FIVE Tips for First-time Gran Fondo Riders

1 Ride within your limits. If there are ride options based on average speed, choose conservatively. “Choose a speed under your limit if you have ridden less than 500 km from the beginning of the season,” Luc Couillard suggested. It feels much better to be the quickest in the group than it does to overestimate your ability and hang on for dear life all day – or worse, get left behind.

2 Be careful and make use of safety clinics offered to riders. “Ride safely,” Couillard said. “We all have to go to work on Monday.”

3 Take care of your equipment. “Get your bike tuned up,” Wren said. “The biggest thing keeping new riders from cycling consistently is not having a good working bike. Even that rusty bike in your basement can bring you joy and fitness again with a little love from your local shop.”

4 Enlist a training buddy to keep yourself accountable. “Having a training partner is one of the best ways to stay motivated and enable a healthy lifestyle,” Wren said. “It’s easy to skip a workout on your own, but it’s a lot tougher when you’ve scheduled a workout with someone else.”

5 Enjoy the festive atmosphere at the event. “Don’t miss out,” Couillard said. “Be part of the party all weekend.”