Rule of Three

Extreme
Date
2027-05-12
Location
Bentonville, Arkansas, United States
Distances
56 / 97 / 185 km
Elevation
1,402 m
Distance Options
56 km35 mi
97 km60 mi
185 km115 mi
Category
Race
Region
North America
Organizer
Rule of Three LLC
Terrain
Gravel, Paved, Singletrack
About

Gravel ultra on the same roads as Unbound Gravel. Source: gravelgodcycling.com 2026 calendar (mid-month approximation).

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▌ RIDER INTEL DOSSIER
65
GR SCORE
/ 100
TIER 3
~/dossier/rule-of-three $ cat briefing.md

Gravel ultra on the same roads as Unbound Gravel

North America race event organized by Rule of Three LLC

EFFORT29/50
EXPER.40/70

12 SCORING DIMENSIONS

RULE OF THREE
LENGTH8/10CLIMBING4/10DURABILITY6/10TECHNICALITY5/10RACE PRESSURE6/10ADVENTURE5/10SCENERY6/10ORGANIZATION7/10VALUE7/10COMMUNITY6/10ACCESSIBILITY4/10FIELD DEPTH5/10

EFFORT MATRIX

LENGTH08/10
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185 km — long-day effort
CLIMBING04/10
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1,402 m total — 8 m/km
DURABILITY06/10
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Plan for 8+ hours in the saddle
TECHNICALITY05/10
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Gravel / Paved / Singletrack
RACE PRESSURE06/10
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Standard race-day intensity

EXPERIENCE MATRIX

ADVENTURE05/10
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Single-day event with strong sense of place
SCENERY06/10
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Gravel, Paved
ORGANIZATION07/10
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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
ACCESSIBILITY04/10
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Reasonable to enter
FIELD DEPTH05/10
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Mixed field — pros + adventure riders

GREEN FLAGS

  • [+]185 km of extreme gravel through Bentonville, Arkansas
  • [+]Organized by Rule of Three LLC
  • [+]Varied terrain: Gravel, Paved, Singletrack
  • [+]Strong US-style aid stations and event production

RED FLAGS

  • [!]Extreme rating — only attempt with prior ultra experience
  • [!]Details not yet verified — confirm via official site

RIDER FIT

Endurance MuleGOOD · 7/10

Built for hours in the saddle — your distance

ClimberOK · 4/10

Limited use for pure climbers

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

⚡ SIGNATURE CHALLENGE
A long day decided in the final third

Distance like this rewards patience. The riders who win the last 30% are the ones who saved matches in the first 60%.

TIRE INTEL

WIDTH
40-42 mm
PRESSURE
28-34 psi
PATTERN
File tread w/ side knobs

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

▶ TOP PICKS
1.Continental Terra Trail[40mm]Durable casing, balanced grip
2.Schwalbe G-One Bite[40mm]Excellent loose-surface bite
3.Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H[40mm]Hard-pack speed

WEATHER PLAYBOOK

Bentonville, Arkansas in spring (May): 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~46 km

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

02
Sector 2 — Mid-Race Crux~111 km

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

03
Sector 3 — The Finishing Stretch185 km

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

WHAT TO FEAR

  • [!01]Pacing mistakes — most issues here are self-inflicted

INSIDER INTEL

▌ INCOMING TRANSMISSION

Rule of Three 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 · 3 AID STATIONS
Aid 1~46 km
waterfood
Aid 2~93 km
waterfood
Aid 3~139 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 Bentonville
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 Bentonville — 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

Rule of Three is a quality north america event — great if you're nearby or want to explore the region.