On October 10, 2015 the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship will host the inaugural Grinduro Bike Race, a combination of the two fastest-growing cycling disciplines in bike racing: gravel and enduro racing. Add an art show, bike show, live music and camping, and Grinduro promises to be a unique event worth skipping a cyclocross race for. The event is taking place at the Quincy Fairgrounds and although not cheap, benefits the Stewardship and its goal to build and maintain trails in the Sierra. Full press release below.
The two-day cycling event in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, organized by Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, Giro Sport Design with SRAM, and Clif Bar will see 450 bike enthusiasts descend on Quincy, CA, for two days of fine food, camping, live music, bike valet service from Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates, an art/bike show, and a new kind of competition that combines the best elements of a mountain bike enduro and a gravel road race.
After a successful second 100-mile Lost and Found gravel race this year, the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship is back again with another unique event: the Grinduro. © Cyclocross Magazine
The course is a serious affair (8,000-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 single-track 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 best rounded of rouleurs.
- Segment One is one mile of leg-searing, punchy climbing
- Segment Two is a wide-open, practice-your-tuck, high-speed, non-technical affair.
- Segment Three is a flat-out, five-kilometer time trial on flat-to-rolling blacktop.
- Segment Four is a section of the twisty, single-track descent back into Quincy.
Racer registration is open now and is $200 for the weekend including race entry, camping, music and breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday.
In addition to the music and the racing, Grinduro will feature displays of art and hand built bicycles, and excellent food from former Clyde Common chef Chris DiMinno of Gourmet Century fame. Wine selections from GRIP wines & Dunn Vineyards and beer from Sierra Nevada Brewery. Food on-site will be available to purchase from Pangaea.
Caletti will be one of many West Coast frame builders to make the trip to the mountains and show off its creations. © Cyclocross Magazine
Featured builders include Black Cat, Blue Collar Bikes, Caletti, Falconer, Retrotec, Steve Rex, Soulcraft and others. There will also be displays of handmade creations from Paul Component Engineering, White Industries, Strawfoot and Traugot Guitars alongside art from Geoff McFetridge, Campbell Steers and others.
After cycling celebration to feature live performances by: Mike Watt and the Missingmen who will be headlining, with Ray Barbee as the opening act, and DJ Coop to take the party into the late night.
“Grinduro is going to be a righteous event and we’re happy to be a part of it, ” said Mike Watt, legendary bass guitarist and front man of the Missingmen. “And you can bet we’ll be playing our hearts out that night. ”
Greg Williams, executive director of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, is overjoyed about the music lineup. “There were a couple of summers where all we listened to was the Minutemen, ” said Williams. “Mike Watt and the Missingmen are sure to bring the right kind of high energy tunes, and Ray Barbee knows how to get things off on the right foot.”
Factor in DJ Coop to keep things flowing late night, and Grinduro is sure to be remembered for the festivities as much as the riding.
The concerts and bike/art expo will be available to general admission on Saturday evening with doors at 7pm. Entry is $5/person pre-purchase and tickets at the door for $8/person.
For more information on Grinduro please visit www.GRINDURO.com
You can still register purchase show tickets online at: www.sierratrails.org/news/grinduro-2015-update
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship.
