Chino Grinder

Chino Grinder, was to be the second gravel race I had made the decision to sign up for after an evening spent with a couple of beers on the couch. I have learnt through lack of cash, knowledge and fitness that this approach can be a gamble at a minimum.

So on that fateful night with a belly full of booze, I made the decision that I would ride a bike which I did not yet have, along roads I had no idea if I could ride. Chino grinder, where not as well known or some would say saturated as other events, has managed to make its name as Arizona's original and longest running gravel grinder and takes place in Chino Valley AZ. The long and seemingly endless fields of the valley which is located just north of Prescott, well known for the infamous whiskey 50 race. The first and uttermost confusing part of this race is the amount of elevation on a course which appeared to start as previously mentioned in an area of what one would believe were endless fields. However upon closer inspection of the course profile, there is what appears to be one large climb right in the middle of the race with some smaller climbs being served before and after. The main climb turned out pleasantly to be a paved road climb, the altitude and heat however turned out to be rather unpleasant to say the least.

So less about the roads which I would struggle to ride, and more about the bike which I did not yet have. Lurking in the corner of my room as a forgotten obstacle for my dog when playing fetch, was a 2015, All City Nature Boy frame. The flagship single speed cyclocross bike which was seen at many local cross races throughout America, had looked like a fun, almost affordable project. So now faced with the challenge of time and money I needed to put together a one geared grinder. I decided to part ways with most of my money straight away at the panic of riding a bike with no wheels. So finding what seemed to be the best and most affordable of what seemed limited options for gravel (cyclocross, dust road riding, whatever you choose to call it ) The DT Swiss E1800 Road CX Gravel Disc Brake Wheelset, came in at a sale price of under 400 dollars with the option to upgrade to thru axle. When finances suffice a thru axle carbon fork will definitely be thrown into the mix. Tire choice was 35mm Panaracer Gravelkings with a chunky up front and a slick out the back, that being said I feel like slick back and front would have worked just as well. They held up nicely at 50 psi for 75 miles with my heavy backside bouncing around on them so have no reason to complain. This is remember gravel racing on beer with a budget. As for the Handlebars in the past I have had success with cheap carbon handlebars from chain reaction cycles based in the U.K. They have what is a mouthful to say the least. The Prime Orra Aero Carbon Gravel Bars were luckily for me on sale, coming in at an affordable $137.99 . These handlebars looked good, felt good and will hopefully take whatever else I have left to throw at them.

Now the last part of the bike is where the mistakes began…. I had felt with the whole 5 minutes I spent looking at the elevation profile for the ride, that 42 x 20 was going to be the best gear choice, here I am so wrong again. This decision was based on hoping to make some friends on the flats and hurt on the climbs as the climbs hurt anyway. Anyway for lack of strength and knowledge this did not work out. An easier gear would have sufficed as I spent a total of 5 minutes making friends and went about my merry way, how I was born and how I will leave this planet.

The majority of riders at the start shared an abundance of strength, health and knowledge. Me , looking to gain these qualities decided to follow them for the whole part of what seemed like forever but was more likely a couple of miles at best. I was then to witness before my very eyes, what could only be described as a dusty tornado rolling through the chino valley hills collecting dust and debris from the gravel roads. The same dust and debris that would later go on to take up residency in my 36 year old lungs. The race is fun, basic, sometimes a little “boring” If that can be said with all good intentions as this adds to the challenge, along with the elevation and the heat which was apparently calm compared with previous years, but still felt punishing along with the dust and lack of oxygen. On the upside the descents are fun, with gravel grippy enough that you stick but not slide. Then again maybe a good tire pressure choice on my behalf or just a lucky guess. Aid stations were plenty and fully stocked but with what I lacked in strength and knowledge, I made up for in snacks so hunger was not alone a problem . The real problems started when climbing up the road towards the ever increasing temperature and ever decreasing oxygen. The thought of spending all day on the long and lonely road to the finish could not be described as a pleasant one. My legs seemed to work but the desire to continue began to diminish, and after rolling through the halfway point located in the middle of a scenic forest, which makes up the second large gravel portion of the course. I was told I was the last person on the course and differing opinions on if I would make the time cut off. The ever lacking desire to continue seemed to flood into my legs and after the last sag vehicle came past, I decided I would rather spend the afternoon relaxing rather than being the sole reason to keep the course open while completely writing off the rest of my day.

So with some strength and knowledge gained and some sweat and pride lost I jumped in the sag vehicle with a service dog and his owner. He gifted me with a survival bandana he had hand tailored. This happened to work great as a consolation prize and an awesome souvenir. I'm sure with more strength knowledge and a little less gear, it would have been a success. But this was Chino Grinder, go hard or go home! and I am happy to say I managed to accomplish both.