Route highlights include the long rip down Highway 1 along the Pacific coast.
Lately, I’ve been in a bit of a road bike funk. I haven’t done a proper road ride since the Motherlode Century back in May. The summer has been consumed with riding dirt, and really, I have not been missing the pavement all that much. I needed a shot in the arm of some choice asphalt, and I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about Levi Leipheimer’s King Ridge GranFondo. So I figured it was worth shaving my legs and slapping some 25c road tires on the cyclocross bike to see what all the hubbub was about.
Held the first Saturday in October, and starting and finishing in Santa Rosa, California, Levi’s GranFondo attracts a remarkable 7,000 riders of all skill levels, experience and fitness. There are so many people, in fact, that it takes nearly 45 minutes to get all the riders past the start banner and onto the course. Riders can choose from three distances: the 32-mile piccolo, a 65-mile medio and the gran route, which covers 103 miles and climbs in excess of 9,000 feet.
Clearly all the haters of Leipheimer and his past sports doping transgressions aren’t hurting interest in this event, mainly because this event isn’t about him. It’s about a vibrant Northern California community that wants to promote its amazing cycling terrain while benefiting a number of worthy causes.
According to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, in 2013 Levi’s GranFondo infused over $3 million into the local economy and raised $277,000 for local nonprofit organizations, including its No. 1 beneficiary Forget Me Not Farm, a working farm for at-risk children and abandoned animals.
Bike Monkey, the local organization tasked with running such an enormous undertaking, also does an incredible job making the event seem smaller and simpler than it is. Timing and scoring 7,000 riders is no small feat, and the Bike Monkey folks pull it off every year as if its just another one of their grassroots mountain bike events out at Annadel State Park.
The front of the giant field is mellow at first, but things quickly hot up when the climbing begins.
Getting to stage at the very front of the field was a relief, as it enabled me to stay out of traffic and trouble early on. The pace out of town was surprisingly tame, and I was struck by how many spectators were on course cheering and taking pictures. It felt as if I was a rider in the opening stage of the Tour of California. We had the whole road at our disposal, which was quite nice considering how narrow the road got at times and how many people there were chomping at the bit to get their five seconds of fame at the front.
The only near-miss moment of the day was about 10 miles in when the world’s fastest dentist, Roger Bartels and I were having a conversation. The banter was quickly interrupted by the cringing sound of rubbing wheels and squealing brakes. Roger, the consummate bike handler, managed to keep matters upright, but only just. Definitely a deep breath kind of moment that thankfully didn’t happen again the rest of the day.
Once we hit the first climb in Occidental, the fitness monsters said sayonara, and I settled into a comfortable pace. My goal was to stay at the front until the first climb, then just enjoy the ride from there. Everything was going exactly as planned. Over the top, I jumped into a group including a couple hammers north of 50 years old and Allie Tetrick, the eventual winner of the women’s GranFondo category.
It was a perfect sun splashed day for a bike ride.
Although our group was completely disorganized, surging and waning every time we tried to get a nice tight rotating paceline going, we still managed to catch the lead group right before the first pitch up to the famed King Ridge. Again, this is where I came off. I simply lacked the motivation – and fitness – to try and fight on the climbs, so I cruised it and took in the absolutely stunning scenery.
King Ridge Road lives up to all the hype. It truly is beautiful, a rolling, bucolic road that winds its way through deep redwood forests and treeless, grassy ridge tops with views for miles. For my money, it really is one of the most beautiful roads in the country.
After getting dropped in convincing fashion, I rolled into the King Ridge rest stop at mile 40 to refuel. Much to my surprise, Leipheimer and a couple of my NorCal buddies were just hanging out. I thought that since this ride has his name on it, he’d be up front dictating the pace. Instead, the former pro racer hung back and enjoyed the day, continually thanking volunteers for helping out.
Since I had never ridden the King Ridge route before, having the NorCal crew in front of me on the steep and fast 18-degree descent off the ridge was a luxury. They warned me of some really sketchy corners and torn up patches of asphalt I otherwise would have probably blown straight through. Descending to the ocean around perfectly banked switchbacks on Highway 1 with Leipheimer leading our group was a moment I’ll never forget.
For those who like a little adventure, there was an off-road option.
But the biggest highlight of the day for me was the Willow Creek dirt option. Several people insisted I do it, so I broke from the crew who stuck to the road and started pedaling the 10-mile section of dirt by myself. Willow Creek was nothing short of amazing. For me, it was by far the best part of the event.
With the exception of a couple steep but short pitches, the climb was gradual enough that you could enjoy every moment, taking in the towering redwoods and the sharp, minty smell of California bay leaf trees. It was also nice to have solitude for a while, not seeing a soul for miles. It was just the bike, the forest and me.
On the move through the forest.
The only bummer was the water bottle that someone carelessly dumped on the trail halfway up the climb. A small wrapper or other piece of garbage that might sneak out of your pocket unknown is one thing, but an entire water bottle is inexcusable. That day my water bottle ejected from my bike twice, both times on a downhill at nearly 40 mph. I stopped and picked it up both times. I also picked up the littered bottle, put it in my jersey and carried it to the next rest stop.
Please don’t litter.
In a stroke of perfect timing, the NorCal crew and I rejoined on the pavement at nearly the exact same time. We hit the final rest stop in Occidental and then rolled casually back into Santa Rosa more than 20 strong. It was the perfect way to end a great day on the bike. Scratch that, taking a swig of Max Plaxton’s $3,000 bottle of Patron tequila he won for being Duke of Dirt was the perfect way to end a great day on the bike.
Max Plaxton and his reward for a hard day in the saddle.
Some of my friends don’t get why they would pay more than $100 to ride roads that they can ride for free. But there are a couple reasons why I’d recommend signing up for Levi’s GranFondo. At least for this event, most importantly, the money is going to benefit a number of charities and cycling development programs like the NorCal High School Cycling League.
A second reason is because when you have 7,000 cyclists on the road, on that particular day, bikes own the road. There’s no worrying about distracted drivers edging you off an embankment. Some of the roads have full closure to cars, so you can safely apex an inside corner without worry.
Pinned up and ready to ride.
For those who like eating as much as riding, with your registration fee comes a number of well-stocked aid stations along the route about every 20 miles, enabling you to ride without food stuffed jersey pockets. And for guys like me who are done racing USA Cycling sanctioned events, if you stage towards the front and can hang with the lead group, it’s the closest you’ll ever get to doing a world-class road race where there are throngs of cheering fans, motos with cameramen, and support cars zooming past you.
There was one moment on King Ridge when I was descending like a banshee, attempting to close a gap. I came barreling upon the SRAM support car, the road was super narrow and there was only about three feet between the car and a giant redwood tree. I threaded the needle at more than 40 mph. It felt amazing. It was a brief glimpse inside the world that a professional cyclist lives every day.
The road less traveled option was perfect for the author’s dirt’centric cycling tastes.
Even if that’s not your thing, Levi’s GranFondo has something for anyone who loves to ride bikes, including little treats like mud puddles on the Willow Creek dirt option. The ride definitely got me out of my road bike funk. Although I still prefer the dirt, riding road can be quite enjoyable, especially if you can do it in a place such as Santa Rosa.
For more information, check out levisgranfondo.com.
Levi's GranFondo
Levi's GranFondo
