While enjoying a special edition of RIDEALIVE, #BikeToFishing, at Lake Biwa, we met up with Ronnie, a.k.a. Ultra Romance, and Patrick from ULTRADYNAMICO. They had come to Japan for meetings with Panaracer and for that event that everyone in Japan—nay, the whole world—had been waiting for. Since travel is better with company, we decided on the spur of the moment to join them on their trip to Nagano.
The first Grinduro in Japan, held amidst an approaching typhoon.
GRINDURO, an event with roots in California, is based on gravel riding while mixing in a variety of other cultures like camping, food, and music.
With the event finally coming to Japan, entries sold out shortly after registration opened. Expectations were high as everyone gathered in Madarao Kogen, Nagano Prefecture.
However, just before the event, the merciless forecast for Typhoon Hagibis predicted it would hit the islands directly, putting the event in jeopardy. The organizers agonizingly debated right up to the last minute whether to actually hold it. There are many opinions, but if it's happening, all we can do is ride. We were especially determined to see it through for everyone, not least our friends who had come all the way from America, so we headed straight to Nagano.
Getting “totono-u” at Guesthouse LAMP.
We had originally planned to camp, but given the weather, we gave up on staying in tents and instead were kindly taken in by Guesthouse LAMP on the shores of Lake Nojiri, a recommendation from SimWorks' Monja.
Renovated from a building that once served as an outdoor school, this guesthouse serves up delicious food made with local ingredients and is the perfect base for enjoying various outdoor activities in the surrounding nature, including Lake Nojiri. They even have a self-built sauna cabin exclusively for guests, where you can get perfectly refreshed and reach that “totono-u” state.
Thanks to LAMP, our two “ultra” friends were able to fully refresh after their exhausting, whirlwind schedule, and they were ultra-hyped about the unexpected sauna experience. If you happen to be heading out to the Madarao area, I highly recommend checking out LAMP.
And then, the day of the event.
With the typhoon approaching, the route was significantly changed from the original plan. It was shortened to 30km, and the start time was pushed earlier, a decision made in hopes of completing the event before the typhoon arrived in earnest.
We headed to the venue before dawn. It was raining just as forecast, but personally, it reminded me of the FISH ROCK event I experienced in California this spring. We caught up with old friends and met new ones, but before we knew it, it was time to start.
Although the route was shortened, the Japanese-style single tracks—different from the dynamic dirt roads of California—and the constantly changing scenery kept the riders fully engaged. There were three timed sections, with the total time determining the results, but I found myself forgetting about competition and just snapping photos as I rode.
Ronnie came up from behind with incredible speed, sporting Bedrock sandals and a poncho, and as the name of the tires they make suggests, he dynamico-ly tore through the slippery, gravel downhill. In the end, we crossed the finish line together, holding hands. We made it!!
Grinduro, which we were only able to enjoy thanks to the help of many.
Honestly, with the typhoon approaching, I wondered how many people would actually show up, but it turned out there were 267 starters out of 467 entries. I think that just goes to show how high everyone’s expectations were.
And so, this first Grinduro, held in the face of what might be called a legendary typhoon, was a success thanks to the efforts of the organizing staff, the volunteers, and the local community. It is thanks to them that we were able to have such a great time.
The spirit of an off-roader.
When I imagine the effort required to create this route, and the work to repair it after both the event and the typhoon, I realize just how many hands it took.
It's common for trees to fall on the gravel roads I usually ride after typhoons or bad weather. When that happens, I do what I can, thinking of the next person who will use the path. I pick up any trash I see, and when I pass hikers, I always cede the right-of-way and, of course, never fail to greet them. Often, that leads to further conversation, like “The path is like this up ahead” or “A wild boar appeared here the other day.” (For some reason, I often get gifts of cream bread from hiker uncles.)
It's easy to ride a path someone else has made, but building trails ourselves, choosing our own paths, and sharing that with friends—I believe that is the spirit of an off-roader, whether you’re a gravel biker or a mountain biker. Grinduro is an event that reminded me of that.
With the typhoon approaching, I think “not holding it” would have been the easiest choice, but I have nothing but respect for the organizers who decided to go ahead with it. It must have been an incredibly difficult decision, but surely no one, organizers or participants included, wanted it to be cancelled.
My deepest gratitude to everyone involved in bringing the first-ever Grinduro to Japan. And I sincerely hope that those affected by Typhoon Hagibis may find peace and normalcy as soon as possible.