Gran Fondo

The Minnesota Gran Fondo

Welcome to the 2nd annual Minnesota Gran Fondo. We welcome all individuals, teams and clubs of ALL ABILITIES to join us for this event. It’s fun. It’s a challenge. It’s not a race. It’s the Minnesota Ironman kicked up a notch. It’s the Minnesota Gran Fondo.

2012 Ride Results

Check your 2012 MGF times here: http://www.mtecresults.com/race/show/748

See “Other Races” menu for 50 mile and other options. NOTE: These are unofficial results until we can sort out some discrepancies. If you notice anything wrong with your time, cannot find your time, or changed your route distance and it’s not reflected here – please get ahold of us! ride@ironmanbikeride.org

Ride Schedule

Ride Date: SUNDAY May 6, 2012
Ride Start/Finish: Lakeville North High School
100 Mile Ride Start: 7:15am
50 Mile Ride Start: 7:15am

ALL MGF RIDERS: On ride morning please go to the MGF TENT OUTSIDE Lakeville North High School. Stop by the MGF Tent to: 1) Pick-up your MGF Route Map, 2) Pick-up your Wrist Band for the Di Lusso Deli Bar inside the school after the ride, 3) Finally, if you want to change your MGF distance to 50 or 100, we need to record this before you ride.

YOUR MGF TIMING CHIP IS BEING MAILED TO YOU: You are receiving your MGF Timing Chip and Mounting Instructions (follow them). The timing tag registers your time across the start and finish lines.

How To Mount Your Timing Tag

DIRECTIONS: Mount the MGF Timing Tag with the included zip ties as shown below. The ideal spot is behind your seat or in the middle of your front frame triangle. Alternately, you can mount it on the handlebars, or anywhere you have a secure, open spot.

WHAT NOT TO DO: Do NOT mount the tag directly against your bike frame. The RFID tag will NOT read when you cross the timing mat if your tag is mounted directly on the metal frame. Example: Do not mount it directly against the front fork. That would be a bad idea.

MGF Start Times

• 100 MILE Gran Fondo Riders start at 7:15 am

• 50 MILE Gran Fondo Riders start at 7:15 am

We are starting everyone out together this year. You can start later but not before the lead out. Just be sure to cross the start line to activate your timing chip. The mass start is optional. Your time will register whenever you cross the start line on ride morning. Upon completing your route, you must cross the finish line in front of Lakeville High School. Your total elapsed time will be registered online.

RIDE LEAD OUT: The MGF will depart the high school parking lot to the EAST onto Dodd Road. There will be an official MGF lead out with a police escort to the Lakeville City Limits. Once the lead out is finished, Gran Fondo riders will continue on the Ironman route on open roads with vehicle traffic and regular Minnesota Ironman cyclists. All cyclists must obey traffic laws and respect their fellow cyclists on the road.

MGF NOT A RACE: First and foremost – the Minnesota Gran Fondo is not a race. It’s a timed, recreational ride. Please obey all traffic laws and signs. The course is held on open roads, with vehicle traffic and other cyclists. Please be careful.

MGF TIMING & RESULTS: Riders are timed from the moment they cross the start line to the moment they cross the finish line. Riders are ranked according to total elapsed time (“chip time”). Therefore, it’s conceivable that someone who crosses the finish line later in the day than you could still place ahead of you in the rankings, due to a shorter total elapsed time. We will also post a “gun time” with our results, starting with the first person to actually cross the finish line.

RIDE RESULTS WILL BE POSTED ONLINE: All Minnesota Gran Fondo riders will be timed and ranked according to their age group. • Under 20, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

MGF Results will be posted online 24 hours after the ride. Please check for the web link on our web site: www.ironmanbikeride.org. The results will also be found on our timing company web site here: http://www.mtecresults.com/ NOTE: Results are unofficial until we can confirm that all riders rode their official route distance (for example, 100 mile riders who spontaneously decide while on the course to ride the 50 mile route).

After The Ride

Di Lusso Deli / Cub Foods will be serving a sandwich bar inside the school when you finish the Gran Fondo. In addition, go to our registration area inside the school to pick up your Gran Fondo Tech T-Shirt (FREE with registration). If you ordered additional merchandise this gets picked up inside the school as well. Relax. Take a shower in the locker rooms if you want. Get a message. Check out our Expo vendors. Call it a day. A great day we hope

Routes

For 2012 we are offering a 100 mile route (same as the MIBR route) and a 50 mile route (new!).

The 100 mile route is our signature century ride. With enough hills to keep it interesting and plenty of wide open spaces where riders can put their heads down and crank out the miles, the route leaves Lakeville North HS heading west to Jordan, then turns south to LeSueur, Montgomery, Lonsdale and back to Lakeville North HS. The route includes 4 indoor rest stops where riders can take a break and refuel.

The 50 mile route is a Gran Fondo only route with 1 rest stop at Lonsdale. Same start as the 100 mile route, then branches off for Lonsdale and returns to Lakeville along with the 68 and 100 mile routes.

//////////// Download a PDF of the 100/68/50 Mile Route Map here //////////////

Pricing

~~$70 January 1-Feb 15 midnight~~
~~$75 Feb 16-Apr 25 5pm~~

MGF Team Registration

We are offering all teams a registration discount for the Minnesota Gran Fondo. What makes a team? Any group of 8 or more riders qualifies as a Team. Individual team riders can choose either route to ride – regardless of what the rest of the team is riding. Yehaw!

~~Cost per rider for MGF Teams: $70; Jan 1-Apr 25.~~
Teams must be 8 or more riders
Team Registration is available ONLINE ONLY
See Registration page for more Team details

What’s with the registration fee? The registration fees offset all of the extra overhead we incur in producing the MGF: the extra police/sheriff support, the fees to the city of Lakeville, the timing chip company, extra SAG wagons, etc.

MGF registrants will get a free synthetic t-shirt with their entry – and we are looking into a few other perks as well.

What the heck is a Gran Fondo?

A Gran Fondo (translated from Italian, meaning “Grand Ride”) is a timed cycling event - a classic, mass participation cycling event for all ages and abilities. Gran Fondos are popular rides in Europe, and gaining momentum here in the US. It’s not a race, per se, but it gives riders the opportunity to formally time themselves, to gauge their fitness level, and to add excitement to their ride.

The MGF is an event within an event. Therefore riders will be mixed (Gran Fondo and Ironman riders) out on the 100 mile route and for the first part of the 50 mile route. You will know MGF riders by the timing plate on their bicycles, and by their pedal-pushing, time-saving demeanor.

How is this different from the MIBR? In some ways the Gran Fondo is like a marathon for cyclists. There will be an official start/finish line, and a mass start (complete with lead out cars and police escort). Each cyclist will be given a timing plate to attach to their bike, which will register their time across the starting line and across the finish line at the end of the day. Your total elapsed time will be registered online shortly after you cross the finish line. Riders will be ranked according to total elapsed time, NOT your place at the finish line.