Ireland has more rural roads per square mile than anywhere else in the world, crazy unconventional roads. On 19 September the 3rd Grass Routes Gran Fondo will captivate cyclists with a gravel adventure experience beyond the norm – on roads less travelled.

Three blokes (Simon, Liam and James) created this one-of-a-kind gravel event taking place in Tipperary, Ireland.  It is FREE (as in no entry fee), self-guided “with benefits” and takes riders on a 140km of criss-cross boreen (narrow rural unpaved paths) with mixed surface sectors, classic bergs and associated hardmen and women challenges.

Frequent detours into 1-2km of cobbled classic “sectors” (25km in total), make it rideable on any bike – road, cx, gravel, MTB or even a unicycle if you want a unqiue adventure.

The “with benefits” part includes a group of volunteers who provide course signage, KOM challenges (8 in total), Classic Sectors (12 in total), a midway aid/fuel station, broom wagon and neutral mechanical service.

Grass Routes Gran Fondo offers everything you get at a full service gravel event costing 100 Euros or more except timing results.  Of course, Strava can do that for free too.

Add it all up and Grass Routes Gran Fondo just might be the perfect way to spend an Autumn day graveling in Ireland.

Worldwide Gran Fondo and Gravel Event Calendar