On June 4, Tecumseh’s own Spokelahoma will be hosting their newest gravel bike race. The event is named Fenrir Unchaind after the wolf in Norse Mythology who breaks free from his chains during a battle at Ragnarok.
Spokelahoma owner Craig MacIntyre said their event is the same weekend as one of the biggest gravel races in the world up in Emporia, Kansas known as the Unbound. But, there are a few differences between the Unbound and the Fenrir.
First, Fenrir Unchaind only costs participants a total of $25. This total earns everyone their entry, some goodies and a free meal from the Special Kneads Eats and Treats food truck. Also unlike the Unbound, there is no lottery to participate so registration is open to all.
“I woke up one day and I said, ‘I’m going to create this and it’s going to be old school like how gravel racing used to be’ just to see how things would go in Tecumseh,” MacIntyre said. “It’s a new event and we’re going to put it on with no illusion that it’s going to be huge, because it’s competing against a couple of other things.”
This event includes four different races and lengths, Bill’s Bypass (39 miles), Angerboda’s Spawn (70 miles), Tyr’s Revenge (140 miles) and Ragnarock (210 miles). There is also a Ragnarock Relay option for those who are interested in riding as a team of three.
The GPS map files for all four races will be published a few days before the event for riders to download. There will also be markers at every turn and a few aid stations at different loops. Every 70 mile loop begins and ends at Spokelahoma in Downtown.
The event will begin at 6:45 that morning and most likely go into the evening for those riding the full 210 miles.
Online registration will be open until Thursday the 2nd and can be found on the Fenrir Unchaind Facebook Page. Anyone who misses the online cut off can still register in person the evening prior to the race.
