A Gran Fondo is a “big ride” in Italian that includes a timed race, scenic routes, sustained climbs, and days of festivities for cycling pros and newbies. Thousands of cyclists start the race en masse and enjoy hours of cycling across a beautiful landscape. 

Gran Fondos began in the 1970s in Cesenatico Italy. They were such a hit that they spread across Europe and to the USA where over 200 Gran Fondos are hosted each year. 

There’s no distance requirement for a Gran Fondo. In Italy, the birthplace of the Gran Fondo, the events are 120 km or about 75 miles long. Most Fondos give you the option of a few distances. Gran Fondo Hincapie hosts 15, 50, and 80-mile rides. The 15-miler is a family-friendly ride, and the longer rides are for cyclists who’ve trained for the event. 

A Gran Fondo is not a competition, at least not between other cyclists. You’ll be timed, but mostly to prove to yourself how all of your hard work has paid off. The event has an energetic, exciting, and inclusive atmosphere where cyclists of all skill levels ride. Of course, if you want to compete for a certain time or with your group of friends, you’re welcome to. But competition is not the emphasis of the event. 

When training for a Gran Fondo your goals should include building endurance and power, and your workouts should include a mix of climbing intervals, tempo rides, acceleration, downhills, and recovery. As you train, you should slowly increase the duration and intensity of your workouts. Longer rides are important for gaining endurance. Finding a cycling buddy or joining a club helps the miles fly by. We recommend training 3-6 days a week for 8-28 weeks depending on your current cycling experience. 

Other than your bike, cycling kit, and shoes, bring something to carry water in as you ride and wear a stash of energy bars or gels to limit your refuel stops if time is important to you. Also carry your phone, keys, and ID. And pack bike maintenance tools, like tire levers, a spare tube, inflator, etc., in case of unexpected emergencies. 

Wear what weather calls for, and be sure to check the weather the day before the event in case you need to make a few tweaks to your kit. You’ll be in the saddle for a long time, so wear shorts with a good chamois and sun protection. Your kit should include excellent moisture-wicking fabrics because you’re guaranteed to work up a sweat. If rain is questionable, pack a light shell in the pocket of your jersey to slip on if needed. Wear a jersey with pockets for snacks or extra layers. 

If your cycling kit needs an update, be sure to check out our men’s or women’s cycling apparel.