Registration just opened for the second annual East Texas Showdown, and spots are filling up quickly. Learn more about next year’s event, what’s new, and how to secure your spot here…

Photos by Maxwell Johnston (@mt.johnston8)

Last fall, 40 brave souls lined up in the pouring rain in Point Blank, Texas, to participate in the inaugural East Texas Showdown (ETS). The brainchild of Patrick Farnsworth, host of the Bikes or Death podcast, the ETS is the result of more than a year of route planning and scouting. Last year, there were two routes to choose from: the 380-mile Showdown Route and a shorter 280-mile Slowdown option. Both routes started in the Sam Houston National Forest and weaved their way north through the Davy Crockett National Forest and back again. Out of the 40 riders who started, there were 26 finishers. The majority of those who dropped out succumbed to mechanical and technical issues from all the rain, sand, and mud from day one. Some noteworthy finishers were Dave Easley and Alex Maldonado who had a finish time of 1 day, 11 hours, and 43 minutes, and Hannah Simon and Alicia Danze who had a finish time of 2 days, 9 hours, and 42 minutes.

  • 2021 East Texas Showdown
  • 2021 East Texas Showdown

Registration just opened up for the 2022 event, which is scheduled for April 1st. Once again, there will be two routes to choose from. The full Showdown Route is 380 miles with 15,900 feet elevation gain, 60% gravel and 40% pavement, with a million dogs to help you go fast. The Slowdown Route is 280 miles, 11,528 feet of climbing, 65% gravel and 35% pavement, with plenty of doggies to pet and flowers to smell. Currently, the event is capped at 100 riders, and over half those spots have been spoken for. Registration costs $55 and can be found here.

East Texas Showdown Route

East Texas Slowdown Route

We’ve already heard that Matt Mason, creator of the Monumental Loop, and our friend Pepper Cook, are both planning to attend the grand depart. Head over to the event listing to learn more. Planning on attending? Let us know in the conversation below…

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