As we initially helped promote entry and training rides for back in April, the Foco Fondo was held yesterday (July 25) for the first time since 2019, due to the pandemic last year.
The Foco Fondo is a daring gravel cycling adventure that starts and finishes at New Belgium Brewing. Attracting competitors from around the country, it features a 107-mile, Bite the Bullet open category for cash, prizes and a bolo tie. There is also a 50-mile rolling route, as well as more family-friendly 12 or 25-mile routes. After the ride, participants and the general public enjoy the Fondo’s Festival full of food trucks, vendors, bike-demos, live music, and activities for the kids.
In addition to having a few participants this year, BFC staffed a table/tent at Festival and an aid station at mile #89 of the 107-mile course, as well as provided ride leaders for the 12-mle family ride. Our Safe Routes to School (SRTS) instructors who are also certified League Cycling Instructors (LCI) were right at home leading parents and kids out to the River Bend Ponds Natural Area and back. We received very favorable event/rider feedback that the enthusiasm and festiveness at our aid station was felt, spurring on competitors for those final 18-miles of the race. And our festival volunteers handed out BFC swag and took attendees through our Legal or Not Quiz, while also supporting with kids’ activities (such as bike helmet decorating and more) going on at a SRTS tent right next door.
We were proud to assist as we did, as we are especially grateful to the event organizers, Whitney and Zack Allison along with major sponsor, Scheels for donating a portion of proceeds to support after-school and summer SRTS programming.
