The 2025 event date is not confirmed.  The Solstice Gravel Grinder 2025  is an annual gravel cycling event held in the southeastern region of Nebraska. Now in its eighth year, it started as a grassroots initiative and has since grown in popularity, attracting cyclists from the region and beyond. The event will start and end in Beatrice, Nebraska. Strambecco rates it as one of the Best Gravel Cycling Race Events in the Midwest.

Event & Course Info

The Solstice Gravel Grinder route covers various communities in the southeast Nebraska region, including Holmesville, Barneston, Odell, Steele City, Endicott, and Diller. The ride covers a mix of flat to hilly and super hilly gravel roads, making it challenging for participants of all skill levels. The Solstice 100 (The Hundy) is the original distance of the event and is limited to 140 riders. The Solar Fiddy is a 50+ mile gravel grinder limited to 160 riders, while the 50K Kindler (35+ miles) is a shorter route that mixes miles on the newly completed Chief Standing Bear Trail. A new category, the Hundy Team Relay, was added recently, requiring teams to have at least one female member. Course maps are released the week of the event, but an example of a previous year's 50-mile is shown below.

The Solstice Gravel Grinder is a self-supported event, and riders must bring enough supplies to get through the day. While several checkpoints are along the way, only water and limited SAG support are provided. However, riders can stop at local convenience stores or bars for their needs. The event attracts a mix of local riders and cyclists from further afield, creating a lively and diverse atmosphere.

Solstice showcases the natural beauty of the southeastern region of Nebraska, with lush forests, rolling hills, and winding rivers. The event is well-organized and supported, with rest stops and aid stations to provide riders with refreshments, mechanical support, and encouragement. The event concludes with a post-ride celebration featuring food, drinks, and live music, creating a festive and welcoming atmosphere for all participants.

Participants should note that the event occurs the day before the year's longest day, and temperatures can be high. Therefore, riders need to prepare adequately for the conditions. The event organizers release the routes a week before the event and provide downloadable cue cards and GPS files. However, riders need to print the routes themselves as the organizers do not provide them on the event day.

Finally, riders must understand that they are responsible for their safety and well-being. The event organizers, sponsors, promoters, or staff are not responsible for the participants' safety or well-being before, during, or after the event. The Solstice Gravel Grinder is a challenging and exciting event that showcases the natural beauty of the southeastern region of Nebraska, and participants need to prepare adequately to enjoy it fully.