2026 RAT 1000 and Mini RAT

The RAT 1000: The Legend of Texas Gravel  The Only Continuous Mixed Surface Route Across Texas. Contested Every Year Since 2014. Some call it the Race Across Texas. Some call it the Ride Across Texas. Everyone calls it the adventure of a lifetime. Are you ready to tackle the Granddaddy of Ultra Endurance Texas Gravel? Whether you are here to race against the clock or party across the Panhandle, the RAT 1000 is a challenging odyssey that connects the piney woods of the East to the high desert of the West. Club Spinistry Members ride FREE!  Join the RAT 1000 Facebook Group for the latest banter  Choose Your Adventure We offer three ways to tame the RAT. Choose your poison: 1. The RAT 1000 Stage Race / Party For the social adventurer. We ride as a group, suffer together, and gather at the same overnight locations every night. It’s a rolling festival of grit and gears. Vibe: "Camaraderie over Cut-offs." Format: Scheduled daily stages. 2. Self-Supported ITT (Individual Time Trial) For the ultra-endurance purist. Runs under "Tour Divide" rules. The clock starts when you pedal off and doesn't stop until you hit New Mexico. Vibe: "Just you, the bike, and the demons in your head." Rules: Live tracking required. No private support allowed (unless available to the general public). Trail Angels are the only exception during Group Depart week. 3. The Mini RAT For the "I have a job" cyclist. Ride any portion of the route you want. No pressure to finish the full 1000. Join us for a single weekend or pedal back to DFW. ️ The Route Overview: From Texarkana to Tucumcari Based on the 2024 Permanent Route Cue Sheet This is not a ride around the block. The RAT 1000 is a geographical tour de force, evolving from humid forests to arid high plains. Leg 1: The Green Tunnel & The Red River (Texarkana to Paris) Miles 0 - 100 You roll out of Texarkana on city streets before hitting the gravel. The route creates a jagge