New team mates score big at Alpine Gran Fondo..

Sunday was the Jeremiah Bishop Alpine Loop Gran Fondo. 107 mi, 11832 ft of climbing around beautiful Northwestern Virginia and northeastern West Virginia. Beautiful early fall day. This Gran Fondo is not for the faint of heart. There are somany double digit climbs that you just lose count. The two most memorable was a 3 mile gravel climb gaining 1500 ft. With 3 ramps of 24%. Beth said it felt great when it leveled off to 15%. The other was a 10 mile endless gravel climb some of which was better suited for a mountain bike in places. Finish times : Jim- 7:50,Beth -8:15, Ken Malas -8:25. But the official timing was combining two hard climbs for KOM /QOM. Beth was second QOM overall and Ken was age group KOM winner and I was second behind Ken. Beth also won age group QOM. Great age group winner jerseys. Gearing was 34x28. We'll be back to ride again-a very beautiful area near Harrisonburg Va.