core4

BIKEIOWA SPONSOR

core4 is Iowa City’s premier cycling experience: a celebration of community, opportunity, recreation, and engagement.

For the uninitiated, it’s that local Iowa City vibe on the national stage. Join riders from over 30 states. Be part of Iowa gravel history along with 1,000 others! 1 of 4 of which are women. Let's go ladies! As always, youth ride for free.

Big Grove + Red Bull + Wilsons Orchard = one hell of a gravel party!!!

core4 launched in 2022 and was Iowa's largest gravel event in Iowa. In 2023 the event grew by 30% with over 800 participants and 2024 ridership is capped and is already over one/third capacity.

What sets core4 apart from other gravel races?

Multiple surfaces on one bicycle in the same race. You gravel, dirt, single track and pavement and YOU determine the best bicycle to ride.

There are four distances - 100 miles, 60 miles, 40 miles or 20. They all contain gravel, dirt, single track and pavement. They will all be challenging.

The 100 and 60 mile routes and are podium eligible and have all for 4 surfaces including singletrack. The 40 and 20 mile routes are gravel centric and do not have singletrack.

The courses route through champagne gravel, the best b roads, amazing urban experiences, and super fast singletrack.

The races can be solo or a 3-person team and there are 18 categories per race distance.

The race format was modeled after the Rule of Three event in Bentonville, Arkansas. Tarmac, Gravel and Singletrack and what makes up that race.

Why choose this experience?

community - good folks. doing good things. sharing best-kept secrets.

opportunity - ride. volunteer. give back. get into whatever you’re into. go all in.

recreation - move your body. explore a landscape. get into it.

engagement - let’s meet + do this thing. all people. together. all of us.

Who is the core4 Team?

Alex - the visionary. Combining cycling, advocacy, partnerships in engaging ways while recreating in the landscape he loves.
Liz - the local brains behind Bike Iowa City where she promotes Midwest's premier cycling destination and shreds dirt and gravel.
Nate - the twisted saint - the course guru who knows all the backroads and places to put the hurt on.
Rachel - hooked on mullets and mustaches, she is the behind-the-scenes gal who keeps all the digital madness in tact.
Andy - van-living large and riding dirt - also co-founder of Rule of Three event in Bentonville, Arkansas

more: https://www.core4.bike/aboutus

What type of bicycle should I ride?

core4 recommendations include - Flat bar, drop bar, gravel, mountain bike, touring bike. The choice is yours. They state "Just make sure it’s set up and ready for rowdy terrain (tire width, tubeless, etc)".