John Woodson
Journalist rides the Mammoth Gran Fondo, and survives! Finishing the high altitude 102-mile route, with 75 miles closed to traffic, in the beautiful alpine town of Mammoth Lakes.
One of the upfront differences between U.S. and Italian gran fondos is cost and swag. U.S. events are pretty pricey and you’re lucky to get a water bottle and wrong size polyester t-shirt. Italian events on the other hand are only about €35 ($40) and come with a bag chock-full of Italian goodies. But the best part of an Italian gran fondo is the people. Italians love cycling like Americans love baseball.
Are charity cycling events a lost cause? Not yet, at least at the Tour de Palm Springs. Since 1999, the nonprofit group behind the event, CVSPIN (Coachella Valley Serving People In Need), has given more than $3.2 million to charities including Boy Scout troops, homeless organizations, high school bands, Desert AIDS Project, United Cerebral Palsy, and countless others.
The challenge and accouterments that riders have come to appreciate from the storied ride organizer adds a venue, with an adventure through the New Mexico outback.
Although I’m a die-hard roadie, I do enjoy getting a little dirt on my cleats. So when Yamaha invited BICYCLIST to preview the Wabash on the legendary SoCal Belgian Waffle Ride course, I put my snow shovel away, packed sun tan lotion and headed west for an e-adventure.
So, I sit in Cedar City destined to be a foolish wit unless I come up with plan B, or plan B.Y.O.
With the grueling job of riding, reviewing and writing about road events, I have the opportunity to experience many, especially in my backyard – Western USA and Canada. Here are my top picks for 2018’s Best of The West Gran Fondos.
After 21 individual qualifying events on four continents, the best amateur riders from 60 countries are in Varese, Italy to compete in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. Today, 2,500 amateur racers and me, a journalist pretending to be a racer, are ready to start with rainbow-striped world champion jerseys on the line.
The 109-mile Southern Utah ride keeps the climbing to a minimum, but maintains a fast pace in a setting with psychedelic backdrops, car-free roads, and good company.
Swami’s Wednesday Morning Ride attracts the best in the sport at foregoing worldly responsibilities so they can mix it up for a trivial sprint victory that is oh-so-prized.
An Analysis to Help Choose Between the 3-day or 7-day Race Time and time again I am asked…
An out-and-back from the center of Coachella Valley to Joshua Tree National Park. 106 miles highlighted by tall mountains, blue skies and wide-open desert vistas, plus no old guys in Bentleys aiming to run me over while texting to set up a tee time.
Offering ride lengths of 100, 50 and 25 miles with male, female and tandem categories the Tour De Acoma offers every rider a chance to win prized Acoma pottery. Plus, with all proceeds going to the Haak’u Museum Foundation the event helps preserve New Mexico pueblo history and art. That’s a good thing.
Life is all about taking risks. I had one of those days at the Mesquite Madness ride in Nevada hosted by the great folks at Red Rock Bicycle Company in St. George, Utah.
Organized by the same folks who put on the 7-day Haute Route Alps, Pyrenees and Rockies, Ventoux offers the same Pro-like experience both on and off the bike in a perfect 3-day weekend format. Based in the quaint French village of Bédoin the route covers 270km with 7800m of climbing, including three ascents of Ventoux.
There’s no better place out West to figure out if you’re one of the strong or weak than at the iconic Fairwheel Bikes Tuesday Group Ride, or as the locals call it – The Tuesday.
Recently, I had the pleasure of riding with the Desert Bike Club on their Flat Fast and Furious Thursday ride (aka The Rat Pack). So, if you’re in town and looking for a cool fast group ride, this ride is solid. I dig it.
Chris Reynolds
Bob Becker