What’s a Gran Fondo?

Don’t know what a gran fondo is? It’s really pretty simple.

A gran fondo is an epic bike ride.And your next opportunity to take part in the awesomeness is Oct. 15 with the Star City Gran Fondo, that’s happening as part of the Roanoke GO Outside Festival, Oct. 14-16 at River’s Edge.

A gran fondo is a road bicycle race that has some distance involved. With options of 28 (piccolo), 66 (medio), or 100 (gran) miles, there’s something for almost every skill level in the Roanoke event.

Riders must complete the entire timed course, however, their time for the event is based on cumulative time through a number of segments, or portions of the course. (All timing is done through a chip.)

There are prizes for the top finishers and even the slowest riders can win with raffles just for registering.

The Gran Fondo is being put on by Blue Ridge New Generations, a chapter of Rotary International. Proceeds from the event will benefit nonprofit organizations in the region.

Star City Gran Fondo

• When: Oct. 15, 9 a.m.
• Where: Starts at Dr Pepper Park
• Register: Online