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Detroit Gran Fondo - Moving Ahead?

The orginal sponsor of the proposed Gran Fondo Detroit, the Woodward Avenue Action Association pulled out due to objection from Royal Oak city.

However, Jon Hughes, owner of Ferndale Bike Shop has jumped on his racing bike to push forward with the event.

Gran Fondo means "Big Ride" in Italian and the new format of cycling event has caught on in major cities throughout the US since 2009, with events like Levi's Gran Fondo and the Gran Fondo San Diego.

The Gran Fondo orginally planned to have a full featured professional race from Detroit to Pontiac and back and a non-competitive Gran Fondo event. This was the idea of Jon's father, Dale Hughes and long time race organiser and track designer.

The Michigan department of transport endorsed the origina idea, however it ran into trouble with the city of Royal Oak over safety fears.

It's unclear if these fear's were due the whole event or ether professional of non-competitive Gran Fondo event planned.

The proposed Gran Fondo was to be around 54 miles and hoped to attract 2,000 cyclists.

"We’re still planning to do a ride on that date,” Jon added, “We’re going to set it up where we go to all the bike shops that are along the Woordward corridor.”

"The details are still being worked out, he said, but there will be a small entry fee ($10 or $15) and participants will get a T-shirt or cinch bag along with giveaways at each location. It will be held at 8 a.m. on June 30, starting at the Detroit RiverWalk."

 

 

 
Tag: detroit
 
Feb 06 2013 - NEWS: Detroit Gran Fondo - Moving Ahead?