Ukiah-Mendo Gravel Epic

NCNCA Gravel District Championships

Ukiah-Mendo Grasshopper will be the first NCNCA Gravel District Championship race. You will need a USAC License to compete for the District Championship. You do NOT need a USAC license to ride in or compete for the Grasshopper Adventure Series. This will be a “race within a race”. We will have a mass start as in previous years. Riders will be scored in 5 year bracket as per USAC. The Grasshopper Adventure Series points will be in 10 year bands i.e. 19-29, 30-39 etc. as we have been doing for years. Details to follow.

s

The Course

Thanks to Mendocino Redwood Company and the City of Ukiah you will be treated to a 32 mile private logging road though the majestic redwood, fir and oak forests of western Mendocino County. We begin with staging at Todd Grove Park in downtown Ukiah and a neutral roll out to the Masonite Rd. The course follows a mix of gravel, chunky pavement and packed dirt to Hwy 128. From here we take Flynn Creek Rd to Comptche and then climb Comptche-Ukiah Rd to Low Gap. The course then proceeds onto Low Gap to Miller Ridge and the Masonite Rd just as we do in Low Gap Hopper. This is a one-of kind loop in true “Hopper style”. With an equal ratio of adventure/exploration and shred it’s not to be missed. The shorter route has the same start and then at mile 22 you turn onto Low Gap Rd and head back. But, at 40 miles and 4,200 ft of climbing it’s a “Proper Hopper”.

The Moriah Wilson Foundation

A portion of the proceeds of this event will go to supporting the Moriah Wilson Foundation. Moriah was an inspiration to everyone in the NorCal cycling scene and we miss her so! Our hope it to help with Moriah’s vision to strengthen communities and love and live deeply. In Moriah’s words “When you love something to the point where you’re fully committed, the risk becomes irrelevant. Because if you fail, it will have been worth it. The process and all that comes along with it is more important, in the end.” The Hoppers have always been about community, adventure and personal challenge and we’re honored to hold this on the same date as her ride in Vermont. To learn more and to donate go to the Moriah Wilson Foundation. 

What to Ride?:

It’s a Hopper, what can we say?! There will always be times you feel like you’re on the wrong bike 😉 This is definitely a gravel bike event.  Long course is smooth pavement from mile 33-50. The ideal set up depends on your strengths/weaknesses. The best choice would be tires with slight tread and small side nobs. Ideally 40-42. Several of us have ridden the course recently and this was perfect!