Jeremy Powers and the JAM Fund Cycling Team present the sixth-annual Grand Fundo on Saturday, July 25. This year’s edition features big route changes that take in fresh roads but keeps the classic highlights of the old course. The ride starts at Black Birch Vineyard at a new, earlier time at 9:30 a.m., which let's us pack more into the day. We're upping the excitement this year with live music at 6. The yearly fundraising ride, based in the gorgeous Massachusetts Pioneer Valley, will once again give all of its proceeds to the JAM Fund, a charitable organization committed to helping young cyclists grow and achieve their goals.
“It’s got everything you could ever hope for in a ride. It’s got some tough climbs, it’s got some great dirt roads, but most importantly it’s got some amazing views, and you get home afterwards feeling like you’ve really had an experience,” said Cyclocross National Champion Jeremy Powers, the creator of the event and one of the co-founders of the JAM Fund.
The Grand Fundo comes in three distances: the Grand Fundo, Grand Hundo and Mini Fundo. The grand Fundo is the event’s signature distance, and at 68 miles long, will challenge anyone with its 20 miles of dirt and gravel and serious climbing. The Grand Hundo lays down the gauntlet for the fittest riders out there, adding another 20 miles and big climbs. At 38 miles, the Mini Fundo is engineered to give riders the Fundo experience but not leave them out on the roads all day.
The Grand Fundo treats riders to the best roads and scenery that Western Massachusetts has to offer. Midway through, riders can stop at the Fundo’s unique ice cream truck for a tasty snack.
The famous Fundo Barbecue returns this year, with plenty of food and refreshments as a reward for a hard day in the saddle. Relax and spend the rest of your day socializing with members of the JAM Fund and the Pioneer Valley cycling community.
Also returning to the Grand Fundo in 2015 is the much-anticipated Grand Fundo Raffle where you can win one of Powers' limited edition Focus bikes! Raffle prizes are available from Rapha, Giro, Oakley, Thule, Fi’zi:k and more.
As in years past, all of the proceeds from the Grand Fundo go directly to the JAM Fund. Its mission is to enrich the lives of young and determined cyclists in the Pioneer Valley through financial and equipment grants as well as coaching and mentoring. The JAM Fund is the co-creation of Powers and his longtime friends Alec Donahue and Mukunda Feldman.
“Our mission is to give back the same kind of nurturing environment I was in earlier in my life to the kids that are out there now," Powers says. "Too many good riders get lost early in their careers because they don’t have the support and structure they need. The JAM Fund is all about making sure these youngsters can focus on their training and learn how to be good riders and better members of the community.”
Please join the JAM Fund and Jeremy Powers at this year’s Grand Fundo on July 25. Registration is available at the Grand Fundo BikeReg Page where you can also buy your raffle tickets!