In short, Grinduro is just what the name suggests: Gravel Road Race + Mountain Bike-Style Enduro = one long loop of pavement and dirt, where finishing times aren’t based on overall loop time, but four timed segments (each roughly five-to-seven minutes).
But Grinduro is not just a bike race. It’s a celebration of cycling with as much emphasis on the fun as the ride, with excellent food, an impressive display of art and incredible handmade bikes, live music, camping and a festival atmosphere.
The course is a serious affair (7,500-feet of climbing in 60 miles) but the Grinduro isn’t meant to be a sufferfest. We’ve linked together some of our favorite roads in a quiet corner of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. The course features a mix of surfaces (smooth pavement, gravel and hard-packed dirt) with two main climbs, one long valley and two world-class descents. One descent includes a fast and flowy singletrack trail. The other descent trends downhill for 30 miles!
With a Gran Fondo-style mass start from Quincy, you’ll be pedaling out of town and up the first climb alongside your heroes and the pace will be conversational—because overall time doesn’t matter, only the four timed segments. The Grinduro segments (the exact sections will be shared on September 26) are designed to reward the most well rounded of rouleurs.
Oct 09, 2015
9:00 am
DISTANCE | 65 miles Saturday, Sunday TBD |
DIFFICULTY | Pavement, dirt forest roads, some singletrack |
TERRAIN | Gravel, Forest Road, Singletrack Mix |
FOOD/BEER | Gourmet breakfast/dinner with fully stocked rest stops. |