wannaride

In the three months I've been registered I finally got an email Thursday from the organizers acknowledging that I was actually registered. The route has been under constant change and they finally brilliantly set a route that will place the riders in traffic with fans attending the NASCAR race. For reasons unclear they are starting and finishing at different places. They have no means of phone contact just an "info" email address which was worthless.

Today I went to the "expo" to get my number and jersey. Not much of an expo and everyone pretty clueless and disorganized. When I registered I was told to select a jersey size based on European sizing. When I went there today it turns out that they are actually American sizing so my jersey does not fit. I'm seriously considering stenciling SUCKS on the back - as a reflection of my own abilities of course.

While it remains to be seen how tomorrow goes had I known now what I know I would never have signed up for this event. I do a lot of triathlons and the occasional century and I can say for certain that this is the worst event yet that I have experienced. Given all of the positive things I've heard about the California events I am very disappointed. No matter what happens tomorrow - and with the car traffic and heavy headwinds and possible rain it may not be pretty - I won't be doing this event again.

johnny99

There are a couple of Gran Fondo rides near me, but I've been discouraged from participating because the price is very expensive and I don't see how they could be 5 times as much fun as club century rides that cost 1/5 as much. Where does the money go? Are the Gran Fondos a profitable business?

wannaride

When I registered the fee was maybe half of the $130 they are asking now which I would never pay. Unless there is a substantial police presence on the route, which I doubt, someone is making some money on the deal. Which is fine up to a point but only after you take care of the participants and have everything taken care of the way it should be.

HigherGround

Please post a ride report. I did the inaugural Philly Gran Fondo, and I'd be interested in hearing your experience in Miami. Is this the first year they've held the event in Miami?

cyclebycle13

Jan Ullrich rode it!

dalava

What's you point? GF are made for fatsos.

Pedal Wench

I have no affiliation with this ride, but I thought the ride was fabulous. The route had zero impact from the NASCAR race - I thought they did a fine job at creating a route that avoided that area. The weather was typical for this time of year - what we don't have in elevation, we make up for with headwinds! The police support was outstanding even late in the ride and the rest stops were well-stocked. And the food at the end was great! Maybe it was the miles talking, but best pizza I've had in a while. There was a guy actually making it fresh in a wood-fired oven. Doesn't get better than that!

dgasmd

So, do you think you got 3-4 times the ride and perks that a normal century in Miami would have provided?

A couple of things:

1. Yes, they are for profit. It is a private enterprise as far as I understand it.
2. It is Miami, which makes even the simplest of things a disorganized calamity. It is what it is.
3. The timing could have not being worse. They insisted in doing it on the same day that one of the longest running, best organized, and well liked/attended rides in the state (Horrible 100). That in itself will work against them forever should they insist on running it the same day yearly. By the way, I attended the Horrible 100 today and you could barely tell much difference from last year other than the attendance was lower as expected.
4. The scenery in Miami for cycling is simply chit at best. Somehow, you need to make up for it by providing at least something none of the other centuries held there already does. They advertised a route that ultimately was far from what was sold to people.
5. Their lack of human interaction will strike a big blow against them for the long term. I have a friend that wanted to set up a tent in the "expo" for his cycling traveling business. After months of trying to get a hold of a human, he barely got any emails returned. Finally, he got sick of it and went to the expo at the HH instead.
6. Seems like they tried to make up for some of the short comings by presenting themselves as glamorous. They had some Ferrari pace cars (at least it said so in their facebook page), they had Jan Ulrich (which looks very thin and fit), Jason Button (Formula 1 guy) and Gilberto Simmoni present signing jerseys for a fee, etc. Personally, I don't know with others how far that goes to attrach peple, but me personally could care less about any of that.

I was hoping they would do a very good job and also change the date for next year so I could sign up for both, but if I had to pick one ride only I would do the HH any day of the week.

Commodus

These Gran Fondos often have celebrity riders in attendance, I think that's fun. I don't care about fancy pace cars, but I would like to be in an event with Jan.

dwatson

I was looking at doing the NYC Fondo. Heard nothing but bad things. Starts in NY ends in NJ with no plan to riders back to start, this is enough to keep me away. As for the celebrities, I have heard they start the ride and never seen again.

Italia6

Can't comment on the other Fondos, but I had a good time at this one. It was well organized with great police support all day. Ullrich rode casually with about 100 of us on Friday out to Key Biscayne, then hammered the medium course this morning. Afterward, he hung around for a few hours, and had a massage at one of the booths there. He signed autographs for free - jerseys, bikes, whatever. If you wanted to, you could buy a poster for $5 for him to sign. The $5 was donated to St. Jude's Children's hospital. The Fondo is a for-profit deal, but I think a lot of riders had a good time, and it might help cycling awareness here, which is sorely needed.

Pedal Wench

It looks like the end is just on the Jersey side of the GW Bridge, less than a mile away from the start. Since the start is ON the bridge, it's kind of obvious that the finish has to be someplace else.

HigherGround

Very cool info, especially about Ullrich. Thanks for the write up.

wannaride

The routing was good and they did minimize interaction with NASCAR fans. Ullrich et al? I was towards the front of the start and could barely see them. Jan said maybe five words. We had good police protection through Pinecrest but from there you were on your own. The rest stops left much to be desired. A huge line for liquids at the Roberts stop and few porta potties. Yes I just went to Roberts. The Everglades Bike Clubs centuries are far are far superior in that regard. Route marking was pretty good but I did miss one turn. Italian lunch? Scarce pizza and some pasta and salad? Beer for $6 and no free gelato? While I am pleased that this event was put on it goes to show how good the locally produced Everglades Bike Club centuries really are. The only plus was that I did finally get a jersey in my size and I like the jersey. Would I pay $130 to do this again? No way.

Ti Guy

You got a jersey in your size? I registered about three months ago and showed up at packet pickup at 5:00 on Saturday, no jersey in my size. I was told that they would mail me one in three months, I won't hold my breath. I asked about the "goody" bags and they were out of those also. When I asked what was in them they told me it was just a couple of gels. I thought that they were promoting at this price because of the jersey and goody bags.

The ride itself was good, the police presence was okay, sporadic at the beginning with a busy intersection not covered which caused a group be split. The rest stops were well spread out; however, not that well stocked with the ability to get water/energy drink. Winding through downtown Miami to get to the 100 mile mark sucked; I was almost hit by clueless drivers twice and a bike in front of me was bumped.

I will not be doing this one again, heading back to Clermont next year for the Horrible.

dwatson

I understand this. But once your finish you are on your own to get back across without an escort. I have talked with riders from last year ride, and it was PIA after the finish. The route looks to be much better this year. I will still wait a few year until they get through the growing pains.

c.miller64

IMHO the Horrible Hundred is the best Century ride in Florida. Great police presence at all major intersections, well marked route, well stocked rest stops with great volunteers, challenging route (for Florida), friendly motorists (again, for Florida), good after-ride meal, and a decent Tek shirt- all for $40.

Pedal Wench

I hope they don't overlap next year - sounds like I need to do the HH too.

Ullrich did the 100 - here's his write-up - excuse the automatic translation: https://www.facebook.com/notes/gran-...50377536983434

roadiejorge 

I know quite a few people who did the event and really enjoyed the ride and were happy with GFNY, I plan to do it in 2012. The finish was in Ft. Lee NJ which is right across the George Washington Bridge (connects NY/NJ) and the after ride event was at Roseland Ballroom in Midtown Manhattan about 6 to 7 miles away. Having all of those cyclists finish at Roseland would have been a logistical mess because so I understand why they finished the ride where they did.

MPress

You don't need some expensive Fondo to ride with a pro... Come do Everyone Rides on 12/11 in Ft. Myers/Lehigh Acres (SW Florida) with Tom Danielson. $35 dollars with proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Club. Well marked route run on empty back roads.


BTW, the Horrible Hundred was great.

CAAD9MIAMI

Well let me start Gran Fondo Miami was a little misleading although I would do it again next year I dont know why. Here are my reasons
1 When I signed up for the ride it was supposed to start at American Airlines Arena in downtown and include South Beach that's what they advertised. I understand changes could be made to the route but this was a complete different route than the one I signed up for.
2 They advertised 116 mile Gran Fondo it was 100
3 They advertised timing chips for the Gran Fondo, when I went to pick up packet they said they werent doing it this year
4 They offered goodie bag which I really dont care for but there was no such thing unless you call a Gu chomp sample a goodie bag. Again what bothers me is they lied
5 There was no drinks before the ride not even water, other centuries in the area have a well stocked area before the ride
6 there were no cue sheets, turns were well marked but I like to know were rest stops are located. Someone told me they were e-mailed I never got one
7 I stopped around mile 34 to refill bottle when I saw rest stop sign, there was a guy in a van that asked me what I needed I said the rest stop. He said he was it the only thing he had was warm water bottles and tires he said ice was on the way. around mile 54 i stopped at a bigger rest stop, huge line it was stocked but warm Gatorade and warm water again, I guess the Ice guy called in sick. At that point i decided to ride to the end without stopping
8 They advertised V.I.P bike parking after the event maybe I misunderstood but I was under the impression they would have someone looking over the bikes and give you a number to retrieve bike. They had an area with bike racks unattended away from the eating area, you have to be crazy to leave your bike unattended in Miami
9 I made the line for the food they were out of pizza you had to wait. I had the pasta which was nothing special tasted like the can pasta at supermarket.

I would do it again next year because I love cycling and its a good opportunity to ride with new faces and enjoy meeting new people. The start was nice with the Ferraris and the Jersey was nice also, I got it signed by Jan Ulrich. Maybe this is why I would do it again next year

idc

Wow sounds super sh*tty.

I doubt Ullrich would come back for a second year in a row.

carpediemracing 

Appearance fees and an excuse to go vacation in the US... many Euro riders that did Corestates and other big US races came here for the vacation, the paid-for airfare, paid-for hotel, etc.

Yaniel

After reading this I'm extremely glad I chose to do the Horrible Hundred instead. Beautiful roads, amazing police presence the entire day, friendly drivers, great scenery, plenty of well stocked/staffed/efficient rest stops, friendly people, and just $40.

CAAD9MIAMI

I've only been road cycling for a couple of years and I didn't know about the horrible 100 but after reading about I'll do it next year even if Gran Fondo happens to be the same day