Fall Fondo

8th Annual Fall Fondo

Sunday, October 17, 2021

Are you ready to ride? We know you are! Registration is now open for El Grupo’s major annual fundraising event. You can ride 35, 50, or 75 miles to help us empower youth through bicycles. Following the ride join us at the Clubhouse for great food, drinks, music, and more. We’ll have great raffle prizes this year, too.

UPDATES FOR 10/17/21

Fall Fondo is this Sunday. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!  This is El Grupo’s biggest one-day fundraiser of the year and our most fun too. You are helping to continue our success with positive youth coaching through cycling.

All proceeds from the Fall Fondo benefit El Grupo’s youth development programs. We proudly serve over 140 youth between the ages of 7-18 weekly through bike-centered activities at the Clubhouse and at Manzo Bilingual Elementary School. We help build confidence, personal discipline, and character. Thank you for being part of El Grupo’s success in empowering youth through bicycles!

RIDE DETAILS FOR SUNDAY

Come to enjoy the ride! It’s not a race so make sure to come hungry and thirsty, and ready for a beautiful day on your bike with other supporters of El Grupo Youth Cycling! We are expecting to have great weather from a cool morning to mid-day highs in the 80s. Perfect riding weather.

ARRIVING & PLANNING

The ride begins and ends at the El Grupo Clubhouse at 610 N. 9th Avenue at the NE corner of 9th Avenue and 5th Street. Please enter on the west side of the building – we will start and end the Fall Fondo through this entrance. If driving, please park in designated on-street parking that is NOT MARKED as Permit Only, (we don’t want you to get a ticket) including the front lot of Cirrus Visual off Stone Ave. Or best of all; ride your bike to the start!

We will check you in as early as 6:30 am at the clubhouse to sign a waiver and check your change of clothes bag for after the ride if you choose* as well as get a map and cue sheet. You can then enjoy valet bike parking and have breakfast from Beyond Bread, and peruse the raffle and live auction items available.  More raffle tickets are available for purchase at our afterparty.

*The Fall Fondo is very casual and it is easier to relax and party with fresh clothes instead of your kit. So, check a bag and change when you return.

As in years past, we have a staggered start – see the start times list below. We ask that you plan your route to arrive back at the finish between 11:30 and 12:30 to join the Festa taking place at the El Grupo Clubhouse with a live band! This year we will have food from Bianchi’s Family Restaurant and beer from Dragoon Brewery.

Start times and estimated completion times of the suggested routes:

Long Course – 75 miles 

15 mph average 

5 hours to complete 

7:30 AM Start Time

Short Course – 50 miles

15 mph average

3 hours to complete

8:30 AM Start Time

Fun Course – 35 miles

12 mph average

3 hours to complete

8:30 AM Start Time

Please arrive at least 30 minutes before you ride to register, enjoy the coffee and pastries and see the great raffle prizes and live auction items.  

THE RIDE

Please follow the safe cycling guidelines and all applicable laws while riding.

Friendly volunteers will be available to go over route options at the clubhouse. Please ask questions about our suggested routes if you have them before heading out!

Cue sheets and maps (paper) will be given to you at registration.  Strava files (for bike computers) can be found here.

El Grupo youth team members and coaches will ride along with participants in order to help with the suggested route(s) and any mechanicals (but please come prepared).  We will have mechanics from TREK at the clubhouse for emergency adjustments the morning of the ride.

Our routes are NOT marked and are suggestions for a great route to celebrate the day. Your cue sheet/gpx files will be your guide if you choose to follow the routes we suggest. On the loop, please be conscious of other riders and users.

The volunteers at the sag stops want to feed you with tasty treats!  STOP! And enjoy. Expect to be delighted by the bounty of food and friendliness from volunteers and staff.

BACK AT THE CLUBHOUSE “FESTA”

The Fall Fondo Post-ride Festa (Party) music will start at 11:00 am with official programming starting at noon. Live Auction Prizes beginning around 12:30pm.

If you left a bag of clothes to change into for the afterparty, please retrieve and use our changing rooms located in the clubhouse.

As a participant, you will receive two (2) tokens for your lunch and a drink upon arriving back from your ride. Tokens will be located in your swag bag. Additional tokens are available for purchase.

You will want to bring additional cash/check/charge for purchasing extra food, drink, Grupo logo items, and raffle tickets!

Supporter kits will also be for sale and are similar to our rider’s team kits. We hope you like them!

Please invite your Friends & Family! They are welcome to come enjoy as well. 

Check-in opens at 6:30 a.m. 75-mile riders will depart at 7:30. 50 and 35-mile riders will depart at 8:30 a.m. Registration includes food, drinks, a commemorative t-shirt, sag stops along the routes, and some great swag. Register today!

When you register be sure to click the link in your confirmation email to let us know your t-shirt size. And don’t forget to purchase your El Grupo jersey or kit and extra raffle tickets.

REGISTER NOW!

75 Mile Route (Strava) here

50 Mile Route (Strava) here

35 Mile Route (Strava) here