I signed up yesterday. Sounds really fun (especially when combined with the following week's Zofingen).

The only thing holding me back is the Mother's Day thing.
Though my wife gave me permission, I'm not sure there won't be a price to pay.

I was given permission as well, however there was an un-spoken price which was "to be determined at a later date"

ahh "TBD" doesn't often work out well for the man in the house ;)

I'm looking at a solo weekned in Boston for the Harpoon B2B in June. Registation hasn't taken place yet.
I'm afraid if I sign up for the Fondo first, she'll reneg on B2B permission slip. Can she do that?

YES - up till the event is paid for.

I really want to do it.

but it is Mother's day.

and I am a single mom.

Even more reason to go...who knows after 106 miles, maybe you won't be single :)!!

I am seriously considering this... I was waiting eagerly for registration to open up all summer when I first heard of it. Since though, I have had some reservations.
I know this is sortive lame, but I am really worried some over eager fool will take me out and ruin my IM in July. I used to do a lot of Central and Prospect Park races, and there was always some asshat Cat5 baller taking out entire swaths of gorgeous carbon bikes because he couldn't hold his line in a pack.

Sure, you can get injured doing almost anything. Every training ride is a risk... but after a missed season due to a SUV breaking my hip in an accident, and two torn rotator cuffs from a separate accident(epilepsy), I'm playing it safe this season.

Here, here! ;)

Any questions, please let me know!

Cheers

Uli

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Yo, I'm in. In fact, I am looking to kick off my IM season by training for this event. The course is challenging and picturesque - - I have been riding it during my IM 2010 season and it has made me so much stronger on the bike. Yo Uli, when do we get to preview the jersey design?

Yo Michael, yo. Le jersey will be ready for a sneak peek next week.
I see the weather is still crap in NYC. We're debating to delay our return for a few weeks.

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Just wanted to share the latest with you because I received a few private messages.



GFNY has joined the new UCI Amateur World Championship series. GFNY now is a qualifying event for the 2011 World Champs in Belgium (second weekend of September). The final will be held on the iconic climbs of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege spring classic (La Doyenne). There will also be an Individual Time Trial two days before the road race.

The top 10% of every AG at GFNY qualifies for the road race and the time trial.
The racing at GFNY will be limited to four timed climbs which together count towards the competition.
Riders need no license. GFNY provides athlete insurance through USA Cycling.

Let me know if you have further questions. Our website will be updated later today. A designated UCI website will go live next week.

Thanks!

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when do we see the jersey?

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So you changed the shorts?
Nice kit.

Giordana is selling the kit and it's their call. They played it safe with less green.
There will be a special jersey in green or white for sale (most likely white). The black is for the race only.

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Uli, Where are the timed climbs? I can't get the link to the timed climbs to work.

Thanks.

What browser are you using? Works fine over here.

Here's another source:

http://ilpassista.blogspot.com/...rk-course-check.html

Number four is flipside of Rocciosa.

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Microsoft Explorer. This link isn't working for me:
http://granfondony.com/course_timed_climbs.php

I'm on Chrome and just tried IE7 and it works. Are you on an old browser maybe?

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So I have done my share of bashing of these Grand Fondo's, but I have to admit the more I hear about this NY event the more interested I get.

1. The kit is pretty good looking.
2. The timed climbs are cool (I love racing hill climbs)
3. It's cheaper than one of those 70.3 races, and the jersey is easily worth a third of the entry cost.
4. The prize list is pretty sweet. A new Pinarello for the KoM and QoM.
5. I am sure the men's race will attract some decent talent for a prize like that (It would be worth it for a US based domestic pro).
6. Based on getting some real talent in the race, it will be fun to be able to benchmark your time against the top riders. There usually aren't that many opportunities to compare your bike results across categories.

So the competitive part of the event is climbing focused. Anyone know of any teams forming? I think I would be interested if I could get hooked up with the right team. PM me if anyone has any leads (and I can provide my "climbing resume" so you can decide if I am worthy;) Any mountain goats want to put together a ST team?

There will be an interesting strategy for team vs. individual top honors and just the team race in general. If you wanted to win the KoM, it would certainly help to have a good team. However, if you want to win as a team, you don't want to drop people too early on the climbs (as you expect a leader to do if he was going for individual glory). Maybe you hedge and try to keep the team together for 60-70% of the climb and then go for glory. Assuming Bear Mountain is the biggest climb (10 - 12 minutes), these won't be too hard, Bear Mountain is typically climbed 4 times in the spring and Fall road races. Also since everyone has the same kit and there are tons of riders, you would have no idea during the event what teams were racing and who was on them (which wheels do you want to try to stick with).

Looks like lots of fun.

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"When I first had the opportunity to compete in triathlon, it was the chicks and their skimpy race clothing that drew me in. Everyone was so welcoming and the lifestyle so obviously narcissistic. I fed off of that vain energy. To me it is what the sport is all about."

Awesome.
I suggest you go on our FB page and open a discussion in addition (http://www.facebook.com/granfondony).
As a fellow ST'er, I think an ST team would be very, very cool. There is some talent travelling across the ocean though so you bet it will be fun and games.

Bring it on!

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I'm getting more and more excited for this event. Glad I signed up.

Thanks Jon!

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