Gran Fondo ("Big Ride" in Italy) are long distance, mass-participation cycling events, not races, that have become a cycling tradition in Italy. This was San Diego's first and was represented by one of Italy's premiere bike maker, Ernesto Colnago. The route took us through the mountainous, desert terrain of southeastern San Diego County-very challenging, but scenic.
Riders (over 1,000) gather at the break of dawn where else but in
Little Italy to jockey for the best starting position, meet up with friends, or listen to the wake up music of Frank Sinatra?
Team Colnago waving the Green, White, and Red of Italy to signal the start of the ride.
"Arrivederci!" 
The lead out was done by the local Ferrari and Ducati Clubs.
One of the rest stops was at the USA Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. I got to do a bike lift on the podium.
There were timing chips issued to all riders to compete for "King of the Mountain" (KOM) over the Honey Springs Pass, 35 miles into the ride. It took me 1 hour:1 minute, 30 minutes behind the fastest climber. My average speed was 6.6 MPH. I watched my heart rate carefully, trying to keep it around 150 bpm because of the heat and also because I knew there were 60 more miles to go with more hills to come.
The Honey Springs climb was 1840 feet over 6.8 miles with an average grade of 5%.
Google Earth view as we snake through Jamul.
Secret to climbing hills: Granny Gear, keep the heart rate manageable, BREATHE-inhaling through your nose, avoid the death grip on your handlebar, keep fueled up, patience, enjoy the scenery. Pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal - get the picture?
I've never seen so many riders walking up the hill climbs or just sitting on the roadside under a shady tree trying to recover. Some just decided to turn around, head back downhill, and abandon the ride. A very tempting alternative at the time.
See the "top", well that's really not the top, there's more.
No, I didn't fall, just lying on the ground hyperventilating so I got the camera out and snapped a picture.
Yes, I survived, and at the end of the Gran Fondo Ernesto Colnago, founder of
Colnago Bicycles, gave out
Prosecco to the faster riders-no, not me. I think he's not smiling because he knows I ride a Trek.
This was a very exhausting ride because of the long Honey Springs Climb in 108 degree heat. Total ascent was 5,280 feet which meant there were some great descents, maximum speed over 44 MPH. It took me 8 hours at an average speed of 13 MPH, burning 7,000 Calories.
Here is my Polar readout with Heart Rate, Cadence, Speed, Elevation, and Power.
The Mt Rushmore Loop is an uphill/downhill ride featuring the Rushmore Monument, Iron Mountain Road, Norbeck Lookout, town of Keystone, and an optional loop through Hill City and the Prairie Berry Winery.
We start our day with what Jim calls a little bit of micromanagement. A map meeting, general ride strategy, meeting spots, picture spots, eating spots (most important), and the tough hill climbs where we can jump in the van-just in case. At this point my mind becomes foggy and wonders. I just want to get on the road and ride.
Right from the start we get a mile of climbing. It's too early for this. My mind is still foggy.
Just leaving Palmer Gulch, I spot my first deer, looking surprised seeing my two-wheeled machine.
A Kodak moment and a short rest. Climbing at 5,500 feet takes some getting used to.
A final short 4-5% climb as Hwy 244 snakes through the Black Hills into the Rushmore area.
On strict instructions from Jim, we pull off the road and stop. Surrounded by trees and rock formation, we make a slow 360 clockwise turn and smile as we spot Washington's profile.
We spend a few hours exploring the Memorial, taking megabytes of pictures, viewing exhibits, watching movies, and enjoying breakfast under the watch of George, Tom, Ted, and honest Abe. It's hard to imagine that 90% of the granite heads were carved with dynamite!
"The purpose of the memorial is to communicate the founding, expansion, preservation, and unification of the United States with colossal statues of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt." Gutzon Borglum - sculptor
Leaving the Rushmore Memorial, we enjoy a nice descent along the Iron Mountain Road, part of US Route 16A built to tour the scenic Black Hills. Ponderosa logs were used to build the "Pigtail" bridges that spiral and double back over the roadway.
Iron Mountain Road is also known for its one-lane tunnels carved into the mountainside. If you look through the tunnels they all frame Mt. Rushmore in the distance.
After lunch. and a short thunderstorm, we cycle out of Keystone, trying to keep pace with the 1880 TRAIN. As we climb the Old City Road back to Hill City, we cross the railroad tracks 17 times.
The final 9 miles to Hill City is a gradual 1-3% climb, but the scenery and wildlife make the time pass very quickly.
Why did the turkey cross the street?
After 35 miles and 3,500 ft of climbing we share stories, enjoy buffalo meatballs (Yum-O), and anticipate a grilled salmon gourmet dinner prepared by our chef, Glenna Books. Oh, and Key Lime Pie to cap off a perfect day.
