I’m registered to do the Medio distance for the GranFondo Whistler in September, which means I’ll be joining the ride in Squamish (at about the 65K mark) and be on board for all the climbing between Squamish and Whistler.
I’ve been looking at the elevation profile and wondering how difficult that first 10 kilometres or so after leaving Squamish really is. (The graphic is here – scroll to the end of the page.)
I’ve travelled over the course by car, but that’s not the same as riding it . . . so I thought I’d ask the opinions of those who have actually done the deed.
So tell me: Whaddya think? Any and all information is welcome.
My goal is to have a decent ride and finish without being completely destroyed.
I did the full GranFondo last year. I have ridden from Squamish to Whistler & back several times for training, starting from the Chevron, and always feel like stopping to stretch by the time I reach Alice Lake. Just warm up before the start and you’ll be fine!
For the first 10km or so, I’m pretty sure at least half of it is just the long grinding hill (almost looks flat). There may be one or two shorter, steeper climbs but nothing that’s a big deal. It’ll get your ready for what’s ahead
I’ve never ridden the fondo but I have ridden that route (and drive it almost weekly during the winter months).
While the graphic does indeed look intimidating, note that the max elevation is only 700 meters - that’s not really all that much, especially over 50km (total climbing is ~850m due to two small descents). The most difficult climbs actually come *before *Squamish.
Leaving Squamish there’s a fairly long false flat before the road drops down a bit, pops up a bit, drops down one more time, and then generally trends up towards Whistler. You’re never climbing that hard, or for that long.
Do you live in Vancouver? Have you ever ridden the Horseshoe Bay/Cypress route? If you ride Marine to HSB and then out on the Upper Levels Highway/Cypress up to the XC area that’s a hell of a lot more climbing, and harder climbing as well. The hills along Marine aren’t quite as large as the one’s the long-course folk will encounter at Britannia Beach and Furry Creek, but it’s a pretty decent simulation ride if you want to build some confidence before the fondo. Even just riding Cypress to the 1st lookout will be harder than the climbing you’ll encounter from Squamish to Whistler. You could also ride from Marine Drive up to the gondola at Grouse Mountain if you’d rather stay off the Upper Levels Highway and want to stick to Marine Dr (though honestly, riding Marine through Ambleside/W Van is the most dangerous part of that loop).
Thanks for responding. That’s pretty much how I remember the route from driving over it back in the spring, but it’s good to hear from someone who’s actually ridden it on a bike.
Just curious – in your opinion, what was the hardest part of the ride?
Great information on training routes – thanks so much. I had hoped to do some training over on the North Shore before now, but it hasn’t happened. What I have been doing so far is long rides incorporating hill repeats (for instance, out to UBC, doing repeats of the hills on both 4th Ave and NW Marine Dr). I don’t find either of those hills tremendously challenging, however, and neither comes anywhere near simulating 10 kilometres of steady climbing.
All things considered, I’m glad I’m not in for those climbs at Britannia Beach and Furry Creek. Maybe next year!
That said, I’m really looking forward to riding the Fondo next month.
Just curious – in your opinion, what was the hardest part of the ride?
The wind might be the biggest challenge as it can pound you all day. If that’s the case then the going can be rough from the BOB (big orange bridge) through to where the road crests right before it dips down at the Callaghan turnoff (Whistler Olympic Park). It’s not the hills so much as the constant battle. I rather like climbing into a headwind as the breeze keeps me cool - but I always feel robbed descending into a headwind (that should be a free ride!) and not many people like pushing into the wind on the flats…
If you’re used to going up to Whistler to ski, the distance between Function Junction (the stoplight just outside of town) and Whistler Village proper can be surprising - it’s not quite as close as you might think. It’s also slightly “pumpy”, so if you’re tired by then and thinking that you’re home free it can be a little annoying. The good news is that you really are “almost there”. Once you hit the crest before the Callaghan turnoff that’s the hardest part of the ride done. The road does go up a bit from there but the scenery changes and you can see that you’re close, which is a bit of a mental pickup. It’s ~15min by car - so still an hour or so, but you know that you’re going to make it.
