Destination:
Columbia County, New York
Farmer's Daughter Gravel Grinder
Sunday May 19, 2024
By Dave Kraus
Now in its 10th year, the Farmer's Daughter Gravel Grinder (FDGG) has become a prime destination for Mid-Atlantic gravel cyclists wanting to test their endurance and bike handling skills on the roads and wooded tracks near Chatham in Columbia County, New York. The 63-mile course winds through some of the most beautiful scenery in the Northeast at the height of spring. The route offers plenty of climbing and fun descents to match. Named after the local Chatham Brewery’s Rye IPA, served at the post-ride party, the circuit offers a grand tour of northern Columbia County and its surrounding areas.
The Farmer’s Daughter organizer, Andy Ruiz of the Capital Bicycle Racing Club (CBRC), says the event has raised over $100k for various local causes since 2015. He started the event because, “I had stopped racing and wanted to get more involved with the behind the scenes of the CBRC. I also became a board member. There were a few other gravel events in the Northeast and I thought… gravel will be huge in a couple of years.”
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The FDGG has been a popular local event from the start.
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The FDGG has ben selling out every year.
He was right! The FDGG has been a popular local event from the start, attracting 370 riders in its first year and selling out every year since, despite a constantly expanding rider cap that has grown from 300 and now stands at 1,500.
This year’s Farmer’s Daughter route offers about 6,000 feet of climbing - almost entirely on dirt roads with some off-road trail sections, including two on singletrack or double track trails. Riders will pass by three fully supported aid stations, have access to portable toilets, as well as sweep vehicles.
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The FDGG includes a section of singletrack.
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This year’s full route offers about 6,000 feet of climbing.
For 2024, a new course has also been added. The “Farmer’s Granddaughter” skips the off-road trail and double track sections and meanders over a 43-mile, less demanding route with “only” 3,700 feet of climbing. Riders will also pass by two of the available aid stations. Participants on both routes will get their choice of a catered finish line meal featuring chicken burritos, vegetarian, and vegan meals cooked on site.
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This year’s full route offers about 6,000 feet of climbing…
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…along with matching fun descents.
If you're 21 years or older, you can also reward yourself at the finish with a free pint of Chatham Brewery’s Farmer’s Daughter Rye IPA poured in the 20 oz. FDGG tumbler that each registered rider will receive. (Jerseys, socks, t-shirts, and beanies? They have those to sell, too!)
If you want to arrive early, 50 camping sites are available and open at the Columbia County Fairground for pop-ups, sprinter vans, and tents (no RV’s). Post ride, you can also get that muddy bike cleaned up at the bike wash operated by the Flow Riders, a youth cycling development organization in NY's Capital Region. Flow Riders is a 100% volunteer organization with over 70 coaches and 200+ riders.
Registration deadline for both rides is May 16, 2024 with a rider cap of 1000 for the Farmer’s Daughter and 500 rider cap for the Farmer’s Granddaughter route. Even with increases in riders caps each year, this event consistently sells out.
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A well deserved pint…
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Tasty meal cooked on site…
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Well earned rests…
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Clean bikes by Flow Riders…