Buff®, Inc. rolls into Levi’s Gran Fondo with custom UV Half Buff
For the last 20 years, Buff, Inc., has traveled the world to sponsor world-class athletes and remarkable events.
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Santa Rosa, California – For the last 20 years, Buff, Inc., has traveled the world to sponsor world-class athletes and remarkable events.
But this year, that world-class event has come to their doorstep in Santa Rosa.
The annual Levi Leipheimer King Ridge GranFondo (www.levisgranfondo.com) – a freewheeling combination of a massive group ride, a charity fundraiser, and a celebration of bike culture – returns to the hometown of Buff USA on Sept. 29, 2012.
And as an active corporate supporter of athletic passion and outdoor spirit, Buff®, Inc. has eagerly joined the ranks of the Gran Fondo sponsor team.
“With Levi’s Gran Fondo literally rolling past by our doorstep, it’s impossible to not get excited, engaged and involved,” said Shirley Choi Brunetti, Vice President and General Manager, Buff, Inc. “Levi’s Gran Fondo is a wonderfully unique event that meshes together all the things that people love about cycling.”
To celebrate their participation, Buff, Inc. has created an exclusive UV Half Buff®, a totally unique and useful shwag item that will be in high demand throughout the event. The Levi’s Gran Fondo UV Half Buff® will be available at the official Gran Fondo merchandise tent and the Buff® booth at the Fondo Sonoma Festival.
Founded in 2009, the Levi Leipheimer King Ridge Gran Fondo is expected to draw more than 7,500 cyclists to the winding roads around Santa Rosa, Calif. Named in part for the challenging King Ridge Road in Sonoma County, the event was one of the first “gran fondo” format rides in North America, and is seen as the “gold standard.”
The host is professional cyclist Levi Leipheimer — a three-time winner of the Tour of California, a four-time top 10 finisher in the Tour de France, and a bronze medal winner at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Levi will ride side by side with even participants.
Open to cyclists of all abilities, the GranFondo offers a choice between three 30-100 mile routes, including a newly added gravel option. While not strictly competitive, riders are timed to gauge performance and ensure that cyclists complete the course.
Once the pedaling is done, all riders and their families stay to peruse an assortment of vendor exhibits back in Santa Rosa at Levi’s Fondo Sonoma Festival. Legendary Mountain Biker and Buff® ambassador Rebecca Rusch will also be in attendance, fresh off her win at the Leadville 100.
Numerous fundraising activities are available throughout the event, directly fueling support of causes such as VeloStreet (www.velostreet.org), Forget Me Not Farm (www.forgetmenotfarm.org), and Livestrong (www.livestrong.org)
For more information about the Levi Leipheimer King Ridge GranFondo, visit http://www.levisgranfondo.com.
To learn more about Buff® products, to shop online or to locate a dealer, visit buffusa.com.
About Buff, Inc.
Buff, Inc., located in Northern California, is a subsidiary of Original Buff®, SA Spain, and established its U.S. presence in 2003. Celebrating its 20-year anniversary, Original Buff® now distributes products in more than 60 countries across the globe. Buff® performance headwear is all about versatility and simplicity – one garment serves many functions. Designed to offer technical performance and protection from the elements during a wide range of outdoor activities and sports, Buff® models are available in hundreds of designs and styles. The new models incorporate technical fabrics such as Polartec®, Coolmax®, Insect Shield®, GORE Windstopper®, and 100 percent natural Merino Wool. Watch how-to-wear demo videos and shop online at www.buffusa.com.
