unPaved Courses and Timing

New Courses for 2023!

The unPAved courses feature great gravel, serious climbs, amazing descents, fantastic foliage, and delicious aid stations, and this year we’re changing things up again! Here are the routes for 2023 (subject to change)…

Full-120 has over 10,000′ of climbing and 4 timed segments that will determine the Champions of the Whoopie Pies! New for 2023: The Different Difference, now at the beginning of the ride and with no super-chunky roads.
Plenty-90 avoids the “Different Difference” but still gets in about 7,000′ of climbing and will go further south this year.
Proper-50 is staying the same, because it’s dang near perfect. For 1 (huge) climb you get 2 great descents and 2 vistas.
The 30-mile route is now a gravel ride! It’s a remote start/finish at R.B. Winter State Park, and will be using the Different Difference which has 3,000′ of climbing, and idyllic gravel roads.

****exact milage for each distance may vary per year.

Choose Your Own Adventure

If you’re having trouble deciding between the 50, 90 and 120—you don’t have to! Since the courses build off each other, you don’t need to choose the distance you’re doing until you’re there, on course.

For the ambitious: Extra parts of the course will open if you get there in time.
For the casual: Take your time or choose the fastest way back to the post-party!
For the super-casual: Check out the SlumberPArty that starts on Saturday with a sleep-over at R.B. Winter State Park.

Alternative Routes:

In addition to choosing your course on the fly, we have also built in 3 Alternative Routes. These are there for your safety and enjoyment. You never know when a nagging saddle sore, squeaky brakes or downpour may cause you to want to cut your ride early.

If you are going for the 120, and finish the Grey Unicorn Section, but don’t have enough in ya to finish 90 miles, you can turn at The start of Segment 3 and take Jones Mnt in Reverse for the quickest way to the finish
If you are going to the 120 or 90, but need to switch it up, turn with the 50 route. For 90 miles, you just did the 50. For 120 riders, you will end up with 90 for the day.
If you are going for the 90 or 120, You can exit at the end of Cherry Run Road (mile 73/ ) to connect with the last part of the course at mile 100, just before the last aid station.

If you take an alternative route you will still get segment times for the day. You will be listed under Alt Routes in the results,

Cut-off Locations and Times

We have studied rider statistics tirelessly to determine the reasonable cut-off times to assure you make it to the finish on time.

Hollows Start/RB Winter Turn – Mile 20, 10:30 AM anyone not to this point by 10:30 am must ride the 90 or 50 course only
The Ranch Feed Zone – Mile 53, 1:30 PM anyone not to this point by 1:30 pm must ride the 50 route to the finish.
Poe Paddy Feed Zone – Mile 76, 3:30 PM anyone not to this point by 3:30 will be turned around to take alt route 3.

unPAved Course Description

Details on how the courses work, and how you can make your choices on the routes, will come this summer.

2023 Course Maps

90-The Plenty

Proper - 50

Segment Timing

What is Segment Timing and why do we use it?

There’re no mass starts at unPAved. Start at your leisure between 6:30–9:00 am based on optimal start times for the distance you want to ride. So plan ahead, but don’t rush too much at the start, and forget anything!

The Full-120 route is the race to determine the Champions of the Whoopie Pies in the men’s, women’s, non-binary/gender expansive, and paracyclist divisions. The race is the total combined time over 4 segments (subject to change)

The 30, 50, and 90-mile riders will also be timed and results will be posted, but these are non-competitive.

2023 Timed Segments

The Full Race for Whoopie Pies will be timed on 42 miles of the 120-mile course, over 5 distinct sections. They will definitely be “Hard on the Legs” but that’s so you can relax on some of the “Easy on the Eyes” parts. Even though we’re only timing these segments you must ride the Full- course, on the same bike, in order to be part of the race results.

The race times will be the combined total of these segments:

Backyard Beans Jones Mtn: 3-mile climb – 120, 90. 50
SRAM Grey Unicorn: 25-mile rolling loop from RB Winter SP. 120 & 30
Hollows: 7-mile rolling segment –120, 90, 50
STAN’s No Tubes Bear Gap: 15 Mile Rolling segment – 120, 90,
STONY RUN, 50 only

A reminder that the clock will be off on the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail, Penns Creek Rail Trail, and all the Aid Stations so take your time through those and also follow all the rules of the road, our rules, and those of the Bald Eagle State Forest.

Thoughts on Equipment

Tires: While most of our gravel roads are better than paved roads, sometimes “unpaved” means it can get rowdy or loose. Bring your good tires (ex. 700×35-40 set up tubeless with fresh Stan’s NoTubes sealant at 30-45psi) and all you need to fix flats & mechanicals.
Brakes: The descending on this route is legit, and disc brakes (with fresh pads) are strongly recommended. BE CAREFUL, corners can be fast and end your day in a bad way.
Clothing: The weather is unpredictable in the hills & valleys of this region. It can be sunny & warm on one side of a ridge, cold & wet on the other, and anything goes as you cross them. Do not skimp on clothing & gloves, be prepared to pack extra layers or use a drop bags.
Spare Parts: Riders should bring all the tubes & mechanical gear they may need to finish their event. The mechanics at the aid stations or on course will not have supplies but will offer assistance to help keep you going.
Lights: You will need lights if you plan to do this event. It is dark in the forest after dusk. We recommend a minimum of 700 lumens and 2 hours of battery life.
Aero bars: Aero Bars are allowed, but they are not recommended as most of the courses are climbing or descending. If you ride with them please do not use them when in a group of other riders, and definitely do not ride in them on the descents. Thanks.
GPS Device: The course will be marked but a GPS device is the best navigation method for gravel events. You can download the correct file for your device on Ride with GPS.
Cell Phones: Do not plan on using your cellphone as a communications device on course. There is little to no coverage for much of the route. If you are using it as a navigation device make sure you have downloaded the course and set your phone to Airplane mode.