Mad Gravel

Mad Gravel turns a working ranch south of Kiowa into a gravel cycling festival for one wild September weekend. Running September 5-7, this multi-day event combines serious gravel racing with the kind of ranch hospitality you don’t find at your typical cycling event. Camp on the property, race through rolling plains and ranch roads during the day, and gather around the fire at night. It’s part bike race, part country weekend, and entirely unique.

The gravel roads around Kiowa are deceptively tough — the plains may look flat from a distance, but the rolling terrain adds up fast, and the surface ranges from packed dirt to loose chunky gravel that demands your attention. Multiple race distances ensure there’s a challenge for every fitness level, and the ranch setting means the routes pass through private land you’d never get to ride otherwise. This is gravel riding in its purest form — remote, rugged, and rewarding.

For first-timers, plan to camp on-site to get the full experience. Bring your own gear and provisions, though the event typically offers food and drink options. Train on some of the gravel roads east of Denver to get a feel for the surface, and run tires on the wider side for the variable terrain. Mad Gravel has quickly earned a reputation as one of Colorado’s most distinctive cycling events, and spots go fast.