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Shendo Cat Racing and AZ Trail Race LLC is a local event company that has been putting on the best trail running events in the valley since 2010.

PHONE:           602.363.7725

E-MAIL:           info@aztrailrace.com

ADDRESS:     

AZ Trail Race LLC

P.O. Box 36983, Phoenix, AZ 85067

Chino Valley Red Rocks

Chino Grinder

Chino Valley AZ | Sep 28, 2024

The Original Gravel Grinder

Chino Grinder is Arizona’s longest running (circa 2014) and original Gravel Grinder. With 75-95% unpaved surfaces, the Chino Grinder offers a great challenge to push your limits as a cyclist.  Whether you are looking to complete your first long-distance ride or set a personal best, the Chino Grinder provides a challenging and rewarding experience. These types of events originated in the American Midwest and quickly found favor with riders around the world.  This event attracts a diverse group of participants who share your love of cycling.  Well-stocked aid stations and friendly volunteers provide a friendly and supportive atmosphere to get you up and over plenty of climbs and descents creating a challenging and rewarding experience for cyclists of all levels.

Course Overview

Chino Grinder is Arizona’s longest-running and original Gravel Grinder.  An endurance cycling event highlighting Arizona’s diverse beauty while traveling on sections of the longest continuously used road in the country, this remote course has multiple distances suitable for all ages and experience levels.   While our modern bike wheels may have replaced wooden wagons of days ago, traversing these rugged parts requires the same grit and sense of adventure.  Certainly, this ride promises to be an unforgettable day in the saddle of shared fun, memories, and adversity.  Let’s Chino!

 

Chino Valley is a rural, ranching and agricultural community approximately 10 miles north of Prescott, Arizona.  Known as ‘Big Sky’ country based on its endless views in every direction, Chino Valley sits at around 4,700 ft.  Although you won’t find the iconic saguaros most commonly associated with the Arizona desert, the surrounding rolling hills are blanketed in golden Gama grasses where native Pronghorn roam.

120 Mile Full Grind

60 Mile Half Grind

43 Mile Fine Grind

21 Mile Fun Grind

Chino Rules

#1. Be a KIND HUMAN

This includes but not limited to:

Fellow competitors/riders:  Help, check on and watch out for each other, no matter the circumstance.  Be good to each other.

Volunteers:  This event would not happen without them. This might be their first experience with this type of event.  Give them thanks.

Law Enforcement:  We’ll have local law enforcement to assist with the event and you might see them at other points on the course.  They are doing us a great service.  Obey the laws.

General Public:  You will encounter others (ranchers, hunters, locals, off-roaders, campers, etc.) not associated with or aware of the Chino Grinder.  Share the space.  With this in mind, respect private property.

Vendors:  Without a doubt, vendors will be there to add to and enhance the Chino experience.  Enjoy the atmosphere.

Land:  Your mother doesn’t work here. Moreover, she sure isn’t going to chase you across the Arizona countryside to pick up after you.  DON’T LITTER.

Those not able to abide by the above will not be able to participate in future Chino’s and/or be DQ’d for the current edition.  We reserve the right to refuse participation to anyone if we deem your past or present behavior breaks event rules and standards.

#2. Rules of the Road: Open roads! (NOT closed to traffic)

  • Riders MUST obey all traffic laws.   Therefore, strictly obey any law enforcement persons or official event personnel.  Failure to do so may result in DQ and inability to participate in future events,
  • Riders must, at all times, stay right of center line.  Additionally, on dirt roads, riders must stay right of center.
  • Pass on the left, only when safe and let yourself be known when doing it (i.e. “ON YOUR LEFT!).

#3. Equipment Rules: Helmets (required), brakes (required), ebikes (conditional) and aero bars (conditional).

  • All participants must wear a CPSC-approved helmet during the entirety of their participation.
  • Additionally, all bikes must be equipped with functioning front/rear brakes.
  • Class 1 e-bikes are permitted, non-competitively on the 40 and 20-mile routes only.  E-bikes are not to interfere with or assist other riders.  Non-e-bike participants cannot draft e-bikes—doing so will get both riders DQ’d.
  • Finally, aero bars (TT bars) are NOT permitted on the 60, 40, or 20 mile routes.

#4. Support Rules: NO OUTSIDE/INSIDE SUPPORT

  • No outside support is permitted, by anyone, anywhere on the course.
  • No domestiques.  Groups shall be organic.  No rider should be riding for another rider.  Chino is a solo mission.
  • Aid Stations are provided for all riders and ‘hand-ups’ will not be offered. In other words, riders must rely on the aid stations for support.
  • Drop bag service will be provided for the 120-mile route only. Bags MUST be dropped off at Registration by 6:30 am the day of the event.  We are not responsible for lost or damaged bags/contents. Bags should be returned by 5:00 pm but may be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.
  • Riders will be DQ’d and banned from future events if a vehicle connected to them travels on the course during the event. Finally, this is a solo event and riders must not receive outside assistance.

#5. PLAN AHEAD

  • Chino Grinder is not responsible for miss-marked or missing signage. Riders are responsible for their navigation and staying on course.  This is easily accomplished by having either a GPS device with the downloaded route and/or printed cue sheet/directions from official routes posted. If you turn around before your designated turnaround, you have cut the course and MUST report to the timing booth as a DNF (Did Not Finish).  Please turn around if you need to, we want you back safe, but let us know so we’re not out there looking for you.
  • Have a plan in case you are not able to complete your Chino.  Family/friends can pick you up at the Transition Aid Station (60-mile turnaround point).  However, they CANNOT travel on the course.  The Transition Aid Station can only be accessed via Drake Rd—  Official directions to that point are listed below.
  • Plan your needs for the day–nutrition, hydration, and bike.  Aid Stations will have basic refueling needs (hydration and nutrition).  However, if you have specific needs, plan to carry your supplies for the day.  You are responsible for your mechanical needs.  DON’T FORGET SUNSCREEN!
  • Plan to have FUN!  It’s going to be a great day, so long as you plan accordingly. 😊

#6. Number Plate Rules: DO NOT ALTER THEM and ATTACH them to the FRONT of your bike.

  • No bending, folding, cutting or altering number plates. In other words, you must keep your number plate in its original condition. After all, you want your time to be recorded, right?
  • Mount plate unobstructed, on the front of the bike.
  • Do not wrap around any part of the bike. Otherwise, it may become damaged, fall off, or your time may not be recorded correctly.
  • E-bikes will have a red number plates to distinguish them from regular bikes.

Directions to Transition Aid Station:

This is only for abandoned riders.  If someone meets you here, you have abandoned the race.

We give you directions starting from the intersection of Highway 89 & Drake Rd (the intersection is approximately 10 miles north of Paulden, AZ on State Route 89). However, how you get to that intersection, is up to you.

Distance from the intersection to Transition Aid Station is approximately 10 miles.  The approximate travel time from Chino Grinder Venue is 45 minutes (30 miles). Therefore, you should plan accordingly.

Be aware that different map services can label roads differently.

Do not drive on the course. This is for the safety of all riders.

Start:  Intersection of Highway 89 & Drake Rd./FSR 492

Merge onto Forest Service 492 Rd, 4.5 mi

Continue onto Co Rd 71, 4.0 mi

Continue onto Co Rd 73, 0.6 mi

Proceed onto Fr 492, 0.6 mi

Arrive at intersection of Perkinsville Rd./Transition Aid Station

Directions to JD Dam:

This is for Duo participants ONLY.  This is the only route Duo participants may travel to get to their transfer spot.

We give you directions from downtown Williams.  How you get to downtown Williams is up to you.

Distance from downtown Williams to JD Dam is approximately 19 miles.  Approximate travel time from Chino Grinder Venue is 1h 40m (74 miles).

Be aware that different map services can label roads differently.  Do not drive on course.

Start:  Downtown Williams, AZ (4th Street & Route 66)

Head south on S 4th St toward W Grant Ave, 0.5 mi

Continue onto S Perkinsville Rd, 7.8 mi

Turn left onto Fire Rd 110/White Horse Rd. Continue to follow Fire Rd 110, 6.9 mi

Fire Rd 110 turns slightly left and becomes Fire Rd 109/White Horse Lake Rd, 0.5 mi

Slight right onto Fire Rd 110/J D Dam Rd, 3.0 mi

Turn right onto Fire Rd 11, 0.4 mi

Turn left into JD Dam day use area, 0.1 mi

Arrive at J. D. Dam Lake/JD Dam Aid Station

Schedule of Events

Wednesday September 13, 2023

Packet Pickup Time and Location:  TBD

Friday September 15, 2023

Chino Grinder Venue

Old Home Manor Park

3905 Perkinsville Rd

Chino Valley, AZ 86323

 

3:00 pm:  Camping at Chino Opens Up

4:00 – 8:00 pm:  Packet pick-up

5:30 pm:  Shake-out Ride

10:00 pm: Quiet Night Night Time

Saturday September 16, 2023

Chino Grinder Venue

Old Home Manor Park

3905 Perkinsville Rd

Chino Valley, AZ 86323

Starts/Finish:

  • 5:00 am: Breakfast and coffee
  • 5:30 am: Registration Opens
  • 6:00 – 8:30 am:  Late packet pick-up
    • *You must pick up your packet 30 minutes before your wave start time
  • 6:30 am:  DEADLINE for 120 Miler DROP BAGS TO BE DROPPED at the DROP BOX sign in the registration area.
  • 7:00 am:  120-mile Full Grind Start
  • 7:30 am:  60-mile Half Grind Start
  • 8:00 am:  40-mile e-bike Fine Grind Start
  • 8:05 am:  40-mile Fine Grind Start
  • 8:30 am:  20-mile e-bike Fun Grind Start
  • 8:35 am:  20-mile Fun Grind Start
  • 11:00 am:  Expo/Finish Party Starts
  • 12:00 pm:  Podium – 20-mile Fun Grind – JUNIORS ONLY
  • 1:00 pm:  Podium – 40-mile Fine Grind
  • 2:00 pm:  Podium – 60-mile Half Grind
  • 3:00 pm:  Podium – 120-mile Full Grind
  • 7:00 pm:  All course cut-off
  • 7:45 pm: BEER GARDEN/FOOD TRUCKS CLOSE

Sunday September 17, 2023

  • 10:00 am:  Camping Area Closes

Chino Grinder Venue

Old Home Manor Park

3905 Perkinsville Rd

Chino Valley, AZ 86323

Refund & Transfer Policy

  • NO REFUNDS, NO DEFFERALS.
  • IF and ONLY IF the event is sold out, you may transfer your registration to another participant so long as it is at least 2 WEEKS before the event.  Current registration fees will apply + an additional $25 administrative fee.

Photos

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