Saddle Up for the Ironbull Red Granite Grinder

True Grit was one of our all-time favorite Westerns. John Wayne was fond of riding, which is to say he probably would have traded his horse for a mountain bike and joined racers at this year’s Ironbull Red Granite Grinder Bike Race in Wausau on Saturday, October 17.

Racers will explore the grit in the western portion of Marathon County, including several gems not normally open to bikers. They will drink in the sights and sounds of a bucolic world populated by ginseng fields, dairy farm pasture, barns, and farm fields.

Ride options are 50-, 85-, and 140-mile routes. Be forewarned, the 140-mile course is designed to find out who is the toughest of the tough. Riders get an immediate taste of what’s in store with climbing 800 feet to the top of Rib Mountain, setting the tone for the day.

For those not prone to spending hours in the saddle, they might consider the 12-mile recreational ride, which is family friendly, non-competitive (but timed) in downtown Wausau. Each race starts (with a police escort for 7 a.m. races) and finishes in the heart of downtown Wausau on the 400 Block.

The well-deserved post-race party will be held on the 400 Block upon your finish. Family, friends, food, music, and, most importantly, beer (including local craft brews) and drink are there to congratulate you, an Ironbull finisher. All racers will receive a free meal from the Urban Street Bistro food truck.

For more information, call 715-848-5949 or visit ironbull.org/red-granite-grinder-details.