Mark your calendars for 10 September, 2016, as that’s when the latest event in the growing UK gravel/off-road/whatever scene goes down. Gran Fonduro, as its name suggests, is a combination of a mountain bike-style enduro and a road-centric gran fondo, located Tweed Valley Forest Park area.
Gran Fonduro will be brought to you by the fine folks who organize the TweedLove Bike Festival, and the Tour O The Borders sportive. Similar to the Grinduro, which we wrote about in issue 006 of grit.cx, Gran Fonduro will, “[include] timed stages (like a series of time trials) on forest roads, natural trails and foot paths, all connected by classic Borders back roads. Featuring stages with ups, downs, and everything in between, Gran Fonduro will take you to places you have never been before.”
Dirty drop-bar lovers know that an event with that kind of varied terrain calls for gravel-specific bikes or straight-up cyclocross rigs. The organizers also concede some lighter mountain bikes would work on the course. You’ll need to choose wisely for your steed since it’ll be an 80 to 90 kilometer day full of “self-reliance, endurance and adventure.”
And what would such an awesome event be without an awesome afterparty? Gran Fonduro post-ride activities, such as food and live music, will take place at Traquair House in Innerleithen, which is the oldest occupied house in Scotland. But what about the beer? Of course. There’s an on-site microbrewery for that!
Sounds good, right?
Registration date and other details are forthcoming, so you’ll want to sign up for updates on the site right away. Do that here.
