Central Texas Showdown
Building on our success with the East Texas Showdown, Bikes or Death is proud to present the Central Texas Showdown.
We’ve duplicated the blueprint that has made ETS successful: Multiple Routes, choose your adventure: race or ride, a Death Loop, and a Hoedown. This time its set in the Texas Hill Country with its iconic views, endless hills, and rugged beauty in abundance.
The Hills are Calling
When: Oct. 23rd – 25th 2026
Where: Castell, TX
Registration Opens: April 23rd @ High Noon
CTS Route Library
Showdown
Ready to step up to the big leagues? The Showdown is 500 miles of the best roads and views the Hill Country can provide. Did I say 500 miles??? Yes, yes I did. New for 2025 the Showdown has a new and improved (and longer) Death Loop™.
For the uninitiated the Death Loop is a core component of the Showdown Series and a fun way to spice things up a little. The Death Loop starts when you arrive at the finish line, but wait there’s more. Riders will be able to use the Castell General Store (start/finish line) as neutral support. Grab a burger, maybe a beer, chat with friends, but don’t get sucked in, you still have a 60 mile Death Loop to conquer before you can kick your feat up and celebrate Texas style.
There’s a lot of paved roads in this part of Texas, but you’ll be surprised at how remote and beautiful they are. The ratio of paved and unpaved sections make picking the right tire a fun challenge for racers to ponder. Do you go skinny and blast through the paved sections only to beat yourself up a little on gravel, washboard, and sandy roads; or do you err on the side of comfort? What’s going to be faster? How much do you want to suffer? You decide how you want to Showdown!
**Routes will be finalized no less than a week prior to the event. The maps provided here are considered draft versions to help with your pre-planning.
Slowdown
Step on up to the Slowdown a mixed surface ultra cycling race that gives riders a chance to test their skills, endurance, and mindset against others. OR you could just take it easy and break it up into a 3 day ride, you know….Slowdown…
There is a shockingly low supply of Gravel/Dirt roads in this part of Texas. As a result this course is 25% Gravel/Dirt & 75% paved. However, most of the paved roads are remote, beautiful, and low traffic.
Lowdown
The Lowdown is NOT a race. It is a ride. There is a group camp. It’s a lot more fun than going fast and not sleeping. You are still expected to be self supported, but we’ve reserved Group Campsites for Friday and Saturday evening, so you’re guaranteed some camaraderie for your efforts!
Due to lack of camping and resupply options on the second leg of this route, it is recommended to utilize the campsites we have reserved for you.
This route is 50% gravel/dirt/sand and 50% paved. It features some of the most iconic and quintessential Texas landscapes, including views of Enchanted Rock.
No prizes, awards, or placements will be given for this event.
GPS Tracking is OPTIONAL for Lowdown and Super Lowdown
Super Lowdown
How Low can you go?? Introducing the Super Lowdown! Building on our mission to make the outdoors and bikepacking accessible for everyone, the Super Lowdown clocks in at just 83 miles with free camping at Oxford Campground at mile 55 on the route.
This is not a race. This is an opportunity to ride your damn bike with a lot of other bikepackers in a beautiful Hill Country setting.
GPS Tracking is OPTIONAL for Lowdown and Super Lowdown.
Gravél Throwdown
New for 2026 we’re bringing Gravél racing to Central Texas. We have 3 tasty routes for you to choose from. Two races and one fun ride!
Not your traditional gravel race – we’re bringing grassroots bikepacking vibes and ethos to gravel. No aid stations, no support. Fix your own damn bike if you must, or walk back in shame. We don’t care, just ride your damn bike, we’ll celebrate you at the Hoedown no matter what your result. It’s not gravel, it’s gravél. Come experience the difference.
We’re starting off with limited categories. If a bunch of y’all fools signs up we’ll break the categories down into age groups as well. First year – let’s go big, okay?!
If you are participating in any of the ultra-cycling or bikepacking events (Showdown – Super Lowdown) you can enter any of the Gravél Throwdown events for FREE. All you gotta do is finish before 8am on Sunday moring.
Gravél Throwdown 60.9 – This is a gravél race that takes place on the same roads our Showdowners ride on the Death Loop. Line up against tired, dirty, unhinged ultra-cyclists who just pedaled hundreds of miles and still have something to prove. Are they outrunning their demons? Did they lose their off-switch? No one knows. But we’re here for it.
Gravél Throwdown 32 – A shorter gravél race for those that want to Throwdown, but for half the distance. Same as above. Pack a Red Bull, you’re gonna need those wings…this one’s gonna be quick.
Gravél Fundown 24 – As the name suggest, this aint a race. It just a chill bike ride, with chill friends, on beautiful hill country backroads. One of the things we learned at ETS this year is some of y’all just wanna do a fun/chill ride on Sunday to hang with your friends and shakeout those sore legs. We got you…the Fundown is here!
Schedule of Events
Thursday, Oct. 22rd
5:00pm-10:00pm ~ Racer Check In
7:00pm ~ Pre-race meeting
8:00pm ~ Go to sleep or grab a beer
Friday, Oct. 23th
6:00am ~ Breakfast tacos and coffee available
8:00am ~ Group Start, Neutral Rollout
8:15am ~ Late Check-In begins
Saturday, Oct. 24th
All Day ~ Ride your Damn Bike
Sunday, Oct. 25th
12:00pm ~ Optional Clown Bike Time Trials Start
5:00pm ~ Hoedown: Live Music, Raffle, Awards
6:00pm ~ Officially ends, but we’ll hang out and grab a beer with ya
***There is no deadline or cutoff for the race***
Need to Know
- This part of Texas has almost no public land. You will need to rely on State Parks, HipCamps, AirBnB’s, Hotels, etc. if you plan to sleep. Some of these accommodations are listed as POI’s on the route file. However, those POI’s are not intended to be representative of all options available on route. Riders are expected to do their own homework and have camping/sleeping arrangements planned ahead of time.
- Between miles 0 and 110 there are no resupply or water refill options on route. We are working to establish a Drop Site so participants can stash needed supplies on route. BoD will facilitate this at check in. More details coming soon.
- There are long sections with ZERO cell phone reception. It is imperative that you do your homework on resupply options on route and make sure that they are open when you plan to be there. Have extra food/water is encouraged due to the remoteness of these routes.
- GPS Tracking is Required for all participants regardless of event you are doing.
- Our first priority with all of the routes is SAFETY! However, bike riding/racing on public roads is inherently dangerous. There are sections on the route where you can expect higher traffic conditions, these are necessary to route into town with supplies. Please ride with caution and awareness.
- Rescue vehicles will be available for participants of all routes. We encourage riders to make their way back to the finish line by their own means if possible. There is a minimum of $25 fee to use our rescue drivers (you can give your rescue driver more if you are able).
- Camping before & after the race – We have reserved group camping at the Historic Castell Church grounds behind the Generally Store. You can camp there the night before the race and leave your car there during the event.
- Check in / Start/Finish / Awards Ceremony – Will take place at Castell General Store. They serve some amazing food, so bring your appetite!
- Awards – will be giving to 1st, 2nd, 3rd place for the Showdown and Slowdown participants in the following categories: Men, Women, Non-binary. No monetary prizes.