Make sure you arrive informed. This is mandatory reading for everyone!
The race bible is subject (and likely) to change as we near race-day. So make sure to check back in here frequently, or at least in depth before you arrive for the event!
Where Everybody Is Somebody! (official motto of the town)
Rider meal available to all registered participants thanks to local sponsors.
Included with each entry is one meal, served and prepared by the Hico Volunteer Fire Department and local Hico volunteers. When you finish your ride, please come see us at the Gravel Locos tent to get your lunch ticket. For those over 21, get a well deserved ice cold beer by visiting the Gravel Locos tent to get your drink ticket that is redeemable at the beer booth.
8039 State Hwy 220, Hico, TX 76457
Our shortest of our two non competitive routes is La Pequeña. Just like her longer distance sisters, the GL30 starts and finishes in front of Hico City Hall. La Pequeña will be escorted out of Hico on paved roads and Hwy 6 for approximately 1.5 miles. There is a hard right turn onto a gravel county road, from here, the gravel fun begins! At about the 8th mile mark, we will cross the North Bosque River crossing. This is an un-paved river crossing with the possibility of chunky loose rocks. The water level is usually below bottom bracket height, but that depends on recent rainfall. Yeah, there is no bridge, get used to that. If you require bridges, go do a road rally. This is Texas gravel Y’all where less is more. No bridges, no roads, no fences to hold back loose angry dogs with an appetite for carbon wheels and no one cares if you didn’t shave your legs. You are going to get wet and if by some miracle you happen to avoid getting wet, a team of kindergarteners with water guns will be waiting for you on the other side of the River.
Shortly after the river crossing, at the 8.6 mile mark, the GL30 route will separate from the longer routes. It turns right and the other routes will continue on straight. This may be the shortest route at 30.5 miles, but it has the highest percentage of gravel at 84% and over 1,600 feet of elevation gain. You will have one aid station at mile 18. Make sure to stop and refuel. The loop will go just north of the small town of Fairy, established in 1884 which now has a population of about 30 people. There will be a few rolling hills and dairy farms along the way. There will be a cycle cross challenge around mile 25, where riders will have to dismount to cross the barricades blocking the bridge over Bee Creek. After the creek crossing, there is a very short (1,000 feet) stretch on the shoulder of Hwy 281. This is a medium to high traffic, high speed two lane roadway but has a wide shoulder. Saturday and Sunday traffic tends to be less than weekday traffic. Once off Hwy 281, there are 4 miles of gravel remaining. The final mile of pavement will enter into Hico from the south on some low traffic back roads. The finish line is on Elm Street, under the arch, where we started from.
La Mediana is also a non competitive route just like its shorter sister the GL30. The GL63 is 75% gravel, 62.7 miles in distance and has over 3,600 feet of elevation gain. Just the same as with the GL30, the GL63 will be escorted out of Hico on paved roads and Hwy 6 for approximately 1.5 miles. There is a hard right turn onto a gravel county road, from here, the gravel fun begins! At about the 8th mile mark, we will cross the North Bosque River crossing. This is an un-paved river crossing with the possibility of chunky loose rocks. The water level is usually below bottom bracket height, but that depends on recent rainfall. Yup, again, there is no bridge, are you getting used to that yet? Because if you are not and for real require bridges, we seriously suggest that you sign up for a road rally instead. “Y’all, we isn’t kidding with you, we ain’t got no bridges, we ain’t got no paved roads, no fences to hold back loose angry dogs”. We don’t even care if you show up with crazy hairy legs. At this river crossing, you are going to get wet and remember, if by some miracle you happen to avoid getting wet, a team of angry kindergarteners will be waiting for you on the other side.
After crossing the North Bosque River, this route and its longer sister the GL150, will travel south and west making their way through the small town of Iredell. They will then head toward what we affectionately call “Loco Hill”. That may have something to do with its 20% grade kick up. It was one of the inspirations for bringing this event to Hico. Bring your mountain goat legs! Shortly after “Loco Hill”, the GL63 mile route will split from the GL150. Please note that the GL63 and GL150 both share an aid station at approximately mile 20. The next aid station for the GL63 will be at approximately mile 37.
After the split, the GL63 heads south and west passing near the town of Fairy and makes its way towards the Leon River. It is mostly rolling hills the rest of the way. At mile 46, there is a wet crossing of Gum Branch. This is paved, but can be very slippery! This route will also encounter the cycle cross challenge where riders will have to dismount to cross the barricades blocking the bridge over Bee Creek. After the creek crossing, just as with the GL30, there is a very short (1,000 feet) stretch on the shoulder of Hwy 281. This is a medium to high traffic, high speed two lane roadway but has a wide shoulder. Saturday and Sunday traffic is less than weekdays. Once off Hwy 281, there are 4 miles of gravel remaining. The final mile of pavement will enter into Hico from the south on some low traffic back roads. The finish line is on Elm Street, under the arch, where we started from.
La Loca is our competitive timed race route. She is 155.3 miles in distance, 112 miles of which are on gravel, that’s 72% gravel and will serve you over 8,200 feet of elevation gain. If you still think Texas is flat after finishing it, do us all sane people a favor and go ride it a second time. We promise to keep your beer cold. Anyways, just the same as with the GL30 and the GL63, the GL150 will be escorted out of Hico on paved roads and Hwy 6 for approximately 1.5 miles. There is a hard right turn onto a gravel county road, from here, the gravel fun begins! At about the 8th mile mark, we will cross the North Bosque River crossing. If you want to know what happens here, read this section in the GL30 and GL63. I don’t feel like telling you a third time. Anyways, after crossing the North Bosque River, the GL150 will travel south and west making its way through the small town of Iredell.
The GL150 will then head towards “Loco Hill”. If you are racing 155.3 miles and climbing over 8,200 feet, I shouldn’t have to warn you about “Loco Hill”. But if you are concerned, read about it in the GL63 route description. Please don’t email me asking about it. “Ain’t nobody got time for that” This is a FREE gravel race remember? We saved money by disconnecting the complaint hotline. In case you were wondering, The GL63 and GL150 both share an aid station at approximately mile 20. I’m just letting you know ahead of time that if you are racing the GL150 and stop at the aid station on mile 20, we are going to post that on YouTube and all your weekend warrior racer buddies are going to find out. Just Saying! Since you are now not going to embarrass yourself by stopping at the aid station on mile 20, allow me to inform you that the GL150 has three more aid stations for a total of four. The four aid stations are located at approximately mile 20, mile 34, mile 78 and mile 121.
After the split with the GL63, the GL150 heads towards Meridian. There will be a few more hills, lots of gravel and some great scenery. The route will turn onto Hwy 6 for about 2 miles with a zigzag crossing of Hwy 22 to get back onto gravel. Leaving Meridian, there is a 2 mile uphill grind. Yup, it feels like it will never end. The route heads south to the town of Norse, and will pass by the oldest Seventh Day Adventist Church in Texas, built in 1913. Y’all, this is the perfect opportunity to stop, kneel down and pray for the remaining 100 miles to miraculously become a downhill with a tailwind.
At mile 53, after crossing Neils Creek, you will climb three of the biggest, baddest hills in Bosque County and the entire route. All three are back to back and all three kick up into the 17-18% grade. We refer to them as the three B's, let us know which "B" word you would use to describe them after the race. The route then heads north crossing beautiful Meridian Creek and teases by approaching Hico. But then turns south and heads all the way down to Hamilton. There will be a crossing of the very busy Hwy 281 in Hamilton (Please be careful and obey all traffic laws). The rest of the route is loaded with rolling hills and great scenery passing through old pecan plantations and the Leon River Valley. Once you cross the old North Bosque River Bridge at approximately mile 152.3, you are a short tired, exhausted, hallucinating, sore, cramping 3 miles from the finish line, on Elm Street, under the arch, where we started from. I will be there waiting for you in the comfort of my air-conditioned black “GRVLCAR”.
We have room blocks available in the following hotels; Call Hotel to Book with Group Rate under "Gravel Locos"
1. Best Western Dinosaur Valley Inn Glen Rose
(254) 897-4818
Rooms Starting at $99.99
May 19-May 21
Distance From Race: 21.1 Miles
(254) 898-0679
Rooms Starting at $110.00
May 19-May 21
Distance from Race: 20.2 Miles
Gravel Locos Hico is a Gravel Locos production supported by Phase Clé Events.
