Waterloo Grit and Gravel

Kick off the cycling season with Epic Races and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a truly amazing gravel bike race: the inaugural Waterloo Grit and Gravel!

This amazing adventure will take you through the wilds of Lower Michigan’s largest park, where pristine forests, rolling glacial terrain, and sparkling lakes provide a breathtaking backdrop for the cycling experience of a lifetime.

Choose Your Challenge

The Wolverine: a rugged, two-loop 100K course that winds through Waterloo’s more than 20,000 acres

The Black Bear: a powerful 50K course that condenses the best that the Wolverine offers into half the distance (one loop)

The Massasauga: a mighty 10-mile non-competitive ride perfect for both those new to bike racing and those built for speed

Make It a Team Effort

The more is also the merrier! Bring your friends, your family, your cycling club out and compete as a team in the Wolverine 100K! Any group of riders can be a team, but a team must have a minimum of five riders, of which one must be female. The five fastest times per team will be scored for the team event (one of those times must be female); the fastest three teams will win awards!

Terrain and Topography

Given Waterloo Recreational Area’s glacial history, the bike courses will vary from rolling hill climbs and swift descents to winding curves and rare straightaways. Some of the roads will be paved. Some of the roads may be patched. Most of the roads will be dirt and rock (that’s where the “grit” and “gravel” come in). There may even be mud, ice, and snow. Expect to get dusty. Expect to get grimy. Expect to have the time of your life!

Cycling Swag

Each Waterloo Grit and Gravel participant will receive:

• A Waterloo Grit and Gravel water bottle

• A delicious post-race feast

• FREE Wolverine State Brewing Company beer for participants ages 21 and up

• A goodie bag with samples and giveaways from our sponsors

• A virtual goodie bag with even more offers and discounts from our sponsors

And let’s not forget the most memorable racing experience of the year!

Individual and Team prizes.

Bike support for Waterloo Grit and Gravel will be provided by Aberdeen Bike and Outdoors at the start/finish line and at aid stations.