The California edition of Grinduro is headed north to Mt. Shasta on September 12, 2020. Grinduro, the seminal mixed-terrain event where having a good time at the party is just as important as going fast in the race, is entering its sixth year in California. With an amazing new venue offering lift access riding and event proceeds supporting recreation is Siskiyou County, the new Grinduro California belongs on any gravel race calendar. Registration opens Tuesday, May 12th, at 7:00pm PDT and is expected to sell out quickly. Grinduro California is brought to life by founding sponsor Giro, who is again joined by Fabric, Maxxis, SRAM, and Rapha.
The promoters of Grinduro California are keeping a close eye on event guidelines pertaining to the spread of COVID-19. “With a new location comes a new date on the calendar, and we are working especially hard to plan an amazing Grinduro,” said Amanda Schaper, Grinduro California Event Director. “We want to give everybody something great to look forward to during these challenging times, and it’s hard to find something better to be excited about than good times with the Grinduro family. Of course, we are keeping a close eye on the situation and will follow all the necessary health guidelines. Participants should feel confident registering for Grinduro on May 12th because we are offering full refunds or registration deferrals in the event of cancellation due to COVID-19. September will be exciting with multiple must do gravel events happening this month in 2020. Of course, the best party to race ratio will be happening on September 12th in Mt. Shasta!”
Grinduro’s Mt. Shasta event benefits the Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance (SORA). SORA, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is focused on promoting sustainable outdoor recreation through programs, policy, planning, and stewardship. They advocate for opportunities to provide outdoor recreation access to all, while creating meaningful and responsible connections to the trails, mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, and landscapes of the Shasta-Siskiyou region of Northern California. “We are honored to share Mt. Shasta with the Grinduro community,” said Justi Hansen, SORA Executive Director. “Your participation will support SORA’s newly established Siskiyou Stewardship Fund, which is dedicated to improving recreation infrastructure and access as needed for the community. The initial focus of this program is to fund trail maintenance in the Mt. Shasta area, including maintenance of the awesome trails you’ll ride in the Grinduro CA course.”
The Grinduro course will take riders on a tour of Mt. Shasta’s dirt roads and singletrack. Racers will experience everything from rough remote gravel roads to smooth swoopy singletrack, with massive views of Mt. Shasta and the Eddy Mountain Range. Mt. Shasta is an up-and-coming mountain bike mecca. The Grinduro course travels through the Gateway Trail network, which is one of the most popular XC rides in the Mt. Shasta area. It was professionally built by mountain bike trail builders, and it’s maintained by the local IMBA group, the Mt. Shasta Mountain Bike Association, and the Mt. Shasta Trail Association. This singletrack combines smooth berms with mildly techy rock gardens, making for perfect riding on any gravel bike. Riders should be prepared for 65-miles and 7,800’ of climbing. The event also includes an untimed Grindurito fun ride, which is roughly one half of the challenge of Grinduro without the competition.
The bike race is only part of Grinduro’s “maxin’ and relaxin’” ethos. Race registration includes a full weekend experience, with camping, live music, delicious food and drinks, an impressive display of art and handmade bikes, and a festival atmosphere all in the Grinduro Village. This year’s village and event venue is the Mt. Shasta Ski Park, which is a mountain bike park in the summer. “The Ski Park will provide the ultimate Grinduro experience,” said Schaper. “All Grinduro and Grindurito riders will get a lift ticket that’s valid Friday through Sunday of the event weekend. You can bring your mountain bike for some park laps, or just take a fun scenic ride up to the mid-mountain grill where you can grab a drink and get amazing photo-ops of Mt. Shasta. Plus, there’s no noise ordinance at the Ski Park, so you know we’re planning to throw one heckuva party.”
Registration for Grinduro California in Mt. Shasta opens on Tuesday, May 12, at 7:00pm PDT. Set a reminder because, in past years, this event has sold out within minutes. Stay tuned to www.grinduro.com/california for the registration link and event updates.
Totally off subject, but what 700c tires have you found to be the tightest fitting, ie most difficult to get on the rim? I’m asking for a friend 😉
That has more to do with the rim. I’ve had a suspect rim, but not a suspect tyre.