roads west of Scranton and north of Wilkes-Barre. Once at the finish feel free to snatch up a long sleeve t-shirt, event water bottle, or an enamel pin. Then you can commence bragging to your coworkers on Monday about the fierce event that in its brevity is called LLWH.
The Great North - May 4
There was once a premier spring classic bike race in Upstate New York. While we can’t use the name of the race because it was bought out, The Great North ride takes place in the Battenkill Valley. Having done the spring classic race in the Battenkill Valley, we can vouch for the peaceful route that is the Great North. With several sectors of gravel that are smoother than the best Pennsylvania roads, expect a great ride with this Anthem Sports Tours event. This is one of the few events that crosses state lines, specifically into Vermont.
Brought to you by the same organizers that put on the Tour of the Catskills, The Great North offers Full Gravel (75 miles), Mid Gravel (55 miles), Mini Gravel (20 miles), and No Gravel (25 miles). The ride benefits the Cambridge Volunteer Fire Department and their quest for a new building. Finishers receive a pint glass accompanied by a first fill with Argyle Brewing Company libations at the finish expo. Great North supports the wonderful agrarian town of Cambridge, NY, as well as the rolling countryside towns. One thing we’ll be looking for at the finish is thick Battenkill Creamery chocolate milk. That is a finish award in and of itself.
Brandywine Valley Roubaix IX - May 4
Centered in southeastern PA’s Chester County, Brandywine Valley Roubaix IX is a metric century gravel event that features bypasses for anyone riding asphalt bikes. Like some of the other listed events, Brandywine Valley Roubaix IX is a charity ride that benefits Quest Therapeutic, a non-profit therapy center focusing on specialized services for children. The event comes in as the most moderately priced ride, leaving room for donations to be made at registration.
The main stop during the event is The Whip Tavern, also an event sponsor. We have ridden through roads in Chester County and have always marveled at the feeling of being transported back in time. The existence of unpaved roads so close to Philadelphia and the Mason-Dixon Line had us feeling grateful to zip down some of these roads. The event is presented by Piscitello Bike Law Advocates, a law office that eagerly promotes events for good causes. With no official start, the Brandywine Valley Roubaix IX is a perfectly laid-back affair with excited volunteers.
Farmer’s Daughter Gravel Grinder - May 19
Any event where there is 100 feet of climbing for every mile is an attention grabber. Farmer’s Daughter Gravel Grinder in Columbia County’s Chatham, NY, is a metric century gravel event with 6,500 feet of climbing. Per the event website, the course takes riders through some of the most beautiful - and challenging - terrain in the Northeast. That’s certainly saying something. And since the event is named after Chatham Brewing’s Farmer’s Daughter Rye IPA, it’s easy to conclude the afterparty will be relaxed after navigating the New York terrain. Registration offers camping amenities to help ease those post ride celebrations to a simple walk to the tent.
The event is in its tenth year, and to celebrate, Farmer’s Daughter has added a shorter distance and called it the Farmer’s Granddaughter that is completely paved. The finish swag, regardless of event, is quite remarkable: a Farmer’s Daughter Gravel Grinder hat, pint glass, personalized name plate, and finisher’s meal. All that is left for riders to do is complete the challenging course before receiving accolades. Though the climbing is remarkable, don’t forget there are always descents to offset the workload.
Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race - June 1
Why bother with dozens of miles leading up to 3,500 feet of climbing when it can be condensed into an eight-mile race up Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, NY? Cut straight to the suffering by attempting to ride up Whiteface Mountain’s Veteran Memorial Highway that averages eight percent for its entirety. Register early to qualify for a racer’s shirt, a memento to prove you beat the mountain and the two-hour time cutoff.
We’ve ascended Whiteface several times throughout our career. It is definitely a must-do event on account of its emulation of Tour de France climbs. Mirroring Alpe d’Huez in numbers, Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race is the perfect atmosphere to not only add the mountain to your time capsule, but slotting into the right climbing group could encourage a PR for many years to come. The one detriment is the race starts at 5:30pm, so preventing anticipation fatigue while waiting all Saturday is one final challenge to the shortest - but punchiest - event on our list.
Black Fly Challenge - June 8
In its 27th year, the Black Fly Challenge is a unique event. A point-to-point race, the Black Fly Challenge changes directions each year. This year the race starts in Inlet, NY, and finishes in Indian Lake. It’s also unique because the entire route features only two major intersections while boasting a 25-mile continuous gravel sector through the wilderness of the Adirondacks. This can be a race or a ride, depending on the level of competitiveness. It also has a unique registration transfer system should something pop up to prevent one from attending The Black Fly Challenge.
We have competed in the last two Black Fly Challenges. The Inlet to Indian Lake direction is our favorite, which is the direction for 2024. Featuring several categories of cross/ gravel bikes and mountain bikes, the race is the perfect way to usher in the summer race season. The Black Fly Challenge features search and rescue-staffed feed zones and a relaxing post-event party. Each year, we’ve turned around and rode the forty miles back to the start town because why not? This event is perfect for families or teams looking to spend a weekend in the heart of the Adirondacks. Inlet features a great coffee shop, pizza places, and panini in a caboose that was absolutely righteous one year after the race. This is a must-do for anyone looking to ratchet up the ride seriousness into a competitive tone.
