A Gran Fondo Mountain Bike Ride

Mark your Calendars for 

Sunday July 22, 2012

2011 PICTURES

Part One-south side Video

on trails north and south of

4th of July Pass

Gran Fondo in Italy means "big Ride" and it is not a race but a bike ride open to everyone. The 4th of July Pass Mountain Bike event is in the Gran Fondo format where the emphases is on participation and completion of the ride and not racing. 

All routes start at the 4th of July Pass Idaho Parks and Recreation Park & Ski Cross Country Trail head located on the south side of the I-90 4th of July Pass exit 15 miles east of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. 

There will be two start times for the 2012 event. The 35 and 50 mile riders will start together at 8:30am. The 10 and 17 mile riders will also start together at 9:00am.  Riders should judge their start time based on their ability to complete their desired route before the 4pm cut-off time. 

Routes will be marked and have course marshals and aid stations (approximately every 5 miles) along the routes to assist riders.  Trails are multi-use used by non-motorized users on the south side of I-90 and used my motorized atv users on the north side.

Panhandle Back Country Horseman and Panhandle Nordic Club are the primary users on the south side trails. These trails are more gentle with some challenging short up-hill sections but are generally on old logging roads. The outer loop is 10 miles and the inner loop is 7 miles.  These trails are rated intermediate with short single track sections. Great scenery and maybe a moose, deer or elk may run by. 

50 and 35 mile riders must complete the 2 loops on the south side before crossing over the top of I-90 bridge to the North side.

The north side of I-90 loops are designated motorized use trails and are used by our local Back Country ATV and North Idaho ATV Clubs. The 35 mile cut-off loop is past Curran Saddle on trail 800. The 50 mile riders continue on trail 800 through gorgeous switch back scenery.  Again expect some moose or elk or even a bear. Stop and enjoy the view to the east at some of the vista points on the climb to the northern and highest point of the loop and then, after the required aid station stop at the Skitwich Hut, enjoy the rolling down hill back to the 4th of July Pass and the finish at the Nordic Ski trail-head. Refreshments, tee-shirt, and some surprises will welcome your completion. 50 miles on a mountain bike is a challenging ride. Although this course is 95% double track, it has some ascents and descents that will challenge. Cross bike riders will be fine on the south loop but hard-tail and full suspension bikes will be required on the north loops. Ask those who tried riding cross bikes in 2011. Have your brakes checked prior to the ride. Come prepared for the 50 miles at 4th of July and you'll enjoy every minute of it.

Proceeds benefit the 

Lake City Trail Builder's Association 

70 ride the 2011 Pass Ride

70 riders started the 2011 event. 

Jeff Larson from Coeur d'Alene was the leader in the 2011 50 mile ride and finished in 4hrs 14min.

 2011 PICTURES

2011 Finish order with distance pdf

North and South Loop detail Map

 Course map

Online Registration  opens April 1st, 2012 for  #2012-161 permit.

Rider's Safety

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Community Partners