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October 5, 2024
Heart of Gold Gravel
Nevada City, CA, USA · Bike Monkey
37 mi70 mi
About this event
So Much Gravel...
The Heart of Gold Gravel sports some of the finest riding anywhere in the world. Deep river canyons and high Sierra ridge tops mark this epic adventure in the foothills of the California gold country. Two courses, 48 miles of 70 miles. Plenty of climbing and mixed gravel with some excellent road sections arriving just when you need a break. Nevada City is a picturesque and historic town surrounded by deep swimming holes and scenic vistas. The ride is a bucket list for anyone serious about riding a challenging course and racing in the woods.
Schedule of Events
Everything will be happening at the Rood Center - 950 Maidu Avenue in Nevada City
6:45 - 7:50 am: Packet Pickup under the Bike Monkey tent
Complimentary coffee available, but no breakfast options on site.
7:50 am: Important announcements at the Start Line
8:00 am: Mass start - both routes
11:00 am: Rider meal available at the participating food trucks
12:00 - 4:00 pm: Public Festival
Food, Drinks, Live Music, Kids Activities, Bike Wash & More!
3:30 pm: Podium (time subject to change)
Segment scoring!
Segment scoring will be in effect for the 2024 edition of Heart of Gold.
Changing our approach to a challenging course can make the difference between misery and joy. While this race is tough, it doesn't have to be anything short of memorable. We reach into some of the least ridden places of California's Sierra foothills with our routes. In 2022 you raced the entire thing. This year, you get to race three timed segments.
Segments 1, 2 and 3 on the long course will contribute to overall placings while segment 3 will also be scored by itself for a KOM/QOM title that the medium route participants also share!
The Heart of Gold Gravel sports some of the finest riding anywhere in the world. Deep river canyons and high Sierra ridge tops mark this epic adventure in the foothills of the California gold country. Two courses, 48 miles of 70 miles. Plenty of climbing and mixed gravel with some excellent road sections arriving just when you need a break. Nevada City is a picturesque and historic town surrounded by deep swimming holes and scenic vistas. The ride is a bucket list for anyone serious about riding a challenging course and racing in the woods.
Schedule of Events
Everything will be happening at the Rood Center - 950 Maidu Avenue in Nevada City
6:45 - 7:50 am: Packet Pickup under the Bike Monkey tent
Complimentary coffee available, but no breakfast options on site.
7:50 am: Important announcements at the Start Line
8:00 am: Mass start - both routes
11:00 am: Rider meal available at the participating food trucks
12:00 - 4:00 pm: Public Festival
Food, Drinks, Live Music, Kids Activities, Bike Wash & More!
3:30 pm: Podium (time subject to change)
Segment scoring!
Segment scoring will be in effect for the 2024 edition of Heart of Gold.
Changing our approach to a challenging course can make the difference between misery and joy. While this race is tough, it doesn't have to be anything short of memorable. We reach into some of the least ridden places of California's Sierra foothills with our routes. In 2022 you raced the entire thing. This year, you get to race three timed segments.
Segments 1, 2 and 3 on the long course will contribute to overall placings while segment 3 will also be scored by itself for a KOM/QOM title that the medium route participants also share!
Photos
Routes
Medium Route
37 mi · ↗ 5,400 ft · 70% gravel · $150 entry
EPIC and FUN
Medium route
This year's medium route will split from the long route at Malakoff Diggins and eliminates a significant amount of climbing for a super cool sampling of Nevada County dirt.
The medium route features just one, short but very difficult timed segment: segment 3 from the long course. Participants on the medium route will be scored together with those from the long route on this final "KOM/QOM" segment.
2 aid stations : Mile 12.6 and Mile 26 (end of Segment 2)
All aid stations will have plenty of water, hydration mix, and basic nutrition items such as bananas, chips, cookies, peanut M&Ms, fig bars, etc.
Advantage!
While not as prestigious as the overall combined segment competition, participants of this year's medium route will have the advantage of not having ridden as far to reach the start of the final climb of the day, where the KOM/QOM segment resides.
See the route on Ride With GPS and Strava.
Route details ↗This year's medium route will split from the long route at Malakoff Diggins and eliminates a significant amount of climbing for a super cool sampling of Nevada County dirt.
The medium route features just one, short but very difficult timed segment: segment 3 from the long course. Participants on the medium route will be scored together with those from the long route on this final "KOM/QOM" segment.
2 aid stations : Mile 12.6 and Mile 26 (end of Segment 2)
All aid stations will have plenty of water, hydration mix, and basic nutrition items such as bananas, chips, cookies, peanut M&Ms, fig bars, etc.
Advantage!
While not as prestigious as the overall combined segment competition, participants of this year's medium route will have the advantage of not having ridden as far to reach the start of the final climb of the day, where the KOM/QOM segment resides.
See the route on Ride With GPS and Strava.
Long Route
70 mi · ↗ 10,000 ft · 70% gravel · $150 entry
This is EPIC
Long route
This year's long route will take participants clockwise through Columbia Hill on their way to Graniteville. With segment timing now being in-effect, riders will be able to warm up for the first 21 miles before needing to throw down. This cuts out a significant portion of climbing from the competition, making life grand!
Check out the new long route on Ride With GPS and Strava.
THREE Timed Segments
The long route features two timed segments that will be combined for your final race result.
Segment 1: 11 Miles long.
Mile 21 to mile 32 with 1,600' of elevation gain. Finishes at Graniteville aid station.
Segment 2: 14 Miles long.
Mile 43 to mile 57 with 2,000' of elevation gain. Finishes at the Lake City aid station.
Segment 3: 1.4 Miles long.
Mile 61 to mile 62.5 with 900' of elevation gain. It will hurt like nothing you've done before, but the segment record is around 11 minutes. Short, painful, but a true test at the end of a long ride.
Segment 3 will also be scored separately from the other two as its own KOM/QOM. While it will also be added to the first two for the overall placing. Two competitions in one!
4 aid stations + 1 water stop: Mile 12.6, Mile 24.1 (water), Mile 31.9 (end of Segment 1), Mile 43.2 (start of Segment 2), Mile 57.2 (end of Segment 2)
All aid stations will have plenty of water, hydration mix, and basic nutrition items such as bananas, chips, cookies, peanut M&Ms, fig bars, etc.
Eligibility
Winners of the overall combined segments are not eligible for the KOM/QOM competition. Participants who are awarded for the overall are removed from the running in the KOM/QOM final segment, leaving room for other competitors to throw down on this final leg of the race, grabbing some of the spotlight with a podium ceremony.
Route details ↗This year's long route will take participants clockwise through Columbia Hill on their way to Graniteville. With segment timing now being in-effect, riders will be able to warm up for the first 21 miles before needing to throw down. This cuts out a significant portion of climbing from the competition, making life grand!
Check out the new long route on Ride With GPS and Strava.
THREE Timed Segments
The long route features two timed segments that will be combined for your final race result.
Segment 1: 11 Miles long.
Mile 21 to mile 32 with 1,600' of elevation gain. Finishes at Graniteville aid station.
Segment 2: 14 Miles long.
Mile 43 to mile 57 with 2,000' of elevation gain. Finishes at the Lake City aid station.
Segment 3: 1.4 Miles long.
Mile 61 to mile 62.5 with 900' of elevation gain. It will hurt like nothing you've done before, but the segment record is around 11 minutes. Short, painful, but a true test at the end of a long ride.
Segment 3 will also be scored separately from the other two as its own KOM/QOM. While it will also be added to the first two for the overall placing. Two competitions in one!
4 aid stations + 1 water stop: Mile 12.6, Mile 24.1 (water), Mile 31.9 (end of Segment 1), Mile 43.2 (start of Segment 2), Mile 57.2 (end of Segment 2)
All aid stations will have plenty of water, hydration mix, and basic nutrition items such as bananas, chips, cookies, peanut M&Ms, fig bars, etc.
Eligibility
Winners of the overall combined segments are not eligible for the KOM/QOM competition. Participants who are awarded for the overall are removed from the running in the KOM/QOM final segment, leaving room for other competitors to throw down on this final leg of the race, grabbing some of the spotlight with a podium ceremony.
Registration
- Opens
- February 1, 2024
- On-site registration
- Yes
Volunteer info
Volunteer!
https://www.heartofgoldgravel.com/volunteer
Want to lend a helping hand?
This year, we have switched to a new volunteer sign up platform. Our objective is to make it almost effortless for you, while also easily tracking your hours across all of our events, as part of our new Volunteer Program. You will have one unique sign-in across all of our events. Once you have created an account, which is fast and easy to do, you will be able to sign up to volunteer at any of our events and you will not have to enter in your info every time you sign up. The only thing you have to do is remember your login.
https://www.heartofgoldgravel.com/volunteer
Want to lend a helping hand?
This year, we have switched to a new volunteer sign up platform. Our objective is to make it almost effortless for you, while also easily tracking your hours across all of our events, as part of our new Volunteer Program. You will have one unique sign-in across all of our events. Once you have created an account, which is fast and easy to do, you will be able to sign up to volunteer at any of our events and you will not have to enter in your info every time you sign up. The only thing you have to do is remember your login.
Lodging
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Event details are provided by the organizer. Gravel Calendar LLC is not responsible for their accuracy. Please participate at your own risk.
Event organizer
Bike Monkey
https://www.heartofgoldgravel.comLoading map…
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