Betsy’s Blog Corner

At the start of the Gran Fondo National Series Asheville, I line up next to a few teenagers in aquamarine “Hub Youth Cycling” kits. One girl tells me they’ve driven five hours from Nashville. She’s curious and chatty, while the boys are goofing around behind us.

Gran fondos are funny, people always say, “it’s not technically a race, but most people race it.” This one definitely had a competitive flavor: four timed segments, nearly 17 miles in total, on a 90-mile course with 8,000 feet of climbing. That very much appealed to me. I like pushing myself, but also soaking in the scenery. Maybe this is the format I’ve been waiting for.

The first segment at mile 9 is “lumpy”, short climbs and rollers. I wasn’t in a group when it started, but I relished the terrain, especially on my Teammachine SLR 01. My Colorado-trained legs and lungs were feeling good, and the bike responded instantly. Even while pushing, I noticed the wildflowers along the road, proof that going hard can still feel effortless.

In Marshall, at mile 25, I stopped for coffee and a guava empanada. That’s the beauty of a fondo: no penalty for enjoying yourself. Still, I couldn’t ride the Teammachine SLR 01 slowly if I tried. Soon after, the second timed section, “the wall”, arrived. The last mile pitched to 15 percent, the hardest of the day. I was glad to crest it and rip the descent.

Rain arrived for the third segment, short but brutally steep. I pushed through, alternating in and out of the saddle, then descended cautiously on wet, gravel-strewn roads. By the time the sun returned, I was smiling again.

The final timed stretch ran flat along the French Broad River. I tucked behind a local rider who set the pace, then gave one last effort as the road pitched up. The Teammachine SLR 01 accelerated beneath me and in no time we were through. Chips and peanut M&Ms at the last aid station never tasted so good.

The ride still had a sting in the tail: Sunset Drive. It added the missing 1,500 feet of climbing, and though it felt masochistic at that point, it was beautiful. This bike is made to climb, even on tired legs.

We finished back at Asheville Yards, where I spotted the Hub Youth Cycling kids, now laughing over food. One of them waved, and I waved back, sweaty, tired, but happy. 

With a North Carolina pale ale in hand, I thought: gran fondo is exactly the format I’ve been waiting for.