Gravel Grinders Raise Over$3,000 For Pioneers Inn Roof

An annual bike-riding and fundraising event brought in more that $3,000 to pay for repairs to the roof of Pioneers Inn of Gilead.A storm late Friday night, August 25, of this year brought rains, hail and wind gusts that ranged from 68 miles per hour. The most obvious damage in Jefferson County was the roof of the family-owned eatery and long-time Gilead landmark, which was almost completely torn off, leaving the interior flooded.The Fifth annual Nebransas (Nebraska-Kansas) Gravel Grinder, a local gravel cycling event, took place on Saturday, October 21, in Gilead. Featuring routes along the Nebraska-Kansas state line, this year’s ride marked a change in location of the event and a community effort to raise funds for a local business in need.Originally started by Justin and Julie Heinrichs in 2019, the Nebransas Gravel Grinder has been a staple event in the southeast Nebraska and North Central Kansas schedule for gravel cycling enthusiasts. Over the past four years, the ride started and ended in Diller, offering both a 31-mile short course and a challenging 63-mile metric century long course. Riders are drawn to the ride because of its diverse routes, which include gravel, minimum maintenance roads, and publicly accessible single tracks.One unique aspect of the Nebransas Gravel Grinder has been its focus on supporting small-town establishments, including restaurants, convenience stores, and stops along the way, giving participants a true taste of local area culture.In 2023, Jackie Gregory and Rob Evans of Fairbury took the lead on planning of this local event. The decision to move the event from Diller to Gilead this year was driven by the desire to support the Pioneers Inn in Gilead, whose 136-year-old building lost its roof during the August windstorm.Gregory and a group of friends made the decision to change the 2023 Nebransas Gravel Grinder into a donation only, show-and-go event, starting and finishing in Gilead. In this format, 100 percent of the donations raised went directly to Karen Keilwitz to assist with the construction costs of the new roof.Co-Ride Director Gregory emphasized, “Our ridership loves to support small towns during local gravel cycling tours. Karen has always treated cyclists with kindness, and the Pioneers Inn in Gilead has been a gracious host and route stop for our past events. We are deeply grateful for her support of all cyclists that have stopped at the Pioneers Inn over the past five years during events like the Lazy Horse Gravel Grind.”This year’s Nebransas Gravel Grinder attracted 24 riders from Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri, who had the opportunity to tackle the 31- and 63-mile courses. The southern Thayer County and northern Republic County routes offered miles of gravel, minimum maintenance, visits to rural cemeteries, and small-town stops along the state line. The dry weather allowed the group to explore many routes that would not have been accessible in rainy weather.Prior to the ride, Keilwitz provided cinnamon rolls and at the end of the event, there were several different varieties of pie. Jackie established a Go Fund Me account to allow those who couldn’t attend, raising $1,935.00. The event on Saturday also generated another $1,175.00 in donations.Per a statement released by Gravel Grinder after the event, “The success of the event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of volunteers who helped organize various parts of the event. Special recognition goes to Melissa Hopken of Kansas City, Missouri, and Carol Hopken of Deshler for monitoring the course and providing a rural ‘oasis’ near Hebron. Don Vostrez and The Acreage Steakhouse generously opened early and hosted riders in Hubbell, and 81 Express - Chester, allowed the use of their facilities to stock up along the route.”

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