On June 29th, our good friend and AC Team member, Jeff Malnik, will host The Bite Hard Gran Fondo, using the same amazing roads as the road race. AC would like to invite everyone to enjoy us in what is sure to be a great day on the bike. Details below:
June 29, 2013: 9AM @ The Boonville Fairgrouds
Don’t have a USAC license? Enjoy racing for a personal best time? Want to see some of the most majestic roads California has to offer at your own pace? Interested in having a challenging day on the bike with fantastic catered food and hard cider waiting for you at the finish?
For 2013, we are premiering the Bite Hard Gran Fondo! This will be a TIMED event in traditional Gran Fondo style. Gran Fondo riders will relish the outstanding Mendocino Coast scenery and follow the same route as the USAC Bite Hard Road Race. The Gran Fondo will benefit the Queens English Colon Cancer Survivor fund***.
You can race for best overall time or for a personal record or just for fun!
Gran Fondo Benefits
*** Gran Fondo registrations benefit the Queens English Colon Cancer Fund
*** HARD CIDER from Bite Hard!
*** Catered Lunch by Burt at BoontBerry Market – Boonville’s local organic food store!
*** Gran Fondo T-Shirt!
*** Timed Event: Race for overall best time or a personal record or not at all!
*** $20/nt Camping at the Boonville Fairgrounds: On-Site bathrooms and showers and within walking distance to downtown shops and restaurants.
*** 15% off Best Western rooms in Ukiah – 40ish minute drive to start at Boonville Fairgrounds
*** Very inexpensive, local and awesome Coffee and Pastries from the Boonville General Store served up by the Anderson Valley Teen Center the morning of the event in the Fairgrounds parking lot – all proceeds benefit the AV Teen Center!
Course Details
The Gran Fondo will follow the same course as the USAC race, however will omit the finish hill and will finish at the intersection of highway 128 and Mountain View Road.
See course details page for more info.
RIDE STARTS AT THE BOONVILLE FAIRGROUDS PARKING LOT AT 9AM SHARP!!!!
REGISTER HERE for the Gran Fondo!!!
Course Photos
200m from the top of the KOM climb on Mountain View Rd.
Philo-Greenwood Rd.
Highway 1 just south of Elk
Elk, CA
The bridge on Philo-Greenwood Road descent into Philo for all other fields.
Highway 1 at the intersection of Mountain View Road
Philo-Greenwood Road on the Ridge
We did this race (there was no Grand Fondo event) last year and here are a few of our thoughts. First off Booneville is a great little (blink and you’ll miss it) town and the perfect place to start and finish a big ride. The climbing starts quick and is hard, but it’s a blessing as you are still fresh! After all the climbing and descending at the start you can rest a bit when you reach Hwy 1. Close to Elk there is another little kicker before the big climb out of Elk. Then there are a bunch of rollers until you hit Hwy 128 for an easy spin back to town, or a fast paceline if you are looking for a good time! The route is beautiful, one of the best rides we’ve done, anywhere or ever!
The food at the finish will be excellent and much deserved after the hard ride as well. This is a great chance to try some roads you may never have thought of before. It’s also a short trip from Healdsburg if you wanted to stay for the weekend and is close to the start. I promise you’ll remember this ride and it’s for a great cause as well! Please pass this on to every one you think would be interested!
Thanks and see you on the road!
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