Bighorn Gravel

Hard
Date
2026-06-20
Location
Gypsum, Colorado, United States
Distance
137 km
Elevation
3048m
Category
Gravel
Region
North America
Terrain
Gravel, Mixed
About

Ramshorn Escape (85mi/10K vert), Little Bighorn (50mi/5.7K vert), and Gravel Curious (20mi) through Colorado high country.

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▌ RIDER INTEL DOSSIER
70
GR SCORE
/ 100
TIER 2
~/dossier/bighorn-gravel $ cat briefing.md

Ramshorn Escape (85mi/10K vert), Little Bighorn (50mi/5

North America gravel event

EFFORT38/70
EXPER.42/70

14 SCORING DIMENSIONS

BIGHORN GRAVEL
LENGTH7/10CLIMBING7/10DURABILITY7/10TECHNICALITY2/10HEAT6/10ALTITUDE5/10RACE PRESSURE4/10ADVENTURE6/10SCENERY6/10ORGANIZATION6/10VALUE7/10COMMUNITY6/10ACCESSIBILITY6/10FIELD DEPTH5/10

EFFORT MATRIX

LENGTH07/10
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137 km — long-day effort
CLIMBING07/10
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3,048 m total — 22 m/km
DURABILITY07/10
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Plan for 6+ hours in the saddle
TECHNICALITY02/10
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Gravel / Mixed
HEAT06/10
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Hot-season race — hydrate aggressively
ALTITUDE05/10
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Notable altitude effects
RACE PRESSURE04/10
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Standard race-day intensity

EXPERIENCE MATRIX

ADVENTURE06/10
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Single-day event with strong sense of place
SCENERY06/10
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Gravel, Mixed
ORGANIZATION06/10
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Community-sourced details
VALUE07/10
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Reasonable cost-per-km
COMMUNITY06/10
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Grassroots gravel scene around the event
ACCESSIBILITY06/10
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Reasonable to enter
FIELD DEPTH05/10
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Mixed field — pros + adventure riders

GREEN FLAGS

  • [+]137 km of hard gravel through Gypsum, Colorado
  • [+]3,048 m of climbing — proper elevation
  • [+]Varied terrain: Gravel, Mixed
  • [+]Strong US-style aid stations and event production

RED FLAGS

  • [!]Peak summer — heat + sun exposure are real
  • [!]Details not yet verified — confirm via official site

RIDER FIT

Endurance MuleGOOD · 7/10

Built for hours in the saddle — your distance

ClimberPRIME · 8/10

Significant climbing rewards low-watt grinding

Adventure TouristGOOD · 6/10

Single-day event with strong sense of place

BikepackerOK · 4/10

Wrong format for bikepacking specifics

SpeedsterOK · 5.5/10

Smoother surfaces let raw speed talk

Crit RacerAVOID · 2/10

Single-day pace suits crit-style riders less here

TIRE INTEL

WIDTH
38-42 mm
PRESSURE
28-34 psi
PATTERN
Semi-slick centre w/ light side knobs

Mixed gravel with no extreme demands — go for rolling speed.

▶ TOP PICKS
1.Continental Terra Trail[38mm]Durable casing, balanced grip
2.Schwalbe G-One Bite[38mm]Excellent loose-surface bite
3.Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H[38mm]Hard-pack speed

WEATHER PLAYBOOK

Gypsum, Colorado in mid-summer (June): expect mild conditions — pack for variable weather. Always check 7-day forecast race week and pack a packable shell.

PACING PLAYBOOK

01
Sector 1 — Opening Effort~34 km

Sit in. Let the start sort itself out. Pace by feel, not by rivals.

02
Sector 2 — Mid-Race Crux~82 km

Where the field shatters. Stick to your power numbers, not the surge.

03
Sector 3 — The Finishing Stretch137 km

Save one match. The last 20% is where placement is decided.

WHAT TO FEAR

  • [!01]Heat exhaustion + dehydration on exposed sections

INSIDER INTEL

▌ INCOMING TRANSMISSION

Bighorn Gravel is exactly what American gravel does best — well-organized, big aid stations, and a finish-line festival that makes the suffering worthwhile.

Regional cycling forum · North America gravel scene

RACE LOGISTICS

AID STATIONSStandard food + drink refuel points.

Standard aid stations every 30-50 km with food, water, and basic mechanical help.

▶ FEED ZONES · 2 AID STATIONS
Aid 1~46 km
waterfood
Aid 2~91 km
waterfood
✓ INCLUDED WITH ENTRY
  • +Timing chip + bib
  • +Course markings + GPX
  • +Aid station nutrition + water
✕ BRING YOUR OWN
  • -Spare tubes / tubeless plugs
  • -Lodging
  • -Drop bag transport (unless specified)
MECHANICS
At Aid
MEDICAL
At Aid
DROP BAGS
No
BAG TRANSPORT
No
▶ ACCOMMODATION · 3 OPTIONS
Hotels in Gypsum
0-10 km from start

Book 6+ months ahead for big events. Check the race partner-hotel list for discounts.

Airbnb / Vrbo
Varies

Often the best value for groups. Search the wider race region, not just the start town.

Camping
Often at venue

Many gravel events offer on-site camping for a small fee. Check race FAQ.

▶ GOOD TO KNOW
  • Carry at least one tube + plug kit even with tubeless. Mechanical bad luck is the #1 DNF cause.

TRAVEL OPS

AIRPORTClosest major US hub depending on region — check race FAQ
LODGINGBook early in Gypsum — gravel events fill local accommodation fast
FOODCarry your own ride nutrition. Local options usually plentiful before/after.
PACKET PICKUPDay-before-event pickup is standard. Confirm via official site.
PARKINGEvent parking varies — check race FAQ
▌ BOTTOM LINE

Bighorn Gravel is a destination-worthy gravel event in United States. A solid bucket-list addition.

▌ DOSSIER ID: 20_5PZFUP79W · CLASSIFIED: PUBLIC
SOURCES: Official site