2018 SKull Gravel Weekend

AMERICA'S GNARLIEST GRAVEL RACE

REN Cycles is very excited to be teaming up with the Harney County Chamber, the US Forest Service, US Bureau of Land Management, and Oregon State Parks to present the 2nd Annual Skull 120/60/30 cycling event in June 2018.

This fantastic endurance/gravel/XC/weekend adventure event in the Eastern Oregon high desert debuted in 2017 and proved to be an inspiring weekend of bike fun that immediately became one of our all-time favorite races. (The term “race” of course being loosely interpreted; the sweeping vistas and rugged natural beauty provide undeniable photo ops, and it is easy to linger for a quarter hour at a water station with fresh slices of watermelon 80 miles in to the day.  😋 )

The Skull 120 is unique event that is put on by the Harney County Chamber and a group of volunteers from County, State, and Federal agencies, rather than a traditional event promoter. The locals know their backyard better than anyone, and they have put together an epic cycling event in some of the most remote and beautiful country in the Northwest.

GO HARD FOR THE 120 PODIUM OR ENJOY A BEAUTIFUL RIDE ON A MARKED ROUTE. EITHER OPTION IS A FANTASTIC WAY TO SPEND A WEEKEND.

The REN modus operandi is light hearted and laugh filled fun on bikes, and the Skull 120 is right up our alley. The event vibes are very casual, and the location is a boon for serious racers and weekend bikesplorers alike. The 2018 route differs from 2017, and que sheets and maps are available in advance.

The course routes all begin and end in Burns, a small town set in terrain as lonesome as it is handsome and 10 minutes from the wild in all directions. If escaping into the thousands upon thousands of miles of gravel and dirt roads on public lands surrounding it isn't your thing, Burns is also well equipped with grocery stores, laundry facilities, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, a vintage movie theater, Oregon's smallest craft brewery, nearby hot springs, a local historical museum and numerous lodging options from camping to vamping to AirBnB to hotels.

Entry fees are very modest -- $40 for early birds until March! -- and easily the best bargain on source material to melt your social media feeds. The routes are remote but clearly marked, there are multiple aid stations and water fill-ups, and the course is monitored by Rangers, Search & Rescue teams, and local volunteers.

REN is thrilled to support the role cycling can play in having fantastic fun and fostering clean, sustainable, and low impact tourism opportunities for the communities in and around our beautiful and remote public lands. Did we mention we like having a really good time?

Please grab a friend and join us at this epic annual event in #EasternOregon on Saturday, JUNE 16th!

2018 Skull 120/60/30 Registration Open

If you haven't already heard, registration for the 2018 edition of the Skull 120/60/30 gravel epic is now open. Three concurrent races take place on Saturday, June 16th in #EasternOregon with start/end in Burns, Oregon. Earlybird pricing for the updated event is a scant $40 and easily represents the best bargain going in endurance gravel racing.

Already a truly humbling event in its first going last summer, the coming 2018 edition of the Skull has been updated with a new route that includes even more gravel/dirt (a whopping 80%), even more elevation gain (now over 11k), and even more rugged backcountry beauty.

We are honored to be working with a great crew from Harney County, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Oregon State Parks to grow this spectacular event and look forward to spending another weekend with friends and bikes in Oregon's beautiful high desert backcountry.

SKULL 60

Overview:
Total Miles = 65
Elevation Gain/Loss = 5,344'
Min. Elevation = 4,150'
Max. Elevation = 5,300'
Avg. Grade = 2.9%
Cattle guards = 13
Water Crossings = 2
 
Surface Types:
Natural = 25 miles / 39%
Gravel = 23 miles  / 36%
Pavement = 17 miles  / 25%

Land Administration:
Forest Service = 1.6 miles / 4%
BLM = 46 miles / 66%
Private = 29 miles / 29%
Bureau of Indian Affairs = 1.5 miles / 2%

Landscape Features:
Forest = 9 miles / 14%
High Desert = 47 miles / 71%
Canyon Lands = 6 miles / 9%
Urban = 3 miles / 5%

SKULL 120

Overview:
Total Miles = 126
Elevation Gain/Loss = 11,030'
Min. Elevation = 4,150'
Max. Elevation = 7,000'
Avg. Grade = 2.8%
Cattle guards = 31
Water Crossing = 3

Surface Types:
Natural = 14 mi / 12%
Gravel = 86 mi / 68%
Pavement = 26 mi / 20%

Land Administration:
Forest Service = 79 miles / 63%
BLM = 22 miles/ 18%
Private = 23 miles / 18%
Bureau of Indian Affairs = 1.5 / 1%

Landscape Features:
Forest = 60 miles / 48%
High Desert = 30 miles / 24%
Canyon = 33 miles / 26%
Urban = 3 miles / 2%

Check out some photos from the 2017 event below, read up on our take on the event here, and then head to www.adventureharney.com to register for this classic race!