GORGE GRAVEL GRINDER 9:00 am - April 7 th The Dalles, Oregon

GORGE GRAVEL GRINDER 9:00 am - April 7 th The Dalles, Oregon

Introduction The Gorge Gravel Grinder is where it all started. Located in The Dalles this eastern Oregon location is the best known for its great spring riding. With moderate marine air flowing off the coast coupled with being located in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountain Range it is your best bet for sun and warm temps during the spring. Surrounding The Dalles are hundreds of miles of paved and gravel farm roads with little to no motor traffic on them. The course offers great views of the Gorge and surrounding Cascade Mountain peaks as well as an assortment of old school buildings, barns and houses from the late 1800 s. Rolling wheat fields dominate the landscape in all directions blanketing hills in sea of green. Expect average temps to be in the mid 40 s by race start and up into the mid 60 s by the peak of the day. Gravel sections are well packed, smooth and fast. Spring rains provide good moisture keeping the dust down. No portion of the courses exceeds double digits for climbing or descending. Just a lot of fast rolling hills. Getting Here Directions: From any direction take I-84 to The Dalles. Take exit 85 and then head west on Old Highway 30 into downtown. Proceed to Union street and take a right. Parking is located at the new Lewis and Clark City Park AND along 1 st street. Parking Event parking is located at Lewis and Clark Park in downtown The Dalles. The ride start and after party are located one block south of the park. Onsite restrooms, with flushing toilets and sinks are open for athletes at Lewis and Clark Park! Lodging Our sponsor Cousins Country Inn is offering 'Oregon Gravel Grinder' riders discounted rates. Be sure to let them know you are traveling in for the event when calling for reservations (541) 298-5161 Course Description Gorge Gravel Grinder is the first of three amazing rides throughout Oregon that are all part of the Oregon Grinder Series. Gorge Gravel Grinder is made up of a mix of paved and gravel roads that roll through Eastern Oregon s wide open wheat country. The ride starts in historic downtown The Dalles. Originally the end of the Oregon Trail, The Dalles is known as an agricultural hub with Cherry Orchards and Wheat Fields surrounding the town. We have created three ride distances to best suit your strengths. The Small Grinder is made up of 58.9 miles of riding with just over 29 miles of gravel. The Medium Grinder comes in at 73.8 miles and take the amount of gravel roads up to 46 miles. For those looking for a big challenge there is the Super Big Grinder at a whopping 103 miles of which nearly 60 miles are on gravel roads. Roads east and south of The Dalles are dotted with large farms. During the summer months large trucks are hauling produce to market but in the spring they sit quite. Due to the heavy loads that roll across them road grades are kept moderate and road bed is solid. This makes for smooth fast gravel roads that pack in with the winter moisture. The steepest climbs on the course weigh in at a moderate 6-7% and the descents top out at around 5%. That does not mean this is an easy course with the roads constantly rolling. Views along the way are magnificent and will take your breath away as will the elevation.

Ride Details The Gorge Gravel Grinder starts at 9:00 AM with the Super Big Grind ride. Due to the large field sizes we are going to put a 10 minute gap between fields with the Medium Grind leaving at 9:10 AM and the Small Grind departing at 9:20 AM. Gravel roads are good to excellent in condition. Suggested tires are 700x32. Smaller if you ride light and have mad bike handling skills bigger if you don t. This is smooth and beautiful gravel roads. Great for newer riders! Plan to use strong tubes now is not the time to go ultra light. Mt. View Cycles will be on hand to assist you with new tires and tubes prior to the race should you need to purchase some last minute tread. Please either see them at packet pickup on Saturday night or arrive early on Sunday and visit their booth. Bringing your own spare tube and pump is mandatory! Gravel sections are in great shape and can be ridden with confidence. The huge amounts of rain and moisture this spring means they will be firm and fast without the dust factor. VERY IMPORTANT. This ride is a rules of the road event. We will provide flaggers and traffic control to get all the riders out of town but once on course it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to watch for traffic and follow rules of the road. These country roads are very desolate. Do not be lulled into the fact that you have not seen a car in an hour and you blow a stop sign or an intersection way out in the middle of nowhere. When on Highway 197 please stay to the right and ride on the shoulder the entire time. The shoulders are wide and clean. Centerline rule is always in effect and when no centerline is present stay right of center of the road. Aid Stations Well stocked aid stations will be located roughly every 20 miles along the course. Attached is a list of items at each aid station. In addition to food we will also have extra tubes tire pumps and tires. Mt. View Cycles be at the start as well as out on course for anyone who has need for bike repair. We will have porta potties located at Aid Stations # 1,2, and 4. Here is a list of aid station location and supplies you will find on course. Super Big Grind Aid Station Mileage Elevation Location Supplies Aid #1 19.0 mi. 1300 ft. Roberts Market/15-Mile Intersection Cinnamon Rolls, Granola Bars, Bananas, Apple Sauce, Peanut Butter, Nutella, Water, Gatorade Aid #2 44.2 mi. 2563 ft. Tygh Ridge/HWY 197 Rice Krispie Treats, Peanut Butter, Ritz Crackers, Nutella, Pretzels, Bananas, GU, Water Gatorade Aid #3 74.4 mi. 1272 ft. Endersby Cutoff/HWY 197 Jelly, Honey, Peanut Butter, Bread, Crackers, Nutella, Chips, Bananas, GU, Water Gatorade Aid #4 96.0 mi. 799 ft. 8 Mile/HWY 197 Granola Bars, Cookies, Pretzels, Oranges, GU, Water, Gatorade, Coca Cola and Gummy Bears!!! Medium Grind Aid Station Mileage Elevation Location Supplies Aid #1 19.0 mi. 1300 ft. Roberts Market/15-Mile Intersection Cinnamon Rolls, Granola Bars, Bananas, Apple Sauce, Peanut Butter, Nutella, Water, Gatorade Aid #2 41.7 mi. 1272 ft. Endersby Cutoff/HWY 197 Rice Krispie Treats, Peanut Butter, Ritz Crackers, Nutella, Pretzels, Bananas, GU, Water Gatorade Aid #3 62.7 mi. 799 ft. 8 Mile/HWY 197 Granola Bars, Cookies, Pretzels, Granola Bars, Oranges, GU, Water, Gatorade, Coca Cola and Gummy Bears!!! Small Grind Aid Station Mileage Elevation Location Supplies Aid #1 19.0 mi. 1300 ft. Roberts Market/15-Mile Intersection Cinnamon Rolls, Granola Bars, Bananas, Apple Sauce, Peanut Butter, Nutella, Water, Gatorade Aid #2 41.7 mi. 1272 ft. Endersby Cutoff/HWY197 Rice Krispie Treats, Peanut Butter, Ritz Crackers, Nutella, Pretzels, Bananas, GU, Water Gatorade Aid #3 47.8 mi. 799 ft. 8 Mile/HWY 197 Granola Bars, Cookies, Pretzels, Oranges, GU, Water, Gatorade, Coca Cola and Gummy Bears!!!

Timing This ride is being chip timed. Results will be posted to the website immediately. Use your smart phone to check and see how you did. Timing chips are on bands that must be worn around your ankle (you can choose which one). The timing mat and station for the finish is located 2 miles prior to Clock Tower. Look for the lane of cones and signage. Make sure you roll over the timing mat so we can get your official time. You will also be given a bib number to wear on your right side. Please be respectful and ride in just one lane at the speed limit through downtown The Dalles on the way back to the post ride party at Clock Tower. Ride Support Mt. View Cycles will once again be providing mechanical support before and during the ride. Be sure and tell them thanks for all they do. Post Ride Refuel The after party will be located at Clock Tower Ales in downtown The Dalles. A huge selection of craft beers will be on tap as well as an assortment of menu options for your post event lunch. Music and prize drawing will keep the party hopping. Party starts at 11:30 AM and keeps going to 5:00 PM. Check in at the registration tent after your ride to pickup your post ride meal ticket, pint glass, and beverage! Awards Categories are Juniors, Open Men, Open Women, Masters Men, Masters Women for each ride. Awards include medals to the top three for each of these categories in each of the distances. Special awards go to the top three overall in the Big Grinder race for Men and Women. Masters category is defined as anyone 45 years of age or older on race day.

Super Grinder Course Type Notes Total Start 0.0 Straight At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto E 2nd St 0.7 Right Turn right onto State Rd 2.1 Straight Continue onto 15 Mile Rd 3.9 Left Turn left onto 15 Mile Rd 5.5 Right Turn right onto McCoy Rd 5.8 Begin Gravel Right Right onto Company Hollow 9.5 Straight Go straight onto Emerson Loop 10.9 End Gravel Left Left onto Roberts Market Rd 13.7 Begin Gravel Left Stay on Roberts Market Rd 16.1 Right Stay on Roberts Market Rd 19.0 Feed Zone 19.0 Left Keep left onto Summit Market Rd 25.2 Straight Continue onto Center Ridge Rd 30.0 End Gravel Left Left onto Tygh Ridge Rd 33.2 Start Gravel 38.7 Begin Gravel Feed Zone 44.3 Left Left onto HWY 97 44.4 End Gravel Right Right onto Dufur Gap Rd 46.1 Left Left onto Kingsley Road 47.3 Left Keep Left Continue right on Kingsley Road 49.4 Left Left to keep on Kingsley-Friend Road 49.9 Right Right onto Heberlein Rd 53.3 Begin Gravel Left Left onto Shell Rock Rd 55.7 Right Right onto Spring Mill Rd 56.1 Left Left onto Rail Hollow Rd 56.8 Right Stay right on to Rail Hollow Rd 58.5 Right Right onto Dufur Valley Rd 64.3 End Gravel Left Left onto Heimrich St 66.1 Right Right onto 1st St (Dufur) 66.6 Left Left onto HWY 97 (CAUTION) 67.0 Left Left onto Endersby 69.4 Begin Gravel Feed Zone 69.5 Right Stay on Endersby (WARNING STEEP CLIMB!) 69.6 Straight WARNING!!! STEEP DECENT 10% DOWN GRADE 70.2 Left Left onto 8 Mile Rd 71.5 Right Turn right onto Pinehollow 71.6 Right Right onto Pleasant Ridge Rd 78.8 Right Right onto Japanese Hollow Rd 82.8 Right Stay Right on Japanese Hollow Rd 88.6 End Gravel Left Left onto 8 Mile Rd 89.5 Straight Cross HWY 197 90.3 Feed Zone 90.4 Straight Continue straight onto 15 Mile Rd 98.1 Finish 101.1 Big Grinder Course Type Notes Total Start 0.0 Straight At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto E 2nd St 0.7 Right Turn right onto State Rd 3.1 Straight Continue onto 15 Mile Rd 3.9 Left Turn left onto 15 Mile Rd 5.5 Right Turn right onto McCoy Rd 5.8 Begin Gravel Right Right onto Company Hollow 9.5 Straight Go straight onto Emerson Loop 10.9 End Gravel Left Left onto Roberts Market Rd 13.7 Begin Gravel Left Stay on Roberts Market Rd 16.1 Right Stay on Roberts Market Rd 19.1 Feed Zone 22.6 Left Keep left onto Summit Market Rd 25.2 Straight Continue onto Center Ridge Rd 26.6 Right Right onto Easton Canyon Rd 30.9 Left Right onto Longhollow Rd 37.8 End Gravel Straight Straight onto Boyd Market Rd 38.1 Left Left onto HWY 97 (CAUTION) 40.7 Right Right onto Endersby 41.7 Begin Gravel Feed Zone 41.8 Right Stay on Endersby (WARNING STEEP CLIMB!) 42.1 Straight WARNING!!! STEEP DECENT 10% DOWN GRADE 42.5 Left Left onto 8 Mile Rd 43.8 Right Turn right onto Pinehollow 43.9 Right Right onto Pleasant Ridge Rd 51.1 Right Right onto Japanese Hollow Rd 55.2 Right Stay Right on Japanese Hollow Rd 60.9 Left Left onto 8 Mile Rd 61.7 End Gravel Straight Cross HWY 197 62.5 Feed Zone 62.6 Straight Continue straight onto 15 Mile Rd 70.4 Straight Continue straight onto HWY 30 / 2nd Street 73.6 Finish 73.8 Small Grinder Course Type Notes Total Start 0.0 At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto E 2nd Straight St 0.7 Right Turn right onto State Rd 3.1 Straight Continue onto 15 Mile Rd 3.9 Left Turn left onto 15 Mile Rd 5.5 Right Turn right onto McCoy Rd 5.8 Begin Gravel Right Right onto Company Hollow 9.5 Straight Go straight onto Emerson Loop 10.9 End Gravel Left Left onto Roberts Market Rd 13.7 Begin Gravel Left Stay on Roberts Market Rd 16.1 Right Stay on Roberts Market Rd 19.1 Feed Zone 22.6 Left Keep left onto Summit Market Rd 25.2 Straight Continue onto Center Ridge Rd 26.6 Right Right onto Easton Canyon Rd 30.9 Left Right onto Longhollow Rd 37.8 End Gravel Straight Straight onto Boyd Market Rd 38.1 Left Left onto HWY 97 (CAUTION) 40.7 Right Right onto Endersby 41.7 Begin Gravel Feed Zone 41.8 Right Stay on Endersby (WARNING STEEP CLIMB!) 42.1 Straight WARNING!!! STEEP DECENT 10% DOWN GRADE 42.5 Right Right onto 8 Mile Rd 43.8 End Gravel Straight Cross HWY 197 47.7 Feed Zone 47.8 Straight Continue straight onto 15 Mile Rd 55.5 Straight Continue straight onto HWY 30 / 2nd Street 58.7 Finish 58.9

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