Do you remember what life was like ten years ago? Those were the dark days of cantilever brakes, minimal tire clearance and dropped chains on pretty much every descent. “Gravel riding” was hardly even a thing. If you were anything like me, you were just out bashing around the trails on your ‘cross bike. We had fun with our friends, in small isolated groups, but there was no formal event that combined the spirit of adventure riding and combined the elements of competition.

When Grinduro kicked off in 2015, it introduced us to so many like-minded people around the world and I realized that this stuff was a lot more fun with a bigger group. It was, and still is, the ultimate party. Grinduro has brought me to some amazing places, and I’ve met so many cool people. And lucky for all of us, the event inadvertently motivated bike and component makers to create the gravel dream bikes of today.

I’m HYPED to see the 2025 Grinduro calendar include the birthplace, Quincy, California, and I’m also really looking forward to bringing the purple party to Cape Town, South Africa. The South African landscape and culture are a perfect match for Grinduro. And I’m especially excited to ride the event with my colleagues at Leatt. We’re hosting the party there, and our crew is going to make sure that this round is unforgettable!