The inaugural event held last year was a big success. 600 riders fell in love with the route, Lewisburg and the weekend festival atmosphere. This years event will expand to 800 riders on the two unPAved courses and 400 for the two SOMEpaved courses. Each route showcases some of the best gravel riding Pennsylvania has to offer, first heading West from Lewisburg on the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail and into Bald Eagle State Forest. While the Plenty and Proper courses are big rides, the Full 120-mile unPAved is a rugged challenge of stamina and skills. “The Difference” section packs four mountain passes, one gnarly downhill trail, and three seemingly endless descents into a 30-mile loop from the GU Energy Labs Oasis and back again.
A unique aspect of this event is that you choose your own start time, but can still participate in the race. There are 6 timed segments representing 43 miles of the full 120 mile route. There is also an overnight category allowing you to start the ride on Saturday, camp out in Poe Paddy State Park, and complete the ride on Sunday. The event operator will transfer your gear for just $10.
There is good fun to be had the entire weekend in Lewisburg. There is a Fall festival on Saturday and a DONEpaved party following the ride. If you aren’t familiar with the region, the Susquehanna River Valley offers an authentic rural Pennsylvania experience: Breweries, award-winning wineries, great dining, wildlife, outdoor recreation of all types, and great hospitality.
While the Plenty and Proper courses are big rides, the Full 120-mile unPAved is a rugged challenge of stamina and skills. “The Difference” section packs four mountain passes, one gnarly downhill trail, and three seemingly endless descents into a 30-mile loop from the GU Energy Labs Oasis and back again.
The Tour De Shunk takes place in Monroeton Pennsylvania; the race dates back to the mid-’90s where a few cycling-obsessed locals decided to link some of the best ridings in the area into a race route and a few decades later we have the well attended and physically challenging Tour De Shunk. Over the years of the Tour, proceeds have always graciously been donated to charity and the race organizers have raised over 100,000 dollars since the event’s inception! The Tour de Shunk is normally a road riding event specifically (the road event will be in a separate Strambecco listing here). 2021 brings two routes that are specifically first and gravel, suitable for a gravel bike and a lightweight mountain bike on the beautiful Pennsylvania state roads which are nicely surfaced. There will be a 74-mile distance and a 52-mile variant with close to 4,000 feet of climbing. An always positive bonus is a post-ride pasta dinner for every rider to restore their energy banks. The advanced interactive views of the routes are listed below. The Tour De Shunk is a challenging mixed Surace off-road route taking place on some beautiful roads in Northeast Pennsylvania. A recommended new race!
