Location
Getting to Shin’etsu・Madarao
Take the Hokuriku shinkansen to Iiyama City, just 110 minutes from Tokyo on the fastest service. Then it’s only 30 minutes bus or taxi ride to Madarao from Iiyama station.
Live Music
The perfect party-to-race ratio! That’s the Grinduro motto.
on Saturday night – get ready for an awesome atmosphere!
Format
In short, Grinduro is just what the name suggests: Gravel Road Race + Mountain Bike-Style Enduro = Two different loops of pavement and dirt, where finishing times aren’t based on overall time, but four timed segments.
The course is a serious affair (2400m of climbing in 80km) but the Grinduro isn’t meant to be a sufferfest. We’ve linked together some of our favorite local roads in a quiet corner of Shin'ets Area.
The course features a mix of surfaces (smooth pavement, gravel and single track)
Japanese mountain is quite steep and rough gravel and trail.
With a mass start from Madarao Mountain Resort. Overall time doesn’t matter, only the four timed segments. The Grinduro segments are designed to reward the most well rounded of rouleurs.
For those seeking more party than race we offer the Grindurito, a half distance class. At 40km long and with 1400m of climbing and with just two timed segments.
But Grinduro is not just a bike race. It’s a celebration of cycling with as much emphasis on the fun as the ride, with excellent food, an impressive display of art and incredible handmade bikes, live music, camping and a festival atmosphere.
View Map
RACE SEGMENTS DESCRIPTION
Stage 1:
JEEP ROAD JAM - 18km to 22.1km
Gentle climb along riverside.
Stage 2:
THE QUICKIE – 42.6km to 44.4km
Combine Criterium & short downhill.
Stage 3:
GRAVEL GUTS – 8.9km to 11.2km
Gravel hill climb ! Don’t eat too much lunch!
Stage 4:
THE FINAL FLING – 34.9km to 38.8km
Rough downhill section!
Schedule
・ For entries to GRINDURO
The scheduled start time will be changed from 11:30am to 7:00am 12th Oct.
Detail event schedule is changed, please check attached photo.
Volunteer
Join the inner circle of Grinduro staff by volunteering!
Grinduro volunteers receive the following perks for helping us pull this event together, all while having one helluva good time.
- Free camping at the Grinduro grounds
- Free event T-shirt
- Can join awards party
- One meal ticket to be able to use catering shop / day
- Behind the scenes perspective
Thanks for coming out to support the race. Volunteers are what make Grinduro happen. Contact us at Grinduro to ask for more information via the link below.
Awards
In addition to fame and glory each winner will take home a little something special.
Best of luck!
Recommended Gear
THE BEST BIKE: You can ride any type of pedal-driven bicycle (no electric-pedal assist!), although we recommend a gravel, cyclocross or mountain bike for the Grinduro course. The ultimate setup is probably a disc brake-equipped gravel bike with high-volume tubeless clincher tires. However, at times a mountain bike is the better choice if you just want to enjoy the rough descent down Mt. Madarao.
Be prepared with at least two extra tubes, a multi-tool and a mini-pump.
A WORD OF WARNING: It’s rough and sometimes steep in the mountains here in Japan and the course in Madarao. If you come out on your road bike, you’re almost guaranteed to end up finishing on foot, if at all. We strongly recommend you bring a pair of SPD shoes. If you wear a pair of SPD-SL shoes, you’ll have a terrible experience when you hike a bike or cross a river.
We’ll be at 1000m above sea level in the fall with lovely colorings in the leaves, so bring layers—ideally arm/leg warmers and a jacket—just in case weather rolls in.
There will be feed zones, but smart riders will bring at least two water bottles and their favorite nutritional supplies.
And don’t take the start line without a helmet on!
Lets Camp!
Camping is part of the fun of Grinduro!
Grinduro is a challenge biking event that runs in forest. It’s a celebration of cycling with as much emphasis on the fun as the ride, with excellent food, an impressive display of art and incredible handmade bikes, live music, camping and a festival atmosphere.
If you want to enjoy the atmosphere further, it is recommended that you camp with a tent in the venue and soak in nature!
Camping here under the starry sky, you can enjoy nature directly, hearing the sound of the wind, feeling changes in temperature, enjoy a primitive nature with challenge but not in a clean and fulfilling urban life.
At Grinduro, bicycles and tents are coolly installed at the tent site, and those who set up a nice camp will be recognized as the “Best Camper”!
But not only the master of campers, but those who want to challenge camping at this opportunity are also most welcome!
Grinduro Camping Information
- One campsite is available for each rider. (The maximum tent size is 3m x 3m per site). Up to 4 people per site can be used.
* Additional tent site tickets (paid) are unfortunately sold out
-
Campsite reception hours
10/11 (Fri) 15: 00-20: 00, 10/12 (Sat) 5: 00-6: 30
- Procedure after arrival at the venue
- After arriving at the venue, please stop the vehicle at the parking lot with staff guidance. Parking lot OPEN : Friday 11th 13:00-/ Saturday 12th 4am.
- Please walk to the reception (Heidi) from the parking lot, to receive the bib number and tent site permit.
- Carry your luggage from the parking lot to the tent site and set up your tent.
* For riders who camp at (P2, P3), you can drive to unload your luggage.
- After setting up the tent, make sure to post the tent sign in front of your tent.
* Cars can NOT be parked next to the tent!
- The parking lot and the tent site are around 700m far. We recommend that you can travel by bicycle!
The camp site is a free camping site. Please obey the rule of first come, first served when setting the tent. Please also try to share as much space for others. Thank you.
Please set up the tent at intervals of about 1.5m.
Do not enter the green of golf course.
Warming: Use of fire
Please cooperate to keep the environment safe and clean. Do not to damage the lawn of Golf Course.
Any kinds of open fire/bonfires is strictly prohibited. Use of BBQ stand and bonfire stand is also Not Allowed.
Please use the cassette stove and gas burner by placing them on the base so that they are at least 30 cm away from the lawn, do not place them directly on the lawn.
Do not use a burner in the tent due to the high risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and fire.
Please be friendly to the environment, bring back all your garbage.
There is no power supply.
No bath or shower facilities.
You can enjoy a day-trip bath at the Madarao Kogen Hotel. There is a shuttle bus connecting the venue and the Madarao Kogen Hotel.
*Shuttle bus service to hot springs scheduled
10/11 16:00 - 21:00
10/12 16:00 ~ 12:00
http://www.madarao.jp/hotel/roten.html?
Local Information
- Temperature around the venue will drop to 5 degrees even in October!
- The weather in the mountains is easy to change, and it gets quite cold when it rains. Please prepare rain and cold protection such as rain jacket and down jacket!
- We recommend that you prepare sleeping bags for winter.
- Since the tent site is a slope, about 70% of the land is sloping and the ground is uneven. It is strongly recommended to use a thick mat to protect against rough roads and to prevent cold weather.
If you have any questions about camping, please contact us!
info@samuraisports.co.jp
Auto Camp
- You can stay overnight in the car in the parking lot, but you cannot camp in the parking lot.
- It is strictly forbidden to use tarps outside the vehicle or fire.
- When staying in a car, idling is also prohibited for environmental protection.
- Madao Kogen Camping Park is recommended for those who want to camp comfortably!
- Located about 5 minutes from the venue, you can camp on the side of the car for free auto camp.
Sold out soon! Make reservations fast!
http://www.madarao.jp/camp?
Accommodation
If you want to stay more convenient and comfortable, here is the recommendation of hotels.
Hot Spring Accommodation
Nozawa Onsen Ryokan SAYAKA http://www.ryokan-sakaya.co.jp/
Ryokan SAYAKA is situated within the central Nozawa Onsen village grounds known for its famed ONSEN Resort.
Family business for over 17 generations, treasuring their Japanese architect heritage that creates a unique open air bathing facility to enjoy Japan’s seasonal changes and 100% pure hot spring water. About 1 hour far to the venue
Yudanaka Yoroduya https://yudanaka-yoroduya.com/
The hotel which was full of the original world won the sixth Togo Murano Prize awarded the superior building in 1993.All things to see are space of the art. It is the reason why this hotel is said to be an art museum hotel. The large bathhouse made of Japanese Umbrella Pine, which is believed to be the sacred tree of Mt. Koya. The pictures of legendary wizards drawn , who is a potter.
About 1 hour far to the venue by car.
Pension
Blueberry pension http://gate.ruru.ne.jp/blueberry/
A pension located in the home of Madarao Kogen. You can stay at reasonable prices with good access from the venue.
Hotel
Madarao Kogen Ski Resort http://www.madarao.jp/hotel/
The closest hotel to the main venue Madarao Kogen Ski Resort.
Tangram Madarao Hotel & Resort https://www.tangram.jp/green/
A resort hotel about 10 minutes by car from the main venue. Enjoy a variety of activities and recommended for families.
Guesthouse
Guesthouse LAMP https://lamp-guesthouse.com/
Popular guesthouse with restaurant. Reasonable and enjoyable. Located on the shore of Lake Nojiri, access to the venue is also possible.
Transportation
By train, it takes about 110 minutes from Tokyo Station to Iiyama Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. About 30 minutes by bus or taxi from Iiyama Station to Madarao Kogen.
By car: About 20 minutes from Toyota Iiyama IC on Joshinetsu Expressway, about 25 minutes from Myoko Kogen IC.
Rental Car
Nissan Rent-A-Car Iiyama Branch or rental car around Nagano Station.
Excellent Food
We believe that bike riders’ health, attitude and performance is directly related to the foods that they eat, so we have amazing food planned for the weekend. Saturday’s breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included with race entry. For the rest of the weekend we will have various vendors on site selling food.
Rules of the road
The Grinduro course features a blend of pavement, dirt road, gravel road and singletrack.
- Riders must obey all applicable traffic laws during the event and are encouraged to use common sense, keep their head up and stay in their lane of travel. At no time will there be a closed road.
- Once the route changes to dirt road, riders must obey all traffic laws and use common sense, keeping their speed under control.And keep safe distance on each rider.
- Riders should expect vehicle traffic on all roads, along with car,motorcycles, wild animals. Stay in your lane and follow the rules of the road.
- Bicycle and car should ride on the left side. they must ride as far left as possible in single formation. This applies to both the pavement and dirt sections.
More rules and common sense:
Be cool, have fun and enjoy the ride. Those are the rules!
For those of you who need things spelled-out, here you have it…
- All riders are required to wear an approved helmet and cannot remove it at any time while riding.
- No support or follow vehicles are allowed. Aid stations will be well stocked and able to handle participant’s needs.
- Riders must ALWAYS obey traffic laws and strictly obey any law enforcement persons or official ride personnel. In the interest of your own safety, you should always assume the same level of vigilance in riding your bike during the event that you would under normal circumstances.
- Headphones/ear buds are NOT permitted during a ride.
- Riders must respect the directions of all course marshals at all times. If you’re told to stop by a course marshal, moto official, uniformed officer or otherwise, YOU MUST STOP!
- All riders must attend the “riders’ meeting” held at the staging area 15 minutes prior to the event.
- The responsibility of keeping on the prescribed course rests with the rider. A rider may not leave the prescribed course unless escorted by public authorities or a ride official.
- Shortcutting and/or cutting trail switchbacks or course is not permitted and may result in disqualification. A rider is required to stay on the designated route. It is the rider’s responsibility to know the designated ride route. Lack of tape or barriers will not constitute an excuse for cutting the course.
- Laws and ordinances of appropriate jurisdictions shall be observed during participation in the event.
- A rider may be disqualified for damaging or destroying public or private property. A rider may be held liable for all cost associated with the damage or destruction.
- Grinduro officials reserve the right to make changes to the course, delay start times and/or postpone the event as necessary for safety or security purposes or at the request of permit issuers.
2019 Photos
