Levi's GranFondo (not to be confused with fondu)

[maillotpois]

This was one of the best organized rides I have EVER done. The food was great - well stocked rest stops, really good sandwich choices at lunch. The signage was fantastic - they warned of every sharp turn, steep climb or descent and there were signs all over that indicated they'd been placed weeks earlier informing the locals of the ride. There were a lot of spectators - you felt at times that you were the Tour of CA. The only organized ride that I think comes even close in terms of support is the Santa Rosa Cyclist Wine Country Century events.

The route (I did the 103) was wonderful.

The ride does Kings Ridge and Coleman Valley and these are two tough but spectacular roads. I opted to send my husband off to ride with the boys (they finished at 2:30 ) and had a great ride, meeting new people, seeing old friends. I haven't done any rides longer than 65 miles since the Death Ride and my goal was to ride a good steady pace and fuel properly so that I finished strong. And I did. The last 10 miles are flattish and I hammered those last flat bits and actually passed about 15 people in those last miles. So I was really happy with my ride. I finished in just over 8 hours total time (I haven't downloaded anything off my garmin because our power was out because of the wind).

I read email from the SF Rando group on the way up to the ride that the NWS had a red flag warning for 45 - 50 mph wind gusts at the coast. I don't know if it was that high, but the gusty cross-winds between Jenner and Coleman were one of my scariest times on a bike. You'd get blown across the road.

Only negative points (and these are SO minor):

- the mass 8:15 am start for 3500 people. It was not an aggressive race like start by any means, and everyone was very well behaved. However, starting a tough ride at 8:15 am is crazy in my mind, I would have liked the option to start earlier, at least for those doing the Gran fondo route. I have friends who got put in the broom wagon because they were running slow. Back of the line people probably started after 8:30 because it took so long to funnel everyone through the start gate.

- The last 2 miles contained about a mile of gravel bike path. I didn't see any, but heard there were a lot of flats. The rough road just beat you up at the end of a tough ride. I have a new respect for Paris Roubaix riders.

Great ride!

[jobob]

This was one of the best organized rides I have EVER done.

Who ran this event? Was it staffed by a local club? or Levi's close personal friends?

[aka_kim]

What was King Ridge like with all those people? (I've only done it on a weekday, and we saw only a few cyclists, and no cars, the whole loop.)

[maillotpois]

all local volunteers from what I could tell. Bike Monkey officially "ran" the event.

[gnat23]

Sarah, I heard the "late-ish" start time was because they had problems getting some of the roads closed earlier, for whatever reason. We were shrugging shoulders about that fact, too.

-- gnat! (didn't ride it, but got to cheer folks at the end!)

[maillotpois]

gnat - yeah I figured there would be good reasons behind both my negative points.

kim - it wasnt bad at all. I had been nervous about that hauser descent, but I essentially descended alone. another thing I noticed - all the riders rode well - no crossing the line (when there was one), no bad group riding in general, safe passing. I was prettty impressed w/ at least the riders in my general pace level.

[Possegal]

Levi "retweeted" the link to this video. Looks like a very beautiful day you all had! I'm jealous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olWrcqrmZ1E