What to say about the Gran Fondo? Well first off, what is a
Gran Fondo? I've heard various opinions/descriptions. It's
a large ride (ie many participants) it's a long ride (yeah 'long' is
open for interpretation), it's a big ride (especially involving
climbs of many thousands of meters). I finally went to the web
and this definition seems to come closest to describing our event
best:
We’ve all heard the term “Gran Fondo”...but what does it
really mean? A true Italian Gran Fondo is a mass-start, timed cycling
event, run over closed roads, with full support and post-ride podium
presentations. In short…it’s the closest most of us will ever
come to knowing what it feels like to be a full-on Italian bike
racer. And it could be the most fun you’ve ever had on a
bike!
So by that definition let's see how our event stacked up: Mass
start? Check. (but maybe not such a great idea, more on that
later) Timed? Sort of. If you bumped an extra $75 on your
registration fee you got a time chip but there were only four timed
sections of road between 10 and 15 km each, you raced for a time in
those sections and you rode the rest of it. Closed roads? Nope,
but we had a bald guy with an impressive beer gut on a Harley riding
in front of us most of the race, directing us at turns and waving us
through blind intersections when the road was clear. Full
Support? Check. It was there, it just wasn't always
obvious where. Post Ride Podium? Closest to knowing what it
feels like to be a full on Italian bike racer? Well, short of
shaving my legs and pretending my family is Italian like that kid
in the movie
Breaking Away I guess that's true. Most fun you've
ever had on a bike? Yeah, maybe. I would say it's in the
top three cycling events I've personally participated in. So I
guess if it wasn't a true Granfondo it's the closest I'll ever get.
The idea for this event was born back in early spring when we
realized that we would be in
La Canadienne's homeland on
the days of Both* the Desperado Dual bike race and the Ladies only
version of the Rockwell Relay (aka pamperfest). We both
searched the 'net for an alternative somewhere in Ontario (preferably
Ottawa, but we were also going to be in Toronto and near Montreal,
any of those would do as well) and as luck would have it we found one, not
just in Ottawa but a ride that started in Kanata, a mere 2 km from
the home of
La Canadienne's parents. What were the
chances? It's like they planned the event with us in mind.
*Interestingly enough all three events: The Desperado Dual,
The Pamperfest (Ladies Only Rockwell, no pampering this year, or so
I've been told) and the Gran Fondo Reggio Capitale all took place on
the same day. July 21st.
So without giving it a second thought I signed us up way back in
March, thus qualifying for the early spring rate. That would be
$125. And what do you get for your $125 (US currency)? Glad
you asked. There's the requisite SWAG-bag (complete with
complimentary tube of DZ nuts, I had to explain it's use and
association with local cycling hero Dave Zabriskie to the Canuks) and
a race jersey, which at the last minute we were told we had to wear
for the event unless we had signed up as a club, in which case we
were allowed to wear our club colors.
In addition we got email updates on the event. Weekly
updates, sometimes multiple times per week. The more I read
about the event the more I wondered if we were going to be
disappointed. We were hoping for a race and this was going to
be a ride. Emails mostly dealt with area hotels, cafés and
coffee shops on the route. Diners to stop for lunch and
interesting local attractions in the towns we would be passing
through. I've signed up for lots of races (and at least one
'ride') and not once did I have time to take in the local flavor at a
coffee shop or bend an elbow at watering hole on main street. As
we got closer to race day I started preparing myself for 'ride' day
and figured even if the local cyclists were more interested in wine
and cheese tasting rather that turning the cranks I was going blow
this out as fast as I could, even if me and my favorite ride partner
were the only ones so inclined.
You know it swanky event when the bottled water comes in, you know, bottles (with a cork no less)
and the registration event is lit
with chandeliers (in the shape of maple leafs)
What your 125 bones don't buy you is enough volunteers to check
you in and distribute the Swag/gear in a timely manner. Gran
means big (in numbers of participants) and by the time the shouting
was over, this event had matriculated more than 1500 riders.
Unfortunately those same 1500 riders were relying on two people
with laptops to check them in and distribute their race goodies. We
arrived exactly on time as directed and still waited nearly two
hours. By the time we left, the line had stretched to twice its
length. Add that to July heat and humidity and you've got lots
and lots of angry/frustrated bike riders. Some riders I talked
to waited three hours before they finally gave up and came back in
the AM.
Nice race guys!
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