Tag: New Jersey

Take On an Event Mixed with Race Elements at New Jersey’s Highland Gran Fondo

Image By Rob Wingate from Unsplash.com

Are you going to be around the New York area this summer? Or are you looking for an epic ride to kick off the new season? Then the Highland Gran Fondo might be a ride in which you want to participate.

All About the Highland Gran Fondo

The event takes place every year as part of the Suarez Gran Fondo National Series. It includes several gran fondo events, culminating in the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships on September 15th. Cyclists compete to be the best gran fondo rider in their age category.

The Highland Gran Fondo covers terrain and roads in Butler, New Jersey, 35 minutes from New York City. The ride is open to all levels of riders. Registration begins early in the year and occurs up to the day of the event.

The Highland Gran Fondo is primarily a recreational/ event ride and not specifically a race. However, it does have the race element of timed segments. Your overall ride time and collected time for the timed segments are considered for your ranking at the end of the event, but only the timed segments really count.

Registration and Pricing for the Event

Registration Chart for HIghland Gran Fondo

Registration begins in January and continues up to the day of the event in June. There are three courses from which cyclists can choose to ride. The Gran Route is 100 miles, the Medio Route is 60 miles, and the Piccolo Route is 35 miles. The Piccolo Route is $55.00 less than the Gran and Medio routes.

What’s Included in Your Registration

It seems event rides get more expensive every year and have a high level of participation. For the expense of registering for the Highland Gran Fondo, you actually are getting a lot more than a free jersey or t-shirt and food and beer at the end of the event. Here’s all that’s included for this event.

  • Traffic control
  • Event jersey included with registrations 26 days out.
  • Fully stocked aid stations with energy product and food
  • Four timed sections (requires over $100,000 in timing equipment)
  • Post-race food, beverage, and entertainment
  • Goody-bag with various schwag items
  • Finisher award for all Gran and Medio Route Finishers
  • Awards for age-group placement
  • Chance to win prizes for placement
  • Chance to win raffle prizes
  • Mechanical support
  • The enjoyment of riding one of the finest cycling routes you’ve ever ridden

Course Terrain of the Highlands

Image By Cyrielle Fuchs from Unsplash.com

1,343 miles make up the terrain and roads of the Highland area. Cyclists can expect to encounter rolling farmland, hilly ridges, and winding roads. The event traverses three counties and two states.

Altogether, cyclists will be challenged with 8,000 feet of climbing. During the ride, riders reach the highest point in New Jersey. If cyclists choose the Gran Route, they will pass over the Appalachian Trail eight times.

Bike Rental Option

Image By Ronny Coste from Unsplash.com

How often have you wanted to participate in an event ride but felt your bike wasn’t muscular enough to take on the terrain, or even that you didn’t have a road bike to ride. Well, the organizers of the Highland Gran Fondo have got you covered.

The event organizers have partnered with Unlimited Biking so you can rent a bike, helmet, lock, etc. Rentals start at $40 and go up from there for any type of bike you might need or want. The company even has e-bikes.

Prizes After A Hard, Challenging Ride

The Highland Gran Fondo is a well-sponsored event. Sponsors not only help in organizing the event but also award over $5,000 in prizes. Some of the prizes are given out for just signing up for the event. Other prizes are part of a raffle for which all participating cyclists are eligible. Here is a possible list of awards given out.

These prizes are, of course, in addition to an after-party where participants can have some food and beer.

Last Thoughts

If you are looking to challenge yourself by signing up for a significant event, then the Highland Gran Fondo may be the one for you. You’ll ride some challenging terrain with 8,000 feet of climbing. You’ll even get to cycle to the highest point in New Jersey, and then participate in an after-ride raffle for $5,000 in prizes.

It sounds like a fun time. And with its close proximity to New York City, you can take in the sights and sounds of the big city before or after the event. It seems to me this event and the elements around it make it a perfect early summer escape. Plus, you’ll learn the ins and outs of what it’s like to ride a gran fondo.