GRINDURO was a sports day for adults.

Me and some of our staff went to GRINDURO, held in Hakuba in the Nagano region! Shami-san and Cent-san have posted each of their bike check for this event, so please check that out as well!

It is a 3-day event, and I would like to report about Raceday Sunday!

Let’s start!!!

This year, we joined the event with 5 BL members: Duncan, Shami, Cent, Sub, and me.

Gathered at Hatagaya, packed our stuff on cars, and soon we were ready to go!

We soon got trapped in a traffic jam, and end up arriving quite late than we planned.

“It’s freeeeezing out here!!” We didn’t quite understood how low the temperature would be.

After we made our registration, we soon ran in to our stay for the night.

We all slept like a log, and soon morning arrived.

It was a mid-winter’s morning. Why is it so cold, it’s still October…

But the air is fresh, and in front of me laid the Japanese alps and a sea of clouds.

It was a totally different place from when I visited their last year for OMM bike.

We received breakfast at the venue, time to charge energy.

Got an apple as well, the local speciality in Nagano. (When was the last time I bit into a whole apple… this was so delicious)

Okay, I tell you that we did not realize when the race started. We soon rushed into the car to change, and hopped on our bikes.

In less than 10 minutes from the start of the race, we soon entered gravel heaven!

But soon realized we are climbing up a steep hill, almost felt like a cliff.

It just started and we still got a lot more riding to do. We had a rather relaxing climb with room for a small chat between ourselves, and made it to our first segment…

Because we started late, there was a long queue ahead of us…

This segment was a course called Iwadake, a popular MTB downhill course in Hakuba.

Rode through the first segment safely…

It was a proper downhill descent, so we had to be in full focus!

We were just so glad to reach the bottom of the hill, but my fingers were aching big time because of the braking throughout.

By the time we tried to head off to the second segment, we were already reaching lunch time. We thought with all of us together we wouldn’t make it to the start of the segment, so Duncan-san and I make an attack to the line. Even that wasn’t enough, and sadly we had to turn back…

Sub took the photo of the day with brilliant scenery on the back.

I’m soooo jealous, I wish he had taken me as well.

By the way, the morning course was a 45km ride loop, and we were back at the venue.

With a quick lunch in between, we headed out again!

As we ride through the course, there were hills after hills, with outrageous sloping angles. Half heart broken (wait, was completelu broken on the latter half…), we just had to run this through.

I am sorry to say that there aren’t so many photos from here and onwards… We were so stressed to take any photos… haha

Still, we had to be back to the venue in time, so we supported Duncan through the non-segment zones to save up his energy. But Sub was grinding hard, so with the three of us making a sonic speed squadron, we somehow made it to the start of the segment.

We started just 4 minutes before the segment reception closes, and my gosh this segment was BRUTAL.

I bet the maximum gradient must have been 19%? Nah probably more then that!!!

Duncan-san had a go pro recording during this segment so I’ll give you some sneak peaks of how the downhill bit looked like!

“wwwwwwait, where is the path????” The course was that wild.

Are we racing or path finding?? My brain couldn’t catch up with the situation laid in front of me.

Well, obviously, I’ve been climbing so damn hard before this descent!

It was almost as if I was skidding down the path with tires fully locked haha.

Well, what it mattered was all of us 3 did make it down the mountain, and forming that sonic speed squadron again, we managed to slip through the finish line!

So so knackered… Haven’t felt this kinda fatigue so such a long time…

It reminded me of the club sports training when I was in school (I was in a track and field club at school)

My personal impression was:

OMM is a school festival (team competition), and GRINDURO is a sports festival (individual competition).

This was my first time racing the GRINDURO, and I didn’t quite understand what it was. But it totally made sense when I thought about the name itself, Gravel road race + mountain bike Enduro racing = GRINDURO.

There was two types of length, the full 97km, and the half version too. I would say it will be enjoyable for both beginner and elite level bike riders. But some off-road bits are quite tricky so bare that in mind if you are just staring out!

Although there’s not many chances to relax while competing this race, riding the bike with the beautiful Alps behind us was something so special and refreshing.

As Shami-san mentioned in his blog, all of us wore ULTRADYNAMICO tires at GRINDURO.

For this, we will release a Youtube video very soon about each of our impressions when using at the race, and we explained the difference between the RACE, JFF, and the ROBUSTO. So please look forward to that!

So lastly, a short bike check!

Duncan, and his FALCONER

Shami, and his EVASION LITE

Cent, and his BOMBORA ENVE
Me, and my RITCHEY OUTBACK V2 50TH

Sub, and the MOD ZERO borrowed from Santa.