Southern California - Anyone doing the Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia Pasadena

This event is taking place on Sunday, July, 22 @ 7am. Looks like they have short, medium and long courses (24, 63 & 85 miles, respectively) to choose from. The medium and long courses go through Angeles Crest.

I'm interested in the fact that it's a Gran Fondo (a timed event) and not a metric-century. I'll probably be doing the long course.

Here's the link for more info.
http://gfgiro.com/

looks interesting but i can't justify paying 150$ for it.

$150?! What is so special about this? I am curious.

$150? I would love to have whatever they are smoking.

$150?! What is so special about this? I am curious.

The price includes the jersey. So, if you're the type to buy the jersey from every organized ride you do, then it's really only about $70. On the fence about riding it myself.

I'm banditing it.

Yeah that is a lot of cheese. About the only Gran Fondo I am planing on doing is Levi's.

I have done a couple here and one in Italia I think they are great a cool Jersey and a generous post meal It is 50 bucks more than the other fondos I have done and a bit shorter. The course looks pretty dam cool though

and not a metric-century.

What do you mean by it's "not a metric century"?

10K+ sounds like a bit much but i don't know what the exact route is.
This Saturday (6/9) is an LA Wheelmen ride from Encanto Park up Angeles Crest and down hwy 39. 85 miles and 8500 feet and it's free.

What do you mean by it's "not a metric century"?

The long course is 88 miles not 100 miles and certain sections of the ride are timed.

As per the web site:
Is the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia a timed race? No, it is not a race. However, the event features a Gran Premio della Montagna (GPM, means King & Queen of the Mountains Competition). You will be timed on a selected climb via an electronic timing chip which is included in your registration package. You will see signs that indicate the upcoming climb; once you pass the sign at the bottom of the hill, your time starts running until you pass the sign on the top of the hill.
We also may use various timing stations at unannounced spots in addition to course marshals to ensure that everyone completes the designated course. You are only eligible for competition prizes if you complete the full course of the Long or Medium courses.

The long course is 88 miles not 100 miles and certain sections of the ride are timed.

. You are only eligible for competition prizes if you complete the full course of the Long or Medium courses.

I'm interested in the fact that it's a Gran Fondo (a timed event) and not a metric-century. I'll probably be doing the long course.


So the medium course is a metric century

10K+ sounds like a bit much but i don't know what the exact route is.
.

I've ridden that route before, and I think the 10K estimate for their 85 miler is definitely on the high side.

RideWithGps overestimates by as much as 20% at times, something like that would be around 7-8k I think.

I'm interested in the fact that it's a Gran Fondo (a timed event) and not a metric-century. I'll probably be doing the long course.


So the medium course is a metric century

You're so right! I should have went to you for validation first but then again I'm not much of a recent flat-lander. ;)

I am confused - there's also 2012 GranFondo Cannondale Los Angeles on 07/15, also at $150. Different company?

You're so right! I should have went to you for validation first but then again I'm not much of a recent flat-lander. ;)

No, you should word your posts correctly so we all know what you're talking about.

I am interested in Gran Fondo because it is a timed event. I will attempt the longer route offered.

Much different from :

I am interested in the Gran Fondo because it is a timed event and not a metric century.

Recent flatlander? I guess the 8k of climbing means you're totally awesome!:roflmao2:

Yeah that is a lot of cheese. About the only Gran Fondo I am planing on doing is Levi's.

I'm doing Levi's ride, too. This will be my third year.

No, you should word your posts correctly so we all know what you're talking about.

I am interested in Gran Fondo because it is a timed event. I will attempt the longer route offered.

Much different from :

I am interested in the Gran Fondo because it is a timed event and not a metric century.

Recent flatlander? I guess the 8k of climbing means you're totally awesome!:roflmao2:

Don't be upset, Mr. Beanz. Just giving you a hard time. I enjoy watching your river trail rides. :)

I'm doing Levi's ride, too. This will be my third year.

I'd like to do Levi's too but I don't recall LA ever having a local Gran Fondo. It is rather expensive though. The jersey's better look great!

Don't be upset, Mr. Beanz. Just giving you a hard time. I enjoy watching your river trail rides. :)

I never get upset!:D

I'm gonna do both the L.A. Gran Fondo (July 16) & the Pasadena Giro

I kinda think of Gran Fondo as the new more hip name for a century (and other distances, too) event.

This one I can't make 'cuz I'll be at the OC Fair.
But I will go to Levi's (not cheap either at ~$135 for no jersey paid 9 months in advance) again.

Registered for the long one! Looking forward to my first Gran Fondo & jersey. ;)

I signed up this week, for the medium route. My first organized ride, and longest ride yet.

Not sure that jersey is worth the price of admission, hopefully it's cooler looking in real life than the comp on the website.

Great ride. Hot in the hills. Pasadena Police were awesome. Providing traffic blocks through lights and stop signs. Basically shutting down Colorado Blvd. For us.

County Sheriffs could take a cue. They were posted at every corner, targeting cyclists all day. Nice use of resources.

I rode Angeles Crest up to Mt. Wilson on Saturday, and saw all the route signs. I also got passed by two SAG trucks. On Saturday? WTF??

Great ride. Hot in the hills. Pasadena Police were awesome. Providing traffic blocks through lights and stop signs. Basically shutting down Colorado Blvd. For us.

County Sheriffs could take a cue. They were posted at every corner, targeting cyclists all day. Nice use of resources.

Great ride. Yes, it was very hot up in the mountains. Seems that there could have been more water/aid stations. Totally agree on the LA County Sheriff's just waiting to pounce on riders. Maybe they should have been directing traffic flow instead of just sitting in their cars waiting to ticket riders! What value add did they really provide?

I'm curious to know what the speeds were. I'm thinking about registering for the 2013 ride, either short or medium, but I'm out of shape (using this as a training goal) and I want to make sure I don't look silly at whatever pace I end up riding.

It was such a clusterf*ck last year I will not give them my money this time. Besides, this is my backyard--ride up there when I want.

It was such a clusterf*ck last year I will not give them my money this time. Besides, this is my backyard--ride up there when I want.
Pretty much how I feel about any local rides. I won't pay to ride on roads that I ride regularly

Hey, I see you were at the crash race. Pretty fun huh ?

Lots of tickets last year. The cops made more than the GF

Pretty much how I feel about any local rides. I won't pay to ride on roads that I ride regularly

Hey, I see you were at the crash race. Pretty fun huh ?

Well, my goal is to get strong enough to do something fun like the crash race (next year) and maybe the Solvang century, so I thought this would be a good intermediate distance. I'm one of those people that need an "event" to train for so I get in enough miles, and this seemed as good as any.

You're probably right, it's silly to pay that much to ride on my own local roads, but it's a goal for me to shoot for, anyway.

Pretty much how I feel about any local rides. I won't pay to ride on roads that I ride regularly

Hey, I see you were at the crash race. Pretty fun huh ?

Sorry, just saw your reply, Genaro. Yeah, the crash race was fun this year, although I did it with a friend and went a bit slower, so it was more of a Crash cruise. :)