2013 rider manual
1
NOTHING IS SMOOTHER AND FASTER
WHEN CALLED TO ARMS, THE CLASSIC-WINNING ROUBAIX REACTS AS THOUGH SIMPLY AN EXTENSION OF MIND AND BODY. “THIS BIKE HAS PLAYED A PART IN MY GREATEST VICTORIES ON COBBLESTONES. IT’S COMFORTABLE, RESPONSIVE, AND STIFF. IT’S ALSO SOLID; AN ESSENTIAL QUALITY FOR A RACE AS DEMANDING AS THE PARIS-ROUBIAIX.” - TOM BOONEN
2
“THE SINGLE BEST PLACE TO ENHANCE EVERY RIDER’S EXPERIENCE IS WITH THE TIRES. IT AFFECTS EVERYTHING; HOW FAST THE BIKE ROLLS, HOW WELL IT CORNERS AND BRAKES, TIRES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF EVERY RIDE.” - MIKE SINYARD
INTRODUCING THE NEW S-WORKS TURBO TIRE WITH GRIPTON COMPOUND. THIS PROPRIETARY, ALL-NEW COMPOUND DELIVERS, WITH LOW ROLLING RESISTANCE AND SAFE HANDLING UNDER ALL CONDITIONS, EXTREME GRIP TO ALLOW SUDDEN STEERING INPUT AT HIGH SPEEDS AND EXTREME LEAN ANGLES, AND ALL-ROUND RELIABILITY.
3
4
5
6
Welcome............................................................... 9 Sponsors............................................................. 10 Schedule............................................................. 12 FondoSonoma Festival....................................... 13 Route Map........................................................... 14 Route Elevations................................................. 15 Climb Profiles..................................................... 16 Before You Ride................................................... 24 Ride Technique................................................... 33 Giving.................................................................. 36
We’re proud to have the work of photographers Carson Blume, Ken Conley, Jim Fryer, and Darrell Parks gracing these pages. More of their work at past, current, and future runnings of Levi’s GranFondo can be found at granfondo.smugmug.com. 7
8
The GranFondo has always been far bigger than me, about far more than just one guy’s name on the top of the event banners. I’ve always known that, but it’s never been more apparent than now. This last year has seen a great deal of change, both in our sport and for me personally. I’ve learned a lot and been humbled, largely by the fact that so many people would continue to come from so far to do something so wonderfully simple as riding a bike here in my hometown. That’s the power of the GranFondo: the simple joy of riding your bike. Whether you’re pulling away from the pack at the local fast ride or making a midnight ice cream run on your old cruiser, we’ve all got that in common. It’s what drove me to start the event and I’m sure it’s what compelled you all to come and ride at the edge of a continent together. There’s nothing better than a day out on two wheels. I thank you for the opportunity to prove that once again with the 2013 GranFondo. See you all out there.
It’s easy to think about Bike Monkey as you would Willy Wonka. Levi’s GranFondo is our everlasting gobstopper; it won’t get smaller. It doesn’t help when we catch ourselves singing while we hit every repetitive task: “fill up this rest stop box, too, like the oompa loompa do-ba-dee-doo.” We’re terrible singers. Except for Greg. [Editor’s Note: I’m really good.] Welcome to Levi Leipheimer’s King Ridge GranFondo. We make this, not candy, and there’s plenty you should know before you set out. Most of it’s in here, but one thing’s not. It’s the feeling you’ll find in our western hills, under our ribbons of licorice-black roads, 150 ushering marshals, three dozen highway patrols, 100 miles of freshly patched (yet authentic) Sonoma County road, support vehicles, controlled intersections, eight fully-staffed smörgåsbords, and a beer-andpaella-stuffed Festival awaiting your return. It’s all out there, waiting. Better get some rest.
9
sponsors
Everything associated with the GranFondo is big. We like it that way, no doubt, but it can be occasionally challenging. Try to quarter 40 bushels of potatoes prior to roasting them for our rest stops and see if you don’t develop a deeper understanding of what it means to host 7,500 starving riders. Fortunately, our sponsors have made their offers of support and partnership without a hint of sheepishness. With an event like Levi’s GranFondo, anyone jumping aboard this train is committed to everything it represents, including its scale. Beyond the sheer size of their support, it should also be said that many of these folks were with us from the start of the GranFondo, helping the event grow and lending their vision to its success. Much like many of you, they’ve watched the GranFondo become what it is today not from the sidelines, but shoulder to shoulder with the rest of us. We’re here today from a combination of good luck and hard work; we consider these sponsors, new and old, part of that equation. And for that we’re thankful. We hope that gratitude is contagious.
10
SANTA ROSA
SPORTS & Family MEDICINE
11
schedule
Saturday, October 5
6:00–7:25 am Same-day packet pick-up 7:30 am
All riders staged
8:00 am
WE RIDE
10:00 am FondoSonoma Festival opens, estimated arrival time for first Piccolo rider 10:30 am Estimated arrival time for first Medio rider 11:00 am New Belgium beer taps open 12:00 pm FondoSonoma Festival’s live music begins 1:00 pm Estimated arrival time for first Gran rider 4:30 pm Presentation by Levi and friends on the main stage 6:00 pm 12
GranFondo course closes FondoSonoma Festival closes
fondosonoma Festival
There’s a lot of talk around the rotating rubber portion of the GranFondo, and rightly so. But taken as a matter of proportion, the FondoSonoma Festival is worthy of far more chatter than we give it. Live music, hot showers, free bike valet, copious food vendors, bag check, cycling exhibits, kids’ activities, product demos, and beer, glorious New Belgium beer, await everyone, not just the spandexed knights coming back from the ride of their lives. We want all folks coming to enjoy the GranFondo, even if you’re less than interested in six hours in the saddle. You may come off the course looking to collapse in a bed somewhere. We challenge you to get out of that chamois, freshen up with a shower, and stick around for dinner and a pint. Meet your family, take in all the fun you can have together, then stick around for the closing of ceremonies from Levi and friends. It’s bad manners to eat and run. Same goes for a ride and dash. Stick around, why don’t you?
Food & drink Awful Falafel Butcher & Cook Cafe Mugshot Charlie Bruno’s Chuckwagon Chicago Hot Dogs Conscious Cooks Gerard’s Paella Good Choice Foods Kiki’s Shaved Ice Lata’s Indian Cuisine Napa Valley Noodles Osteria Divino Real Cool Frozen Treats Revive Kombucha Three Twins Ice Cream Ultra Crepes Service/Family Forget Me Not Farm GranFondo Big Fun Kid’s Zone Kaiser Permanente Mix Fit
Redwood Empire Physical Therapy Samagse Massage Santa Rosa Police Department Sono-Ma Sonoma-Marin Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Sonoma State University Exhibitors American Classic/ Showers Pass BikePartners.net Boudin Bakery Buff Camelbak Chrome Clif Cyclops Gear DHBetty Bicycle Gems DZ Nuts Elevengear Nissan NorCal Bike Sport
Oculus Eyewear PowerCranks REI Routta Smith Optics Specialized SRAM/Zipp Sycip Designs Tri Sports Jewelry Uber Bike Wahoo Fitness
13
KING RIDGE 45 40
Rest Stop
King Ridge Rd
Dangerous Descent
50
Se
Dangerous Descent
35
Gran Route Medio Route
av
iew
Rd 55
Piccolo Route
CAZADERO
RITCHEY RANCH
50
30
1
Mileage Markers for Gran Route
s Rd
Fort Ros
101
Caz ade
60
sG
25
e
ro H
rad
116
101
DUNCANS MILLS
Danger! Fast Pack Riding and Tight Roadway
20
mi he Bo
65
116
MONTE RIO
wy
Dangerous Descent
yer
Me 1
JENNER
an y
Hw
Willow Creek Rd
Hwy 1
OCEAN SONG
PORTUGUESE BEACH 14
1
1
101 12
SANTA ROSA
85
OCCIDENTAL 75
C R EE K PAT H
5 95
15
Rd n Valley Colema 80
70
10 90
116
116
SEBASTOPOL
Take a mountain, cut it in half, and these profiles are what you’ll get. And, like a peek into the heart of the earth itself, we hope these dainty drawings provide some insight into the world you’re set to travel. Detailed analysis to follow on these pages, but for now, let these angled crests and waves strike a cheery, chilly alarm into your heart.
1,000ft
Please note: the Willow Creek option is represented here and probably seems like a no-brainer when compared to Coleman Valley. Read on, dear reader and remember, Willow Creek is a byway of gravel with no shortage of potholes, ruts, and steep pitches.
PICCOLO
0ft 0mi
1,000ft
10mi
20mi
1,500ft
30mi
Willow Creek (optional gravel road climb) 1,000ft
MEDIO
500ft
0ft
0ft
0mi
10mi
20mi
30mi
40mi
50mi
60mi
10mi 10mi
20mi 20mi
30mi 30mi
40mi 40mi
50mi 50mi
60mi 60mi
0mi
2.5mi
5mi
7.5mi
10mi
12.5mi
2,000ft 2,000ft
1,000ft 1,000ft
GRAN
0ft 0ft 0mi 0mi
70mi 70mi
80mi 80mi
90mi 90mi
100mi 100mi
15
16
All elevations are relative to the base of the climb, not sea level.
1250 1000 750 500 250
% 11.6 mi
10.7
13.0
.7 10.3 -2
-1.6
4.9
5.2
2
1
King Ridge Cat 2 This is it: the ascent for which the GranFondo was named. A series of gut punches carefully designed to make you forget the beauty that surrounds you at all sides. The sole advantage you possess is that this is the first of the big climbs. Your legs are fairly fresh, your heart hasn’t yet popped its confines, and your mind retains a sharp edge. You start by leaving the
4.3
-2.9
1.2
-3.9
3.1
2.3
3.6
6.5
0
6
B M I L C E G D I KING R 8.8
11.7
4.7
-1.5
-1.9
2.1
-7.0
5
4
3
narrowing Austin Creek behind well past the metropolis of Cazadero. Vibrant, smiling riders will rise from the saddle, full of vim and vigor, and burning a hot, blue flame. Someone will yell, “It’s on!” Remember this person 60 miles later. Battling past the initial 13% grades, it levels off for a bit, where you congratulate yourself and regain some humanity. More hits come. You bear them well. It’s bad, but manageable.
Before long you attain your reward: a ridgetop roller coaster ride of 360-degree views on what seems like the rooftop of the world. But then you realize that you’re only 35 miles in. And the only flat spot on the landscape happens to be an ocean. Bravado turns to caution; arrogance gives way to doubt. Better stop into that rest station. Welcome to the grown-up table. 17
18
All elevations are relative to the base of the climb, not sea level.
600
500
400
300
200
100
% mi
10.3 0.1
9.1
10.0
0.2
10.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
7.9
0.0
12.5
1.4
6.9
1.7
0
1.5
yon n a c e dg i r B r se
9.0
9.2
4.5
7.2
0.6
8.8
0.7
8.8
0.8
9.9
0.9
8.3
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
Hau
Hauser Bridge Cat 3 Nice work. You’ve made it down possibly the most pucker-worthy descent of your life from King Ridge and find yourself coming off the metal bridge over the Gualala River, the waters of which hide the infamous San Andreas Fault. Like the merging of tectonic plates, you too will feel the earth shake as you claw and grovel your way from the confines of this canyon. Your
destination is the wooded Seaview Ridge, the first fortress of land against the Pacific Ocean and the penthouse suite in your hotel of hurt. Sit in as you dance upward through the redwoods. The good news here is that the road follows the contour of the slope with enough consistency to find your pace and keep it, all with the hope that you run out of mountainside before you run out of leg. 19
All elevations are relative to the base of the climb, not sea level.
400
300 300
200 200
100
% 3.8 mi
4.9
0.1
4.9
7.0
3.9
7.4
7.8
3.8
0.2
4.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
2.7
0.6
1.4
5.5
0.7
Seaview Cat 4 This one is a tandem combo of climbs, both of which are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Separated by a couple of miles, they’re not too steep and not too long, but that’s their evil genius. You’re over halfway through the Gran route by now and may be feeling better than you expected. You’ve had a quick lunch and King Ridge is shrinking behind you. 20
3.2
3.8
1.1
6.5
3.5
8.8
6.4
0.8
0.9
1
0 ft
1.2
cent s a t s ge fir
5.5
Rid w e i v a Se
4.1
7.3
0.9
2.1
100
% 10.3 mi
8.0
3.3 12.0 0.4
0.0
6.1
0.5
14.2
11.0
9.8
1.7
0.0
1.1
7.9
4.7
0 ft
1.2
scent a d n o e sec
0.0
7.6
0.6
7.0
7.9
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
ridg w e i v sea 6.3
0.1
6.2
0.2
0.3
But here’s where it could all fall apart. You’ve got less in the tank than you think and Seaview appears at first glance to be a simple series of rollers before you take that face-melting descent down Meyers Grade and Highway 1 to Russian Gulch. Be warned: Seaview Road is fashioned not of asphalt, but of kryptonite. You pedal away from it depleted and, worst of all, wondering how
it all went wrong. You’ll want to be judicious and steady, reserving a bit for the flogging you’re going to get with your group down the coast and for the mountain range that rises between you and the finish line. Heed these words. The giggling you hear inside your head isn’t an illusion: it’s Willow Creek and Coleman Valley laughing. They may have you right where they want you.
All elevations are relative to the base of the climb, not sea level.
1000
750
500
250
% 7.2 mi
3.2
4.4
6.6 11
5.6
4.6
3.5
1.6 1.51.5
6.1
4.5
4.1
4.8
5.2
6.9 3.5
0 ft
4
3.5
3
b m i l c l ve a r G k e
7.1
5.5
3.6 2
11.7
7.2
4.6
5.3
2.5
3
2.5
2
e r C w o Will
7.7 7.5 0. 05.5
Willow Creek Cat 3 (optional) The first couple of years, the Gran and Medio routes passed by this gem. It’s a minefield of potholes, it floods, and the only pavement is on the last couple of miles at the top. But it’s a beautiful gravel winding way back to Occidental, nearly all closed to motor vehicle traffic. The road surface itself, while unpaved, is even and polite, not the big-rock
frame-cracking material that you sometimes see when off the beaten path. The grade is forgiving, with two tiny exceptions. They’re known as The Sisters, two short pitches of earth that interrupt the regular slope of Willow Creek Road. Under normal circumstances, these two ladies would offer only a bit of trouble, but we’re not under normal circumstances. Some of you have climbed over
7,500 feet over 75 miles at this point. You’re tired and these two pitches may be the last nails in your cramp-filled coffin. And they’re not even at the top, just a couple of insults to your by-now deflated egos before you drag your whimpering heiney up to the top of the hill. The good news? You’ve never been demeaned in such lovely surroundings.
21
August 2014 Classic XC MTB Race
May 2014 Multi-Day Team and Solo MTB Race
June 2014 Marathon MTB Race
Oct-Dec 2014 Cyclocross Points Series
Feel Better. Appointments Available All Year. bikemonkey.net 22
All elevations are relative to the base of the climb, not sea level.
1000
750
500
250
% 5.1 mi
7.8
10.8
0.5
11.6
12.4
9.6
1
9.3
8.9
1.2
1.0
-0.3
5.6
7.0
3.5
3.8
3.1
6.4
-0.7
0 ft
4
3.5
l l a w y le l a V n ema
-0.3
1.5
1.4
-3.6
-0.8 3.2
-0.1
3
2.5
2
Col
Coleman Valley Cat 3 The Coleman Wall. The scourge of the Fondo. This is the gauntlet through which so many riders creep, leaving the Pacific fog behind to scale a pitch that would flatten the Cliffs of Insanity. Front wheels bob up and down in lockstep with pumping torsos and heaving breaths. Time slows. Some people walk, their shoes a clicky cadence. They seem lucky.
So yeah, it’s a little steep. It’s also undeniable, a beautiful monolithic challenge that offers no option, no complicated strategy other than “forward.” Gear down and turn the cranks. Do. Not. Stop. Pedaling. The kiss of death is slowing down on this hill because, as steep as it is, it’s short. Distract yourself by reading the roadtop graffiti from previous runnings of the Tour of California. Take
in the view, if you can. Whatever it takes. Get it over with and deal with the real challenge on Coleman: the rollers atop the coastal bluffs. You had it in your head you’d be done once you scaled this final wall. You were wrong. By now, you’re running on fumes. Imagine getting pummeled by an army of toddlers, one at a time. It’s kind of like that. But not as cute.
23
Before You Ride
Race Numbers By now, you’ve picked up your race numbers and should be looking at three pieces, all with the same digits on them. If that’s not the case, get with registration staff as soon as possible. • The large racer bib goes on the back of your jersey, affixed with safety pins. • The small, rigid number plate goes on the front of your handlebars, affixed with those tiny, cute zip ties • The long sticker tag is wrapped around the seatpost such that the number faces flat out to either side of the bike. The rigid plastic number plate and the seatpost sticker tag have your timing chip attached to them. Handle these with care. For your time to be recorded, you must place the number plate on the front of your handlebars facing forward and the seatpost tag attached to your seatpost with the numbers facing to the side, creating a rudder off the back of your post. If you bend either the number plate or the seatpost tag, your chip may be damaged and your time will not be recorded. 24
Staging Yes, it’s a lot of people. Yes, it’s hard to know precisely where to be. Yes, most people just make their best guess and do great. We’ll have signs posted up and down the staging area with average miles per hour figures, ability levels, and your expected route duration to help you figure out where you need to line up in the mass start. Remember, that mph figure is your average over the entire route—including substantial climbs and potential mechanicals/flats/ cookie breaks. It’s not your best speed on flat terrain with a tailwind. By reference, the course records on the Gran route average out to just about 22 mph, all by current or former pros, pinning it at a race-like pace. Even us mortals, at a zippy pace, are averaging 15 mph. Staging at the GranFondo is the time to be realistic, not cheerily delusional. Remember, you won’t “win” the GranFondo in the first few miles, but you sure can lose it for yourself and others. In other words, If you are in doubt, stage further back. Slower riders in a pack with much faster riders can pose a safety risk to everyone, so please consider others when making your choice.
Course maps Hopefully this doesn’t sound too boastful, but we design our signage in such a way that you’d never need a map to complete the GranFondo. We’ve never heard of anyone, in any year, on any route, making a wrong turn. We’re kind of uptight about this, so don’t worry about needing a route overview or a cue sheet while on this ride, trust us. The other side of this coin of course, is that if we care enough to put up a sign that says “Steep Grade Ahead” or “SLOW,” we mean it. It’s local advice from experienced cyclists and we urge you to heed it. Route Cutoffs All riders not making it to the intersection of King Ridge Road and Cazadero Highway by 11:00 am will be directed by the California Highway Patrol to take the Fort Ross Road climb instead. This is also a gorgeous, challenging
ride that is a bit shorter than King Ridge. Riders taking this cutoff will rejoin the Gran route right at the Ritchey Ranch rest stop, giving you a chance to secure food, water, etc. before hitting the big descent down to the coast. The GranFondo course closes at 6:00 pm. This includes all routes. At this time, we’ll no longer record finishers and the breakdown of all rest stops and the FondoSonoma Festival will begin. This happens for a number of reasons, not least of which is that it’s not safe to be out on your bike in the dark after ten hours of challenging riding. We’ll have some food and beer around for those of you coming across the line after the course closes, but we won’t be able to record you as a finisher. If you have doubts about your ability to ride the Gran route in less than ten hours, take the Medio. It’s a great ride and you deserve to finish it with a smile on your face and a finish line party all around you. You Wear It, You Carry It In the land of bone-chilling fog, fingernail-sluffing heat, and every kind of temperature in between, all on any day at any time, we do like ourselves some layers here. However, we also pride ourselves on self-sufficiency and want to pass along that rewarding spirit to you all. You’re in good hands with us for every inch you’ll travel along the way, but this is the GranFondo and we’re big boys and girls. You wear it, you carry it.
Parking Given the services provided at the GranFondo, we feel the best option, if you’re staying within a few miles of the Finley Center, is to ride to the start. Bring a bag with street clothes for the post-ride, snag a shower, and don’t add to your day’s headache by lugging your car along. But we realize that some people aren’t interested in such a thing and we’ve provided a parking map on our “Getting There” section of the GranFondo website. Without getting into the specifics, here’s what we say: if you must drive, allow some extra time to find a space, offload your gear, and get to the start line. It’s a big day; try not to add parking stress to it. Mid-Route Upgrades We know that you all want to do the right thing. We know that our participants are upright folks who are out for not only a big, hard day on the bike, but also to support some truly worthy charities and programs. If you want to downgrade to the Medio or Piccolo mid-route because you need to get back to the start for any reason, please do so. But don’t opt for an upgrade to the Gran or Medio just because you feel feisty. It’s not fair to the people who planned ahead and paid for that service. And we’ll all know you’re poaching a charity ride because your number plate will be a totally different color. Who knows what manner of abuse you’ll receive?
25
Rider number = rider meal Once across that finish line, don’t go shedding that ride number on your back just yet. There’s a tearaway tab on the racer bib that you must turn in to get your rider meal from our delectable food vendors (see page 11) and you’ll need to present the bib itself for a free beer from the nice folks at New Belgium Brewing. Additionally, you’ll use that bib to drop off, then reclaim, your bike from our bike valet.
unrelenting performance all-italian style
Information If we haven’t covered it here, scoot on over to the sweet, sweet folks at the Information Booth and ask away. Every Fondo question ever asked has an answer and it’s lodged in the noggins of these good people. The Information Booth is up and running at Friday’s packet pickup as well as all day Saturday at the FondoSonoma Festival. If you can’t tell by now, part of the happy obligation we have to our riders is one of comprehensive ride support. We owe everyone attending this event the opportunity to have a safe ride with a decent shot of completing it, should so variables spiral out of your control. And while we won’t go into detail about how many scads of agencies it takes to pull this off, we will provide the basics on road closures, rest stops, and emergency protocols. Road Closures The GranFondo route is completely closed to motor vehicle traffic in both directions from 26
capocycling.com @capocycling
the start all the way to Monte Rio, where the Medio and Gran routes diverge. The Piccolo route riders are held in Occidental until the road is sufficiently cleared of outgoing cyclists so that they can return to Santa Rosa. Rather than detail the complete rolling closure, it’s sufficient to say that riders will have one hour to travel the 8.5 miles from the start to the turn at Mill Station Road, then another hour to travel another 12 miles to Monte Rio. From Monte Rio, police escorts will clear the leading group through intersections, but all riders should be prepared for an open course with non-GranFondo related motor traffic and an resumption of centerline, rules of the road conditions. Rest Stops Our rest stops are the stuff of legends. Huge tent villages with bike racks, first aid, mechanical support, restrooms, the food, oh the glorious food. Expect Clif Shot energy gels, First Endurance electrolyte drink, and Clif bars at these roadside smörgåsbords in addition to goodies like roasted potatoes, whole wheat PB&J sandwiches, pretzels, cookies, fresh fruit, mixed nuts, and water. And yeah, we got the gluten-free goods. Just ask. The Ritchey Ranch rest stop will include hungry man/woman fare in the form of deli sandwiches. The Coleman Valley rest stop will have liquid resources only.
SMITHOPTICS.COM
Gran Route Rest Stops and Mileage Monte Rio—21 miles Cazadero—30 miles 27
King Ridge—47 miles Ritchey Ranch—58 miles Portuguese Beach—74 miles Coleman Valley (water only)—81 miles Occidental—87 miles Medio Route Rest Stops and Mileage Duncans Mills—24 miles Portuguese Beach—34 miles Coleman Valley (water only)—41 miles Occidental—47 miles Piccolo Route Rest Stop and Mileage Occidental—15 miles Emergency Vehicles We work with a cadre of local emergency service providers, public and private, from fire departments to the California Highway Patrol to the Red Cross. The only thing you all need to know is that, if you see an emergency vehicle trying to navigate the route, there’s a good reason for it. Get out of their way immediately. Should a helicopter have to land to evacuate a injured person, riders near the scene will be advised of maximum safe distances during takeoff and landing. SAG There are over a hundred vehicles out there, some provided to the event by our friends at Nissan, others are piloted by the SRAM/ Zipp Neutral Race Support crew, still others are private vehicles driven by skilled and dedicated cycling event volunteers. They’re there for you if you have a need that’s keeping 28
you from continuing down the road at any moment. It’s highly likely that they’ll be able to take a dnf and turn it into a successful day. They are, however, not there to drive you home when you get tired. We will run a cleanup shuttle through the rest stops to get people home who are uninjured but cannot continue, but we don’t have the capacity to operate the sag fleet as an immediate shuttle service absent a pressing need. Rider Connections Should you be waiting at the start line for a rider that should’ve been in, you’re welcome to check in with the Information Booth at the FondoSonoma Festival to see if something unexpected has taken place. Communication is challenging on a course so remote and our information staff is bound by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act’s restrictions on sharing patient data, but if we can locate your missing rider, we will. Most of the time, they’ve underestimated how long it will take them to complete the ride, but in the rare case that a rider is injured, staff at the Information Booth will, to the best of their abilities, act to connect emergency contacts with affected riders as well as location of the rider’s bicycle. In other words, if you’re worried sick about your guy/gal out on course, check with the Information Booth and see if they can find them. They’ll do their level best to put your mind at ease.
FLYING GOAT COFFEE DIRECTLY SOURCED
29
30
PROVIDING CRUISERS
the
Ultimate ROAD
in
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN
KIDS norcalcycling.com :: 425 College Ave, Santa Rosa, California :: (707) 573-0112
31
100 gravel miles...not a potato field in sight.
32
rebeccasprivateidaho.com
ride Technique
Many of you may come from places where the ribbons of road run straight and true, asphalt gleaming in its raven-coated conformity, surfaces so silent and smooth as to give a quiet reflection to the cyclists passing over them. Boy, are you far from home. Here in the County Sonoma, our roads are of a more rustic quality. When you’ve got more miles of them per capita than most massive urban areas, keeping them all perfect can be a challenge. We present some gentle reminders on rider etiquette and some take-it-or-leave-it tips on how to address the rougher edges of our beautiful byways. These are suggestions based on local experience, not directions on how to safely operate a bicycle. If you’re reading this, we figure you’ve got experience and miles under you by now. Consider it a bit of preparation as you strike out into new, wonderful terrain. Cattle Guards The GranFondo passes not through vast tracts of public land, but through working landscapes, both vine and bovine. As vines tend to stay put, that means you really only need to worry about cattle guards, those in-road grates that keep cows from wondering into town via Main
Street. Trust us when we say that they’re no big deal. The most important tip to remember when encountering a cattle guard, besides staying relaxed and not hitting your front brake, is to hit it straight on, to square both your body and bike so that the whole package rolls over the grates effortlessly. With your weight back, your chin up, and eyes looking 15–25 feet further up/down the road from your exit at the end of the guard, roll over grates without hitting your front brake. You may, if you have time, want to pull up ever so slightly on your bars as you roll over the obstacle, which unweights your front end and allows you to float beautifully over the cattle guard. Potholes The GranFondo has patched potholes throughout its routes and has even expanded that program to cycling routes outside of the event. This is great, but potholes are still a regular sight here and you should be prepared to find a few. Pay attention, keep a regular, constant grip on your bars, and steer around the potholes you see. Should hitting one of these become unavoidable, relax when your front tire hits the hole and
do not hit your front brake. Simply pull up on your bars and unweight the rear end of your bike by getting your butt off the back of the saddle while lifting up with your feet. Keep your chin up and be sure to look further up/ down the road, letting your eyes look where you want to go. In an ideal world, you may have enough time to bunny-hop it (a graceful coordination of lifting the bars and rear end of the bike simultaneously, so you leap over the pothole). Do remember to stick around for the applause, should you be able to pull this off. Decreasing Radius Turns A decreasing radius turn is engineer-speak for the increasing and immediate steepness of turns during high-speed descents on GranFondo routes. Best thing to do is keep your chin up and looking where you want to exit the corner (we sound like a broken record, yes, 33
Pairs well with people. Facebook.com/FatTire
34
but the bike goes where the eye knows). Do your braking before you enter the corner and, if you do have to use them once in the turn, be sure to feather your levers, using more rear brake than front. Remember, you often don’t know you’re in a decreasing radius turn until you’ve come into it too hot and suddenly find yourself wondering why the road seems to be intentionally doubling back on itself. Basic Bike Maintenance Seems a shame to plan all year for riding the GranFondo only to do so on ragged tires, dry chains, worn brake pads, and ancient equipment. First and foremost, make sure that your tires have the proper air pressure and that you have a flat repair kit. Although SRAM/Zipp will be providing limited on-course wheel support, you should be as self-sufficient as possible. Our irregular roads will turn tight into loose, so check the torques of all the important bolts: stem face plate, stem clamp, seat post, pedals, and water bottle cages. Also make sure that your quick releases are firmly seated in the tabs and closed properly. Everyone will thank you to be sure that chain is lubed. Remember, a bike can malfunction quickly and cause you to lose control. That’s bad enough if it only affects you; it’s much worse when you’re riding shoulder to shoulder with thousands of others. Some basic maintenance can stave off problems that are merely annoying at 18 miles an hour or damn scary at 35 miles per hour.
Pack Riding You will be riding in a pack at Levi’s GranFondo. It’s inevitable with seven and a half thousand riders all starting together on country roads. The best thing that a rider can do in this situation is to relax and to not make sudden movements. Again, keep that chin up and look down the road, keeping your eyes on the rider ahead, not staring at his/her back wheel. This way you can see the natural ebb and flow of the pack and can anticipate changes. Be smooth and avoid proximity to riders who are suddenly braking and accelerating. Just like in motor traffic, those are the ones who are more likely to provide an unwelcome surprise in close quarters. Stay behind the rider in front of you and don’t let your front wheel overlap the rear wheel of that rider in front of you. Don’t be afraid to communicate, either verbally or with hand signals, calling out potholes, road
debris, erratic pack behavior, upcoming turns, and oncoming traffic, etc. Most importantly, relax and go with the flow of the pack. There’s lots of room to operate your bike, even in tight quarters. Stay predictable and you’ll be fine. Paceline Etiquette If you’re lucky and, especially if the winds are up, you’re going to find yourself in a paceline, that marvel of athletic efficiency. Whether you are driving the train or hanging onto the back with your tongue in the wind, working the slipstream can cut your effort by as much as 40%. A good group can easily take your ride from the depths of despair to the heights of ecstasy. The most important thing to remember when riding in a pace line is don’t overlap the wheel of the rider in front of you. It’s dangerous and very often leads to sudden braking or erratic maneuvers. A steady, constant pedaling tempo will help insure that the group stays together, but not too tightly on each other’s wheel. Communication is important, too, as people come into pacelines with different experience levels and intentions. A little extra chatter is better than someone taking out the group because they didn’t act according to everyone’s expectations. If at all possible, it’s everyone’s responsibility to take equal turns on the front. Don’t shirk that duty unless you have absolutely nothing left in the tank. If you’ve spent all your tokens, say so, as the stronger riders may be able to help you stay in the group and recover. A coordinated effort in a paceline
can be one of the most motivating and fun experiences on a bike, so please enjoy safely. Riding Gravel You never know when you’re going to see a patch of gravel on a Sonoma County road. Between floods, landslides, and centuries-old road design, a 100-foot stretch of pave bianca may await you around any corner. As we have said already, the importance of relaxing your upper body and not grabbing your front brakes too hard cannot be overemphasized. Pick a clean line by keeping your chin up and eyes forward. If you must brake, feather your rear brake and try to keep your front wheel as straight as possible as you slice through the gravel, always looking ahead to where you want to exit. Trust your equipment, carry your momentum, and get through that gravel. Worry about a potential slice in your tire or that dust on your bottom bracket shell on the other side. Stay light on your bars with relaxed elbows, in order to soften those unexpected bumps. We’re all going to encounter substantial obstacles on the ride, most of them physiological, some psychological. You may not even need some of the techniques we’ve relayed in this space and anyway, you can’t be ready for every little thing. But you can keep your head up, relax, and look ahead for the path you want to travel rather than getting surprised and looking at the one that scares you. Wait, we’re still talking about bikes here, right? 35
Giving
In a rider briefing manual, a compelling argument can be made against including information that strays from the nuts and bolts of a self-flagellating day on the bike. However, here we attempt to take a bigger perspective. When you’ve squeezed that last kilocalorie out of your aching legs, when your lungs heave like a discarded bagpipe, and your heart resembles a barely throbbing pile of gristle, you find yourself in need of something beyond the world of wattage and power thresholds. You reach deep for a new fuel, one capable of transcending the physical, of driving the body beyond it’s corporeal designs. In Sonoma County, this is the part of the conversation where the crystals come out of velvet pouches and the Nag Champa incense becomes thick in the room. That aside, we’d like to think that the work done by this event in service and in support of others can bolster the will when the body wavers. The GranFondo may be the best day out on two wheels, but don’t be afraid to remind yourself of the charitable giving you’ve made possible by riding and believing in this event. Frankly, we’d make the argument that you owe it to yourself. Without further ado, we’re pleased to present our short sheet of giving, all tallied up over the life of Levi’s GranFondo:
LIVESTRONG 2009–2012: $67,086 Local Sponsorship of the Tour of California in Santa Rosa 2009–2012: $239,540 dempsey center for cancer hope and healing 2013 (projected): $7,500
Forget Me Not Farm 2009–2012: $320,433 2013 (projected): $125,000
pablove foundation 2013 (projected): $5,250
VeloStreet’s Community Giving Programs 2009–2012: $303,698 2013 (projected): $75,000
TOTAL GIVING 2009–2012: $930,757 2013 (projected): $212,750
36
GranFondo Charities Forget Me Not Farm The working Farm not only cares for abandoned animals but also acts as a therapeutic refuge for at-risk children, including those who have been the victims of abuse. forgetmenotfarm.org Velostreet’s Community Giving Program Administered by the GranFondo’s non-profit, VeloStreet, this program supports schools and fire departments along the GranFondo route as well as acting as a funding source for cycling-forward projects, like pothole paving of Sonoma County’s iconic cycling routes. velostreet.org The NorCal High School Mountain Bike League The League exists to provide a healthy, structured competition environment that gets kids outdoors and on bikes, providing a rich foundation for a lifetime of cycling. norcalmtb.org LIVESTRONG (past beneficiary) LIVESTRONG funds and develops resources for cancer patient care, as well as personal support for families touched by the disease. livestrong.org Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing Focusing on an integrative approach to cancer care, the Dempsey Center supports the patient healing process beyond the essential clinical treatments. dempseycenter.org Pablove Foundation Levi’s GranFondo is the official launch of the 2013 Pablove Across America ride, a charity event driving the Foundation’s mission of supporting those suffering from pediatric cancer. pablove.org
Three Markets to Serve you: 560 Montecito Center 461 Stony Point Rd. Santa Rosa, Ca. 95409 Santa Rosa, Ca. 95409 (707)537-7123 (707)284-3530 546 East Cotati Ave. Cotati Ca. 94931 (707)795-9501 37
EXPERIENCE SPEED Zipp’s 30 Clincher wheelset gets you where you’re going faster. Our quarter century of aero excellence went into creating a distinctive aluminum rim that saves an estimated 42 seconds over 40km in common wind conditions compared with a traditional race wheel. Zipp’s refinement and verification of the 30 included a robust new hubset and 14,000 miles of on-the-road testing for an affordable wheelset that’s as durable as it is aero.
And, with Santa Rosa opting to let some other city have a shot at hosting a stage of the Tour of California, we find ourselves looking for a new sponsorship partner. We supported the Tour rolling through the streets of our town for years, giving $239,540 to keep it coming back three times. We consider that a great investment not only for our community, but for the GranFondo itself. Now we have another opportunity to not only promote the GranFondo, but also to promote our shared values. As such, it is with great pride that we announce a new, three-year partnership with the NorCal High School Mountain Bike League. Levi’s GranFondo is now the top sponsor of an organization that is poised to put thousands of kids on bikes, competing, training, and pushing themselves to hitherto unknown heights. They’re changing the face of youth sports in ball-andstick America and we’re proud to play some part in that good work.
Photo: David Colclasure
Volunteers Lest we forget, it’s one thing to give money. It’s another entirely to give your time. We’ve all got the same amount of it; we all want more of it. For that, we can’t thank our GranFondo volunteers enough. They’ve coughed up days on end, on bikes, in warehouses, behind mountains of swag bags, and more, spreading the spirit of this event and leaving all us bleary-eyed staffers staggeringly grateful. The GranFondo inspires a lot of people to do great things, but it’s the volunteers who inspire the people behind the GranFondo. By the end of the 2013 GranFondo, we expect to have seen over 10,000 hours from community-minded, smilewearing, sweat-dripping, wonderful people over the life of this event. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Rotarians, Freemasons, bike clubs, churches: believe us when we say that no group was uninterested in taking part in the GranFondo. That many of them are back for their fifth year says far more about their quality than we can write here. In the end, we can’t thank these folks enough and can only say that, anyone doubting a bright, golden future for our apelike species should take a minute and work side by side with our volunteers. Give them a high-five when you see them, if only on our behalf. 38
think local.
For world-class printing
Boudin SF
Montgomery Village Shopping Center Corner of Farmer’s Lane and Montgomery Drive
Now producing the largest print material in the North Bay.
www.boudinbakery.com
In-store graphics and signs up to 30 feet long, check out the GranFondo finish line!
CARBO LOAD
www.chromaprints.com
AN EPIC CAUSE
Servicing Northern California Since 1975
Boudin SF fundraiser October 3–4
FOR
Forget Me Not Farm Children’s Services
39
levisgranfondo.com
40