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We've been quieter than normal heading into this new year. Not because we ran out of things to say—trust us, that's never been a problem—but because we've been deep in the trenches preparing for the second live broadcast of America's premier gran fondo. That alone has consumed a mountain of bandwidth. But more importantly, we've also been doing some of the most critical work in our 17-year history on the charitable side of this event, and we have some exciting things to share with you.
Since day one, we've chosen to focus our energy on youth—on the belief that what happens when a young person throws a leg over a bicycle for the first time can change the trajectory of an entire life. With the generous support of Skipstone Winery, we're thrilled to announce three new partnerships that take that belief and put it to work in some incredibly powerful ways.
Every year, King Ridge Foundation hosts a bike drive that puts between 35 and 50 bicycles into the hands of at-risk youth and families facing financial hardship. It's one of the things we're most proud of. But a bike without a place to ride it is just a machine collecting dust in the garage. That's where Blue-Tailed Skinks come in.
BTS is a youth cycling organization that picks up exactly where KRF's bike drive leaves off. Through organized group rides and youth programming, they give kids a place to ride, a community to ride with, and the confidence that comes from discovering what their legs and lungs can do. KRF provides the bicycle. BTS provides the road ahead. It's a partnership that writes itself.
This year, KRF is providing a $10,000 grant to Blue-Tailed Skinks, and we're inviting them to bring their riders to the Family Ride at Levi's GranFondo on April 25th, 2026—for free. They'll also have a home at the event with their own exhibitor space, where you'll get to meet them, learn about what they do, and maybe even be inspired to help a kid find their road.
One of the most unique things about Levi's GranFondo is the arena it creates. On a single day, in a single place, amateur riders, junior racers, and professional athletes from around the world all share the same roads through some of the most stunning terrain in California. For a kid who dreams of racing bikes, that proximity is electric. It's the kind of thing that makes you believe.
Sycip Devout Racing is a junior road cycling team made up of exactly those kids—the ones who are hungry, who are chasing something, and who represent the next generation of American cycling talent. King Ridge Foundation is doing something special with this team. We're not just giving them entry to race at Levi's GranFondo for free—we're building a structure around them that teaches what it means to race with purpose.
Here's how it works: every junior rider on the Sycip Devout team will have their own individual fundraising campaign through King Ridge Foundation's platform, with each rider expected to raise a minimum of $250. One hundred percent of those proceeds go directly to at-risk youth causes like Forget Me Not Farm. These kids aren't just racing for a result—they're learning how to use their platform to give back, to champion something bigger than a finish line, and to understand that the privilege of competing carries with it a responsibility to their community. That's the kind of foundation you build a life on.
Adventure For All is an organization that serves individuals ages eight and older with intellectual and developmental exceptionalities, along with their families. Through its Gravel & Giving program, AFA provides a coaching-driven pathway where athletes train for and take on real cycling goals alongside a community that believes in them. What begins with a bicycle becomes something deeper—a growth mindset rooted in resilience, self-belief, and the confidence to carry forward when life gets hard. The impact extends beyond the athlete and into the family unit, where parents and siblings begin to see what is possible—not just in sport, but in everyday life.
King Ridge Foundation is providing a $10,000 grant to AFA, and our partners at Be Good Foundation—the charitable arm of Rebecca's Private Idaho—are contributing an additional $5,000 under a separate agreement. Together, that $15,000 will bring AFA's athletes and production team to two landmark cycling events: Rebecca's Private Idaho in September 2026 and Levi's GranFondo in April 2027.
As part of this partnership, AFA will produce a short documentary film following one or more of their athletes on the journey to and through Levi's GranFondo. It's the kind of story that reminds you why any of this matters—and why the simple act of riding a bike can be one of the most profound things a human being can do.
The Bigger Picture
None of this happens without you. Every registration, every dollar raised, every person who shows up and rides—it all feeds a system that was designed from the beginning to create more than just a great day on two wheels. Levi's GranFondo is a platform, and King Ridge Foundation is the engine that turns that platform into something meaningful for people who need it most.
Blue-Tailed Skinks give kids a road. Sycip Devout gives them a purpose. Adventure For All gives them a belief in what's possible. And Skipstone Winery, whose support made these grants possible, gives all of us the resources to make it real.
We are profoundly grateful for this community and for the partners who continue to invest in this vision. As we prepare for April 25th, 2026, we hope you'll carry this with you—the knowledge that your ride does more than you think it does.
See you soon...
Sincerely,
The cast and crew of Levi's GranFondo at Bike Monkey, and the board of directors of King Ridge Foundation.
