The following statements apply to everyone whether you've signed up for the short family route, the elite Growler competition or any option in between. Disregarding essential rules or failing to honor their intent may result in disqualification or, more importantly, risk harm to yourself or others. Together, let’s create a day that is safe, inspiring, and unforgettable.

  ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST CHECK IN AND SIGN A WAIVER

Before participating in Levi's GranFondo, all registered participants must go through a check-in procedure where they must sign a waiver acknowledging the risks associated with participating in the event. Furthermore, minors under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian present to co-sign the waiver. You are not allowed to participate in Levi's GranFondo until you have completed the check-in procedure. Check-in time and location details are provided below in the Schedule of Events.

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  SPORTSMANSHIP

General misconduct will not be tolerated at Levi's GranFondo. Deliberately interfering with the progress of other athletes or creating an unsafe environment will result in disqualification and possibly ejection from the event, whether you are racing or not.

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  NO LITTERING

This should be obvious, but littering is not allowed. Aid stations placed on-course will have waste management. You will be able to discard trash at these locations only.

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  NO TIME TRIAL BARS

Time trial bars are not allowed. Use of them poses a danger to yourself and others in our large and dynamic pack environment.

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  NO BAG DROP

We do not provide "bag drop" support on-course. In other words, we cannot manage the placement of any items for you on-course.

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  PERSONAL SUPPORT IS ALLOWED AT LAKE SONOMA

A personal support aid station is situated at mile 83, along Skaggs Springs Road at the Warm Springs Recreation area parking lot of Lake Sonoma. There is a parking lot adjacent to the road with a wide shoulder where competitors can slow to receive support. Additionally, we will provide a Growler bottle feed at this site for those who do not have personal support. This is the only location where personal support is allowed. Providing personal support anywhere else on-course is prohibited.

Cut off time for arrival: 10:30 AM - Anyone providing personal support must arrive no later than 10:30 AM or they will not be allowed to reach the aid station.

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  DISCARDED ITEMS

If you leave any personal items, packs, clothing, etc. at any of our aid stations, they are unlikely to be retrievable until days after the event if at all, and will likely end up in our lost-and-found. Shipping charges will apply if you are unable to retrieve items in person at Bike Monkey HQ in Santa Rosa.

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  KASHIA BAND OF POMO INDIANS

‍Our route passes through a crucial landholding that links our return route from King Ridge. It is along Tin Barn Road just before reaching the formidable Skaggs Springs Road. Stewarts Point Rancheria belongs to the community of the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians. It is with their permission that we pass through their land, and we are grateful for the opportunity to do so. As this hamlet drapes across both sides of Tin Barn Road near the corner of the Tin Barn and Stewarts Point Road intersections, there are often children playing nearby who may wander into or across the road. We ask that when reaching this area of the ride, after passing King Ridge aid station, you slow your speed.

Click here to see where Kashia is.
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  ELITE-STAGING MUST BE APPROVED!

Anyone participating in Levi's GranFondo is permitted to select from any of our six route options, including the Growler. However, only those who are vetted and approved to compete as an elite racer may start with the front groups. All other competitors must start at 8:00 am.

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  U18 JUNIORS RACE DIFFERENT ROUTES!

The Male and Junior female racers will not race the Growler. Instead, U18 and U15 competitors will compete on the Geysers and Medio courses.

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  PERSONAL SUPPORT IS ALLOWED AT LAKE SONOMA

A personal support aid station is situated at mile 83, along Skaggs Springs Road at the Warm Springs Recreation area parking lot of Lake Sonoma. There is a parking lot adjacent to the road with a wide shoulder where competitors can slow to receive support. Additionally, we will provide a Growler bottle feed at this site for those who do not have personal support. This is the only location where personal support is allowed. Providing personal support anywhere else on-course is prohibited.

Cut off time for arrival: 10:30 AM - Anyone providing personal support must arrive no later than 10:30 AM or they will not be allowed to reach the aid station.

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  NO OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE

Outside assistance is defined as receiving help from anyone not participating in the same route and gender category as your own. Outside assistance is not permitted, and if witnessed, will serve as grounds for the offending participants being disqualified from the Growler competition.

Assistance refers to anything that helps a competitor gain or maintain an advantage in the race, including but not limited to:

• ‍Drafting with someone outside your category
• Giving/receiving mechanical support to/from someone outside your category
• Sharing or carrying supplies with/for someone outside your category
• Sharing information about the state of other competitors not in your category‍
• Receiving assistance from an on-bike marshal, moto, or sag vehicle
• Assisting or receiving assistance from an athlete in another category in any other way

Disqualified means that the offending participants will be marked ineligible from competition and removed from podium contention.

Should an infraction be deemed egregious or dangerous, the offending participant(s) may be banned from future participation in the event.

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  MECHANICAL SUPPORT

There is no "roving" mechanical support. Make sure to bring your basics: tube, pump, multi-tool, etc. If you need assistance from a mechanic, you must get it at one of our full-service aid stations or from the personal support zone at Lake Sonoma.

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  NO STAGED EQUIPMENT OTHER THAN WHAT YOU CAN CARRY

No equipment other than what you can carry yourself is allowed to be placed or staged on-course. For instance, you are not allowed to stash gear, clothing, or equipment on-course in any way to be collected or swapped out during your race. The exception is the personal support zone at Lake Sonoma.

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  SKRATCH LABS GROWLER BOTTLE FEED

Skratch Labs will be managing a neutral bottle feed at four locations specifically for the elite men's and women's fields of Skipstone's Growler Road Race only. There will be bottles with plain water and bottles with an electrolyte mix. Volunteers handling bottles with plain water only will be wearing orange vests in order to make sure that you know whether you're reaching for mix or water.

Skratch Sport Hydration Drink Mix will be prepared to Allen Lim's standard: 30 grams of mix in 600ml of water — a 5% carbohydrate solution with just over 900mg of sodium per liter, matched to average sodium sweat loss. Locations:

The bottle feed zones will be identified with signage ahead of time, and coincide with existing aid stations at the following aid stations:

King Ridge | Lake Sonoma | Mercuryville | Alexander Valley School

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  THE FINAL 10K OF SKIPSTONE'S ELITE GROWLER ROAD RACE

In the last 10KM of the race, you will begin seeing course signs that indicate the distance to the finish. There are two critical roundabouts where you could accidentally veer off course if you are not paying attention.

Roundabout #1: The first roundabout comes at 600 meters to the finish, and you must continue straight, taking the second exit. Non-elite participants will take the first exit to the right <-- Juniors, this includes you!‍

Roundabout #2: The second roundabout is just 100 meters from the finish and you must take the first exit as soon as you enter it. The signs below will direct you, and support personnel will work together to guide you into the 100-meter-long finish straight.

You will see the final course signs in the following order unless you are riding the shortest Family Fondo course.

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  PODIUM PROTOCOL

ELITE FIELDS
Top 5 Elite Men and Elite Women will be awarded on the podium. 6th - 10th will not partake in the podium presentation.‍

• Full team kit is mandatory!
• ‍Prize money winners to pick up checks behind the podium.
• ‍Awards ceremony is projected to take place between 2:15 - 3:00--as soon as top 5 women finish.
• Champagne war optional.
• Prize payouts to be picked up by top 10 behind the podium after the awards ceremony.

  ALL OTHER FIELDS

In order to qualify, all riders must make all time cuts. Riders not making time cuts will be disqualified from awards

RACING AGE:

Competitors are categorized by their "racing age" which is how old they will be on December 31st. If a competitor is 14 on December 30th, and turns 15 on December 31st, they are to race in the 18U age category because their racing age is 15. This formula is used across all categories.
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GROWLER:
Top 3 U24 Men & Women
Top 3 U40 Men & Women
Top 3 U50 Men & Women
Top 3 U60 Men & Women
Top 3 60+ Men & Women
Top 3 Nonbinary
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GRAN:
Top 5 Men
Top 5 Women
Top 3 Nonbinary

GEYSERS:
Top 5 Men
Top 5 Women
Top 3 Nonbinary

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JUNIORS:

Top 5 18 and under (16 - 18) Junior Men, Women, and Nonbinary
Top 5 15 and under (13 - 15) Junior Men, Women, and Nonbinary

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Finish Line

Juniors are to finish on McClelland Street, taking the first exit from the roundabout. Do not follow "Growler" finish line signs.

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  WATCH PARTY ZONE‍

As the elite field approaches town, we will undertake an effort to clear the final miles of riders for several minutes in order to ensure that the final sprint for the top 10 athletes is clear of slower riders who would be overtaken at that time. This effort requires the cooperation of all participants. There will be a "watch party" zone along Pleasant Avenue where we will require riders who are being overtaken to wait for approximately 10 minutes while the elite field passes through. Those 10 minutes will be enough time to allow the roads leading into Windsor to clear out any riders who might be overtaken, and then we will release you after the pro field passes.

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Riding and racing road bikes is inherently dangerous. Here are some of the main things you need to be aware of in order to participate safely.

  THE ROADS ARE OPEN TO VEHICLE TRAFFIC

Traffic over the first several miles of Levi's GranFondo is controlled to the best of our abilities with the support of California Highway Patrol, and Windsor Police. However the event takes place on an open road, meaning that at any time you can and will encounter vehicle traffic that is not associated with our event. For this reason, you must adhere to a strict center-line rule at all times as you may encounter vehicles trying to pass you or oncoming traffic. The majority of the course takes place in remote areas where traffic is sparse, but not absent.

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  FINISH TECHNICALITIES AND SLOWER RIDERS

The finish of the Growler is considerably technical, as you will be catching slower participants who rode shorter routes and will be finishing ahead of you at the same time. For this reason you must exercise extreme caution in the last 10KM of the race as you overtake much slower riders.

Our fleet of moto marshals will do their best to alert slower riders of your approach so that they may move to the right edge of the road, allowing you to safely pass them. But please consider that these slower riders may not have the technical riding abilities that you do as an elite cyclist.

GIVE THEM SPACE AND PASS THEM WITH CAUTION AND AWARENESS.

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Each route is marked in a different color.

Following the route you've signed up for is straightforward. Each route is marked in different colored arrows. You will see these at all critical turns. Where all routes move or turn together, you will see a generic arrow labeled "ALL ROUTES".

These colors also correspond to banners that will be placed along the start line, indicating where you should line up.

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Staging Area - Where you line up.

Large banners will be hung along McLelland Drive where the ride starts. These banners indicate where you should start to line up based on the route you're signed up for. They will match the color of the route you are supposed to ride.

AID STATIONS

5 of our 6 routes feature aid stations. The only one that does not is the Family route which is short, and does not require an aid station. Aid station standard fare includes fresh fruit, cookies, chips, soda, water, pretzles, M&Ms, and even PB&J sandwiches. You can see where our aid stations are by scrubbing through each of the routes in our Lanterne Rouge map.

SKRATCH LABS

Our good friends at Skratch Labs is going to be on-site at several aid stations supporting the Growler bottle feed. But beyond that they're also providing hydration and nutrition product for all participants across all routes at every aid station.

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GROWLER AID STATION DETAILS:

Along the Growler course we provide 2 self-serve water stations, 1 personal support zone, and 4 full-service aid stations. Self-serve water stations consist of water containers that you must stop at and use to fill your own bottle(s). They are intended for athletes well behind the leaders, and therefore we do not advise a top contender to stop here unless absolutely necessary. Our 4 full service aid stations on the other hand feature a range of support from food, hydration mix, mechanics, and the Growler Bottle Feed Zones. Aid stations are located as follows:

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• ‍29mi: Cazadero (self-serve water)
• 45mi: King Ridge (FULL SUPPORT + BOTTLE FEED)
• 67mi: Skaggs (self-serve water)
• 83mi: Lake Sonoma (FULL SUPPORT + BOTTLE FEED)
  - NOTICE: The Cloverdale Aid Station will no longer be available for Growler competitors, so make sure to top off at Lake Sonoma before the long climbs ahead‍
• 109mi: Geysers (FULL SUPPORT + BOTTLE FEED)
• 123mi: Alexander Valley (FULL SUPPORT + BOTTLE FEED)

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RFID RIDER SCORING

In order to record your finish time and to help you stay on course, we must identify each participant. To do this, we will provide you with two items to wear on yourself and your bike during the event.

BODY PLATE / "BIB"
You will receive a "bib" number plate, which is a flexible material with perforated edges that includes a post-ride meal ticket*. Attach this to the back of your shirt or jersey with the provided safety pins so it can be read from behind. It's easiest to do this before you put your jersey on, but another person can easily help you attach it while you're wearing your jersey, too.

*Redeem your meal ticket after the ride at one of our food vendors at the festival. If you registered as a free U18 or U15 rider, or the Family route, then your bib will not have a meal ticket attached to it, but you may still purchase a meal from any one of our vendors at the festival.

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SEAT POST TAG
We provide a seat-post tag that must be attached to your bike's seat post in the manner that is indicated below. This rigid plastic card includes a sensitive RFID tag that is used to capture your finish time with roadside equipment. You must attach these items as we have described below. If you need assistance, of course, our staff can ensure that your numbers are properly attached.

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Your rider packet will include a seat post tag that includes a sensitive electronic sticker, better known as an RFID tag. It broadcasts a minuscule radio signal whenever it comes near our scoring equipment. But that signal can be blocked if the RFID tag is bent, folded, placed in your pocket, or otherwise applied in a manner other than directed here. Please take a good look at the following images, which illustrate the proper way of attaching your seat post tag to your bike:

Finishing & Time Cuts

Regardless of which route you participate in, you will receive a finish time. However unless you race the Growler, there are no awards or placings for finishing.

Time Cuts:

There are two time cuts...

The first time cut is for everyone. Regardless of which route you are riding, if you have not completed the course within 10 hours (6:00 pm), you will no longer receive on-course neutral support from rest stops or SAG drivers, and will be on your own.

The second time cut is for anyone attempting The Geysers or the Growler routes, and it takes place at 1:45 pm at the turn onto Dutcher Creek Road. If you have not reached this turn within 5.75 hours from the start of the ride, you will be directed to follow the Gran route back to Windsor, having to skip climbing Geysers Road.

Bag Drop & Bike Valet

BAG DROP: We will be offering free and secure Bag Drop on Saturday morning only. There will be no Bag Drop on course (or at the rest stops). Bag Drop will be located INSIDE the Huerta Gymnasium (where you pick up your packet). If you would like to take advantage of the Bag Drop, please have your items in a closed bag, with your name on it. We will tag your bag with your bib number when you drop it off, but the more identification, the better. We will only accept small items (backpack size at the most), so please plan accordingly. You will be able to pick up your bag at the same location, when you return from your ride. All bags must be picked up by 6:00 pm on Saturday (race day).

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BIKE VALET: We will be offering free and secure Bike Valet on both Friday & Saturday, during Packet Pickup hours, and during Festival hours on Saturday. All bikes must be picked up by 6:00 pm on Saturday (race day). You will need your claim tag to pick up your bike, so don't lose it!

Remember, there is no (car) parking on that side of the Windsor Town Green.

Food Vendors & Rider Meal

We're doing something different this year, and we're pretty excited about it.

The Windsor Town Green is surrounded by incredible restaurants. For years, we've imported food trucks to feed you after the ride. This year, we asked ourselves a simple question: Why are we driving food past food?

So instead of bringing it in, we're sending you across the street. We've partnered with four local establishments — Lupe's Diner & Agave Room, Himalayan Restaurant, KC's, and KIN — to prepare your post-ride meal. We're talking burritos, tikka masala, fresh naan, cold cut wraps, chicken pesto — a legitimate spread of options including vegan and vegetarian dishes, all made by people who actually live and work in Windsor.

It's a better meal for you and a better day for the businesses that make this town worth coming back to. That's a trade we'll make every time.

How will it work?

Take your food tag off your rider number bib (you'll be given that at packet pickup), and redeem it at any of the above restaurants. Food will be prepared for you as a takeout order, then just walk right back into the festival at the Town Green. Piece of cake (or whatever you ordered)

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Drink Ticket

On the other side of your detachable meal ticket is your drink ticket. Redeem it for a free beer at the Old Caz booth (you must be over 21 and show proof of age). Beer will be for sale all day during Festival hours, so you're welcome to get a second round with your friends while enjoying the live music, while supporting at-risk youth!

* Family and U18 riders must purchase a meal and beverage separately.

Massage

The massage therapists from Tahoe Yoga & Wellness will offer Post Ride Massage during Festival hours (11:00 am-6:00 pm) on Saturday. Stop by their booth, no pre registration required. 15 min sessions $35. Scan Venmo QR code on site. Cash / CC also accepted.