The 2026 Mountain Mama Road Bike Challenge is a cycling and road event held on Saturday, August 1, 2026. It is located at 78 Highland Park Dr in Monterey, Virginia.
Sun, Jun 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Book 2 nights, get a 3^rd night free at Snowshoe this year!
Snowshoe Mountain | Ski Resort in West Virginia - Build Your Package
Cycling Mountain Biking
Thu, Jul 02, 2026 at 3:30 PM
36.2 km from MontereyCycling Mountain Biking
Thu, Jul 09, 2026 at 6:00 AM
Gravel Ride Up Spruce Knob
Gran Fondo
presented by
Lauf Cycles
powered by
Event Director: Travis Olson
Visit our website here for info, videos and pictures.
*** Operating under Special-Use U.S.
Forest Service Permit ***
GRUSK is an adventure-cycling ride on and around the highest peak in West Virginia...Spruce Knob! The ride travels gravel and dirt roads through some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the East. The road conditions on course will vary from pavement, to smooth dirt, to chunky gravel, to unmaintained, double-track forest roads.
This ride is a true challenge for the adventurous spirit within every cyclist
and one you don't want to miss.
This event helps support the work of the Experience Learning, Inc.'s Spruce Knob Mountain Center, which focuses on developing an understanding and appreciation for the complex interaction between community, culture, and conservation through education and sustainable community initiatives.
The ride will have several distance options (see below for course info).
Venue:
The ride will start and finish at Experience Learning, Inc.'s Spruce Knob Mountain Center (SKMC). Here is the venue location for parking/camping. Drive into the entrance of the venue and proceed up a short hill and across a dirt/gravel road for approximately a mile to the parking/camping area. Once you park, follow the signs for registration which will be located at the Yurts (these will be obvious once you start walking down the road following the registration signs.
Camping is drive-in, primitive camping in open meadows we have mowed just for the event. We're working on having showers for riders this year. The venue runs off a well, and there isn't enough supply to cover 600+ people at the bath house, so stay tuned for our other options.
Format:
GRUSK will be a non-competitive, timed Gran Fondo format in 2026.
We want to manage a safe event and with the increasing number of riders and tourists visiting the area, we want everyone to focus on having an incredible ride without the pressure to race some of the more congested parts of the course.
Categories:
GRUSK is part of the WV Gravel Series in 2026. While our categories don't exactly match the WVGS Series classes, you'll have a chance to indicate which Series class you're in during our registration process.
Spruce Highlights Tour 27 or 32-Mile Course (July 11th, 10:10am):
No categories (E-Bikes welcome)
27 or 32 mile course
MEDIO 50-Mile Course (July 11th, 10:00am):
Men Open
Men 40+
Men 50+
Men 60+
Women Open
Women 40+
Women 50+
Women 60+
Non-Binary
Tandem
E-Bike
GRANDE 89-Mile Course (July 11th, 9:00am):
Men Open
Men 40+
Men 50+
Men 60+
Women Open
Women 40+
Women 50+
Women 60+
Single Speed
Clydesdale
Non-Binary
Tandem
GRUSK VENTI 220-Mile, LUNGO 260-Mile, TRECENTO 318-Mile Courses:
TRECENTO 319 riders will depart at 6am, Thursday July 9th.
VENTI 220 & LUNGO 260 riders will depart at 6am, Friday July 10th
Aid stations on July 11th will be considered neutral support and are open to all riders.
Registration:
**** Online Registration closes July 1st at Midnight ****
$110 - Dec 26 - Dec 31
$120 - Jan 1 - Jan 31
$130 - Feb 1 - April 30
$140 - May 1 - Jun 21
$150 - Jun 21- Jul 1
$90 - Dec 26 - Dec 31
$100 - Jan 1 - Jan 31
$110 - Feb 1 - April 30
$120 - May 1 - Jun 21
$130 - Jun 21- Jul 1
MUST REGISTER BY JUNE 30th IF RENTING A TRACKER
All VENTI, LUNGO & TRECENTO riders must own/rent a SPOT (or other brand) satellite tracking device and register with FollowMyChallenge.com HERE.
SPOT Rental is $80 paid to Follow My Challenge USA. Registration and Rental info is here.
Follow My Challenge Device Registration is $30 for riders who own their own device.
Register HERE at Follow My Challenge USA.
Dorm Lodging - $30 per night per person. Please reserve these early as space is limited
Camping- $15 per person (This covers all nights of camping)
Refund/Transfer Policy:
We don't offer refunds.
We understand life happens and you may not be able to attend the event for often life-changing events, so we highly recommend purchasing insurance to cover your fees if a qualifying situation happens prior to race day.
We DO NOT carry over registrations to the next year.
December 26 - April 30 - No Refund - Free Transfer of registration to another rider; full refund of camping, dorm, food package and merchandise.
After May 1 - June 30 - No Refund - Free Transfer of race fee to another racer; free transfer of camping, dorm, food package. Merchandise can be transferred at no charge, or shipped for $10 shipping fee.
After June 30- No Refund - $10 Transfer fee to another racer for registration (camping, dorm and food package can transfer to the other racer)
NO WEEKEND TRANSFERS!
What you’ll get with your entry:
Event t-shirt (Must register by June 13th at Midnight to have a guaranteed t-shirt).
Event drinkware
Post-race Dinner (non-racers must purchase a dinner ticket)
One (1) Gallon-size Ziploc Drop Bag to send out to an aid station
Stocked aid stations on the course to refuel and get refreshed enough to finish out the day
A well-marked course (*** GRUSK VENTI, LUNGO & TRECENTO Courses are not marked, riders must have their route loaded into a GPS to start ***)
Some of the best gravel riding in the state of WV
Sponsor and other event swag
Post-ride party (food, live music, beer tent)
Course Info:
The ride will start and finish at Experience Learning’s Spruce Knob Mountain Center (SKMC). The courses will cover some of the most scenic country in the state of West Virginia and will take riders up huge climbs, down fast descents, through deep valleys and across high ridges. Amazingly, racers will navigate across the eastern continental divide and through the watersheds of the mighty Cheat, Greenbrier, and Potomac Rivers.
Please visit our RideWithGPS Event page for additional course info here: Course Info
Click HERE to join our RideWithGPS event and have access to downloadable maps.
Spruce Highlights Tour 25-Mile course
Start Time: 10:05 am
Shortest Course
Length: 25 miles
Eleveation Gain: 2,195 ft.
RidewithGPS Highlights Course
Aid Stations:
o Mile 12.3 - Summit Aid Station
Spruce Highlights Tour 33-Mile course
Start Time: 10:05 am
Short Course
Length: 33 miles
Eleveation Gain: 3,151 ft.
RidewithGPS Highlights Course
Aid Stations:
o Mile 12.3 - Summit Aid Station, Snacks
o Mile 27.3 - Spruce Knob Lake Aid Station
MEDIO 50-Mile Course
Start Time: 10:00am
Length: 54 miles
Elevation Gain: 4,477 ft.
RidewithGPS MEDIO Course
Aid stations: (subject to change)
Mile 12.3 - Summit Aid Station
Mile 36.2 - Whitmer VFD - Full Aid Station, Drop Bags
Mile 48.8 - Spruce Knob Lake - Full Aid Station
GRANDE 89-Mile Course
Start Time: 9:00am
Length: 89 miles
Elevation Gain: 7,669 ft.
RidewithGPS GRANDE Course
Aid stations: (subject to change)
Mile 12.3 - Summit Water Station, Snacks
Mile 30.1 - Laurel Fork Campground - Full Aid Station, Drop Bags
Mile 43.7 - Wildell/FR35 - Full Aid Station
Mile 53.4 - Laurel Fork Campground - Full Aid Station, Drop Bags
Mile 70.0 - Whitmer Volunteer Fire Dept. - Full Aid Station, Drop Bags
Mile 83.0 - Spruce Knob Lake Aid Station
GRUSK VENTI 227-Mile Course - Self-supported ride. Course WILL NOT be marked, riders MUST have the course loaded on their GPS Unit.
Thursday, July 9, 6:00am - Grand Depart - 3-Day Riders
Friday, July 10, 6:00am - Grand Depart - 1-2 Day Riders
Length: 227 Miles
Elevation Gain: 19,605 ft.
GRUSK VENTI Course - All riders must have this loaded into their GPS to start.
Cue Sheet
All Riders must register with Follow My Challenge and own or rent a satellite tracking device.
SPOT Rental is $85 paid to Follow My Challenge approximately 1 month out from event.
Follow My Challenge Device Registration is $25 for riders who own their own device.
GRUSK LUNGO 260-Mile Course - Self-supported ride. Course WILL NOT be marked, riders MUST have the course loaded on their GPS Unit.
Thursday, July 9, 6:00am - Grand Depart - 3-Day Riders
Friday, July 10, 6:00am - Grand Depart - 1-2 Day Riders
Length: 262 Miles
Elevation Gain: 22,325 ft.
GRUSK LUNGO Course - All riders must have this loaded into their GPS to start.
Cue Sheet
All Riders must register with Follow My Challenge and own or rent a satellite tracking device.
SPOT Rental is $85 paid to Follow My Challenge approximately 1 month out from event.
Follow My Challenge Device Registration is $25 for riders who own their own device.
GRUSK TRECENTO 319-Mile Course - Self-supported ride. Course WILL NOT be marked, riders MUST have the course loaded on their GPS Unit.
Length: 312.69 Miles
Elevation Gain: 26,832 ft.
GRUSK TRECENTO Course - All riders must have this loaded into their GPS to start.
Cue Sheet
All Riders must register with Follow My Challenge and own or rent a Satellite Tracking Device.
SPOT Rental is $80 paid to Follow My Challenge approximately 1 month out from event.
Follow My Challenge Device Registration is $30 for riders who own their own device.
Segments for the Medio, Tall, and Grande Courses on Saturday:
Summit Segment
All courses
4.5 miles, 753ft. elevation gain
Strava Link - Summit
Laurel Fork Climb Segment
TALL 84 and GRANDE 105 Courses
1.5 miles, 518 ft. elevation gain
Strava Link - Laurel Fork Climb
Gandy Creek Segment
Medio 55 and GRANDE 105 Courses
2.8 miles, 154ft. elevation gain
Strava Link - Gandy Creek
Lake Segment
All courses except Spruce Highlights short option
1.7 miles, 318ft. elevation gain
Strava Link - Lake Segment
Spruce Knob Weather:
Please be prepared for varying weather conditions! The temperature and conditions can vary significantly from the valleys to the ridge tops in the Spruce Knob area. Spruce Knob and the surrounding ridges can be subject to high winds and quick drops in temperature. It is not uncommon to see temps in the 50s in summer, so bring appropriate cold-weather riding gear and let’s hope for sunny skies and warm temperatures. The race will be held rain, shine, sleet, or snow…however, but if there is lightning on the high ridges or near the summit of Spruce Knob, the promoter reserves the right to alter the course or suspend that portion of the ride for the safety of participants.
Below are useful links for local mountain weather and conditions:
Spruce Knob Weather
Spruce Knob Summit Ridge - Weather Underground
Local Webcams - Bottom Left is Hunting Grounds on Spruce Mountain ½ mile from venue.
Gear:
Bicycle – Any bike with at least 35mm tires is recommended. Road bikes are not ideal, but if that is all you have, we recommend tough 28mm tires.
Pedals – Road pedals can be used, but keep in mind muddy, dirty conditions can make it impossible to clip back in, so mountain pedals and shoes are preferred.
Helmet – Helmets must be worn at ALL times during the race and warm-up rides.
Spare tubes and parts – Be self-sufficient. Bring a couple spare tubes, multi-tool, chain tool, spare chain links, hand pump and/or CO2, rain/wind shell, water and food to last 2-3 hours between aid stations. It’s a good practice to load spare tubes in your drop bag just in case.
Clothing – Bring it to the race even if you don’t think you’ll need it. You can always take layers off, but if you don’t bring a rain shell and get caught in a storm, you may be shivering on the side of the road or wearing a garbage bag to stay warm.
General Rules:
Poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated and may result in disqualification from the ride. In short...don’t be a jerk, especially to the volunteers!
Riders should strive to be self-supported, i.e., take food, drink, tubes, pump, multi-tool, extra layers (if needed) with you on course.
Riders may have two drop bags (supplied) transported to the aid stations.
There may be additional aid station and drop bag locations based on weather. Drop bags must be submitted 30 minutes prior to the start.
If you get off course, you must backtrack to where you went off before continuing.
Course time cut-offs will be announced and finalized before event-day. For the safety of everyone out there, and to ensure our volunteers aren’t out there until dark, if you don’t make the cut offs…we’ll steer you toward the finish or there will be sag support to shuttle you back to the venue. Please be understanding of the race cutoff times.
Good Samaritan rule: If you come across an injured rider, please stop to assess the person’s injuries as you may be the first responder.
Riders under 18 will need a signed parental consent form in order to race or ride.
Food and Lodging Packages: In addition to camping, food and lodging packages are available (see below).
Food Package: (Closes 6/29)
Since the venue is not very close to restaurants or stores, we’ve simplified things for you and are offering a food package. We'll cook up breakfast and dinner while you are racing with us. The weekend package includes 3 meals, (Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, and Sunday breakfast), and costs $50. You can also purchase a la carte meals at $20 each. More detailed menu information to come. If non-racing companions will be with you, please be sure to register for additional food packages, or send us an e-mail, so we know how much food to have. Your non-racing companions will also need to purchase a dinner ticket for $5 also to help us know how much food to purchase.
Lodging Package:
We're offering Dormitory packages for $30 per person, per night, and camping is only $15 per person for both nights. We highly recommend staying at the venue the night before so you're all rested up for the big day. The dorms are bunkhouse style. There are two dorms, each having 4 rooms each and each room having 5 bunks. They are co-ed, but we can reserve single-gender rooms if needed. Check out what the facilities look like and other lodging options on the Food and Lodging Page.
Schedule:
Wednesday
Thursday
5am - Light breakfast and coffee for bikepack course riders
6am - GRUSK VENTI, LUNGO & TRECENTO ride starts
Friday
5am - Light breakfast and coffee for GRUSK VENTI & LUNGO riders
6am - GRUSK VENTI & LUNGO Full-Pull Grand Depart
Noon - Registration Packet Pickup opens
3pm - Preview shake-out ride presented by Lauf Cycles
5pm - Beer Tent opens and live music starts (hopefully we can find some talent for Friday)
6pm - Dinner for Meal Plan Purchasers
8pm - Registration Packet Pickup closes
Saturday
7am - Registration Packet Pickup opens
7am - Breakfast for Meal Plan Purchasers
8:30am - Volunteer Meeting near registration
8:50am - GRANDE 89 Rider meeting
9:00am - GRANDE 89 start
9:30am - Drop Bags depart for Aid Stations (Laurel Fork Campground and Whitmer)
9:50am - MEDIO 50 and Highlights Rider meeting at start line
10:00am - MEDIO 50 start
10:10am - Highlights 27/32 start
3:00pm - Pasta Meal for finishers starts (or earlier)
2:30pm - Beer Garden opens
5pm - Live music starts
Sunday
7:30am - Breakfast
11am - Venue closes
Event Cancellation Policy:
Please understand there are circumstances out of our control which may result in the cancellation of the event. Those circumstances include, but not be limited to: federal, state, or local restrictions for large gathering and/or events related to COVID-19 or similar virus/disease; officially-declared states of emergency impacting the race course and/or venue; natural or man-made disasters impacting the race course, venue, or the safe travel of participants to the event venue.
We will only cancel the event if absolutely necessary and no other options are available to salvage the event.
On/Before May 1 – 50% registration fee refund or carryover to a future MountainRides event. (Includes full refund of merchandise)
On/After May 2 - No refund for registration fees, full refund for camping, dorm rooms and meal plans, full refund on other merchandise unless it was already ordered, then it will be mailed to participants.
A few important notes about our Spruce Knob Mountain Center:
SKMC is in a remote location. The nearest gas station is 12 miles away. The nearest grocery store is an hour away. If you are bringing your own food, please come prepared with a fully stocked supply.
Pets are NOT allowed on the campus grounds. Please leave Fang and Fluffy at home. We're pet lovers too, but please understand these are the venue's rules and we would like to be invited back.
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