What is Solo Fondo Maryland?

A Solo Fondo is a Gran Fondo you complete on your own any time within a specific date range and on an official course. For years we’ve worked with RidewithGPS.com to provide riders with downloadable routes and turn-by-turn directions, and with assistance from Ride with GPS, we can now post the timing results of your ride on any of our Maryland routes on the leaderboard for Overall and Age Group competitions.

Riders do not need to start and finish from any exact location, you can conveniently merge onto the route (no need to go to the start/finish.). We expect riders to be following their chosen route by the time they get to Hamburg Rd and the start of Time Section #1. Riders are expected to ride about 90% of their route and complete all time segments that count in the distance they are riding.

On September 19 and 20, the Piccolo, Medio, and Gran routes of Gran Fondo Maryland will be marked, and athletes who register for Solo Fondo Maryland, ride a route, and upload their ride file to RidewithGPS.com will have their official results added to the leaderboards and be eligible for competition awards as well as raffle prizes described below.

Maps for Solo Fondo Maryland are different from Gran Fondo maps and include DIY water, food, and resource locations. Links to join the Solo Fondo event is provided to riders after registering.

Athletes are encouraged to maintain social distancing on course, avoid congregating in large groups, wear masks where social distancing is not possible, and follow all local and state health guidelines. For clarity, we expect group sizes to be no greater then 10 people, but recommend limiting groups to 5 riders.

What About the Driveway Challenge for Maryland?

The Driveway Challenge is not a competition, it is a goal-oriented ride you can complete anywhere (just sign up and go ride your bike from anywhere). The Driveway Challenges will be tracked through RidewithGPS.com and open to those who cannot, or wish not to, travel to Maryland and ride the actual routes. The Maryland Driveway Challenges will offer various options that can be completed from your driveway (or any other starting point). Goal options based on distance or based on elevation gain are offered for each route: Gran, Medio, and Piccolo.

Riders must complete their selected challenge goal the weekend of September 19 and 20, and upload their ride file to RidewithGPS.com to have their official results recorded and be eligible to win raffle prizes described below.

Athletes are encouraged to maintain social distancing when riding, avoid congregating in large groups, wear masks where social distancing is not possible, and follow all local and state health guidelines.

How do I sign up for Solo Fondo Maryland and or the Driveway Challenge?

To register: (If you are already registered for Gran Fondo Maryland, you have automatically been registered for Solo Fondo Maryland/ Driveway Challenge at no charge and will receive an email in the coming days with details about the event ) for anyone not already registered for Gran Fondo Maryland, follow these steps:

  1. Register via BikeReg.com (By including your address we can ship you any applicable prizes and/or awards. Note: for your convenience you can add a link to your social media post at any time.)

  2. You will receive a confirmation email that contains RSVP links to Ride with GPS. To participate in Solo Fondo Maryland or a Driveway Challenge, you must click a link and sign in to Ride with GPS or create a free Ride with GPS account. (The auto-RSVP approval link will give you access to premium app features during your ride, this as well as a link to the maps will be e-mailed to you upon registering).

  3. Ride your event route, navigating by Ride with GPS  or your own GPS device on September 19 or 20, 2020.

  4. Save your ride using the Ride with GPS app or upload your ride file using your GPS device to have your times scored. Rides must be saved or uploaded to Ride with GPS to be counted.

Will the route be marked?

Yes, all Solo Fondo Maryland routes will be marked on September 19-20, including time sections, with orange spray chalk.

How much does it cost?

Fee is $20 to register.

 
 

Are there Awards and Swag?

You bet!

  • Riders must have ride data uploaded to Ride with GPS by midnight on Monday September 21st. Results will be finalized on Tuesday September 22nd and awards, prizes and swag will be sent by September 31, 2020.

  • Overall Winner, Male and Female. The first placed male and female riders will be awarded a Free One-Year Ride with GPS Premium Membership.

  • Age Group Winners, Male and Female. In every GFNS age group and distance, the first placed male and female riders as of will receive a GFNS Winner’s Medal by mail.

  • Top 3 Age Group Finishers, Male and Female. In every GFNS age group and distance, the top three placed male and female will receive Swiftwick socks or an engraved cycling multitool as a special gift from our friends from Volvo Neutral Race Support.

  • Swag Bag for all Solo Fondo and Drive way Challenge Participants. All riders who complete a Solo Fondo Maryland & Driveway Challenge will receive the following, by USPS mail:

    • Event t-shirt

    • BonkBreaker Nutrition products

    • Hammer Nutrition products

    • Additional products from GFNS partners

  • Raffle Prizes. All riders who complete a Solo Fondo Maryland route and upload their files - regardless of pace or performance - will be entered into a raffle for prizes that include:

    • Stay for two at the Garda Bike Hotel in Lake Garda, Italy

    • Wahoo Kickr Snap Trainer

    • ENO Hammock

    • Industry Nine Hubset

    • CaneCreek eeBrakes

    • Shimano S-Phyre Shoes

    • Lazer Century Helmet

    • Others to come…

  • Social Media Prize from Swiftwick. Post a photo, video, or update about your Solo Fondo ride to your favorite social media app and tag both @Swiftwick and @granfondoGFNS and we’ll send you a pair of Swiftwick socks. To make sure we don’t miss your post, add a link to your post in your registration (we’ll e-mail you a link to edit.)

 

RESULTS

Results are not instant and will be imported every few hours.

Result not showing up? Reminder that you need to RSVP (click here) and set your ride to public.

Question about your result? E-mail jason.calderon@granfondoseries.com