Gran Fondo Florida, Dade City - March 23rd 2025

The Flannel Grinder

March 09 2025

Meadow Vista CA

Date Confirmed

Distances: 30, 50 miles

Difficulty: Moderate terrain with rolling short steep hills or moderate, sustained climbs

Limited to: 300 or less Participants

Dust off those flannels and get ready to ride some mixed terrain.

Start/Finish:

Meadow Vista Park, 1101 Meadow Vista Rd. Meadow Vista, CA
8 Miles north of Auburn
Start time: 9:00 am
Check-in will open at 7:30 am

We are encouraging people to come out and ride in their favorite flannel/plaid outfits. Of course, we will not judge you if you want to come out in your spandex or Hawaiian shirts.

Due to the Yankee Jims bridge project, we have been developing new route options for 2025. We’re sad to miss out on the iconic Yankee Bridge this year, but we are working on a couple of routes that will involve a bit more road than in the past and will also add a bit more climbing. The levels of beauty and remoteness will remain pretty similar, so you can rest assured that the flannel will still be the right attire for the ride.

The Flannel Grinder is that one time of year when we take a deep breath and chill out together. It’s a time to come together as a cycling community and remember why we love riding bikes: It gives us freedom and makes us feel like kids again. Swapping spandex kits for flannels REALLY helps embrace that vibe, and we’ve had many surprised participants share that feedback with us after the event. This event is not easy, but it’s also not meant to be ‘epic’. There’s plenty of that on the calendar to check that box for you. Join us! Take your time. Enjoy the views! Enjoy the waterfalls.

Here are some preliminary notes on the routes (note: this may change slightly, but hopefully not). We’ll add links here once we finalize our permits.

Longer Route:

50 miles
7.2k ft climbing
14+ miles of unpaved surface
Don’t let the “low” mileage fool you. It’s a challenging but beautiful day out!

Shorter Route:

29 Miles
3.3k ft climbing
5 miles unpaved

There is an option to extend miles, climbing, and unpaved miles all in one by adding an additional climb on the out-and-back portion of the route.

Both routes will start and finish at the Meadow Vista Community Center, located at 1101 Meadow Vista Rd, Meadow Vista, CA 95722.

With the year coming to a close soon, we decided to offer an incentive to procrastinators to sign up ‘early’, so tell your friends to get on it!

$99 through Dec 31!
$109 starting in 2025

As always, we will provide everyone with excellent aid station support and a tasty hot meal at the finish. We will also try to send you home with a memorable keepsake from the event and a unique patch to collect.

See you all soon!

Support:

The course will have aid stations with water, drink mix, and light snacks.
Please come prepared to change a flat!
We are on mixed terrain, and the probability that you will flat on course is high. Ensure your equipment is ready (good rubber, newer brake pads, thoroughly checked drive train). We recommend a tubeless set-up from our favorite bike shop, Kinetic Cycles in Sacramento.

Post ride:

Lunch will be provided.

Tacos! Yes, the same ones from prior years :)

Keep an eye on our social media pages for updates leading up to the event. Remember to use #flannelgrinder on all of your social media posts.

The Flannel Grinder