Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge GranFondo

[loopybunny]

Did anybody else happen to participate this year?

For the second year in a row, I rode the shorter Piccolo route (30 miles w/ about 1,000 ft of climbing, nearly all of which were in a 3 mile span).

I think I had more fun this year than last. I arrived alone and met up with some twitter friends, a few of which I'd already met at events and some new ones. I was the only one that was riding the shorter distance so I was more of less alone on the ride, but I was never really alone. With 6,000 other riders on the road, there is no solitude.

While I did struggle with the climb (I'm a total flatlander and weigh too much), I did much better than last year and I even dropped people. This was the first time that has ever happened.

There were a couple of times that I got stuck behind someone going so slowly that I actually feared I'd fall over due to lack of speed. At one point, I actually had to pull over and stop because I couldn't get around the people safely due to cars.

There were a few accidents. I seemed to get stuck behind a couple of them. On one of them, the peloton bottle necked to get around the accident and basically came to a complete stop on a small uphill section (short, but steep).

So basically, not only is there no solitude when there are 6,000 other riders on the road, there is no room either.

I also did better than last year. The climbing was a little easier and my time was faster. And unlike last year, since I arrived alone, I didn't have a friend that was ready to leave really early in the afternoon. This allowed me to stick around and wait for the riders on the long courses to return, including Levi. Last year I never saw him. This year, I got to meet him.

Crazy amount of people. I could barely make out the start from where I was staged.


Sonoma County is stunning and the weather was amazing.


Dave Towle did interviews after the ride... Levi and Patrick Dempsey were up first.


The US National Road Race Champ and future "Nerd Herder," Ben King.


Levi is very proud to call Sonoma County home.


More photos here.

Patrick Dempsey talks about the importance of sharing the road and staying active. Video on YouTube.

During the Q&A, a fan asked Levi, "What does it take to beat Alberto Contador." Levi responded, "Andy Schleck."

There were quite a few others out too. I didn't get photos of any of them. I saw Taylor Phinney out on the road when I was leaving the rest stop in Occidental, but I don't think he stuck around the festival.

And rumor is that there was some stalker woman there for Patrick Dempsey. Poor guy. He hid in the VIP tent all afternoon until the interview, then left.

[maillotpois]

Great pics!

I did the Gran route again - second year in a row. It's a moderately tough route, but I always seem to have a really good day on the bike on that route. I think there's enough variety in it that you get breaks, etc. What a gorgeous day!

The only sort of bummer is that people who aren't super fast don't finish the Gran Fondo in time to hear the interviews, festivities, etc. The mass start of people doing such different routes doesn't lend itself to finishing at remotely the same time. Of course my husband did the same route and finished 2 hours before I did. But there were plenty of people still finishing even as we were leaving after having dinner and chatting with friends for an hour or so.

[Jo-n-NY]

Super pics. Thanks so much for sharing them. I really enjoyed hearing the interview with Patrick D.

[loopybunny]

Great pics!

The only sort of bummer is that people who aren't super fast don't finish the Gran Fondo in time to hear the interviews, festivities, etc. The mass start of people doing such different routes doesn't lend itself to finishing at remotely the same time. Of course my husband did the same route and finished 2 hours before I did. But there were plenty of people still finishing even as we were leaving after having dinner and chatting with friends for an hour or so.

Thanks!

I totally hear you about not finishing in time to hear the interviews. I did a 50 mile ride in July and it took me a long time! I can't remember exactly, but it was in the 5 hour range.

Part of me wants to ride the Medio next year, but the other part of me really wants to be back to enjoy the festival.

[gnat23]

Awesome, thanks for the notes and photos!

-- gnat!