Good luck everyone! I'll be suffering up Cypress in support, probably swearing away about all the roads that are blocked off. Hah. But hats off to everyone participating who barely started riding this season. Some big improvements!!!
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What a beast, just over 30km/h avg speed so far through the predominantly uphill segment

Thanks guys. I finished in 4 hrs 5 minutes and placed 435

My goal was 3 hrs 50 mins, top 300.

Maybe next year. I'm very happy with my result!
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^ Wow! Great job man.

You're a bad ass! Congrats to everyone who's finished! These sandals feel awesome!
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Congratulations!!! Hats off to you guys.

The cold towels were awesome!

i wanted to wipe areas that the sun dont shine

Leaving last pit stop now =(

6:13 moving time 8:18 elapsed time. Embarrassing times but I'm happy I can say I finished. But they ran out of medals fml
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^Hey at least you're out there!!

4:37 official time, 932nd place. Pace 27.5

Congrats to everyone for finishing! its a huge achievement and we all should be proud! :D

Oh btw bib #4997 on a unicycle made it 104kms I'm not sure if he finished tho

But hats off to that badass. He's here in Olympic plaza I think he just arrived
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How many people were registered?

4:22, btw was anyone in the 4:30 time section? After squamish i had to sprint to catch up to the next time segment?

I think around 5000

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Wow. What a day yesterday! I'm so glad that Tyndall Stone Lodge has an ourdoor hot tub and pool. After the ride yesterday I spent about 1.5 hrs going back and forth between hot and cold pool. I feel pretty good today.

I must have eaten like 8000 calories after the ride. 2 pulled pork burgers, 6 stinger waffles, bananas, thai salad, purebread chocolate brownie, 3 pieces of pizza, 6 beers, and some other snacks in between.


The ride yesterday was challenging, especially riding in such a huge group. Although the front pack was filled with strong experienced riders, everyone was very aggressive and lots of close calls. The pack would compress and expand like an accordion after each fast descent, which cased a lot of emergency braking.

For next year I'm hoping to be able to keep up with the strong groups while climbing. I was able to bridge gaps, jump from group to group, and work with the groups on the flats, descents, and some of the smaller climbs. But I lost a LOT of time in the last 20 km's... All of the people I passed in the first 100 kms starting to pass me in the last 20kms.

And carrying 3 water bottles is vital. I ran out of water 15 km's out from the finish, and that was the toughest part for me. My right calf started to cramp so I'd pedal with the left, then the left would cramp, and i'd pedal with the right... Was brutal!

Holy shit, are you serious on a unicycle? Thats crazy

I had the same thing! i thought i was gonna fall off my bike at that last 100m because it felt like my calves were getting stabbed lol.

Haha. Yea man that's the worst feeling ever. Being so close but feeling like you can't make it! Lol

I hope everyone gets a finishers photo. I wish I did something cooler than looking like I was gonna die...
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^ Haha... So I can assume there was no one on the side handing out water? lol

Well the fondo was set up great. There were 5 official stops along the way where you could get fluids and nutrition (if u pull in and stop). I did see some volunteers handing out food on the side of the road as well but I can't recall if they handed out bottles of water

But my leg cramps were my fault for not stopping lol. Fellow riders offered water though
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A big kudos to all of you who completed the Gran Fondo this year! :)

There were really only 3900 riders, plus about 150 medio riders. No where close to the 5000 as hoped.
As for water, yeah there was water and Ultima (Electrolyte drink) at every rest stop. There were even volunteers on the side of the road with jugs of water ready to fill up your water bottles. There were also peanut butter balls, muffins, Honey Stinger Waffles, Honey Stinger chews, oranges, bananas, etc... How do I know? I spent way too much time in each of them! lol..
All in all, a well organized event! Food/beer line up could have been a bit shorter, but to be expected, since friends & family were allowed in there.
I heard today that there was one guy in involved in a solo crash and is in critical condition. Hopefully he'll be alright. Also, coming back today, there was a major accident on Hwy 99 involving a couple of motorcycles. That delayed us somewhat, might have been faster to just ride back like many other riders.
Great job everyone!

not quick as most of you guys but its my longest, toughest ride in my life
Bike Ride Profile | Morning Ride near Canada | Times and Records | Strava

The Fondo Whistler was my most grueling ride to-date. No event/ride/adventure have I pushed myself as hard. Ever.

Would I do it again. Definitely.

I came way under my goal of 5 hours. And now I know the course... I'm hopefully going to get an even better time next year!

Thanks to all the volunteers and the participants for making this happen. .

Bike Ride Profile | RBC GrandFondo Whistler near Vancouver | Times and Records | Strava

This ride has been the longest, most climbing, toughest, most fun, most unique ride i've done so far. Forget the climbing and the toughest of the course, i really enjoyed riding with so many enthusiast, all the rest stops, volunteers, people cheering you on along the way, and of course the sea to sky itself and the scenery, its such an amazing experience. I've previously questioned paying almost 300 just to ride my bike, but now that i've done it, its totally worth it, its just a very unique experience in a total package. hopefully next year i can better prep myself and start training early and not just do cypress twice the two weeks leading up to it. but all in all im happy to be part of it and also accomplish it.

Bike Ride Profile | 2013 RBC Granfondo near Vancouver | Times and Records | Strava

not sure if this works but here is a link to my facebook album for the fondo if anyone has nothing better to do =p

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=d082928904