THE FORGE - 26.2/10 Mile Gravel Grinder

It will be a great day on the bike for The Forge Gravel Grinder. Forging takes a mighty hammer and for riders who complete the 26.2 Mile event under 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes total)and under 1H50M (110 minutes) for Female riders. , you're earning the custom hammer! You smashed it and this hammer will be one of your most unique pieces amongst other trophies and medals! 26.2M is the theme of the day but you're welcome to race/ride the 10M if that is more to your liking. Hop up on your gravel, cx, 29er hardtail, full squisher or fatbike. Keep your eyes up, get that tire pressure not too soft-not too hard.

Important: The surface of the course has a lot of loose rock around the size of a cue ball to baseball size. On your cx/gravel bike, go with robust casing and wider the better. It's all good if you show up with 35mm, but please be super careful at speed while descending to avoid punctures. Front suspension crowd won't have this concern but gravel bikes, please bring tube(or 2) and co2's to address punctures. Support is in the form of water and a sag. No mechanical support on course.

The surface and elevation gain will be in the spirit of true Gravel Grit and you're invited to ride as competitively or as comfortably as you like. There are several short watts buster inclines which present the challenge of a clean line rather than burning a match. Recommended low gearing minimum 34/30(1 to 1 for a very short period isn't a bad idea) for a lightly supported grinder from Thendara to nearing Big Moose and back.

The Gravel Grinder will be a timed event with overall winners (Male/Female/Masters Male/Female) 1st-3rd. If we end up with 10 or more Fat Bikes we will also award this Division. THE 26.2M RACE START WILL BE A TRAIL ENTRANCE AT RT 28/HERRESHOFF RD. JUST PAST THE RAILROAD BRIDGE. RACE WILL END AT THE GEORGE T. HILTEBRANDT REC CENTER @ 201 NORTH ST., OLD FORGE, NY. FOR THOSE OF YOU RIDING THE 10M RACE, THAT WILL START AT 9:50AM JUST AFTER THE 26.2M RIDERS HEAD OUT TO HERRESHOFF RD.



THE FORGE 10M Milie Gravel Grinder is the bike component of the Old Forge Ky-Tri (kayak, run, bike) event set for the same weekend (Sept 5/6/7). To learn more about the Old Forge Ky-Tri please visit the event website @ OLD FORGE KY-TRI [https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/OldForge/OldForgeKyTri]