We’re teaming up with Garmin this year to elevate your riding experience at the RBC GranFondo Whistler. 

Here’s what you can expect from this collaboration:

• An experiential booth at VeloSpoke (package pickup & expo) on Sept 11 with live product demos and setup help. And an opportunity to try Garmin's new trainer/ indoor setup.

• Special event-only pricing for riders at VeloSpoke. 

• Educational assets around navigation for a turnkey experience loading courses.

Some words from Walter Summers, Brand Sponsorships Manager at Garmin:

“The Whistler GranFondo is one of those rare events that combines a world‑class route, a passionate community, and that uniquely Canadian sense of adventure. At Garmin, we’re all about helping riders get more out of every kilometre — from smarter training to confident navigation on big days in the mountains.”

Garmin’s making this partnership sweeter for you. A lucky reader stands the chance to win a Garmin Edge 850 bike computer!

To qualify, make sure you're registered to the RBC GranFondo Whistler until April 30th, and subscribed to this newsletter. The winner will be announced in a future edition of the newsletter and on Instagram!

We recently introduced Kristen Anderson, our 2026 Mental Strength Ambassador. For the Fondo community, she’s developed an eight-week mental protocol to transition from winter into spring training.

Kristen says: "Spring is where intention becomes behaviour. How you enter this phase shapes everything that follows. Prioritizing process over pace in the early weeks will set you up for success in the months ahead."

Before we build, we stabilize.

The goal is simple: create the conditions for consistency.

Start here:

• 3 minutes of slow breathing before your ride

• Gentle spinal mobility to release tension

• Ride the pace you have, not the one you want

Find your breath and remind yourself: I’m exactly where I’m meant to be right now.

This is not the time to chase numbers. It’s the time to re-establish rhythm.

Mental strength isn’t built through early-season intensity. It’s built through regulation.

Before your next ride, check in with yourself using this quick guide:

• Did I regulate my breath?

• What is my focus today? Process over pace.

• What mantra can I use to support myself when comparison sets in?

Part 2 - out soon!

We’ve teamed up with our friends at Bici and Cannondale to make your journey to Whistler even more rewarding.

Buy any eligible Cannondale road or gravel bike, and your entry to the 2026
RBC GranFondo Whistler is on the house.

Simple as: Buy the bike, earn the ride.

• Spend under $5,000: Get a free Medio Fondo entry ($299 value).

• Spend over $5,000: Get a free Gran Fondo entry ($499 value).

Don't just buy a bike, lock in your goal for September.

What does Kristen’s advice look like in practise? We asked Regina Chan, one of our ambassadors, to share her training plan as she transitions strongly into Spring. Here’s a snippet of our conversation:

What's your broad stroke strategy for the transition to Spring training? 

Regina: I never truly take “time off” training over the winter. I still try to maintain a good level of fitness and use this time to target my weak spots. Whether I’m playing pickleball, spinning on the stationary bike (I just use my gym’s kaiser bike btw; also decided to try rollers this year 🤪), or lifting heavy at the gym, I am keeping myself active and stimulated.

How do you test your fitness level before your training's in full-swing?

Regina: When the weather is finally nice enough, I try to get out for a century ride. The ride acts as my baseline test and that is how I evaluate my fitness level and start becoming more serious about riding again. Typically, I have gained some weight over the winter, so I focus on consuming enough protein off the bike to maintain and transition my winter gains to the bike. 

What's your advice to someone getting back to training, especially to conquer the RBC GranFondo Whistler on September 12th?

Enjoy the journey! We all have our own stories of why we want to do the Fondo, so write that down and revisit it once in a while. 🙂 For me, I want to do the Fondo because I simply enjoy long rides on the bike and want to experience the event and community around it.

Don’t let the window close.
The 2026 price increase takes effect on June 24 at midnight (PT).
Lock in your rate now and focus on the road ahead.

We acknowledge the land on which we gather is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.