After two years off for the pandemic, the JAM Fund‘s major fundraising event, the Grand Fundo, is back for its eleventh year! It will take place on Saturday, July 23rd.
For those unfamiliar with the JAM Fund, it is an elite development program that helps young athletes achieve their dreams on and off the bike through coaching, mentoring, and an annual grant program. The history and tradition of the JAM Fund and the Northampton Cycling Club are intertwined. The NCC is proud to support the JAM Fund throughout the year, but especially during the Grand Fundo.
As the Fundo enters its second decade, it is undergoing some changes. It is moving from Southampton to the Cummington Fair Grounds (97 Fairgrounds Rd, Cummington, MA 01026). The new location will allow for a festival-like atmosphere. Participants will even have the option to camp at the Fairground on Friday night (July 22nd). The Fairgrounds has showers and restrooms, so this will be high-end camping!
On Friday night, campers can join the short group ride to the Chesterfield General Store and Cafe for dinner. The Chesterfield General Store will also be handling the catering for the event, and they are known for their great local food.
With the goal of creating a festival environment, we are looking for additional bands and vendors to join the fun. If any NCC members are in a band, let us know and we will reserve a time slot for your group to play. If any bands or vendors are interested, please e-mail Al Donahue.
Now for the rides. There is the Grand Fundo (around 64 miles) and the Mini Fundo (approximately 29 miles). With our new starting location, we will have even more gravel. The routes are still being finalized, but we are estimating that 70% of the courses will be on dirt. With the added challenges, we recommend 40c tires and gear ratios of 1:1 or easier climbing gear.
As the name of the event implies, the event is fun but challenging. The gravel routes cover the beautiful scenery of Western Massachusetts. Along the way, you most likely will encounter ice cream trucks and former professional riders at the rest stops.
At the end of the ride, the festival to celebrate the cycling community will resume.
Registration is open for the event at BikeReg. Active NCC members qualify for a 10% discount on their entry fee.
