Our Story
Organized gravel cycling began as recently as the mid-2000s. This unique cycling experience has exploded in popularity, becoming the fastest growing segment of cycling in the U.S. Like most things, COVID-19 put the brakes on many cycling events in 2020 and set the stage for what was to come.
2022
The growing interest from cyclists coupled with a perspective shift resulting from a personal health scare provided all the motivation Co-Founder, Mark Jessee, needed to launch Level Be Adventures.
After the initial research and development phase involving a few formal and not-so formal meetings with established industry experts, Level Be Adventures joined the alt-cycling party in November 2021. It was out of these sessions that Gray Duck Grit hatched and a course was set to launch a uniquely Minnesotan grassroots alt-cycling challenge with a world-class feel October 2022 set in Northfield, MN.
2024
Gray Duck Grit found a new home at the Cannon Valley Fair in Cannon Falls, MN. The sheer size of the fairgrounds footprint, it’s features, and overall vibes would allow for more growth and more fun to be had by participants. Labor Day Weekend was also selected to be a better fit for the multi-day event GDG offered participants allowing for a day of rest once the fun was over.
Cyclocross was added to Day One of Gray Duck Grit along with the gravel distances already slated that day. With the full support of the fairgrounds board, the new venue provided a blank canvas to work from. The GDG team truly enjoyed using unique and rare features such as three livestock barns, a dirt race track, and a horse arena totally for a combined eight different surface types over the 1.8 miles of veritable terrain many consider to be the top CX course in Minnesota.
2026
After four years of continuous growth and success, Level Be Adventures switched from an LLC to a Nonprofit 501c (3) in an effort to make a larger impact on the cycling community in Minnesota.
Conceived in September 2025, a new initiative was growing in the womb of Level Be Adventures with an expected date sometime in 2026. With the support and enthusiasm of a dozen events across the state, Gravel ‘Sota was born in January. This cycling series initiative is designed to connect independent gravel cycling events under a shared banner—without a series entry fee for riders or pressure to compete.
Gravel ‘Sota also doubles as a love letter to Minnesota’s gravel roads—thousands of miles of rural connectors that pass through farmland, forests, and small towns where cyclists fill cafés and convenience stores on Saturday mornings.
Looking ahead
As Level Be Adventures continues to grow, the ripple effects are becoming clearer. Gravel cycling is helping Minnesotans of all ages and backgrounds move more, connect with one another, and celebrate both personal triumphs and shared experiences. Whether someone is riding their first gravel route or chasing a long-distance goal, the spirit of community and encouragement is what makes these events meaningful.
In a world that sometimes feels divided, gravel cycling reminds us that joy, challenge, and fellowship can be found in places we least expect—down a quiet dirt road, surrounded by friends and neighbors cheering you on.
