Thunder Road Gravel Tour (Formerly Sangamon Gravel Series)
- Date Sat 24th May 2025 - Sat 30th August 2025
- Time 9:00AM CDT
- Location Springfield, Illinois
- Price Free
- Races 4 races
Event summary
Get ready for the Thunder Road Gravel Tour, a thrilling rebranding of the beloved Sangamon Gravel Series! Kicking off on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Springfield, Sangamon, this exciting event will run through August 30, 2025, and promises to deliver unforgettable rides across the stunning landscapes of central Illinois. Participants can look forward to a variety of distances, with options around 30 and 60 miles, complete with a convenient mid-ride stop at a local store.
This year, the fun doesn't stop at the ride! After each adventure, join fellow cyclists for an optional social gathering at local breweries, bars, or restaurants, where camaraderie and good times await. Not only will you enjoy scenic gravel roads, but you'll also have the chance to compete in a points-based competition. Tackle selected gravel segments and earn points based on Strava times, with leaderboards for both men and women. Best of all, this is a no-cost series, making it accessible for everyone. So grab your bike, make some friends, and gear up for a summer of cycling excitement!
This year, the fun doesn't stop at the ride! After each adventure, join fellow cyclists for an optional social gathering at local breweries, bars, or restaurants, where camaraderie and good times await. Not only will you enjoy scenic gravel roads, but you'll also have the chance to compete in a points-based competition. Tackle selected gravel segments and earn points based on Strava times, with leaderboards for both men and women. Best of all, this is a no-cost series, making it accessible for everyone. So grab your bike, make some friends, and gear up for a summer of cycling excitement!
Organiser's Description
The Springfield Bicycle Club is excited to renew our popular Sangamon Gravel Series, and rebrand as the Thunder Road Gravel tour! Last year we brought you all together for a series of rides around Springfield. This year, we're expanding the series to a wider region!
Join us for a series of rides from May through August and explore what the central Illinois has to offer when you venture off of the beaten path. Ride specifics are TBD, but expect something in the ballpark of 30 and 60 mile options with a convenience store stop in the middle. After each ride, we'll have an optional takeover of a local brewery/bar/restaurant.
THIS IS A NO-COST SERIES, so there will be no SAG offered. As a gravel rider, you're probably already self-sufficient enough to fix a flat or minor mechanical on the road and if you're not, make some friends out there! But that's just the basic highlights.
POINTS-BASED COMPETITION
The most exciting part of the series will be a points-based competition. Each route will have a few gravel segments selected where riders will have the option of competing to do their best efforts. Points will be awarded based on the best times set that day on Strava, with leaderboards tracked for men and women.
While the rides are is not a race, our encouragement of competition on the points segments means that we will use BikeSignup.com so that we can track participants and waivers. This is a no-cost registration, but it will be mandatory for points competition eligibility. Whether you want to get out for a fun spin around some gravel roads you may not have ridden yet, put down some blistering times on the competitive segments, or just get miles rides in with great friends and scenery, we hope you'll join us!!
DATES AND LOCATIONS:
* May 24 - Auburn - Slauterhouse Brewing
* June 29 - Atlanta - 217 Roadhouse
* July 13 - Decatur - Scovill Park/The Pizza Place on Main
* August 30 - Pekin/Canton area
This event will be updated with routes and details as we approach each event, and you can keep current with discussion and details on our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/782650436593916
Route collection - https://ridewithgps.com/collections/3961753
ROUTES WILL BE POSTED AS WE APPROACH EACH RIDE.
Join us for a series of rides from May through August and explore what the central Illinois has to offer when you venture off of the beaten path. Ride specifics are TBD, but expect something in the ballpark of 30 and 60 mile options with a convenience store stop in the middle. After each ride, we'll have an optional takeover of a local brewery/bar/restaurant.
THIS IS A NO-COST SERIES, so there will be no SAG offered. As a gravel rider, you're probably already self-sufficient enough to fix a flat or minor mechanical on the road and if you're not, make some friends out there! But that's just the basic highlights.
POINTS-BASED COMPETITION
The most exciting part of the series will be a points-based competition. Each route will have a few gravel segments selected where riders will have the option of competing to do their best efforts. Points will be awarded based on the best times set that day on Strava, with leaderboards tracked for men and women.
While the rides are is not a race, our encouragement of competition on the points segments means that we will use BikeSignup.com so that we can track participants and waivers. This is a no-cost registration, but it will be mandatory for points competition eligibility. Whether you want to get out for a fun spin around some gravel roads you may not have ridden yet, put down some blistering times on the competitive segments, or just get miles rides in with great friends and scenery, we hope you'll join us!!
DATES AND LOCATIONS:
* May 24 - Auburn - Slauterhouse Brewing
* June 29 - Atlanta - 217 Roadhouse
* July 13 - Decatur - Scovill Park/The Pizza Place on Main
* August 30 - Pekin/Canton area
This event will be updated with routes and details as we approach each event, and you can keep current with discussion and details on our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/782650436593916
Route collection - https://ridewithgps.com/collections/3961753
ROUTES WILL BE POSTED AS WE APPROACH EACH RIDE.
Races
-
Thunder Road GT: Slauterhouse
Sat 24th May 2025 (9:00AM CDT)
Free
CLOSEDApproximately 30 and 60 mile routes starting in Auburn. We'll have a convenience stop around the halfway point of the long route, and the short route will likely pass through Loami if you need a snack. Expect gravel, decimated asphalt, field roads, and maybe even some old rail ballast if we're feeling spicy. Meet up at Slauterhouse Brewing afterward! -
Thunder Road GT: ATL GRVL
Sun 29th June 2025 (9:00AM CDT)
Free
Roughly 30 and 60 miles starting in Atlanta. Route details TBD, but meet at 217 Roadouse afterrward! -
Thunder Road GT: Scovill Heat
Sun 13th July 2025 (9:00AM CDT)
Free
-
Thunder Road GT: TazCo Lost Bridges
Sat 30th August 2025 (9:00AM CDT)
Free
60 and 30 mile options, starting in Tremont. C-stop at the halfway point on the long route, stashed cooler for the short. Two excellent abandoned bridges, and some killer Tazewell county scenery. Meet up at Perdue's Grill afterward!
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