On Wednesday, June 29, Marty’s Reliable Cycle will hold a registration event for the first Gran Fondo bike ride to come to the Garden State.
The festivities will be focused around Morristown, August 26-28, 2011 and riders will be raising money for three charities: The Seeing Eye, Inc., Homeless Solutions, Inc., and Grow it Green Morristown. To welcome registrants and recruit riders, supporters and volunteers, Marty’s Reliable Cycle will hold a meet and greet event at the bike shop’s Morristown location at 173 Speedwell Ave. on Wednesday, June 29, at 6:30 p.m.
Seeing Eye President and CEO Jim Kutsch and his wife Ginger, both Seeing Eye® dog owners, are pairing with a sighted husband and wife team, Rob Steidlitz and Kirsten Hotchkiss, to ride tandem bikes in the event. To kick-off event registration and raise awareness for the riders who are cycling for a cause, the Kutschs and their captains will cycle to the June 29 event at the Marty’s store on Speedwell Avenue.
Gran Fondo means “big ride” or “big endurance” in Italian. There are three routes – the 103-mile Gran Fondo, the 63-mile Medio Fondo and the 43-mile Piccolo Fondo. The ride —not a race— also will feature timed hill climbs with all the carnival-like atmosphere of European tour mountain climbs. Each climb will have a King of the Mountain and Queen of the Mountain, and there will be overall King and Queen of the Mountain awards as well.
Gran Fondo NJ will be just like the Gran Fondo rides of Europe, only with the unique and scenic roads and great refreshments of the Garden State. Rest stops along each route will be stocked not only with local foods but also cycling specific energy drinks and food to keep riders going. Each rest stop will feature its own entertainment and activities. And on Saturday, Aug. 27, there will be family-friendly activities at Pioneer Plaza in downtown Morristown, including children’s bicycle decorating and a fun ride.
For more information about the Gran Fondo event, visit granfondonj.com.
Established in 1929, The Seeing Eye provides specially bred and trained dogs to guide people who are blind. Seeing Eye dog users experience greatly enhanced mobility and independence, allowing them to retain their active lifestyles despite blindness. The Seeing Eye is a philanthropy supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, bequests, and other planned gifts.
Read the article from NJ.com
Morristown FYI 