A truly famous or infamous (depending on the person) race, the Big Bear Mountain Bike Gran Fondo and the Grizzly 100 is a Saturday spectacular of multiple mountain bike race lengths held in the gorgeous area of Big Bear Lake, California. Once, two separate mountain bike events, the Grizzly 100 and the MTB Grand Fondo are now joined into one day of non-stop pedaling. Starting with the route MTB Gran Fondo, which can be categorized as spot climbs with multiple categories allowing almost every level of rider to enjoy the event and race. The Fondo has 20-kilometer, 30k, 40k, 50k, and 100-kilometer options. The 100k fondo is a ‘rider to recovery’ event aiding veterans’ recovery, which is an extraordinary addition to Saturday. Then there is the beast of the Grizzly 100 and 75. The Grizzly has gained international recognition as a spectacular and physically demanding endurance mountain bike race that spans some of California’s best single track and double track, climbing thousands of meters while all taking place at a hypoxic altitude of up to 8,500 feet! The Grizzly 100 and 75 is the final race of the National Ultra Endurance Race Series (NUE) in 2021, making it a physically challenging venue to end on and sure to bring some heavy-hitting riders. There are eight categories in the Grizzly 100/75 that all attribute points to the NUE series. For the 100k and 75k routes, there are single speed categories and a masters (50+) age grouping for men and women. Beyond that, both 100k and 75k routes have a men’s and women’s open category. The Grizzly course is no joke, and the dreaded Radford Climb has been voted as “one of the most dreaded 5-mile climbs in California.” (NUE) Top-of-the-line aid stations are more than just fully stocked; they have great local fans and amazing participants and volunteers. The Big Bear MTB Grand Fondo and The Grizzly 100/75 is one of California’s top mountain bike events and one of the top MTB occasions in the United States. Strambecco could not recommend this weekend more; a truly amazing event.
The Grizzly is part of the National Ultra Endurance Series. The National Ultra Endurance Series (NUE) is a race series that has some of the best endurance mountain bike races in the United States. NUE comprises an Epic Series, 100-mile events, and a Marathon series, which includes 50-mile and 75k length events.
- True Grit 100/50
- Cohutta 100 – Big Frog 65
- Mohican MTB 100
- Wilderness 101k
- Telluride 100/50
- Shenandoah 100
- Marji Gesick 100/50
- Ring of Fire 100
- Big Grizzly 100/75
- Carrabassett 100
- Pierre’s Hole 50/100
50 Kilometer Fondo
Apologies, the 75k route is not listed on the website.
Grizzly 100
