Last May, my friend Claire and I ventured out to a route that I had enjoyed at an event the year before. The race had started at a camp and I knew we wouldn’t be able to park there.

I spent a while scouring some Facebook groups, trying to find a good parking spot to no avail. Since churches were closed for the pandemic, I felt fairly certain we could find a little country church and park at one near the start of the route.

After a funny encounter at a rehab facility and walking to the only tree in the middle of a huge field for a bathroom break, we finally found a parking spot that we were fairly certain was okay…..and it turned out to to be fine but I all day I did have this nagging question about whether or not my car would be there when I returned.

I know a lot of women who have had similar experiences. We head out to a route and wonder where to park, where to pee, and whether or not we’re going to get in over our heads with some technical terrain (this may or may not have also happened to me when I took my sister-in-law out for her first gravel ride - oopsie).

On our private Facebook group, we are constantly getting questions about where to find routes, and there isn’t a great source. That’s why we’re so excited to be partnering with Gravel Bike Adventures. Laura and Rose have been curating routes for women by women for almost 3-years. You can find all the information you really need to take on a new route including GPX files and driving directions. All routes are rated for difficulty, have elevation profiles, and highs, lows, and tips. You can create a free account and save your favorite routes. Yep, this is all FREE!

And now for the challenge. Together, we want to collect 100 NEW five-star routes in the next 30-days and we need your help!

First, what is a 5-star route?

Think of it as your very best route - if someone came to town, it would be the route you'd want them to experience. It doesn't have to be long, just the ‘you’ve got to see this’ route.

Here’s what you need before you head out

A device to capture your GPX file - like a Garmin or Wahoo Elment
An address for the starting location
A camera to snag some beautiful photos — your phone works. Avoid selfies and get scenery photos!

It’s so easy to upload your route!

Laura and Rose have made it incredibly easy to upload your routes. You just head to their website and click the submit your favorite route button. The form will talk you through everything and prompt you to upload all the necessary files.

And there are prizes!

Yep, Laura and Rose have some awesome prizes like a Gravel Bike Adventures jersey, fun socks, nutrition and Kulie bike bags. Every time you submit a complete Five-star route, you’re entered to win! (And even if you’re reading this past June 5, 2021 —- still submit your routes.

Want to learn more about Laura and Rose (who by the way, do this for free because they have a passion to help women). Listen to their Girls Gone Gravel podcast episode here.

To learn more, watch our Facebook live.

Finding Gravel Routes for Women -- The Five Star Route Challenge

And now for the challenge. Together, we want to collect 100 NEW five-star routes in the next 30-days and we need your help!