Greater Arizona Bicycling Association and Ten55 Brewing Company have come together to host the second Tucson Gran Fondo on Saturday, March 7.
Much like the original Gran Fondo — or “Big Ride” — originating in Italy back in 1970 and now hosted worldwide, the Tucson Gran Fondo was created to bring cyclists and the local community together, to celebrate the sport and to showcase the re-birth of downtown.
The Tucson Gran Fondo Big Ride
Whether you’re looking for a casual ride or a lengthy trek that’ll make your legs feel like jelly, there’s a ride for you.
All routes are non-competitive and give you a glimpse of Tucson’s beauty, so take a peek at the maps and choose your adventure wisely.
Tucson Gran Fondo Routes
- 76 mile “Longo” – ride begins at 8 a.m.
- 62 mile “Medio/Metric Century” – ride begins at 8:30 a.m.
- 31 mile “Corto” – ride begins at 9 a.m.
- 11 mile “Piccolo” (fun ride) – ride begins at 9:30 a.m.
Be sure to register before the big day and it’s $115 per rider or $95 if you’re a Greater Arizona Bicycling Association members.
Tucson Gran Fondo After Party
Here’s the best part: all the beer, delicious, and live music you can handle at the finish line.
The after party will be near the brewery on Scott Ave., between Congress and Broadway, from noon – 6 p.m. During the celebration, each rider will get a Gran Fondo t-shirt, three tokens for Ten55 Brewing’s beer and food, and one raffle ticket for Ten55 Brewing merchandise.
In addition, you can expect to see a charity bike build for the nonprofit Wheels for Kids, a musical performance by The Fifty Shades of Gray Hair Band and Hey, Bucko, and other entertainment.
A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Diabetes Association – Arizona.
Ten55 Brewing Company is located at 110 E. Congress St. For more information, visit 1055brewing.com.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
