| Option | Distance | Start | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Mile Time Trial | 7 mi | 7:00 AM | $45 |
| 15-Mile Time Trial | 16 mi | 7:00 AM | $45 |
| 50-Mile Time Trial | 50 mi | 7:00 AM | $50 |
| 100 mi | 7:00 AM | $100 | |
| 100-Mile Drafting Allowed | 100 mi | 7:00 AM | $100 |
| 100-Mile Drafting Allowed Team (2-to-8) | 100 mi | 7:00 AM | $100 |
| 100-Mile Non-Drafting | 100 mi | 7:00 AM | $100 |
The Calvins Challenge Event for 2027 - May 15-16
I am very excited to announce that the Calvins Challenge event is back again in 2027 after being an ever greater success in 2026.
We are also incredibly fortunate enough to have it at the same Shawnee High School location! The format for the 100 mile, 6-hr, 12-hr and 24-hr events will be the same as 2026 - utilizing a long and short loop! There will be drafting, non-drafting, and self-supported categories. For insurance issues: I must clearly state that this is not a race. Each rider is riding for personal best in their own category.
What’s New: Nicer and shorter daytime loop.
Sadly due to the continued deterioration of many sections of the original 50-mile loop I do not feel it is safe any longer. So right after the event in May I scouted, rode, and video’d some possible replacement routes. And the winner is:
The 15.0 mile daytime loop (all events): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54088467
RAAM Qualifier (RQ): Again for 2026 - Calvins Challenge 24-hour non-drafting event will be a RAAM qualifier. The RQ Standard is 380 miles for men and 350 miles for women and 60+ men.
Where is it:
The hub of the event will be the Shawnee High School (1675 E Possum Rd, Springfield, OH 45502) If you rode in Calvin’s 2016 or earlier or 2024-25 you will recognize it. The start/finish/lap timing and crew setup will be at the back of the building in the parking lots. There is traffic circle at the intersection of Selma Pike and E Possum Rd (at the NE corner of the school) - which is a welcome addition. Here is a view of that area: Yellow path indicates bike route on road and purple is timing and crew setup. Riders will come into school back parking lot off of E Possum Rd - and then turn right on to Selma Pike
Important Dates:
Packet Pickup and on-site Registration:
New for 2027 - No more paper waivers - I will email you a link you can us electronically sign your waiver. Then about 2 weeks before the event I will email you your digital packet including your bib # and all other info about the event. All you will have to do is show up Fri from 4-7 or Sat from 6-7 to get your bike tag and your RFID tag - then ride!
Your packet up is at the Shawnee High School Football concession stand (behind the school)
Awards and snacks:
Awards will be given at the finish line area after each event as soon as results can be tabulated - Estimating 15-30 minutes after last rider in
I will provide some after ride snacks and water for the riders and crew. If you would like to bring anything to share there will be some tables to put in on. I will also work on getting some food trucks there this year too!
The courses:
The events: 4 UltraCycling & 3 Time Trial Events
There will be 4 UltraCycling events: 100 Mile, 6-hour, 12-hour, & 24-hour.
There will be 3 Time Trial events: 7-Mile, 15-Mile, and 50-Mile Time Trial
All events will have the following categories: gender, 5-yr age-groups, all bike types, supported or unsupported, and solo as well as 2 thru 8 rider teams. There is something for everyone! The UltraCycling events will also have non-drafting or drafting categories.
The Century will ride 6 loops of the 15.0 mile loop and 1 loop of the 6.8 mile loop, or 2 loops of the original 50.5 mile loop (at your own peril).
The 6, & 12-hour events will all ride the 15 mile loop as many times as they can. When they feel they would not be able to complete another 15 mile loop, they will transition to the 6.8 mile loop until their event time is completed.
The 24 Hour riders will also ride the 15 mile loop as many times as they can until dark. At this time they can decide to continue to ride the 15 mile loop or switch to the 6.8 mile loop. We will make the assumption that you will ride the 6.8 loop unless you tell the timer you are going to do the 15 mile. This is so we will give you the proper credit for the loop you are riding. If you decide to ride the 15 through the night, then once you cannot complete the loop before your time expires please transition to the 6.8 mile loop until your 24 hours is completed.
Each of the Time Trials events (7, 15, & 50 miles) - Each ride one lap of each of the 3 courses (described below). All riders will leave every 15 secs immediately after all the UltraCycling riders leave. Approx 7:05am
Note: For all timed events - you must complete the loop you are on when your time expires. Your average speed on this final loop will be used to determine your prorated distance for the amount of the time you rode that loop before your timed event expires. Even if you miss-judged how long it would take you to complete one of the longer loops and your time expired while you were riding one of them, complete the loop and your distance will be prorated.
Mechanicals and/or race abandonment before completing a full lap
If you have a mechanical and had to call your crew to help and had to return to the school, you must return to the spot you stopped (via vehicle is fine) and continue if you are able. If you are not able to and you must abandon, to get credit for this partial lap you must be tracking your GPS location on your phone or Garmin (type) unit. You must save this file to Strava and present it to the Event Director when you declare you have abandoned before the official end of your timed event. If you do this then the Event Director will review your Strava ride and credit you with the mileage you rode on the partial lap.
Trains or temporary road closure due to an accident:
If you get stopped by a train or temporary road closure due to an accident: you can turn around and immediately start riding the course in the opposite direction until you feel the road will be cleared when you return, then turn back around and ride back to the same spot. To get credit for any mileage ridden in this scenario - you must be tracking your GPS location on your phone or Garmin (type) unit. When the event is over you must immediately upload the file to Strava and send it to the Event Director and tell them when and where this occurred. Ideally you will hit the lap timer at the beginning and end of your “detour” so it can be easily seen in Strava analysis..
Event protocol:
All events will start at 7:00am and will ride their respective long loop until there is not enough time to ride another loop - then they will transition to the 6.8 mile loop until their time is finished.
Non-drafting riders let all the Drafting riders go off first.
Non-drafting Rules:
If you are in any non-drafting category, you must honor the “non-drafting zone”. We have adopted the USA Triathlon (USAT) definition of this ‘zone’: as a “rectangular area seven 7 meters long (23 feet) and two 2 meters wide (6.5 feet) surrounding each bicycle”. This will provide a sufficient non-drafting area around each cyclist.
Miscellaneous:
This event is also aligning with the World Record setting standards within World UltraCycling Association (WUCA). This new format also allows all riders to ride until the very end of their timed event. Everyone will be encouraged and allowed to complete the current lap they are on until their time event expires.
** Special Note for Trikes, Handcycles, ElliptiGOs: Due to speed, time, visibility and safety concerns, you will be allowed to ride the 6.8 Mile short-loop for the entire duration of any 6, 12, or 24 hour event if you like. Just tell me you want to do this when you check-in and I’ll assign you a special category number for it in the timing system.
Follow vehicles and crew:
Only riders who choose to ride the historic 50-mile loop (at your own peril) are allowed to have a personal support vehicle somewhere on the course to assist you. These are the rules:
During the daytime loop, supported riders may have their crew set-up anywhere along the route as long as they are completely off the road and not on private property. They may also set up in the designated area behind Shawnee High School just past the start/finish timing area.
15 & 7-Mile Loop Support rules:
Where to park your vehicle:
Electricity access:
Plan on there being no electrical outlets for you to plug into. I suggest small relatively silent generators or inverters that you can run from your vehicle if you need 110V power.
Unsupported Category:
This means that you are “totally” self-supported. You cannot have anyone help you in any way. If you get in a bad way on the course and need to call for help, you must either abandon and take your mileage at that spot - or change to the Supported Category.
Awards and souvenirs:
Registration fee includes a beautiful forged Calvins medallion especially designed for this event with a 2026 insert. Recognition each event for ALL participants in drafting, non-drafting, supported, unsupported, age-group, gender, and bike categories. There will also be recognition for Overall in all main categories. Awards and recognition ceremonies will be held individually for each event as soon as the results for each event can be tabulated after completion. Award Ceremonies after each event will be held near the start/finish line (or at the Concession Stand Shelter by the football field if raining.)
Accommodations:
Misc Info:
Both courses used will be surveyed for exact length (to the cm), and all riders will be allowed to ride until their timed event expires, therefore allowing the greatest possible distance for each participant.
WUCA and GWR time and distance records on Surveyed Calvins courses:
Because of alignment with WUCA Record attempt rules, these surveyed courses can also be used to attempt any valid time and distance WUCA record attempt. This attempt cannot however happen simultaneously with the Calvins Challenge event. Contact records@ultracycling.com for more information about a WUCA record attempt. Registration for this must be done at least 21 days prior to your record attempt to allow the pre-attempt documentation to be completed.
Because the courses will be surveyed for exact distance to the cm (also per WUCA Record rules) based on the shortest possible rideable distance, this may vary slightly with what your GPS unit reports. (The surveyed distance is almost always a little shorter) Your final distance will be calculated off of this survey and how many laps you have completed..
Many thanks to the Shawnee School District and especially the principal and athletic director or the High School
Lastly, we are very fortunate in that the Shawnee School District has graciously allowed us to use their High School for our event again . PLEASE be considerate of the building and the space. Don’t try to gain access to the tracks or the school. Use the time immediately after your event (while you are waiting for the award ceremony) to remove all personal items and all trash from your support area.
Note: Great cleanup job from everyone who attended the 2026 event - You could not even tell we were there - and that is how it should be!
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Enter a distance and your average speed to estimate your finish.
Ratings and course conditions open around race day: condition reports 14 days before, ratings afterwards.
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