Northwoods Gravel Grind
Riders spread over 90 kilometres of Rangeley gravel, and no cell service to find them with.
Why we're there
The Northwoods Gravel Grind sends cyclists out from Rangeley onto the gravel roads of the Rangeley Lakes region — up to 90 kilometres of logging road and back country, on courses that climb hard and run a long way from anywhere.
Those roads are where amateur radio earns its place. Cell coverage on them ranges from patchy to absent, riders finish hours apart, and a rider who goes down at the far end of the long course may not be found by another rider for some time. Operators posted at road junctions, checkpoints and along the course give the organizers a live picture of where riders are and a way to get help moving quickly if someone needs it.
It is also good practice for us. A dispersed field across difficult terrain, marginal signal paths, and traffic that has to be right the first time is a fair simulation of what a real activation asks for — and unlike an exercise, the consequences here are real.
The event
- What
- Northwoods Gravel Grind — a gravel bike race with 60 km and 90 km courses
- When
- Saturday, September 12, 2026, 8:00 AM to about 2:00 PM
- Where
- Start and finish at Haley Pond Park, Pond Street, Rangeley, Maine
- Who runs it
- Saddleback Mountain, in partnership with the Rangeley Lakes Trail Center
- Our role
- Volunteer course and safety communications — see below
Riders choose a 60 km short course or a 90 km long course, with categories for women's, men's, flat bar and e-bike entries on the short course and age-group and open divisions on the long one. All of the event's proceeds go to trail building and maintenance at the Rangeley Lakes Trail Center.
Registration and current race information are on the event's BikeReg page and on Saddleback's event page.
What the assignment looks like
A gravel event is a longer day than a road race and more spread out. Expect to be at your post before the first riders come through and to stay until the sweep vehicle passes, which on the long course can be a while. Posts are chosen for the radio path as much as for the course, so some of them are a drive up a dirt road rather than a spot in town.
Bring more than you think you need: a handheld with spare batteries or a mobile, food and water, layers, and something to sit on. September in Rangeley can be pleasant or it can be raw, and you will find out which one it is several hours in.
Frequencies, post assignments and the day's tactical plan are issued to volunteers before the event — they are not published here. Details go out on the wednesdays and saturdays nets and by email to everyone signed up.
Want to help?
Licensed amateurs are welcome. See the Join page, or contact us and say you are interested in the Gravel Grind. We will also put out the call on the nets at 7:30 PM (1930) in the weeks beforehand.
This page describes W1FCA's volunteer support for the event. It is not the official race website, and we cannot answer questions about registration, courses or refunds — those go to Saddleback and the BikeReg listing.