Pennsylvania’s premier gravel gathering — unPAved of the Susquehanna River Valley — returns for its seventh edition celebrating the joy of bikes and beauty of IPAGravel (Incredible PA Gravel) in the heart of central Pennsylvania. Growing from a single day event to a full 3-day weekend, unPAved embraces the motto of ‘more smiles per mile’ to satisfy everyone from racers and bikepackers, to party-pacers and new entrants to the world of gravel.
“unPAved is a community focused event that has something to offer everyone,” says Kelly Catale, a four-time whoopie pie champion who represents Team KellCat. “In years past, I raced the full 120-mile course with friends and was able to make many new friends while riding all the non-timed sections of the course. Last year, I was recovering from an injury, so instead of racing the full 120-mile option I volunteered at one of the many fun aid stations, was a sweeper for the 30-mile course with a friend, and handed out whoopie pies to race finishers. My experience was quite different compared to years past, but just as fun and perhaps more meaningful to the race community.”
unPAved will take place October 11-13, 2024 starting with the “Get un(G)ravelled” pub crawl and bar games throughout Lewisburg. Saturday’s schedule includes the Lewisburg Fall Festival with food, drink, crafters, and kids activities; FUNpaved social rides; a Gravel Film Festival in the historic Campus Theater; and the riders racing on the Big Lick 200 (the new extra-large distance) or heading out for the SlumberPArty (the much-loved overnighter category) will start on Saturday as well.
On Sunday morning, the Full-120, Plenty-90, and Proper-50 will head out from Lewisburg along the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail for their gravelly adventures through the rolling farmlands and hilly forest roads. The Full-120 riders will be timed over four segments (adding up to roughly 40 miles) to determine the Champions of the Whoopie Pies. Meanwhile, the Burly-30 riders will start and finish at R.B. Winter State Park to challenge themselves on the hilly unpaved roads in the northeastern corner of the Bald Eagle State Forest.
All riders will be welcomed back to the DONEpaved Party on Sunday night for prizes, food, beer, birch beer, and delicious local whoopie pies!
For more information, visit: http://unpavedpennsylvania.com
