Frequently Asked Questions

+WHAT IS INCLUDED WITH MY GRAN FONDO ENTRY FEE?

A fully supported ride on some of the most scenic roads on the Bruce Peninsula..

A fully supported ride on some of the most scenic roads on the Bruce Peninsula.
Four Feed Stations along the Route serving home baked goods, fruits and Coffee/Tea.
Two support vehicles out on the course. (medical and support)
One volunteer for every four riders, thats over 100 volunteers!
Bike parking during post-event celebrations.
Complimentary lunch until 5 pm.
NEW Bike Wash Station
Craft beer served at Festival Tent for a small fee.
All riders get a complimentary Artistic T Shirt.Feed Stations
Three professional photographers out on the road capturing photos of all riders, images are made available at no charge.

+WHAT IS THE START TIME FOR RIDES?

The event will start in two waves. - Wave One Starts at 9:30 am for the 115km and 35km distances - Wave Two Starts at 10:00 am for 55km and 80km distances. PLEASE DO NOT LINE UP FOR YOUR RIDE UNTIL 15 MINUTES BEFORE YOUR START TIME.

+WHEN/WHERE CAN I PICK UP MY REGISTRATION PACKAGE?

Saturday, October 5th, 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Sunday, October 6th, 7:00 a.m.- 9:00 a.m. – Lions Head Arena. (4 Tackabury St, Lion's Head, ON N0H 1W0)

**WHEN PICKING UP YOUR PACKAGE, PLEASE BRING YOUR ID to speed up the process. If you are picking up kits for friends, please ensure that you bring an email or communication indicating permission to pick up their kit.

IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY BUSY AT SUNDAY MORNING'S REGISTRATION. **WE ENCOURAGE ALL RIDERS TO PICK UP THEIR RIDE PACKAGE ON THE SATURDAY BEFORE THE RIDE. THAT WAY YOU CAN GUARANTEE YOU WON'T MISS THE START OF YOUR RIDE.

Participants have to be at the registration in person, or they can have a friend pick up for them with an email or communication from the participant giving permission of plate pick up

WHEN PICKING UP YOUR KIT, PLEASE BRING YOUR ID to speed up the process. If you are picking up kits for friends, please ensure that you bring an email or communication indicating permission to pick up their kit.

+WHERE DO I PARK?

Parking is very limited in the Village, and is paid parking. Free parking is available at the Arena, where the registration takes place. It's less than a 5 minute bike ride to the Start Line.

+WHERE CAN I STAY?

The Lion's Head area boasts fantastic accommodations, including many businesses that generously sponsor the event! Learn more about available accommodations here.

+BRUCE TRAIL

Part of the 55 km 80km and 115 km routes follow the Bruce Trail for approximately 900 metres. Riders are not allowed to ride their bikes on the Trail. All riders must dismount and hike a bike this section. If riders do not adhere to this condition the Bruce Trail may revoke our permission to use the trail. This would mean we would no longer have loop course. Please do not ride your bike on the Bruce Trail.

Note: Make sure you have proper footware to hike on the Bruce Trail -- it is rocky and slippery

+EVENT GOES RAIN OR SHINE. BE PREPARED.

Bring a spare tube, patch kit, rain jacket, and gloves. Rain is possible. Helmets are mandatory to ride. While we have rest stations on course with nourishment, and an emergency sag wagon, WE DO NOT GUARANTEE RETRIEVAL OF RIDERS WHO CANNOT COMPLETE THE EVENT FOR ANY REASON. Please ensure that you have planned for support in the event of a physical or mechanical malfunction. Please note there are also cut off times throughout the course. Riders should be confident that they can finish the 115km, 80km and 55km in 6 hours or the 35km in 3 hours.

+WHEN WILL THE COURSE BE MARKED?

The course will be marked the morning of the ride, we encourage you to print up the course maps from our website. https://www.brucegravelfondo.com/maps
You can also download these maps to your cycle computer
35km https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37517392 55km https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37517418 80km https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37341023 115km https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38919811

+WHAT IS A GRAN FONDO?

A Gran Fondo is a type of long-distance road cycling ride originating in Italy in 1970, and roughly translates into English as "Big Ride". A Gravel Gran Fondo is a long-distance gravel cycling ride.

+WHAT KIND OF BIKE CAN I RIDE?

A gravel ride can be ridden on a mountain bike, hybrid bike, and a new fangled Gravel Bike. Road bikes are not suitable for a gravel ride.

+CAN I RIDE AN EBIKE?

Pedal Assist bikes are permitted as long as it is a class one bike that relies on pedalling to move forward and does not have a throttle.

+HOW FAR WILL I HAVE TO RIDE?

The Gravel Fondo will have four ride lengths: 115km, 80km, 56km and 34km, a length for every fitness level.

+IS THIS A RACE?

This event is not a race, it is a tour of rural roads up the Bruce Peninsula. The course will not be timed, so relax and enjoy the beuty of the Bruce!

+WHAT IS THE COST OF ENTRY?

Online registration closes on Friday, September 1st at 5 pm, EST. Registration does not include HST and Zone4 Admin Fees

115km ($130.00)80km ($120.00)56km ($110.00)34km ($90.00)

+Our Cause - the Protecting the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere

All funds raised by the Fondo will go to the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association (a charitable non-profit organization) to undertake environmental projects on the Bruce. Check out https://www.bpba.ca/ for more information.

+CAN I SWITCH MY ENTRY TO A DIFFERENT DISTANCE (EG. 80km to 56km)?

You can change your distance from a longer distance to a shorter distance at no extra charge. This can be done right up until event weekend by contacting us at the 2024 Bruce Peninsula Gravel Gran Fondo Package Pick-Up. You can also change your distance from a shorter distance to a longer distance at the cost of the difference in registration price between the two distances. This can be done right up until event weekend by contacting us at the Gran Fondo package pick-up desk on October 6th.

+CAN I PICK-UP A FRIEND’S RIDE PACKAGE?

Participants have to be at the registration in person, or they can have a friend pick up for them with an email or communication from the participant giving permission of plate pick up

+I AM UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR’S EVENT, CAN I GET A REFUND?

We understand that plans change, or health Issues arrise. You can cancel your registration for a $25 admin fee up to Sept 30th, 2024

+CAN I TRANSFER MY REGISTRATION TO ANOTHER RIDER?

Transfers can be made up to September 6, 2024 (one month before the event). After that, we do not allow transfers.

+WHAT IS THE MINIMUM RIDER AGE FOR REGISTRATION?

A rider aged between 14 and 18 years of age is considered a youth rider. Rider age is the age of the rider on the day of the event . Riders under 14 are not eligible to enter. All youth riders must have: the consent of a parent or guardian; some experience of group riding; a solid understanding of road riding safety and etiquette;their waiver signed by parent/guardian at Package Pick-Up; and present proof of age and photo ID at Package Pick-Up.

+WHAT’S THE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS?

You may pick up your rider package at the Lions Head Arena Saturday Oct 5th between 4:00 pm - 7 pm. and on Sunday, October 6th at the Lions Head Arena between 7-8:30 am. We encourage all riders to pick up thier registration package on the Saturday before the ride.

NOTE TIMINGS AND LOCATION SUBJECT TO CHANGE, PLESE CHECK BACK TO THIS SITE REGULARLY.