Gray Duck Grit is a grass-roots gravel cycling event in Southern Minnesota. It forces you to push past preconceived mental and physical barriers. Our 69, 111, 222, and 333-mile races break you down one hill, one pedal stroke, one gasping breath at a time, only to build you up with a renewed sense of growth, community, and grit.
The driving force behind this challenge is the sincere desire to do more than simply ride or challenge ourselves. Giving back to the communities in which we live is at the core of Gray Duck Grit and it’s passionate flock of volunteers. This is why we give a portion of the proceeds to Fraser of MN which provides autism and mental health resources to children, teens, adults, and families throughout the Twin Cities and beyond. We invite you to visit FRASER.ORG to learn more.
In spite of the challenge that is Gray Duck Grit, we strive to make GDG accessible to anyone who has a bike and wants to get after it. Besides throwing an epic celebration of cycling, another goal we have is to fundraise for an amazing cause and would love for everyone to be able to help us contribute. A couple ways we do this is to offer coupon codes for women and for college students. Another example is by offering amenities, like portable toilets, at aid stations for anyone to access regardless of gender.
Fundraising through participation is nothing new and making it equally accessible for all is very important. Each year our flock of volunteers considers and evaluates ways to create a diverse space for those who would like to join this purpose-driven event. Stay tuned for more inclusive, equity-based opportunities for the GDG cycling community.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6TH
- THE COW – 333 MILES – 10:00AM
- THE REPLACEMENT – 222 MILES – 9:00PM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH
- THE SUBURB – 111 MILES – 8:00AM
- THE SIXTY-NINER – 69 MILES – NOON
NOTE: ALL CYCLISTS MUST FINISH BEFORE THE 7:00 PM CUTOFF ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH
IN THE MEDIA…
Flock members Mark, Kris, & Nate sat down to chat with Craig Dalton on his top-rated national podcast The Gravel Ride about Gray Duck Grit II. Have a listen below on YouTube or Spotify and then be sure to check out more of Craig’s excellent content regarding all things gravel!
Giving back to the community is central to GDG’s ethos and is run by a group of volunteers. This year, our chosen charity is Fraser, which provides autism and mental health resources to children, teens, adults, and families throughout the Twin Cities and beyond. They’re an incredible organization that’s been changing lives in the community for decades, and we’re proud to donate as much as we can to their cause.
Click on the image below to view Fraser’s newsletter “Giving Matters” where they sat down with Co-Race Director, Mark Jessee, to discuss Gray Duck Grit II and the inspiration behind it.
GO TO FRASER.ORG FOR MORE INFO
April 28th, 2023 – Josh Rizzo, Gravel Enthusiast and writer for The Nxrth, interviews GDG’s Mark Jessee as registration opens to all on May 1st.
“The Collective Passion for Gravel: Gray Duck Grit Rounds the Corner Into Year 2“
