Gravel century in Wisconsin's Chequamegon area.
Reputation: Growing regional Wisconsin event.
[01]
Course Overview
CAMBA's northwoods century on Chequamegon fortified gravel.
100 mi
Distance
5,000 ft
Elevation
Cable, Wisconsin
Location
May 8 (SATURDAY, ORGANIZER-CONFIRMED; 2026 ran May 9 with 161 hundred-mile finishers), 2027
Date
~200
Field Size
$70
Entry Cost
Facts & History
[03]
The Course
Photo: YouTube / Dave
Photo: YouTube / DaveChip-timed mass-start gravel race from Cable WI (~1,350ft): Hungry Bear 100 (100mi flagship), Snacking Bear 60, Climbing Cub 30 — 'fortified gravel' through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and Lincoln Community Forest; Rock Lake section = 'the punchiest ten miles', plus Porcupine Road and the Morgan Falls Climb; aid at miles 26 and 67; finish near The Portage/Rivers Eatery. Stage of the Iron Bear 1000 series. Gain unpublished by organizer (~5,000ft per independent recap — display Varies). ORGANIZER = CAMBA, NOT New Moon Ski & Bike (prior profile wrong). Corrected 2026-07-14.
Signature challenge: 100-mile distance on rolling to hilly Northwoods terrain.
30
MILE
Early Hills
Rolling terrain establishes pace.
60
MILE
Midpoint Grind
Halfway, legs feeling it.
85
MILE
Final Push
Last 15 miles to finish.
RIDERS REPORT
sand dispatch MI 80
6.8 miles of sand that was just unbelievable and took a lot of time to get through
Pretty sandy conditions throughout, with rocks all over the place that require careful cornering
Sandy grovely surface that requires taking corners carefully
[04]
From the Field
At mile 80 we hit sand patches for about 6.8 miles it was just unbelievable. The Salsa Cutthroat on 2.2 Teravails came in handy when the roads turned into rocky sand for nearly 8 miles.
iowagravelgang · 2K views
It feels like being out west in Montana - the landscape here, the trees. It was really good course, the majority of the ride was really good, some steep hills obviously, but the course here is pretty sandy.
iowagravelgang · 2K views
It was about a seven hour drive to Cable, Wisconsin on small lane single lane roads
iowagravelgang · 2K views
The campsite was about 30 bucks for the night with water, electricity and a lake view - not a bad price
iowagravelgang · 2K views
RACER
Racer Reviews
Raced Hungry Bear 100? Be the first to rate it.
[07]
Training
May 8, 2027 HUNGRY BEAR 100
RIDERS REPORT
Redshift cruise control system was loved by the rider
[08]
Train for Hungry Bear 100
RACE DEMAND PROFILE
Durability
6
Climbing
5
VO2 Power
4
Threshold
8
Technical
4
Heat
1
Altitude
2
Race Specificity
6
FREE
GET THE HUNGRY BEAR 100 PREP KIT
12-week training timeline, race-day checklists, packing list, and personalized fueling calculator — unlocked instantly.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
[09]
Race Logistics
Airport
Duluth (DLH) or Minneapolis (MSP) ~2-3 hours, Milwaukee (MKE) 4 hours
Lodging
Cable has lodging due to Chequamegon area tourism. Book early during summer season.
Food
Small town with dining options. Better than typical Northwoods towns.
Packet Pickup
Typically day before or race morning
Parking
parking at Cable Municipal Parking implied[3]
[10]
Tire Picks
38mmMIXED
1
Specialized Pathfinder Pro
Fast center, grippy edges. The modern all-rounder benchmark.
2
Vittoria Terreno Mix
Graphene versatility. Mixed-terrain grip with reasonable rolling speed.
3
Continental Terra Trail
excellent wet grip
FRONT/REAR SPLIT Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass 44mm / Specialized Pathfinder Pro 38mmFaster front for reduced rolling resistance on straights, grippier rear for traction on loose climbs and corners
[—]
Similar Races
[—]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the climate like at Hungry Bear 100?
Early May weather creates planning challenges, as Dan's group discovered when they "underdressed for the day" after waking to 34°F despite forecasts "promising sun and temps over 50." The sun finally appeared and temps "just reached up above 50 degrees," but that morning surprise shows why northern Wisconsin spring racing requires weather contingency planning. More weather exposure than Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego.[1]
How are the logistics for Hungry Bear 100?
Dan from One On One Bicycle Studio missed the start "for the second year in a row" and "didn't care" - that low-stress approach masks basic organizational gaps. Packet pickup happens at Tilly's Pies with free coffee, which sounds charming but hardly screams professional logistics for 800+ riders spread across three different start locations and times.[6]
How adventurous is Hungry Bear 100?
Parker's course design "winds its way deep into the north woods" through forest service roads where "you're rarely traveling in the same direction for long." Linda Shydlowski felt "gratitude for the sunshine, blue skies, forests, lakes, rivers" during her ride. The route offers "6 or 7 hours" through Chequamegon forest with limited cell service, creating proper backcountry isolation.[1]
How prestigious is Hungry Bear 100?
Dan epitomizes the race culture: missing the start twice running because "fun and adventure always trump competition." Tim Savre won in 4:40:58, but the emphasis stays on inclusivity over racing pedigree. One rider loved "how chill this race was" and called it "the antithesis to so many amped up races," confirming this isn't a resume-building competitive showcase.[1]
Should I race Hungry Bear 100?
If you're in Wisconsin or the Upper Midwest and want a 100-miler in a beautiful setting—yes. If you're traveling from far away—probably not worth the trip.
[11]
Sources & Citations
Research sources used to build this race profile. Always verify details with official race sources before making travel or registration decisions.
- Route Maps RideWithGPS: Hungry Bear 100 2022 (copy)ridewithgps.com/routes/39219103
- Other Sources Blogblog.newmoonski.com/2024/05/15/2024-hungry-bear-a-photo-r...
- Other Sources Deathrideradventuredeathrideradventure.blogspot.com/2016/05/hungry-bear-100....
- Other Sources Lifeaboveeightlifeaboveeight.com/hungry-bear-100/hungry-bear-must-know/
- Other Sources Cambatrailswww.cambatrails.org/events/hungrybeargravel
- Other Sources Granfondoguidewww.granfondoguide.com/Events/Index/12414/hungry-bear-gravel
- Other Sources Oneononebikewww.oneononebike.com/blogs/journal/race-report-the-hungry...
- Other Sources Thenxrthwww.thenxrth.com/post/hungry-bear-gravel-race-2022
- Community youtube.com: Watchwww.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoCCyzmw5Eg
- Community youtube.com: Watchwww.youtube.com/watch?v=JnJYFEWNAHY
- Community webscorer.com: Racewww.webscorer.com/race?raceid=276638