Levi's GranFondo
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Jose
Posts: 182
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Levi's GranFondo
#2
Goat
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Northern California
Posts: 44
Bikes: '06 Trek 5200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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...
#3
Two wheels is two wheels
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brisbane, CA
Posts: 876
Bikes: Pee Wee Herman Special
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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'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.
#4
team autobus
Join Date: May 2009
Location: northern california
Posts: 297
Bikes: 2009 Trek 1.5; 2009 Trek 6000; 1995 Specialized Hardrock
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
Very impressed by the vegan meal choice too. Guess they really do listen to suggestions. My friend will be quite pleased.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Jose
Posts: 182
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 79
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#7
moth -----> flame
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 5,916
Bikes: 11 CAAD 10-4, 07 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 98 Peugeot Horizon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
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'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.
__________________
BF, in a nutshell
BF, in a nutshell
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Jose
Posts: 182
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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?
#9
back of the autobus
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Folsom, CA
Posts: 743
Bikes: Lynskey R230, Rivendell Bleriot
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 787
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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...]
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,744
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
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.
#13
back of the autobus
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Folsom, CA
Posts: 743
Bikes: Lynskey R230, Rivendell Bleriot
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#14
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 14
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
#15
team autobus
Join Date: May 2009
Location: northern california
Posts: 297
Bikes: 2009 Trek 1.5; 2009 Trek 6000; 1995 Specialized Hardrock
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Bay Area, Calif.
Posts: 7,239
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
"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.
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Jose
Posts: 182
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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...
#18
team autobus
Join Date: May 2009
Location: northern california
Posts: 297
Bikes: 2009 Trek 1.5; 2009 Trek 6000; 1995 Specialized Hardrock
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
#20
Goat
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Northern California
Posts: 44
Bikes: '06 Trek 5200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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?
#21
team autobus
Join Date: May 2009
Location: northern california
Posts: 297
Bikes: 2009 Trek 1.5; 2009 Trek 6000; 1995 Specialized Hardrock
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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?
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?
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.
Last edited by loopybunny; 12-21-09 at 11:28 AM. Reason: because I'm an idiot
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 911
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
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?
I ponied up for the Media Fondo; maybe I should get a road bike by then?
#23
Hills!?
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 47
Bikes: Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 661
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts