Homegrown Gravel Adventure

February 28 2026

Franklin GA

Date Confirmed

Distances: 20, 40, 62, 100 miles

Difficulty: Moderate terrain with rolling short steep hills or moderate, sustained climbs

Limited to: 600 Participants

For those of us who remember when gravel was gritty, grassroots, and gloriously unpolished—Homegrown is still doing it right. No corporate rulebook. No cookie-cutter courses. Just real-deal Southern gravel, served up by folks who only want a pat on the back and a cold drink after a job well done.

Your entry fee doesn’t just buy you a killer day on the bike—it supports the people and the place that make this ride special. All profit, after expenses, goes straight back to the Franklin community. And in return? You get two distinct states of gravel packed into one unforgettable ride, with four route options: a brand-new 20-mile intro ride, a punchy 40, a classic 62-mile race, and a full-send, 100-mile soul-crusher—or really, a soul-cleanser. Because hot damn, you love ridin’ bikes.

We’re kicking off 2026 the only way that makes sense: tired, dirty, mildly sunburned, housing a big ol’ full-send grin, and surrounded by fellow graveleours who live for this stuff.

For the locals, this has become the traditional season opener—an annual rite of passage to shake off the cobwebs, get dirty, and welcome the season with some proper red clay therapy.

And for those of you north of the Mason-Dixon? Let’s be honest—this is the real reason to sign up. It’s February. And we’re riding bikes. Most likely in shorts (maybe knickers and arm-warmers). While your crew’s buried in snow or grinding it out in the basement pain cave, we’re out here soaking up Southern sunshine and chasing chili with finish-line brews.

We’re just an hour south of Atlanta and the world’s busiest (read: easiest to fly into) airport. So skip the snow, pack your bike, and start your 2026 season the warm, dusty, downright satisfying way.

Homegrown Gravel Adventure

Start Located At: 102 Main Street, Franklin, GA 30217

Strava

FRIDAY SHAKEOUT RIDE — LET’S LIGHT THE FUSE

Roll into Downtown Franklin by 2:00 PM sharp and snap on that party pace. We’ll crank out roughly 20 miles on fresh roads (no spoilers from Saturday’s course) just to wake up the quads and stir the stoke. Think high-fives, heck-yeahs, and enough leg-juice to prime the engine for the big day.

SATURDAY — HOMEGROWN GRAVEL ADVENTURE & AFTER-PARTY

Downtown Franklin flips the switch as riders launch into 30/40, 62, or the marquee 100-mile HOMEGROWN route, sampling the finest Alabama-Georgia grit with four aid stations to keep the wheels spinning. Hit the line and dive straight into a free community market and all-out after-party packed with live jams plus a rider-only feast—think chili, hearty mains (veggie and carnivore approved), sides, and three trips through the drink line to rinse off the dust. It’s the weekend’s main event, wedged perfectly between Thursday/Friday’s early packet-pickup parties, Friday’s shake-the-legs Shakeout Ride, and Sunday’s chill Coffee Ride send-off. Come for the gravel, stay for the Main Street good vibes that roll well past sunset.

SATURDAY START TIMES:

8:30am: 100-Mile Men
8:45am: 100-Mile Women
9:30am: 62-Mile
10:30am: 40-Mile
11:00am 20-Mile

SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE RIDE — SIP, SPIN, SMILE

Rise semi-civilized, slam a couple cups of Joe, and clip in for an easy-breezy 20-ish miler at 9:00 AM from Downtown Franklin. No hero watts—just caffeine-fueled cruising, post-race storytelling, and the perfect send-off before you roll home grinning.

Registration Fees

COST:

100/62/40-mile distances
October 12 – December 13- $85
December 14 – January 31 – $105
February 1 – February 27 – $125
NO DAY OF REGISTRATION

20-mile distance
October 12 – December 13- $65
December 14 – January 31 – $85
February 1 – February 28 – $105
Day of Registration $115

Juniors: $40 for 18 and under for all events.
Note: Junior riders can only register for the 20, 40 or 62-mile distances without previous permission

We do not pay ourselves to put on this event and all proceeds after costs will go to the Heard County Food Pantry and the Heard County High School Athletic Department. Last year we were able to donate $3,000 to the Food Pantry and Athletic Department.

Included

WHAT YOU GET WITH REGISTRATION

When you register, you’re not just signing up for a race or ride; you’re signing up for an experience. Your registration includes a Dope Rider t-shirt, Morning Snacks & Coffee to fuel your start, Ample Parking for easy convenience to the festivities, SAG Support for any on-road assistance, Aid Stop Food and Drink to keep you hydrated and energized, a Post-Ride Meal and Drink to replenish your energy, Post-ride Entertainment to keep the fun going, and a Post-Ride Drawing for a chance to win exciting prizes. Registration also includes as much Kick-a$$ Photography and Video as our crew can manage to get. All images are uploaded to the Homegrown site for free download.

The post-ride meal is a feast! We will have plenty of vegetarian and meat options, soups, chili, sides, fruit, chips, and snacks. Each registered rider will get two trips through the food line and three trips through the beverage line. (Then until we run out once everyone is full and happy) If you’re bringing guests who want to eat too, you can order an extra meal ticket for them too.

Camping: We’re excited to be able to add camping for both tent and RV this year.

Packet Pickups

EARLY PACKET PICK-UP:

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Location: S&S Firepits
2411 Sullivan Rd, College Park, GA 30337

Time: 4:00pm – 8:00pm – Stay for a beer

Friday, February 27, 2026

Location: Downtown Franklin Square

Time: 4:00pm – 7:00pm – Stay for a beer

Early packet pick-up you will get your t-shirt, pre-purchased swag and number with timing dongle (DO NOT FOLD, BEND, OR DISTORT THE NUMBER ) Please put the number on the front of your handlebars so that it can be CLEARLY seen.

DAY OF PACKET PICKUP:

Please arrive at least 1 hour before your start time. You will need to pick-up your t-shirt, pre-purchased swag and number with timing dongle (DO NOT FOLD, BEND, OR DISTORT THE NUMBER ) Please put the number on the front of your handlebars so that it can be CLEARLY seen.

Prize / Race Categories

100-Mile Event $10,000 Purse

We’re excited and proud that we have scrapped together a prize list fitting for the event’s difficulty. The $10,000 purse will be split equally between men and women and will be for the top male and top female, regardless of category. You can read more about the purse and rules here and then we can stop adding all these asterisks.

Custom Trophies: Thanks to Grouchy Ass Pottery Studio (He’s really not that grouchy according to the promotor) is throwing large, custom, hand-made, Honey Pot Trophies, branded with the Homegrown logo, for the winner of each category in the 100 and 62-mile distances (The 40 and 20-mile are a fun ride only). Each trophy takes hours to make and should be a worthy prize worthy of how hard the event is to win. With that said, there must be at least five riders registered for a specific category (Men Open, Women Open, Non-Binary, Men and Women Masters 40-54, Masters 55-64, Masters 65+, Juniors, Singlespeed, Tandem) registered three weeks prior to the start of the event to warrant the effort needed to make each trophy. If there is not a minimum of five riders in your category by that time, you will receive custom-made medal.

Custom Medals: Again, thanks to Grouchy Ass Pottery Studio (see he’s totally not grouchy at all) he will be creating custom, Homegrown branded, hand-made medals out of stoneware, for first, second and third place per category for the 100 and 62-mile events. They’re pretty bad-ass in our opinion and worthy of your great achievement.

Completion Stickers: All finishers of all events will receive a custom branded Homegrown sticker for the event you completed, to display proudly on your car, computer, or wherever.

Facilities

Parking

Changing Rooms

Toilets

Registration On the Day

Pre-Packet Pickups

Support for Participants

First Aid

Emergency Contact No

SAG Wagon

Escort / Police Escort

Roving Mechanical Support