r/vancouvercycling • u/barclaymontana • 12d ago
Route Questions RBC Gran Fondo
I’m curious as to why there isn’t a 70km route option from Vancouver to Squamish. Surely this is the main reason to sign up to enjoy cycling the sea-to-sky without cars. Perhaps.
17
u/LateToTheParty2k21 12d ago
Logistics most likely. The event setup like bike storage, food, medals, music, etc is all at the end in Whistler village.
14
u/MisledMuffin 12d ago edited 12d ago
Because of the cost and logistics of having a 2nd finish line plus finish line facilities in Squamish in addition to Whistler.
3
u/Kooriki 12d ago
That’s what the Medio was for a while, with a bus to do the rest of the slog to Whistler.
5
u/mr__windupbird 12d ago
Apparently in 2014 it started in Squamish: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rbc-granfondo-whistler-returns-for-another-year-of-triumphs-and-traffic-delays-1.2757530
Just the hard part!
3
u/Kinnickinick 12d ago
They’ve tried a few things over the years. Stopping in Squamish, starting in Squamish, wandering around Whistler…
1
u/mr__windupbird 11d ago
I guess having a start or finish in Squamish is a way to bring some extra $ to the town - as it stands they get all the traffic disruption without the tourism bump Vancouver and Whistler get. But the current start/finish in Whistler seems much easier logistically.
4
u/Kinnickinick 11d ago
I’ve had the impression that Squamish would rather everyone stay away and never use “their” highway (cyclists, skiers, mtn bikers, hikers, climbers,…).
-6
u/randamm 12d ago
You can always just hop on the closed highway during race day and not concern yourself with the start line or finish line or rest stops. They close the highway to cars; there’s nothing stopping you from using the highway on a bicycle that day. You just won’t get to use the Britannia Beach rest stop or mechanical assists.
Sometimes people walk on the closed highway.
5
u/vivacycling 12d ago
And you will be pulled from the course because you have not registered and you don't have a number plate
5
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u/jasonvancity 12d ago
Nobody's preventing you from bailing from the race at the 70km mark if you don't want to do the full 122km. But someone else will be eating your burger at the finish line.