events
the series
The Idaho Panhandle Gravel Series (IPGS) debuted in 2023 as the brainchild of Syringa Cyclery shop owner, Charles Mortensen.
The series comprises three bike races: The 3/4 Minus Cykeltur, Monarch Grind, and Aether’s Traverse. Riders are given points based on their finishing place for each race they participate in and an overall winner is crowned at the end of the final race, Aether’s Traverse.
You may register for a single event, however in order to be eligible to win the overall IPGS series, you must compete in all three (3/4 Minus Cykeltur, Monarch Grind, and Aether’s Traverse)
Registration proceeds benefit KRFY Public Radio and local bike club Pend Oreille Pedalers.
3/4 minus cykeltur
Check out our short film about the 3/4 Minus Cykeltur on YouTube!
may 3, 2025
RACE STARTS: 10:00am PST
LOCATION: Matchwood Brewing Company 513 Oak St. Sandpoint, ID 83864
One-Humper: 52 miles + 2,500 ft. elevation gain
Two-Humper: 75 miles + 4,700 ft. elevation gain
The ¾ Minus Cykeltur is a gravel grand fondo consisting of a 52-mile route on asphalt and gravel roads and a 75-mile route on asphalt, gravel, and dirt singletrack.
The event starts and finishes on Oak Street between Syringa Cyclery and Matchwood Brewing Company, and is followed by a party and award ceremony at Matchwood Brewing with food, drink, and live music. Yew!
New in 2025: The 3/4 Minus will take on a segment scoring format by which your time is not based on your overall course completion, but rather by the accumulation of segments, and how fast you ride them.
Results will be based on cumulative time for all segments (4 segments for two-humpers, 2 segments for one-humpers)
A QOM and KOM will be awarded for each segment
Riders are required to finish entire route for their results to count
Stay tuned for the one-humper route here, or two-humper segment routes
This format allows for a more accessible event for this early-season event for riders who may not yet have built their endurance fitness and prefer a more leisurely adventure whereby they can ride casually with old and new friends, while providing plenty of challenge for those willing to test themselves on the segments.
segments details
segment 1 : ONE-HUMPER & TWO-HUMPER
This is a short (approximately 1 mile) segment of flat and slightly rolling gravel terrain. It is included on both routes.
segment 2: TWO-HUMPER ONLY
This gravel segment is approximately 9.5 miles in length and includes rolling and flat terrain that leads to a final sustained climb of approximately 5 miles in length. This segment is only on the Two-Humper route.
segment 3: ONE-HUMPER & TWO-HUMPER
This segment starts with a mostly sustained climb of approximately 4 miles in length followed by approximately 3 miles of rolling terrain on gravel and finishes with a 5 mile descent and a 1.5 mile flat on asphalt. It is included on both routes.
segment 4: TWO-HUMPER ONLY
This segment is a loop of approximately 6 miles in length and includes singletrack and double-track dirt terrain, gravel, and a short stretch of asphalt. This segment is only on the Two-Humper route.
monarch grind
Check out our Monarch Grind 2024 recap on YouTube!
june 28, 2025
RACE STARTS: 8:00am PST
LOCATION: Clark Fork High School 502 N. Main St. Clark Fork, ID 83811
Distance: 70-miles
Elevation Gian: 8,200 ft.
The 70-mile route starts at 2,000 ft. of elevation in Clark Fork, ID where riders make their way through the small town, across a gorgeous royal blue river, past lush fields, and climb 5,167 ft. into the Idaho Panhandle National Forest (hello leggies!)
A fully stocked aid station welcomes you at the top of the first major climb (~18-miles in). Riders are then met with a downhill that takes them back down to the elevation they started at. The second, and longest, climb of the day comes next and takes you right back up. Riders get a bit of relief during the undulating top section with gorgeous views of Lake Pend Oreille.
Quickly after this, you’ll come across the same aid station that was at the top of the first climb where you can restock with whatever is needed for the final descent and push to the finish line. “It’s a gorgeous route, challenging, 98% gravel made of roads and double track. It’s a true gravel race,” Mortensen says.
Finishing where you started, you’ll be welcomed with a feast and drinks!
aether’s traverse
august 16, 2025
RACE STARTS: 8:00am PST
LOCATION: 10857 Baldy Mountain Rd. Sandpoint, ID 83864
Distance: 35 miles
Elevation Gain: 6,300 ft.
Our newest addition to the IPGS! This stunning 35-mile route edges westward from Sandpoint passing over the southern reaches of the Selkirk Range into the Priest River drainage basin and winds back around, climbing 6,300 feet up to the Selkirk Crest from the west, topping out at Schweitzer’s Sky House. Excepting two short sections of asphalt, the route is entirely on gravel roads.
As riders breach the top of Schweitzer Mountain they’ll be welcomed by expansive views of Lake Pend Oreille and the valley that it sits in. After taking in the gorgeous view, and taking a pic or five, you’ll hop on the chairlift with your bike and take a scenic ride to to Schweitzer Village where the after party will be pumping!
Who the hell is Aether? is the personification of the bright upper sky. According to Hesiod, he was the son of Erebus (Darkness) and Nyx (Night), and the brother of Hemera (Day). Aether embodies the mist of light and blue of the heavenly ether - he envelops the mountain peaks, clouds, stars, sun and moon.
