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The Hammer: a mixed-terrain road bike race exploring the mountainous Western Sierra landscape of Central California

The race returns to Shaver Lake, CA on Saturday October 17, 2020

The Hammer: a mixed-terrain road bike race exploring the mountainous Western Sierra landscape of Central California

The Hammer Road Rally  is a competitive off-road bicycle race and festival featuring world-class paved, dirt, and gravel roads within Sierra National Forest. This will be the race’s 5th edition. “Alternative road”, or alt-road, racing is white-hot in 2020 at the Hammer Road Rally. Now in its fifth year, this grassroots race brings an authentic vibe and truly challenging routes to a quiet and visually striking corner of the Western Sierra mountain range just east of Fresno. 

The longest route, the 85-mile Hammer, features an absolutely massive 15 mile long gravel climb from Stump Springs Road to Kaiser Pass at 9,196' above sea level. Shorter routes are available for riders who are looking for a less strenuous challenge. The Road Rally format brings enduro-style timed segments to alt-road racing for an inclusive and social experience. The course is perfectly designed to push a fat-tired roadbike and its rider to their limits.

What kind of bicycle is right for this event? The Hammer is designed for ROAD or GRAVEL BIKES with 28c or larger tires.

The Post-Ride Festival

The post-race festival will feature local food vendors, live music, and beer provided by Mad Duck Brewing Company, all to be enjoyed at the idyllic setting of serene Camp Edison at Shaver Lake.

Participants and festival goers may learn more about the event and register online at https://www.hammerroadrally.com for all routes.

The Edward O. Lund Foundation

The Hammer honors the late Edward O. Lund, a Fresno State faculty member, avid cyclist, artist, curator and one of the founding organizers of Fresno’s Art Hop.  Ed tragically lost his life in late 2015 due to a cycling accident.  Ed approached everything in life with passion and verve, and we honor his memory through cycling and music with The Hammer. It brings attention and funds to the Ed Lund Foundation, which supports aspiring artists at Fresno State University through a study-abroad scholarship program.

About Bike Monkey

Bike Monkey is a bicycle event production company that specializes in the adventure and passion of cycling. Active since 2005, Bike Monkey organizes races and rides across multiple formats, hosting tens of thousands of cyclists annually in events in California and beyond. To learn more about Bike Monkey, visit bikemonkey.net.