It’s finally getting to that time of the year in the Northeast – outdoor riding season! I’m definitely enjoying the sunny, sixty-degree weather we’ve been having lately, and can’t wait to break the bike free from the trainer. Of course, I need a few good races and rides to motivate me – and that’s where Farm to Fork Fondo comes in!
Read on to find out why I’m a huge fan of this ride series, and score a promo code for the event.
Disclosure: This post is in partnership with Farm to Fork Fondo. As always, all opinions are my own.
What is Farm to Fork Fondo?
Farm to Fork Fondo is a series of cycling rides that take place in various locations throughout the Northeast (along with some newer locations that were recently added!). As an endurance enthusiast (and food lover 😉 ), I am a huge fan of this race for so many reasons:
- By far my favorite thing about the series is that all of the aid stations are at local farms! You’ll be able to taste unique treats at each one – for example, in the event I did in the Hudson Valley, one station had fresh wood-fired pizza with farm-grown vegetables and cheese from a local creamery.
- Each ride offers four distances, from a gran fondo to challenge long-distance riders to a family-friendly ramble ride that all ages can enjoy.
- There’s a massive post-ride BBQ for all riders to refuel afterwards (it’s included in the price of your registration).
- They have a fun way of giving back – via a volunteer competition. All the volunteers on the course are teamed up, and each team represents a different organization or area farm. At the end of the event, you can vote for your favorite team and that determines the size of the cash donations they receive.
- Have an injury that’s derailed your plans to ride? Unlike a lot of other races, Farm to Fork Fondo offers a transfer option. This means for just $10, you can either a) transfer your entry to a different ride location that season, or b) transfer your entry to another person.
What kind of gear do you need to do a Farm to Fork Fondo?
Worried that you’re not a ‘serious’ enough cyclist to do this event? You don’t need to be! Since there are so many distance options, anyone can complete a ride. You only need two key pieces of gear:
- Bike
- Helmet
That’s it. Sure, you might want the fancy shoes or cycling outfit, but all you really need is a bike and a helmet.
Event Dates and Locations:
This year, there are eight different locations (it’s really grown since I did the event back in 2016 and there were only four locations). Here’s the breakdown on dates, venues, and ride distances for each one:
Hudson Valley – June 9th, 2019
Start/Finish at Warwick Valley Winery in Warwick, NY
- Gran Fondo – 83 miles, 5200 feet of climbing, 7 aid stations
- Medio Fondo – 50 miles, 3000 feet of climbing, 4 aid stations
- Piccolo Fondo – 35 miles, 1600 feet of climbing, 3 aid stations
- Ramble Ride – 10 miles, 500 feet of climbing, 1 aid station
Asheville – June 30th, 2019
Start/Finish at Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Asheville, NC
- Gran Fondo – 78 miles, 6100 feet of climbing, 5 aid stations
- Medio Fondo – 57 miles, 4200 feet of climbing, 4 aid stations
- Piccolo Fondo – 25 miles, 1400 feet of climbing, 3 aid stations
- Ramble Ride – 9 miles, 600 feet of climbing, 1 aid station
Champlain Islands – July 21st, 2019
Start/Finish at Snow Farm Vineyard in South Hero, VT
- Gran Fondo – 93 miles, 2600 feet of climbing, 7 aid stations
- Medio Fondo – 55 miles, 1800 feet of climbing, 5 aid stations
- Piccolo Fondo – 29 miles, 1200 feet of climbing, 3 aid stations
- Ramble Ride – 7 miles, 275 feet of climbing, 1 aid station
Finger Lakes – August 10th, 2019
Start/Finish at Atwater Estate Vineyards in Burdett, NY
- Gran Fondo – 88 miles, 3800 feet of climbing, 6 aid stations
- Medio Fondo – 54 miles, 2700 feet of climbing, 5 aid stations
- Piccolo Fondo – 37 miles, 2100 feet of climbing, 3 aid stations
- Ramble Ride – 7 miles, 450 feet of climbing, 1 aid station
Pennsylvania Dutch – August 24th, 2019
Start/Finish at Cherry Crest Farm in Ronks, PA
- Gran Fondo – 82 miles, 5000 feet of climbing, 7 aid stations
- Medio Fondo – 45 miles, 2200 feet of climbing, 4 aid stations
- Piccolo Fondo – 33 miles, 1600 feet of climbing, 3 aid stations
- Ramble Ride – 9 miles, 400 feet of climbing, 1 aid station
Shenandoah – September 15th, 2019
Start/Finish at Bell Grove Plantation in Middletown, VA
- Gran Fondo – 83 miles, 4300 feet of climbing, 6 aid stations
- Medio Fondo – 51 miles, 2600 feet of climbing, 4 aid stations
- Piccolo Fondo – 34 miles, 1700 feet of climbing, 4 aid stations
- Ramble Ride – 9 miles, 500 feet of climbing, 1 aid station
Berkshires – September 22nd, 2019
Start/Finish at Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, MA
- Gran Fondo – 79 miles, 4800 feet of climbing, 6 aid stations
- Medio Fondo – 48 miles, 3200 feet of climbing, 4 aid stations
- Piccolo Fondo – 31 miles, 1900 feet of climbing, 3 aid stations
- Ramble Ride – 10 miles, 600 feet of climbing, 1 aid station
Louisville – October 20th, 2019
Start/Finish at Hermitage Farm in Goshen, KY
- Gran Fondo – 80 miles, 3500 feet of climbing, 6 aid stations
- Medio Fondo – 50 miles, 2600 feet of climbing, 3-4 aid stations
- Piccolo Fondo – 35 miles, 1700 feet of climbing, 3 aid stations
- Ramble Ride – 6 miles, 350 feet of climbing, 1 aid station
Farm to Fork Fondo Promo Code!
To give you even more reason to sign up, I’ve got a special promo code just for my readers! You can use code SNACKING10 to score 10% off any event in the 2019 season. This code expires on 6/30/19, so be sure to sign up today.
Share with me: Which Farm to Fork Fondo ride will you do?
So what’d you think? Which race would you choose?
I’m planning to do the Piccolo distance at either the Hudson Valley event, the Berkshires event, or the Vermont event. Help me out – which one should I do?!
I’ve done the Hudson Valley event before and really loved it. Plus it’s close to my dad’s house (hello free babysitting, lol). But I also like the idea of trying a new one. Hmmmm, decisions decisions, haha!
Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments about the event you’d love to attend!
Chrissy Carroll
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This is clearly a paid piece. I just completed the 2019 Gran fondo in berkshire. Route markings were sparse, support & food were non-existent- nothing fresh or local and quite far apart. I helped several people who were lost. Overall, almost zero value for the entry fee. Would never consider doing again.
I’m so sorry to hear you had such a poor experience! A few quick notes:
1) I clearly disclosed this blog post was in partnership with Farm to Fork Fondo at the top of this post. I was not paid to write it but did receive a race entry.
2) I had nothing but a great experience in the Hudson Valley event, but of course, I can only speak to my own experience at that location. I’ve had several friends do the PA Dutch event with similar great experiences though.
3) Have you reached out to Wrenegade Sports at all? They are the race management company and I’d imagine this feedback would be helpful for them. If I’m remembering correctly, I think Berkshires was a new location for them this year so perhaps there were unanticipated difficulties? It seems like perhaps reaching out to them might be a good option for discussing your disappointment.
Wishing you the best experiences in any future races on your calendar! 🙂