Bad Astra is a group of cyclists who love to ride. We felt other races took a lifetime getting into. If you are familiar with Kansas, you may know the state moto is “Ad Astra Per Aspera.” Depending on how you google it, the Latin means “to the stars through difficulties.” We wanted a race that was awesome and represented Kansas. We felt “The Bad Astra” was a great name for a gravel bike race. “Bad Astra” in Latin means “really cool bike race…” probably.

The race itself will be start in Ottawa, Kansas September 27, 2025. Registration is open!

The distances for the The Bad Astra are changing for 2025. There is a 80 mile race that participants will have 8.5 hours to complete. For those who are not yet ready for a full 100 mile race, there will be a 40 and 20 mile entry options as well. The 40 is affectionately named “The Half Astra” and the 25 is “The BA Party Pace.”

We look forward to seeing you in September!!

The course and gps maps will be released a week before the event.