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Dear <firstname>,
You are signed up for the Family Fondo of Levi's GranFondo, and we're just 9 days away from all the action!
This message is serves as a final reminder of what to expect during Levi's GranFondo and to arm you with all you need to know to make the most of your two days with us. Yes, you heard that right dayS...
This year's event features two days of exhibitors, live music, and activities you don't want to miss, so listen up!
This year's Family Fondo is different from years past. Most strikingly, it has its very own start. We ask that everyone gather at the start line at 9:00 am before we roll out together at 9:30 am. The Sunday Funday Windsor Ride group will be leading this year's Family Fondo. The route is also different than last year's, comprising of flat roads that meander through the neighborhood streets of Windsor, California.
Features Minimal Climbing!
If you participated in last year's ride, you'll remember one significant climb on the approach back to Windsor that was like the kid-friendly version of le Alpe d'Huez. Fortunately for those rolling giant kid-gear ratios, there are no big climbs on this year's family route.
The Family Fondo is not a race
The Family Fondo is not a race. But we do provide number plates to be placed on your bikes both in the spirit of the gran fondo to commemorate the day and to identify you as part of our event. RFID tags let us know when you've returned to the festival, which also helps us keep track of people. These number plates can be decorated on Friday at our Bike Bedazzling zone after rider check-in for some added flair, and they also serve as identification for your bike should you choose to park it in our secure bike valet at the festival.
The Ride Format
Last year's ride featured course arrows that were used to direct family riders back to the festival; however, this year minimal arrows will be used. Instead, the group will be encapsulated, led, and tailed by the Sunday Funday Windsor Ride Group, and a couple of our very own Bike Monkey ride marshals. They will work to keep everyone together for a fun, social ride. Therefore, it is very important that you arrive by 9:00 am to the start so that you don't get left behind and miss the group.
Chaperones
We gotta keep track of kids! Children joining the family ride must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Even though we have ride marshals embedded in the ride, we are not able to provide accompanying ride support for every rider, and it's not possible for us to know for sure if a particular kid is part of our event or just someone who popped in from the house with the dog in the yard on his way to Jimmy's place. Adult registration is also free.
Meals
Post-ride meals are not included in the free family ride registration. However, you may purchase food at any one of our food vendors at the festival after you're done with your ride.
On Friday, April 18th, our event kicks off, starting at 2:00 pm at the Windsor Town Green. We highly encourage you to come by Friday to get sorted, check out our exhibitors, and dress up your bike for the ride on Saturday morning. We'll have live music on Friday by local teen band Gas Money, and beer will be served up from three local microbreweries: Old Caz, Henhouse, and Barrel Brothers. Of course, we haven't forgotten the kids--Good Vybes Lemonade will be there with their vending trailer dedicated entirely to lemonade.
Rider Check-In
Rider check-in takes place at the Huerta Gymnasium right next to the Windsor Town Green. You must appear in person to sign a waiver, get a ride plate, and your free commemorative water bottle and musette bag. Rider check-in also takes place Saturday morning before the ride, but you may be a little rushed to get it done then. That's why we encourage you to come on Friday.
Expo/Festival
This year's expo on Friday will feature more than 40 exhibitors, live music, and did we mention a station for bedazzling your bike with art before the ride on Saturday? We thought it was worth mentioning again!
7:30 am Growler Road Race
The big day is Saturday, April 19th, and it all kicks off with the start of The Growler, the pro road race component of Levi's GranFondo. If you get up early enough, you can come and watch this historic moment for bike racing in North America. Professional athletes from around the world are converging in Windsor, California to compete on a 138-mile-long course that features nearly 14,000 feet of elevation, making it America's toughest road race. There will be more than 100 men and 70 women competing for a share of a $156,000 purse, and it will be live-broadcast at the festival jumbotron, and to the world on YouTube.
8:00 am Levi's GranFondo
At 8:00 am, Levi's GranFondo commences, and more than 1,500 people will roll out on the Growler, Gran, Geysers, Medio, Piccolo, and Piccolino courses. This is a super-high-energy experience with so many people starting a bike ride together and is the foundation upon which Levi's GranFondo was built. Be there, and see it all take place before the Family ride!
The Family Fondo gathers and starts at the corner of McLelland and Market Streets at 9:00 am. Everyone will mingle around a little bit, get situated, and then we'll roll out together at 9:30 am for the super-fun social ride with the Sunday Funday Windsor Ride group.
The ride is an easy 8-mile, meandering, flat loop with less than 95 feet of total climbing spread throughout--so little climbing you may not even notice when you're riding uphill.
The group ride leaders will work to keep everyone together by stopping at important intersections to usher folks through, and then continue. The family fondo is not a race, and times are not recorded. For those looking for a more challenging experience, you may consider signing up for one of our other 6 routes, perhaps beginning with the Piccolino.
Saturday will be full of fun activities. After your easy stroll through Windsor, California, you'll return to the festival where we will have food vendors, exhibitors, live music, cold beverages, and live professional bike racing on display for the world to see. Our awards ceremony is not to be missed in the afternoon where we will crown the winners of the Growler, America's toughest road race. Click here to see our full schedule.
We look forward to seeing you next weekend. Thank you for joining Levi's GranFondo!
