Announcements – Page 8 – Alpine Loop Gran Fondo // Harrisonburg, Virginia

Ridge Supply at 2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo

Ridge Supply will bring their stoke for cycling to the 2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo.

Ridge Supply has partnered with the event to create a custom version of the classic Alpine sock designed to complement the 2018 event jersey. The socks feature a high-vis, asymmetric color scheme. They will be awarded to the Cancer Journeys King and Queen of the Mountain contest 5-year age group winners, and available for purchase along with a full selection of Ridge Supply cycling apparel. You can visit the Ridge Supply booth at packet pickup and the Finish Line Festival.

Ridge Supply founder, Matt Hawkins, will join in the event – taking on the challenge of the Alpine Loop route.

Post-Ride Massage and Sound Healing

Post-Ride Massage and Sound Healing with Connie Magee, Sacred Valley Healing Arts

At the 2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo Finish Line Festival, Connie Magee and other therapists of Sacred Valley Healing Arts will offer on-site sports massage, joint mobilization, deep tissue massage, as well as Sound Healing.

Connie is an experienced LMT, yoga & meditation teacher, former massage school instructor, Advanced Wilderness EMT and outdoor guide. Connie’s diverse background allows her to intuit the needs of athletes and offer deeply effective therapeutic work in condensed timeframes. Connie’s work is unique and fluidly integrative.

Group Sound Healing Attunement: Drop in and experience the profound effects of sound healing with Gongs, Tibetan singing bowls, drums and chimes. The vibrations will relax you, synchronize your brainwaves and dissolve lactic acid and joint accumulations, as well as facilitate deep sleep that night. Bring a yoga mat, blanket or towel to get comfortable.

Massage: $20 for 15 minutes, $40 for 30 minutes. Longer sessions available if time slots allow.
Sound Healing Attunement: Drop-in at the tent (1PM and 3PM): $5 per person suggested.

2018 Gran Fondo Training Weekend

NEW for 2018 – this road cycling weekend will help ready riders for the Alpine Loop, Shenandoah Mountain Adventure and Shenandoah Mountain Century routes of the 2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo.

Taking place over two days, the training weekend will include training-based strategies, onsite clinic-style instruction, and on-course training rides to help attain your best performance at the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo. Topics will include performance, training, nutrition, course-specific instruction, equipment and setup.

On both days of the training weekend, Jeremiah Bishop will lead rides with assistance from other Harrisonburg-based professional cycling guides. The rides will be fully supported with cycling snacks, a variety of sports drinks and water, fruit, and sag vehicles.

This training weekend is a great opportunity for you to get a glimpse of some steeps climbs and/or dirt roads of the 2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo, including two of the timed. KOM segments. It’s timed to provide a great training boost in preparation for the Gran Fondo. If you can’t participate in the Gran Fondo, this training weekend will be a great adventure in and of itself!

The Details

Participants should come prepared for the rides with their bicycle in great working order. Both days, all riders should bring at least two water bottles, and carry at least one spare tube, CO2 cartridge or preferably a pump, multi-tool and identification. Cycling equipment should be suitable for the conditions – On Sunday, Alpine Loop riders will encounter steep un-paved roads; Shenandoah Mountain Century and Shenandoah Mountain Adventure riders will stay on entirely paved surfaces. All riders should be prepared for changing weather conditions – spare clothing and rain gear can be stowed in the SAG vehicles.

On Saturday, all riders will complete a 36-mile route that includes the first 10 and final 18 miles of the Alpine Loop, Shenandoah Mountain Century and Shenandoah Mountain Adventure courses of the 2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo, including the Mole Hill KOM segment where we are sure to have some fun. Alpine Loop riders will see a stretch of unpaved road where Jeremiah Bishop will give additional instruction on gravel riding. Following the training ride, Jeremiah will lead the entire group in a training-based discussion; covering fitness, performance, nutrition, equipment and setup, and allowing a good amount of time for individual and group-specific questions.

On Sunday, riders who are training for the Alpine Loop should be prepared to ride 81 miles with 7,000+ feet of climbing – including unpaved steep surfaces. Exact route will be e-mailed prior to the ride.

On Sunday, riders who are training for the Shenandoah Mountain Adventure and Shenandoah Mountain Century should be prepared for a 61-mile ride with 6,000-feet of climbing on paved mountain climbs. Route will include the climb up Shenandoah Mountain’s Moyers Gap Road from the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo. Exact route will be e-mailed prior to the ride.

On Sunday, after a warmup through the Valley, the ride will make its way up some great mountain roads. The first climb will treat participants to spectacular scenery. We will divide into two groups which will be based on participants’ desired ride length; and ultimate training goals: the Alpine Loop, Shenandoah Mountain Century or Shenandoah Mountain Adventure. Throughout the ride, you’ll have access to full support from SAG vehicles and enjoy the guidance and expertise of local cycling pro’s and seasoned Alpine guides. At the ride’s completion, you’ll be treated to a late afternoon meal, relax, recover and enjoy discussing training tips and preparation for the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo with Jeremiah and other professional cyclists.

Full details of the training weekend, including start location, route maps with GPS files will be e-mailed to registrants in a follow-up message approximately one week before the ride, or by August 23 if you register within one week of the training weekend.

Ride snacks and hydration will be provided both days. Sunday’s post-ride entrée and other foods are also included with registration. A variety of fresh fruits, veggies, chips, hummus, desserts and drinks will be offered.

2018 Host Hotel

Now open in the heart of Harrisonburg, the new Hotel Madison and Shenandoah Valley Conference Center will serve as the host hotel for the 2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo.

Gran Fondo participants will be invited to take advantage of very special pricing being offered by Hotel Madison just for the occasion:
Deluxe Double Queen Rooms: $159/night Friday/Saturday, $118 Sunday
Deluxe King Rooms: $169/night Friday/Saturday, $128 Sunday
(The rates offered to Alpine Loop Gran Fondo guests are reduced from regular the $229/night average fall weekend rate.)

Guests can book directly by following this link, using the Group Code SALGF18928, or calling the hotel and mentioning the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo group name. Guests who will stay beyond the dates of September 29 – October 1 are encouraged to call to book directly.

Hotel Madison features a blend a sophisticated style and relaxing comfort. Featuring rooms with mountain and downtown views, a farm-to-table restaurant, and a location that can’t be beat, Hotel Madison will be the perfect lodging selection for those coming to Harrisonburg to enjoy the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo. The hotel offers an upscale experience, rustic elegance, and the convenience to access the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo like never before – including some special event activities that will be hosted within the hotel’s adjacent conference center ballroom.

Alpine Loop Gran Fondo event director Erin Bishop says she has looked forward to the partnership with Hotel Madison for many years. “Having an upscale hotel, which can accommodate a large number of our event participants as guests, right here in the heart of Harrisonburg is going to add to the authenticity and experience of the Gran Fondo for those who are traveling to the area for the adventure,” she says. “The event is an extension of our family and what we love; we invite people here to share in the Gran Fondo and to get a taste of what Harrisonburg and our cycling community are really like.”

From Hotel Madison, Bishop says “cyclists will be able to roll right out of the front doors and onto Main Street just a couple of blocks away from the Gran Fondo’s start/finish venue. I think Hotel Madison will be especially loved by our participants’ family members and other guests,” she adds. “Our family often travels to cycling events, and it is always delightful to stay in location that is both comfortable and conveniently located. Hotel Madison is just a stroll away from the event, and this year I think we will see an increase in the number of families who choose to make a weekend adventure out of the Gran Fondo,” she says. “It’s great to be able to make these meaningful connections to our community.”

The 2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo is September 30. For more information, visit www.AlpineLoopGranFondo.com

2018 Jersey Design Unveiled

We are breaking the mold with a highly stlyin’ high-vis cycling jersey custom designed in collaboration with Cutaway for the 2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo.

In this bright bold graphic design, you’ll be seen from afar with road-side shoulder and jersey back completed in high-vis. Jersey front evokes Shenandoah Mountain and the climbs of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo.

Jerseys feature three elastic rear pockets, mesh side panels, full zip. Club Cut. See sizing guide prior to purchase. 2018 event jerseys are available for purchase with event registration or as a unique transaction, both at BikeReg.com/GranFondo. Order by August 2 to guarantee your jersey. Jerseys will be ready for pickup at the Gran Fondo event sign-in.

UPDATE: Our 2018 edition event jersey is our most popular collaboration with Cutaway USA yet! If your size has already sold out on the registration page, you can take advantage of a new opportunity to order one, linked below. Do you want to complete one of the challenging routes of the Gran Fondo before you order your jersey? That’s ok, too! We are accepting orders now through October 12, at www.BikeReg.com/Jersey

Welcome Back, Porsche!

We are happy to extend a warm “Welcome back!” to Porsche, Flow Automotive, and Porsche of Charlottesville as a returning partner of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo. You can expect many exciting opportunities at the 2018 Gran Fondo – thanks to Porsche, Flow Automotive, and Porsche of Charlottesville!

General Manager Porsche of Charlottesville, values the partnership. “Occasionally in the automotive industry, an opportunity arises to create a partnership in which all members share the same values, energy and excitement,” he says. “Porsche of Charlottesville and Flow Automotive are thrilled to have such a partnership opportunity and have committed to sponsoring Jeremiah Bishop’s Alpine Loop Gran Fondo.”

“We look forward to supporting this premier cycling event,” he says. “It is our hope that in addition to providing support, we will meet both cyclists and volunteers, encourage participation, and showcase some of our Porsche luxury automobiles while helping enhance both the event and fundraising.”

Porsche of Charlottesville will have an amazing presence at the 2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo and Cycling Capital Celebration, about which he says, “we look forward to meeting and celebrating with you all!”

Porsche is proud to support the Cancer Journeys Foundation King and Queen of the Mountains Competition, offering Porsche merchandise prizes for top-3 overall male and female winners among the mountain routes.

You can experience what Porsche has to offer when you attend registration and packet pick on Saturday, September 29, at Brothers Craft Brewing brewery and taproom, and the Cycling Celebration dinner at Hotel Madison; and on Sunday September 30, at the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo cycling event. See you there!

Brothers Craft Brewing Joins 2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo

Harrisonburg, Virginia-based craft brewery Brothers Craft Brewing is teaming up with the 2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo cycling event for an exciting partnership with a charitable mission.

On September 30, 2018, the cycling event will feature the Brothers Craft Brewing Beer Garden to benefit the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition.

After completing 36, 62, 78, 100, or 108-mile bicycle rides, participants can enjoy a selection of the brewery’s craft beers including the expertly crafted BCB favorites Lil’ Hellion, Admiral, and Drift. The BCB Beer Garden will offer a selection of other seasonal and specialty brews, perfectly timed for the start of Oktoberfest!

Brothers Craft Brewing was founded by the three Shifflett siblings, who “used their collective experience to execute a singular vision: brew exciting, unique craft beers that emphasize and support their community.”

This community connection is at the heart of the partnership with the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo. Every BCB beer sold at the event will directly support the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition in the group’s efforts to create and promote a center of safe, sustainable and enjoyable cycling in Harrisonburg and the surrounding Shenandoah Valley.

Brothers Craft Brewing beers will be featured throughout the season at the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo, the Cycling Celebration dinner event, training rides, volunteer thank-you party and a special “Cask for a Cause” event to benefit the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition.

Next time you’re in Harrisonburg, visit the brewery and taproom. Be sure to tell ’em Jeremiah and Erin sent you!

We look forward to sharing a cycling adventure and raising a glass with you.

Cheers!

For more information about the Brothers Craft Brewing Beer Garden at the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo, see “The Finish Line Festival” guide.

Alpine Loop Route Announcement

The Alpine Loop – Going Back to its Roots

In 2018 and beyond, the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo will see its namesake route, the Alpine Loop, return to it’s original path up and over Shenandoah Mountain on Reddish Knob Road from Sugar Grove, West Virginia. The course adjustment will remove Forest Road 85, otherwise known as the Dark Side Climb, from the route after five years of use. Organizers cite degrading conditions on the Forest Road and a desire to respond to participant feedback as the primary motivator for the change. Anticipating higher interest in the changed route, the field limit of the event has been increased.

Alpine Loop Kristy-348 — In 2018, cyclists taking on the Alpine Loop will see the route return to Reddish Knob Road – an 8-mile serpentine climb that presents a spectacular challenge.

“When we first started the Gran Fondo in 2011, the Alpine Loop climbed back into Virginia on Reddish Knob Road – which at the time was an unpaved state-maintained road,” explains event director Erin Bishop. “Eventually that road was paved; and with the intention of preserving the allure of the experience of riding an unpaved mountain climb, we looked at the map and chose to reroute the Alpine Loop route to include Forest Road 85.”

Five years later, the forest road has experienced significant weathering and degradation. “It’s arrived at the point where the road’s condition is no longer a reasonable challenge to present to road cyclists while expecting them to have an outstandingly positive experience,” says Bishop.

For those cyclists who come for the challenge of steep unpaved mountain climbs, Bishop says not to worry. “We’ve always intended the event to be a challenging one, and that isn’t going to change with this revision. The climb up Fultz Gap is just as mean as ever.” There, cyclists will encounter 14-percent grades on a gritty dirt road, leading to the Alpine Loop’s iconic mountain top meadow.

1E9A0099 — Cyclists attempting the Alpine Loop route will be tested by the classic challenge of Fultz Gap – an unpaved climb serving up the course’s steepest pitches at 14 percent grades.

Jeremiah Bishop says, “I personally am excited to get back to the classic route! It will mean less flats, and just as much dirt, with the same amount of climbing.”

The adjustment will see the introduction of a new timing segment added to all three of the event’s mountain routes.

Returning the Alpine Loop to its original route will bring the Gran Fondo back to its roots, says Bishop. “I really look forward to sharing this route, focusing on the camaraderie of the event, and seeing the excitement of a new challenge inspire our riders.” Based on her conversations with participants, Bishop says, “I’m confident that the time is right and that we’re going to have an amazing adventure.”

Registration Opens Feb. 1

Registration for the 2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo opens Thursday, February 1 at 10 a.m. at BikeReg.com/GranFondo.

This year, the event is offering 50 Early Bird Entries. When all of the Early Bird Entries have been claimed – and they will fly fast – the next 100 registrants can take advantage of other discounts before standard registration goes into effect.

The event is capped. Previous editions of the event have filled in advance. Hopeful participants are encouraged to register early.

2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo Announced

Mark your calendar to share in this Virginia cycling tradition.

Organizers of Jeremiah Bishop’s Alpine Loop Gran Fondo have announced the 2018 edition of the event will take place September 30, in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Registration for the event will open on BikeReg.com on February 1, 2018 at 10 a.m. The previous editions of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo have sold out in advance. Participants are encouraged to register early.

Hosted by professional cyclist Jeremiah Bishop, the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo has become a Virginia cycling tradition, featuring five outstanding cycling routes and an unmatched after-party.

Bishop nicknamed his favorite training route after the glorious mountain top meadows, winding climbs and hillside farms reminiscent of the Austrian, German and Swiss settings where he has competed. This magnificent scenery is the backdrop for the most challenging and adventurous Gran Fondo in the United States – now in its seventh year. The namesake route begins in Harrisonburg, Virginia and covers 108 miles featuring 11,500 feet of climbing.
In addition to the 108-Mile Alpine Loop, there are options that encourage and challenge cyclists of all abilities to join in the Gran Fondo. At 103, 78, 62, and 36 miles, these courses showcase the idyllic scenery that make Harrisonburg “The Cycling Capital” and Rockingham County famed riding destinations.

The event serves a charitable mission to support the Prostate Cancer Awareness Project, Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, Build Our Park, and a variety of other local organizations and initiatives.

For more information, visit www.AlpineLoopGranFondo.com.