TKC Gran Fondo

The Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation's Rock Island Ramble has become the Tour of Kansas City Gran Fondo, Saturday, June 21st, 2014.  Same great ride, same great routes, same great support, same great cause--now all kicked up a notch to make a premier road ride experience.

The Gran Fondo course explores the beautiful rolling rural roads along the Rock Island Railroad corridor. 

Tour of Kansas City Gran Fondo

Kansas City's first Gran Fondo ride features an amazing, challenging, fast, timed ride on the beautiful rural roads along the historic Rock Island Railroad route through eastern Jackson County and northern Cass County.

What is a Fondo?  It's just a step up above your ordinary ride: A challenging ride that combines the best elements of epic recreational rides and scenic touring rides with the color and flash of a great road race.

Ever envisioned yourself riding a stage of the Tour de France or Tour of Missouri, rolling across the countryside with your teammates, crossing the finish line before a cheering crowd, seeing your finish time flash on the screen?

That's the Gran Fondo experience--the thrill of riding a Grand Tour stage, now open to anyone.

Fondos attract the entire gamut of cyclists--from touring cyclists to long-distance aficionados to serious racers and roadies, to those who just enjoy a 15 mile Saturday jaunt.  It attracts riders who are interested in the scenery, food and support that is a step above the ordinary, friendly competition and working for a personal best--or just enjoying the scenery with friends. And, of course, relaxing with same great food, beer, and parties afterwards while enjoying the Tour of Kansas City races.

Fondos have become among the largest and most popular rides in Europe, and more recently in America, because they bring together all types of cyclists to enjoy single, amazing, common experience on a ride.  And by all type of cyclists, we mean, literally all: From hard core-racers to distance enthusiasts to fitness buffs to those who enjoy a pleasant ride in the countryside with friends.  

And all ability levels: From those just starting out who want just a taste of a challenge, perhaps completing their first 15-mile cross-country ride, to those who want to set a personal best on a 50, 70, or 100 mile route.

We're bringing the experience you might have riding a Gran Fondo or Cyclosportive in New York, Las Vegas, Napa, Golden, or Santa Rosa--or in Italy, France, the United Kingdom, or Australia--right here to Kansas City. 

Routes range from the Mini Fondo at just 15 miles to the Gran Fondo at 100 miles. 

Gran Fondos combine the best of epic recreation rides and beautiful, scenic cyclo-touring routes with the color and flash of a great road race.

All routes are chip timed--both the entire ride and also certain time trial or "King of the Mountain" segments.  But remember: It's a ride, not a race.  Timing is for fun and to encourage you to do your personal best, not to compete against others.

TKC Gran Fondo: Saturday, June 21st, 2014, 7:30am, New Longview, Lee's Summit. Pre-register here. Find out more about the ride here.

What is the Tour of Kansas City?

Tour of KC is a three-day cycling festival celebrating health and wellness in Kansas City while promoting the culture of cycling with opportunities for every level of bicycle enthusiast from the novice to the fastest professional cyclists.  Cyclists will want to participate in weekend rides, including the region's first Gran Fondo. Families will want to be part of the action by participating in the Kids Bike Races and joining the Block Parties. Spectators and participants will enjoy a weekend full of fun, fast racing, and the KC Real Ale Craft Beer Fest in historic New Longview.

The Tour of Kansas City rides are a partnership of the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation, the New Longview Foundation, and the Kansas City Metro Bicycle Club.

• Register for the TKC Gran Fondo and/or the TKC Fun Ride by February 15th and save up to $70
• Find out more about 2014 Tour of Kansas City--including a full weekends of rides, races, parties, and beer and ale fests