To the organizers, riders, and racers of the Heart of Gold Gravel Ride,
Twenty years ago, I started riding with a simple idea: get my buddies together to ride hard routes, raise money for kids, and build awareness of teen mental health. That idea started as 300 Miles for Mentoring, which raised about $250,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters. It has since grown into the Heart of Gold Gravel Race, which has brought hundreds of racers to Nevada City every year since 2021. Today, it is a community event supporting teen mental wellness, one of the top 10 “Toughest Gravel Races” in America, and a success not only for the charities it supports but also for the businesses of Nevada County. I could not have imagined it when we began. Thank you for making it a success.
To our organizers and volunteers: you build a safe, welcoming, well-fed event out of early mornings, route maps, aid stations, and a great deal of patience. Every rider who crossed the finish line at Pioneer Park did so because of you. Thank you for the care you put into every detail, and for adding something new each year, including this year’s e-bike category. Special thanks to Jet Lowe for the sushi, Nevada County Search and Rescue, and Dirt Riders for keeping everyone safe and fed.
To our sponsors: PG&E, Dignity Health, Allworth Financial, One Toyota, Tahoe Forest Health System, Hansen Bros. Enterprises, YubaNet, KNCO, and every business that stepped up, thank you. Your generosity is why every dollar of proceeds goes to teen mental wellness in Nevada County. We are also grateful to Child Advocates of Nevada County, our fiscal sponsor.
To our riders and racers: whether you took on the 28, 47, or 74 miles, climbed the San Juan Ridge or followed the Yuba River corridor, you showed up for something bigger than a finish time. You raised money, cheered on strangers, and pedaled hard on a long day in the foothills. Many of you come back every year. You are the heart of this event, and the reason the name fits. I had a particularly good day on the course with my buddy Ken, one of the original founders, as we rode and recounted the years of ups and downs.
What you do matters beyond the course. Your entries and your support help Child Advocates of Nevada County, Bright Futures for Youth, Youth Bicyclists of Nevada County, and Heart of Gold Teen Therapy. Together, they give young people in our community mentors, advocates, bikes, and access to mental health care. A teenager who has someone in their corner is a different kind of future for all of us.
Twenty years is a long time to keep an idea alive, and it only works because a community decided to carry it. I am grateful to every one of you. See you on the gravel.
With gratitude,
Hardy Bullock
Supervisor, District 5
Founder, Heart of Gold Gravel