Northern California - Levi's GranFondo

Not sure if anyone caught this, but registration opened up today...

http://www.levisgranfondo.com/

Not sure if anyone caught this, but registration opened up today...

http://www.levisgranfondo.com/

Managed to register this morning amid the rush and havoc. I rode the Gran back in October and loved it, so I'm definitely back for more. A little surprised to see the price increase by 45% - what's that all about?

Anyway, King Ridge is the most magnificent ride I've ever done - I rode it again in November with my sister and a friend, and if anything it was even more breathtaking and fulfilling just the three of us than with the 3,500 riders of the Gran Fondo. Highly recommended, although it may very well be sold out by now - they registered 1000 riders in the first 15 minutes...

Price increase aside, why are they opening registration ~1 year ahead of time? Are they trying to make it Death Ride status?

I'd like to do it, but it's December and I have no idea what next October might bring and I'd rather not spend that much $ this close to Xmas if I don't have to.

I just registered for the Piccolo again. No need to overestimate my future ability.

Very impressed by the vegan meal choice too. Guess they really do listen to suggestions. My friend will be quite pleased.

I'm signing up for the Gran with some friends, my wife is in for the Piccolo with some friends. If anyone is on the fence, the ride last year was great, and I'm sure next years will be even better.

. If anyone is on the fence, the ride last year was great, and I'm sure next years will be even better.

Thanks! I've been waffling all day & you just pushed me over that fence. Signed up for the Gran this evening.

Price increase aside, why are they opening registration ~1 year ahead of time? Are they trying to make it Death Ride status?

I'd like to do it, but it's December and I have no idea what next October might bring and I'd rather not spend that much $ this close to Xmas if I don't have to.

+1. I wanted to do this, but having just spent $ on registering for San Bruno and swallowed $112 for the Death Ride, this is too much and too soon. The listed prices are pretty astonishing (compared to say Tierra Bella that just opened for $48) and the website says that the prices will actually *increase*? :eek:

The price is a bit steep, but the rest stops, the 'party' afterward are first-class; and where else are you going to have Bob Roll in a GenieLift commenting of the ride?

I was thinking of registering, but since I had to provide a level and "pathetic" wasn't one of the choices, I figured I wouldn't qualify. :rolleyes: :D

I'm in! The servers we down for quite a while, but it made the adventure begin that much sooner. It will be my first century - can't wait!

It sounds like the registration is not transferable? That's a bit unfriendly, but I suppose understandable given that it's a timed event. [Secretly plotting Jack's Gran Fondo...]

Price increase aside, why are they opening registration ~1 year ahead of time? Are they trying to make it Death Ride status?

What makes the Death Ride worth the high cost is the long descents where you can hold more than 40mph for the duration. Not many places in the local Bay Area you can do that. Or 50+ on the Carson descent.

What makes the Death Ride worth the high cost is the long descents ...

Gee and I always thought it was the right to own a five-pass jersey. :D

I'm in! The servers we down for quite a while, but it made the adventure begin that much sooner. It will be my first century - can't wait!

You have lots of time to train for it. The ride surprised a lot of people because there was over 8000' of climbing. Some tough hills. The difficult thing next year will be the crowded roads, not the hills. Hope they have enough food, drinks, and bathrooms.

The difficult thing next year will be the crowded roads, not the hills. Hope they have enough food, drinks, and bathrooms.

My friend and I were talking about how they expect to have a mass start of 6000 people. They're still staging at the Finley Center, right? Going to be insane.

It sounds like the registration is not transferable? That's a bit unfriendly, but I suppose understandable given that it's a timed event. [Secretly plotting Jack's Gran Fondo...]
Actually the website indicates that this year:
"Transfers will be allowed for a short period of time. Watch the newsletters for information. They are $25."
Not clear what the 'short period of time' will be, and $25 seems like a lot just for them to type a substitute name into their database. But at least a bit of an improvement over not allowing transfers at all. That policy didn't seem justifiable at all, whether or not individual times were going to be kept.

My friend and I were talking about how they expect to have a mass start of 6000 people. They're still staging at the Finley Center, right? Going to be insane.

Not sure about everyone else but it took us nearly 40 minutes to get across the start and we were nowhere near the back of the pack. 6000 people should make things interesting...

Not sure about everyone else but it took us nearly 40 minutes to get across the start and we were nowhere near the back of the pack. 6000 people should make things interesting...

My friend and I were at the back and I swear the clock said 8:40 or something when I rolled through the start. They didn't start until 8:15 or something. Maybe I read the thing wrong. I deducted 20 minutes from my chip time... maybe I need to make it 40 minutes instead. I'll like that time much better anyhow.

I just registered.

I deducted 20 minutes from my chip time... maybe I need to make it 40 minutes instead. I'll like that time much better anyhow.

LOL. I remember the long start, too, but actually the chips weren't activated until you rolled past the big black inflatable starting line, so that 40-mins wasn't counted...

As for the price - I'm just surprised at the increase, really. Its $40 more this time, and it would be hard to imagine how they could improve on the rest-stops and support. More bathrooms? Organic snacks?

LOL. I remember the long start, too, but actually the chips weren't activated until you rolled past the big black inflatable starting line, so that 40-mins wasn't counted...

As for the price - I'm just surprised at the increase, really. Its $40 more this time, and it would be hard to imagine how they could improve on the rest-stops and support. More bathrooms? Organic snacks?

Someone told me that the timing all started at the same time. He noticed his time was 10 minutes off what his computer said and that it took him 10 minutes to get through the start. Darn... not my time sucks even more!

More bathrooms would be good. My friend and I put "vegan and gluten free food" on the survey after the ride. I was excited to see that "vegan" was an option for the meal.

Just saw that there are only 300 spots left for the Gran Fondo - means that 2700 have ponied up.

I ponied up for the Media Fondo; maybe I should get a road bike by then?

Just saw that there are only 300 spots left for the Gran Fondo - means that 2700 have ponied up.



Where did you see how many people were registered. I am trying to pressure (I mean talk) my friend into signing up.

Where did you see how many people were registered. I am trying to pressure (I mean talk) my friend into signing up.

There was a post on the GranFondo's Facebook page stating the open spaces left.

I got my info from the ganfondo twitter

As for the price - I'm just surprised at the increase, really. Its $40 more this time, and it would be hard to imagine how they could improve on the rest-stops and support. More bathrooms? Organic snacks?

According to the event website, "CHP will provide intersection traffic monitoring services to keep participants moving along safely." My guess is, the pay for those CHP officers won't be coming out of the state til. That could be where some of the increase is towards. Plus permits and the like -- state & municipalities have to get their money somehow...

I would have registered on the day it opened (my birthday, no less) but had to wait until last night after overspending on christmas presents. I was panicking that it would fill up first.

I'm really excited for it and was hoping to go last year. I plan to upgrade my road bike sometime this year as well. In the meantime, I'll have to find some hills and start training!

This may be jumping the gun a bit, but do you think anyone will be carpooling from the PNW? It would be fun to ride to the event but I'd probably wear myself out in the process.

The 103 mile Gran Fondo is sold out. 3000 registered in 16 days; 10 months ahead of time.

The 103 mile Gran Fondo is sold out. 3000 registered in 16 days; 10 months ahead of time.

But there is still plenty of room in the Medio & Piccolo routes.

I can't believe how quickly it sold out.

If anybody wants to sell their spot for the 103-miler at any time in the nxt 9(!) months, let me know! :)

I can't believe how quickly it sold out.

If anybody wants to sell their spot for the 103-miler at any time in the nxt 9(!) months, let me know! :)

I'm not entirely sure this would be possible, even if you found a willing seller - I think you need to show ID when you collect your registration forms in Santa Rosa. That was certainly the case in 2009.

Here's a tip for you, though: I rode the 103-miler in '09, and I remember talking to a girl later on during the ride who had signed up for the Medio, but she had decided to do the whole Gran Fondo instead. She just kept on riding. No one seemed to mind at all. I would suggest you do the same, if you are signed up for the Medio and fancy doing the Gran.

The website mentioned something about limited transfers for $25 or something like that. Didn't see details, though.

it sounds like there's going to be a transfer process in place this year (I didn't think there was last year?). I imagine at least one person's plans will change between now and October, so hopefully it should be possible to find transfers at some point. I hope!

Today from the levisgranfondo twitter
"Didn't get into the sold-out 103 miler? Try asking the masses for a transfer via our Facebook page. Could happen... "

So, they've got something cooking up, methinks.

I registered the first day. Anyone from the Pleasant Hill / Martinez area doing the ride? Let's possibly get together and ride. 48 YO Male. Hope to hear from ya =)