The latest round of the Grinduro world series takes place next month in Ägerital, Switzerland and we got the inside scoop on what to expect at the event.

Grinduro (apparently pronounced grind-uro like grinding coffee beans, or more appropriately, grinding gravel) first started in the USA back in 2015. Initially just held in California, it soon grew into a world series and in 2021 had been scheduled to visit six locations. Unfortunately, world events have curtailed some of the plans for 2021, but the last race of the series this year is going to be rolling across the start line in Switzerland on the 2nd October.

For anyone who hasn’t heard of it, or don’t know what to expect, the promo video for the event will give you a great overview:

Grinduro describe their events as “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.” We were fortunate enough to ride at the Grinduro Wales event earlier this summer and came away buzzing at their perfect combination of fantastic riding, great atmosphere and bit post-ride party and we suspect that the upcoming Switzerland event will be equally good.

One of the key bits around the riding at a Grinduro event is the balance of PureGravelTM to more challenging sections of timed, some of which will be timed. This mix means participants can ride along sociably, chatting with their friends on the linking sections and then for those who have aspirations as speed demons, they can go hell-for-leather on the timed sections.

Bike choice was a very common topic of conversation at Grinduro Wales and we think that Switzerland will be the same. Some of the participants rode old-skool cyclocross bikes, some were on XC hardtails, some were on standard gravel bikes and then a few people were on something leftfield – everything from a flat bar, fully rigid MTB with a large basket on the front, to all styles of monstercross bikes. As the courses are so variable in nature, there isn’t a “perfect” bike, but we would recommend going with the fattest tyres you can shoehorn into your frame to give you some extra comfort and grip. If you’ve got some fat and fast tyres event better – event sponsor Maxxis recommend these as the perfect fast-but-fun combo

There are three days’ worth of riding included in the Swiss event – a fun prologue event on the Friday afternoon, Grinduro and Grindurito events on the Saturday and a hangover ride scheduled for the Sunday. Sounds like a fun-packed weekend.

Of course, it’s not all just about the riding. The event organisers promise great food, a fantastic after-race party and a well organised campsite, complete with showers. The entry price for the event includes high quality meals with breakfast lunch and dinner included on the Saturday and breakfast on the Sunday too.

Entries cost from 250CHF (~ €230/£200/US$270). You can find out all the details about the event on the event website here and for anyone keen to enter, you can sign up here.