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Presented by Bike Town Riverwalk
Gravel Groan Events
FREE! Gravel Groan Friday Night Lights Training Rides p/b Weekly Rides.
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Gravel Groan Circuit Races.
Please see full descriptions below.
Backdrop: The beautiful Riverwalk Carolinas Community in Rock Hill, SC.
Start line location.
Post race beers/drinks and food.
Bring your friends.
Prepare to laugh and get some great exercise/course preview and fun.
Categories
Expert Men/Single Speed
Sport Men
Beginner Men
Women
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Dates/Times
Dates: Subject to change/more to come.
All Events start at 6pm and are mass start.
Want to register for the entire series?
Individual Race Registration
March 29th, 2024 Friday Night Lights
May 31st 2024 Friday Night Lights
June 14th, 2024 Friday Night Lights
June 20th, 2024 Gravel Groan
June 27th, 2024 Gravel Groan
July 11th, 2024 Gravel Groan
July 18th, 2024 Gravel Groan
July 25th, 2024 Gravel Groan
August 3rd, 2024 Gravel Groan
MORE SPECIAL EVENTS COMING!
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The Course
COURSE IS NOW MARKED! FOLLOW THE YELLOW DIRECTIONAL SIGNS WITH THE PINK GROAN LOGO.
Course update April 4th, 2024
What they are saying about the course.
Start line location. (Behind BMX Bleachers)
Grab your gravel or mountain bike and have some fun…and maybe some pain.
Our 1.82 mile circuit race course is designed to give you variations of terrain and challenges. The course features Gravel/single track/road and some surprises.
It also features the “Groan” which is a gravel climb up from the Catawba River. It will sting the legs for sure!
We will be offering a “beginner” category that is open to anyone new to “racing” and kids races!
Giordana Premium Apparel
DeFeet
Kask Helmets
Hopfly Brewing
Knowledge Perk Coffee
Weekly Rides
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Friday Night Lights
FREE!!!
Friday Night Lights p/b Weekly Rides
Location: Riverwalk Community Rock Hill, SC.
Register for 6 events: 15% discount
The precursor to our races. We are offering an opportunity to ride the course for a couple of hours. Bring your lights for that twilight riding! Afterwards we will have a fire pit, beer (we will have some, but we request you BYOB too!) and some food. Contributions welcome
Our circuit course is designed to give you terrain variations and challenges. The course features gravel/single track/road and some surprises.
We will open the course at 6:00pm and you can ride the course as much as you like. Get an idea of what the Groan Series will be all about. It will be in a safe environment with no cars or motorcycles. We guarantee you will see a squirrel or two.
7:30pm the course closes.
The best way to enjoy these events are:
1- Register.
2- Bring a bike and helmet.
3- Bring a light if you plan on riding at dusk.
4. A belly ready for some food and drinks after!
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Gravel Groan Races
Location: Riverwalk Community Rock Hill, SC.
Register for 6 events: 15% discount
Grab your gravel or mountain bike and have some fun…and maybe some pain.
Our 2-3 mile circuit race courses are designed to give you terrain variations and challenges. The course features Gravel/single track/road and some surprises.
We will offer a “Beginner” category to anyone new to “racing”.
Please note the promoter has the right to combine categories**
**If you are a junior, you can race up an age group but you cannot race down. Adults can race down an age group but NOT up. If you turn 19 in 2024, you are considered an adult and will register in an adult category.
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Rules
Location: Riverwalk Community Rock Hill, SC.
The Groan will be mass start events until further notice.
The Chad Andrews, LLC Grave Groan point system will be determined by taking the total accumulated points during the 5 race series. Points will be determined by the number of participants in the race. For example, if there are 14 participants in a 1x race, 1st place will receive 14 points, 2nd place will receive 13 points, 3rd place will receive 12 points, and so on. If there are 10 or less participants in a 1x race, 1st place will receive 10 points, 2nd place will receive 9 points, and so on. DNF's will always receive 1 point for participation. If you DNF, please let the race officials know.
Race Age
Racing age is based on your age on December 31, 2024. If you are a junior, you can race up an age group but you cannot race down. Opposite goes for adults. You can race down an age group but NOT up. If you turn 19 in 2024, you are considered an adult and need to register in an adult category.
Registration
Registration is now open.
The Chad Andrews Events will be held rain or shine.
Prizes: Coming Soon!
Moving Up During the Season
Racers will be allowed to move up during the season by taking half of their accumulated points to the next category. Racers will be allowed to move down a category, but will not be allowed to take any points.
Double Points Race
There will be 1 double points race throughout the season. The race will not be announced until the day of the race.
FAQs
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The 'gravel' discipline tends to describe riding a bike on unpaved roads and trails, fitting somewhere between road cycling and mountain biking. Gravel, mountain bikes and hybrids are recommended.
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FNL (Friday night lights) is a preview training and riding series for the Gravel Groan Crazy Fun Bike Race. Why is it called Friday Night Lights? if you decide to ride the entire time (6pm-8pm) you will likely finish near dusk, therefore a light will be suggested. The BMX Course will be lit up for ample finish line lighting. Located near the BMX and Criterium Courses in Riverwalk Carolinas, the Groan offers 90% Gravel Roads and 10% easy single track. The purpose of FNL is to allow cyclist to ride their bikes in a safe environment and get some great exercise on a Crazy Fun Course for a Crazy Fun Circuit Race.
If you are a cyclist that is using the FNL series to prepare for the Gravel Groan Race Series or to ride for exercise, you will have opportunity to preview, ride and see the fun 2.13 mile circuit (route) that features the Carhart ruins and "The Groan". (The gravel hill from the Catawba river to the base of the Criterium Course).
Ample parking, food, beverages (We will provide some beer, but we ask that you bring some as well) and a bonfire will be available.
Circuit races are very popular in the road cycling world. We want to bring that popularity and uniqueness to Gravel World.
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The Gravel Groan is a race series on our gravel course. All levels of cyclists are welcome to race! Gravel FNL (Friday Night Lights) is a cycling training event where you can come and ride the course for as long as you like. Non competitive and fun environment. Some of it will be under the lights! Thanks Weekly Rides!
Food and Beverages after each event!
The Course
