Howdy!
I’m currently training for the 2024 OTGG and getting ready to enter the Master’s Specialty Phase…has anyone done OTGG in past years? If so, did you use the Climbing Road Race or Gran Fondo option?
TIA!
Glenn
Check out post 16 and 23 from @Flamingo for some info and pics. I’ll be interested to hear from other people who have done this since it’s on my bucket list of races (maybe 2025?)
I rode it in 21. At 3.2 w/kg from Florida mid 50’s and somewhat limited training it was very tough. Very awesome though. I clearly needed a few more long rides in training.
Joe
Did it last year. 4.25 w/kg averaged 11 hrs a week. I was 15th overall with 9? Pros in the race. I was beyond stoked. I came into form on the second day, and was too fresh on the first day, but I dont think i’d do it any different TBH. The course direction is reversed from last year (meaning less climbing) last year was 350miles/35000ft elevation. It was a 25hr week for me. Unless youre riding 20hrs a week avg, it is brutally hard. But it is so far beyond worth it, no matter what fitness level you’re at. Hands down the best experience I’ve ever had on a bike. It is an amazing experience. The promotor, the course, the food, the people…absolutely epic. You will feel like a pro rider getting catered to for a week long stage race. No other experience like it.
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There you go, both ends of the race loved it so they’ve got something special going out there.
Joe
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Good morning all. I just signed up for this for 2026. I’m an average rider (mid-50s) at 2.8 W/kg with some weight I need to shed anyway. I am curious what recent experience anyone has regarding bike choice and how technical the courses were. It looks like an amazing experience but I have concerns I could be over my head.
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Hey, I rode it this year at 2.8w/kg and I struggled. It was mostly fine power-wise throughout the week, but I spent a lot of time on course which led to not much time after the ride for self and bike care before it was time for bed. I DNFed on the final day because I failed to pay attention to hydration and it was hot that day.
One thing to pay attention to is bike handling skills. There’s a fair bit of riding in sand, standing water, snow, etc. Some of the descents were pretty fast and chunky. One guy was sent home this year after he broke his SECOND helmet.
So, that all sounds scary, but I had a great time and signed up again for next year. It’s a fun, challenging, course. There’s lots of moto support and the race organizers keep solid track of where everyone is. Even though I was slow, I never felt like I was in danger of mechanical or crash and being left hanging.
The camp vibes are amazing. The food is great. People are super friendly and helpful. It’s tons of fun to see the pros go by at crazy speeds and chat with them in camp. Cam Jones came this year right after his Unbound win as did Sophia Gomez Villafañe (sp?). Payson McElveen did a podcast every night that was great gossip from how the pro race was going and Serena Bishop Gordon hosted a “fireside chat” talking about women in gravel that was pretty interesting.
I’m signed up to go again next year as well. I’m interested to see how the reverse direction course works. It won’t be just a reverse of this year but, if it were, it’d mean longer, shallower climbs and steeper, less chunky descents.
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I was at 3.2w/kg, 190#, 50-something when I did it. It was the year of that heat wave out there and I had to downgrade myself from pioneer to settler on the last day…but I’m glad I did, never would have made it on the long route on the last day, my garmin hit 113 degrees while riding.
I used a rigid mtb with rene herse 2.2 knobs standard casing (sorry, can’t remember the model). Double pinch flats on day #1, limped one along till the end but swapped the other out for something else (again…sorry, not sure what). But there are some sharp rocks there. Probably not riding like a complete idiot would improve your odds…but still, it’s not like that loving midwest gravel I was used to.
Never felt over biked but I was out there like 6 hours per day so not moving super fast. I was in the 32X52 a ton. If I were to do it again, personally I’d go hardtail, sussy fork, and fast xc tires (dubs, ricks, or similar). I figure…I’d gain virtually nothing on the climbs and probably lose time on the descents compared to a proper gravel bike.
Same! Wish I was faster for more camp fun!
Joe
Maybe this is better suited for the unpopular opinion thread, but a lightweight hard tail MTB is definitely faster on West Coast “gravel” than a gravel bike.
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There were a number of people on various flavors of mountain bikes out there this year. One woman was even on a fatbike. None of the really fast people were on mountain bikes, but I can definitely see the appeal. The true winners were those riding eMTB. 
Since I don’t own a mountain bike, I split the difference and put a mullet drive train with a 36t on my gravel bike and it was mostly fine. I ran RH 44mm Manashstashes in the endurance casing and had no issues. Schwalbe was on hand this year swapping people’s tires out like mad, so that was an option if the tire choice needed it I be adjusted mid-flight.
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Didn’t do the race but have ridden the gravel out there. Pros are a different kind of human. The pounding and bumpy washboards took more out of me than the miles. Felt like I got thrown in a washing machine on my gravel bike. 
Yeah, there’s definitely a lot more to it than the miles and elevation. Even the downhills can be exhausting.
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Just keeping my eyes on this thread. I’m interested in doing this. Me and my buddies usually do HC100 and Gorge Gravel Grinder every other year, or some ride down in Bend OR but this ride has been on our radar for some time.
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Gorge Gravel Grinder any good? Grew up in Hood River and visit every year… been thinking about doing this one.
Can you register for just that race? I keep looking at the registration site and only seeing the three race package for $1500. Surely I am overlooking something..
Yea highly recommend! Great vibes all around and support. Courses are well thought out and not too demanding or technical although can get windy as you know from that area. Landscape views and wind farms are spectacular. Just one of those rides worth doing.
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Did that one this year as well. The wind was the thing here. It was 20mph headwinds with gusts to 40mph. In addition to the extra effort, it was just so loud. The noise was its own source of fatigue.
Other than that, the route was beautiful. Support was great. Great camp experience. Definitely suggest camping onsite if you do this to get the whole experience.
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Great info and thanks to all so far. I’m looking at a new bike for bikepacking and this event. I’m leaning hard into at Salsa Cutthroat. I’m thinking it’ll be either AXS Transmission or new Di2 to try to get into a 40T or 34T chainring in front with 10-52 or 51 in back. Based on what I’m reading I may even go with some front suspension.