The Peregrine Grondo
A Gravel Fondo in the Carrizo Plain.
March 25th – 26th 2023
Join us as we re-visit this beautiful area on another epic gravel adventure! The Carrizo Plain is a large valley, frozen in time and known to few. It covers 250,000 acres of hills and grasslands which are prime for gravel adventures. This is an adventure touring style event where we will take our time enjoying the beautiful landscape, stopping often to take pictures and showcase the unique terrain and sights.
Carrizo Plain National Monument, CA
The Route – 66 miles – 2,200ft
The route is a large 60-70mile gravel loop with approx. 2,000-2,500 ft elevation gain. The terrain is decently mild, mostly consisting of hardpacked dirt/gravel roads however there can be sections of loose conditions and depending on the weather can be muddy as well. There are a few sections of non technical single track. There is one steep climb and descent, the rest of the route is pretty mellow with rolling hills.
Route GPS will be sent out a couple weeks prior to the event.
Timeline
- 8:00am Check In & Gear Check at Monument HQ Parking Lot
- 8:45am Group Photo & Safety Brief
- 9:00am Ride Starts - Don't Be Late!
- Noonish we will stop for lunch at the top of the San Andreas Fault at approx mile 25
- 5-6pm Ride Finish & Refreshments back at the Monument HQ Parking Lot
Ride Support
Registration includes the following
- Fully scouted route & GPS File
- 4x4 Support Vehicle
- Water, Hydration, & Nutrition
- Light Lunch Mid Ride
- Mechanical Support & 1st Aid
- Post Ride Refreshments
Carrizo Plain National Monument
“The Carrizo Plain National Monument, located 100 airline miles (160 km) from Los Angeles, is an area by-passed by time. Soda Lake, its centerpiece, is a glistening bed of white salt, set within a vast open grassland, rimmed by steep mountains. The plain is home to diverse communities of wildlife and plant species, is an area culturally important to Native Americans, and is traversed by the San Andreas fault, which has created and moved mountain ranges, carved valleys and is marked by a subtle alignment of ridges, ravines and pools.”
Camping
Some of us will be camping the night before and the night after and you are welcome to join us! Camping is primitive in Carrizo but is beautiful. All sites are first come first serve, we plan to stay at the Selby campground which is the closest campsite to the start/stop location. If Selby is full there is a second campground called KCL which is about 15 miles south. If both sites are full Disperse camping is also allowed in certain areas. The campgrounds have tables, fire pits, and a vault toilet. There is no electricity, water or trash collection. Make sure you bring everything you need and pack it out!
Suggested Bike Setup & Gear
Bike
We recommend using a Gravel, CX, or Hardtail mountain bike with larger tire capability which will be much more comfortable and have better handling. Make sure brakes are serviced and brake pads have plenty of pad life left.
Gearing
Most of this route is rolling hills however there is one short but very steep climb. Having your bike properly geared for the hills will be very important. Make sure your bike has a low gearing, we recommend at least a 1:1 ratio or lower.
Tires & Puncture Protection
- We recommend using tires ranging in size from 700x42 - 700x47 or a 29x1.95 - 29x 2.125 with a gravel or cross country style tread
- Recommend using tubes with puncture protection such as high quality sealant or a tubeless setup (Orange Seal, Muc-Off, or Stans).
- Bring 1-2 spare tubes, and patch kit.
Suggested Packing List
- Bike
- Gravel Tires
- Cycling Bags
- Spare Tubes 2x
- Sealant
- Patch Kit
- Tire Boot
- Tire Levers
- Hand Pump
- Chain Lube
- Missing Link
- Multi Tool w/Chain Breaker
- Headlight & Taillight
- Water Bottles 2x +
- Layers/Jackets
- Nutrition/Snacks
- Water/Hydration
- Chamois Butter
- Sunscreen
- Chap Stick
- Toilet Paper
- Hand Sanitizer
Final Thoughts
The Carrizo Plain is a beautiful but very secluded location. There is no water anywhere in the area and the nearest town is about an hour away. Being able to ride supported here is a very unique opportunity. While we will be providing SAG support we do ask that each rider comes fully prepared with all the right gear, equipment, and riding experience. Being such a remote location we ask that you only sign up if you are already comfortable with a ride of this distance and elevation. Safety is our number one goal and we need everyone’s help in staying safe. Plan ahead and bring plenty of gear. The temperatures can go from cold to hot and back again so wearing and bringing extra layers is important as well as lights. We are very excited for this adventure and to share it with you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns. See you soon!
Get your T-Shirt Here!
Miss out on ordering a shirt or want another? We got you covered! Follow the link to order your event shirt here and we will ship it out to you.
