Course
The star of the show

69er COURSE MAP

69er COURSE DESCRIPTION

Starting out at Lutsen Mountain, riders will be escorted down to Highway 61, where we’ll open the flood gates. Riding through the town of Lutsen, racers will then start the Caribou Trail Climb, heading up 1,000 feet in about 5 miles. From there you will jump onto a series of forest roads and snowmobile trails, including a really fun ride down the Muelberg Trail, where you really start to get an appreciation of the landscape and vastness of the area. Another few miles of Forest Service Roads will bring you to the first aid station at mile 24.

For the next 10 miles, riders will be traveling west along Mark Lake Road making a left turn onto the Caribou Trail. After one mile the riders will take a hard right onto Clara Lake Road where the mile 35 aid station will be located. Follow Clara Lake for three miles then take a left on Rice Lake Road and soon thereafter right to stay on Rice Lake Road.   Follow Rice Lake Road winding through the forest until you come to The Grade. You will take left on the Grade then another left on Sawbill where you will ride 6 miles of gravel before taking a left onto Honeymoon Trail to your next Aid Station at approximately mile 51. Trail Aid Station at approximately mile 51. This is the last good place for spectators/crew until riders get back to the ski hill.

Honeymoon trail a fun, fast rolling road that will bring riders to a right on to Barker Lake Road. Follow Barker Lake Road to an aid station at mile 62, riders will then travel south into the North end of Lutsen Mountain. You are not done when you get to Lutsen Mountain. Riders will jump onto the old Lutsen Mountains bike trail system, where the last 4 miles will take you on Lutsen Moutains. The last mile climb to the finish is 250ft alone, which will create an exciting, dramatic finish!

Bag drop
Bag drop will not be available for this distance.

Aid stations
There will be five aid stations located at miles 24, 35, 51, and 62.

Course nutrition
At each aid stations there will be Gedney dill pickles, GU Energy gels, chews and stroopwafel, Fig Newtons, granola bars, water and GU hydration.

 

Course markings
There will be H-frames with a white background, black print and directional arrows along the 69er course. Pink ribbons will be visible along the course for reference.

Cutoff times

  • Aid station #4: Mile 51 – 8 hours 30 minutes – 4:00 p.m.
  • 11 hours for the full 69er

Support
Outside help will only be available at designated spectator locations. No mobile support, including motorized vehicles, are allowed on course.

Preparing for the Course

Have your bike checked over before the ride. Make sure everything is tight and properly adjusted, or take it to a trained Erik’s mechanic. They’ll gladly look it over and make sure everything is safe.

Remember to plan for the unexpected. Erik’s recommends on every ride that you keep the following in your hydration pack or seat bag:

  1. Spare tube
  2. Patch kit
  3. CO2 inflator with multiple cartridges or pump.
  4. Multi-tool
  5. Tire levers

For a long ride or race, you should add the following if you don’t already carry it:

  1. Tire boot for patching large cuts in tires
  2. Chain “quick” link to make field repairs
  3. Chain tool
  4. Back up energy food as a reserve tank

Erik’s mechanics will be on hand to make final adjustments or help out at the aid stations where possible. For more ideas, check out these recommendations or stop by one of Erik’s locations near you.