Inaugural Tour of Richmond (Virginia) Gran Fondo tomorrow morning.
10-05-12, 06:54 PM
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Inaugural Tour of Richmond (Virginia) Gran Fondo tomorrow morning.
102, 59, and 29 mile options ending at Richmond International Raceway. With the 2015 World Championships coming to Richmond, this event will only get bigger and better. If only they'd let us do a lap around the NASCAR track at the end in homage to Paris-Roubaix!
10-05-12, 07:11 PM
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I would love to be there as well, I ride with the VCU collegiate team and we'd talked about having a few of us ride along as "bike ambassadors" with med kits and tools, but I'm going to be up in Leesburg for some meetings. Have fun!
10-05-12, 08:20 PM
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I really wanted to make this but I can't. I hope you enjoy it it. Which one are you doing? Make sure you update us tomorrow evening. Pic please...
10-05-12, 08:25 PM
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I was wanting to get up to Richmond for this, but life stepped in and changed things... Enjoy the ride and update the thread please..
Last edited by M_Wales; 10-05-12 at 08:28 PM.
10-06-12, 02:47 PM
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The Sports Backers put on a fantastic ride. Given that this is the inaugural event, we thought there might be a few details missed. The century crossed through 8 jurisdictions and the police in all of them had someone at every intersection blocking traffic. We did not stop at one stop sign or red light all day. The rest stops were good, the post ride barbecue and party were also well done. It was well promoted and there were people in some of the neighborhoods early on in the route on the street cheering and ringing cow bells. The route was beautiful. Riding through downtown Richmond, across the river and along Riverside Drive while the sun was coming up (the sun was at our backs) was awesome. The weather cooperated as it was 60 degrees at the start and climbed to the mid 80's by the end of the ride. They had professional photographers at many points on the route.
10-06-12, 03:05 PM
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Glad to know about this one!! I need more on my schedule for the fall. this would do nicely!! and not to far from North Carolina.
10-06-12, 05:36 PM
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The Sports Backers put on a fantastic ride. Given that this is the inaugural event, we thought there might be a few details missed. The century crossed through 8 jurisdictions and the police in all of them had someone at every intersection blocking traffic. We did not stop at one stop sign or red light all day. The rest stops were good, the post ride barbecue and party were also well done. It was well promoted and there were people in some of the neighborhoods early on in the route on the street cheering and ringing cow bells. The route was beautiful. Riding through downtown Richmond, across the river and along Riverside Drive while the sun was coming up (the sun was at our backs) was awesome. The weather cooperated as it was 60 degrees at the start and climbed to the mid 80's by the end of the ride. They had professional photographers at many points on the route.
10-07-12, 06:40 AM
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Below is a link to some photos from Richmond.com. These are all from the first ten miles. Notice how we did a small section of cobblestones going past the Farmer's Market at the beginning of the ride. I didn't take any pics but there were many photographers along the route who will be posting pics.
https://www2.richmond.com/lifestyles/top-features/2012/oct/03/12/tour-richmond-cycle-around-region-ar-2251950/
Everyone I spoke with afterwards said it was one of the best if not the best organized ride they've ever ridden. The police presence on the roads was unbelievable. We also had timing chips on our bib numbers. At the finish they had the channel 6 sports anchor announcing the names of the finishers as they finished. There is talk of doing a lap around the NASCAR track at the end next year and they would have this year but there was an event there.
The group that put this on is the Richmond Sports Backers and they also run our marathon and the Monument Avenue 10k which is one of the largest 10k runs in the country so this event will get bigger and better every year.
https://www2.richmond.com/lifestyles/top-features/2012/oct/03/12/tour-richmond-cycle-around-region-ar-2251950/
Everyone I spoke with afterwards said it was one of the best if not the best organized ride they've ever ridden. The police presence on the roads was unbelievable. We also had timing chips on our bib numbers. At the finish they had the channel 6 sports anchor announcing the names of the finishers as they finished. There is talk of doing a lap around the NASCAR track at the end next year and they would have this year but there was an event there.
The group that put this on is the Richmond Sports Backers and they also run our marathon and the Monument Avenue 10k which is one of the largest 10k runs in the country so this event will get bigger and better every year.
10-07-12, 09:06 AM
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It was only closed for the first few miles. Once we got past mile 10 or so, the roads were open to traffic but with the police at every intersection and the early morning start, traffic was very light until the last 30 or so miles.
10-09-12, 07:14 PM
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Photos from the Tour of Richmond's Facebook page for those interested.
https://www.facebook.com/TourOfRichmond?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/TourOfRichmond?fref=ts
10-10-12, 12:53 PM
#12
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Thanks Hokie, man I see I really missed out I will be there next year. Did they have SAG vehicles or was everything done by tables along the way?
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