Before gravel bikes were a thing, we were all on our cross bikes.
The Croken Classic started as a single ride back in 2016. The city of Edmonton pulled permits for cyclocross racing and with athletes revved up with no events to attend, I created a gravel ride on the day of one of the events.
What started out as a single-day ride has morphed over the years into an event that many people look forward to. Always in October to ensure that we don’t have perfect conditions, the Croken Classic is known for being a challenging ride; here we gather to test their mettle on gravel. Cold weather? Great! Windy? Even better. Snow or rain? The best.
Why join in on the Croken Classic calamity? The gravel is great, the company is even better. You’ll be surrounded by a bunch of soon-to-be friends who are out to push their limits. Winter is coming and this might just be your last big hurrah for the season. Riding your bike is more fun than another awkward family dinner. You’ll want to earn that turkey anyway.
“Great vibes, stoked group of people! Beautiful area to tour! Happy to be able to keep up with the lead group for the first half.”
“A sufferfest! Enjoyed the sense of community!”
“I like the fact that it's got a quirky and maverick feel to it.”
“Extremely challenging fall gravel ride made worse depending on the conditions but an experience with nature and great friends worth every watt. A great way to cap off the year.”
“The route was great and the group I rode with worked together and supported each other. My favourite part was getting back to the heat garage - it was freezing!”
2022 brought the biggest crowd to date with well over 100 cyclists showing up to test their mettle. For 2023, we will be capping registration to 220 riders due to venue limits.
With two options, the Classic Croken at 103km and the Cordial Croken, at 63km, will take you through some of Central Alberta’s finest gravel. While we may be on the prairies, there will be no shortage of climbing to test your legs and your mental fortitude. Should the weather be like last years, with pouring rain, an alternate, paved route will be provided. The Croken Classic runs rain, snow, sleet or shine.
The long verision, The Classic Croken
The short version, The Cordial Croken
There will be timing chips for all registrants, but the main goal of the Croken Classic is to push riders to their limits, whether it’s riding faster on gravel than ever before or stepping up to the Classic version of the route for your first metric century on gravel. Comradery has been a staple of the ride since day one, second only to suffering on the bike.
Due to the nature of the two courses, there will be no signage, a gpx file will be provided that you can upload to your bike computer. There will be a medic stationed midway, which should the worst happen, will ensure that you can be taken care of swiftly.
Being self-sufficient is not only best practice but essential for this ride, as there will not be a roving mechanic. There are no opportunities for refueling on the Cordial version of the route. The Classic version passes through Winfield which has a corner store, which might be open.
Post ride, there will be a bbq ( with vegan options), snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks provided. There will also be a beer garden where you can socialize with your fellow riders!
To see a sample of the terrain, check out the video below!