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16 June 2006

International Gran Fondo De Rosa

25 Years of Hot Riding, photo: Atcherberger

We recently had the chance to speak with Gianluca Caliari about an interesting Gran Fondo ride that is taking place 26 August in Texas. Caliari of AlbaBici, the USA De Rosa importer, explained how AlbaBici is teaming up with the Hotter'N Hell Hundred organizers to help celebrate their 25th anniversary.

This year the hottest ride in Texas will be called: Gran Fondo De Rosa - Hotter'N Hell Hundred.

The ride, in its 25th year, is already well known among the Midwest crowd and is gaining even more popularity from riders all across the USA and world. Participation in the Hotter'N Hell Hundred has seen healthy increases over the past two years and the ride eclipsed the 10,000-rider mark for the first time in 11 years in 2005. Caliari hopes that the Grand Fondo idea will attract more riders will participate and also partake in a chance to test ride a De Rosa.

AlbaBici will be present this August with many complete De Rosa bikes that can be tested for a couple of miles, or for a small fee, ridden the entire 100 mile (160K) distance. Enjoying warm, rolling Texan roads on a full carbon De Rosa Protos, King XL or Merak sounds great to us!

Wichita Falls Action, photo: Atcherberger

Where is the International Gran Fondo De Rosa? Wichita Falls is in northern Texas, northwest of Dallas and just south of the Red River that separates Oklahoma from Texas. It is an area that is ideal for bike riding, even if a little hot in August, with wide open roads and moderate terrain. Its location provides national and international visitors easy flight options out of the Dallas/Fort Worth airport.

The idea for the Hotter'N Hell Hundred ride started over 25 years ago when community leaders in Wichita Falls were looking for a way to celebrate the city's centennial anniversary. A number of ideas were discussed, including hosting a rocking chair marathon, but thankfully they were swayed towards the Hotter'N Hell. The ride started in 1982 with 1200 riders and today has grown into the largest single-day organized century ride in the United States.

Any gran fondo or century ride is great for meeting new friends while enjoying a nice day out on the bike, but if you are into real torture then there is official USCF racing on Saturday and Sunday. So, if you are a licensed racer, why not warm-up with the Gran Fondo De Rosa Ultra Road Race on Saturday and then flip-it to turbo for the downtown Wichita Falls criterium on Sunday? Race registration can be found at the Hotter'N Hell Hundred website.

Ready to register and ride the International Gran Fondo De Rosa? Contact the Hotter'N Hell Hundred website for full details. If you want to make sure you are riding the best for the century then contact Gianluca via the AlbaBici website.

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