East Texas Showdown 2027

Welcome to the East Texas Showdown

Hosted at the Bullet Grill House in Point Blank, Texas, the East Texas Showdown brings together gravel racing, adventure cycling, and bikepacking across the remote pine forests of East Texas. Choose your route, choose your approach, and know this: however you ride your damn bike, you’ll be celebrated at the Hoedown!

Where We Ride

• Public Land: Texas doesn’t have much public land, but we make the most of what we’ve got.
• Routes: The routes explore forgotten roads in and around the Sam Houston and Davy Crockett National Forests, deep within the Texas Pine Curtain.
• Expect: Towering loblolly pines, quiet backroads, tiny rural communities, and locals wondering, “What the heck are y’all doing way out here?”

Why We Ride

ETS was created to be safe, fun, approachable, and community-driven. What began as a bikepacking event has grown into a family gathering where hundreds of friendships are formed and strengthened each year. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back in 2027.

Routes

The Showdown — Race

• Distance: 400 miles
• Climbing: 17,000 feet of climbing
• Terrain: 60% unpaved / 40% paved
• Locations: Two national forests

A traditional, self-supported bikepacking race with awards for first, second, and third place. Remote roads, fast dogs, and an opportunity to look yourself square in your own damn face and find out what you’re made of.

100% East Texas.

The Slowdown — Race

• Distance: 273 miles
• Climbing: 11,000 feet of climbing
• Terrain: 60% unpaved / 40% paved
• Locations: Two national forests

A shorter, but still rowdy, option for riders who want a little more time to enjoy the experience and maybe pet a dog or two. Riders are timed, with awards for first, second, and third place.

The Lowdown — Ride

• Type: Not a race
• Timing: No timing
• Vibes: Maximum vibes
• Gathering: Optional group camping at Ratcliff Lake

The Lowdown is a community-focused bikepacking ride for people who care more about the journey than the clock. Fun awards: Best Dressed | Best On-Course Photo | Raddest Bike.

The Gravél Throwdown — Race

• Options: Choose between 69 and 42 mile routes
• Experience: Three-loop burner beneath towering loblolly pines
• Favorite Road: FS 202, better known as Golden Gravel Road
• Spirit: Self-supported spirit of bikepacking: no aid stations and no outside support

Both distances bring the self-supported spirit of bikepacking to gravel: no aid stations and no outside support—fix your own damn bike. However it goes, we’ll celebrate you at the Hoedown.

It’s not gravel. It’s gravél.

Important Information

• Registration Deadline: The deadline to unregister for a full refund is Feb. 25, 2027.
• Post-Deadline Policy: After that date, participants who unregister will receive a full credit toward a future Texas Showdown Series event.

Visit TexasShowdownSeries.com for complete route descriptions, maps, schedules, rules, and additional event information.