Thursday, October 27, 2016

A Betty Invasion #GranfondoHincapie

One event I didn't want to miss this year was the Hincapie Gran Fondo. Its not a race, it's an event.  When you can head south in October, meet up with your badass teammates,  hang out, volunteer, ride together and climb, and climb some more and celebrate then end of an incredible season together it's a beyond epic weekend. 

Traveling to races and training camps are fun, yet focused, and out to accomplish a mission.  It might be to get in shape for season, race, qualify, set a PR, prove yourself, beat your friend or whatever the goal might be. It becomes somewhat self focused on the mission of the trip and needing to go to bed early, eat right, fit in work outs, make sure gear is functioning to perfection, bikes checked in, breakfast lunch and dinner at the correct hour all to achieve the goal. All that is fine for the time. But this trip allowed for some epic riding, while having so much fun in more ways than just racing and training. I signed up for this in May and confess many times through end of summer and early fall almost bailed due to logistics, travel, its CX season and missing races, wanting to save time off to go home to Oreogn and whatever else I could come up with. I am so so glad I didn't give it up because it was beyond worth it.   About 20 teammates from all over the world literally descended upon Greenville SC for the George Hincapie Gran Fondo.    It was so fun to meet so many of my teammates in person, ride, volunteer, hang out and celebrate! 
BETTYSQUAD

I arrived Thursday afternoon to the Swamp Rabbit Inn., a local bed and breakfast in town that is biker friendly and the most rad set up ever;  perfect for a group of  Bettys arriving from all over the world with bikes ready for some adventure.   The accommodations were so incredible, so comfortable, with everything available for a weekend of fun.    We had coffee in the morning in the kitchen,  wine and pizza post ride in the family room,  packed bikes on the deck,  shared race and life stories at the picnic table, then crashed at night in the most fluffy and comfy rooms equipped with everything needed for a perfect trip away. 
BIKE INN, BIKE OUT
SWAMP RABBIT STYLE!
MAKING PACKING BIKES FUN! with JESSICA

The  Invasion party Thursday night, started off the weekend the hosted by the Hincapie Ambassadors.Thank you to them for setting up a fun meet and greet to kick everything off with an amazing food trunk and Hincapie Fondo wine!   A perfect way to meet up with all teammates arriving to town from all over the country, and world actually.
BETTY INVASION
BETTY INVASION stopped the party

Friday morning TeAMBETTY volunteered for several hours at meals on wheels of Greenville, a local charity supported by Hincapie.  We packed over 1300 hot meals for locals in need, and then delivered meals in person.  An amazing time bonding with teammates and giving back to the community. EVERBODYisaBETTY.   
MEALS on WHEELS, GREENVILLE
BETTYS GIVE BACK

Pre ride night in Downtown Greenville at Halls Chop house!
HALLS for PRERIDE FUN


THE LUXE HOODIE, in GREENVILLE
Saturday we all descended upon Hotel Domestique ready to ride.   I myself haven't been riding long, and haven't ridden more than about 40 miles since mid summer because I was running and  focusing on CX  but I was excited to check out this amazing ride, and climb and climb and climb some more. OMG I love those hills. And it was so worth missing a week of CX to ride in these hills and experience this.  Because its not really a race, there are rest stops, not aid stations. The first was like a block party! Loud band food, sunshine, in a fun little town in the hills. It was hard not to hang out all afternoon! After this the real climbing started and its been awhile since Ive done some true climbing but I LOOOOOVED it.  More please!  It was so gorgeous and hard not to want to stop and take a million pictures. 


LETS RIDE!

  
GEORGE!

Everyone finished and celebrated at the post race party.  The setting in hills was gorgeous with amazing views, food, and friends.   Until next year.  This is on my event calendar again for 2017. 
LOVED HOSE HILLS and VIEW



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