Equipment Recommendations

What bike is right for FoCo Fondo? We’re firm believers in run whatcha brung. If you only have a road bike, many people before you have had fun on any FoCo Fondo course on a road bike; it’s just not recommended. The ideal bike is a gravel or cross with 34-45mm width tires. There are large, deep gravel sections, sandy, loose turns, steep grades, a drop bar bike with wider tire clearance, a large gear range, and disc brakes. This is the ideal candidate to go fast and long on any of these Front Range gravel courses. We’ve assembled some of our favorites in the gravel space below, prioritizing quality over quantity.

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  • The best bike is the one you have. If you don’t have a gravel or cross bike and are looking to do FoCo Fondo on a road bike, we recommend putting the widest possible tires that will fit and utilizing optimal tire pressure for the best possible ride. Yes, MTB and e-bikes are permitted. FoCo Fondo has a plethora of bike brands showing up to present their products to YOU. Some brands are even demo’ing bikes. If you’re in the market for a new bike, even if you’re not riding in FoCo Fondo, head to the expo to experience brands like Niner Bikes, Trek, & Specialized.

    There are bike rentals available from Incycle here and Trek Bikes here on event weekend as supplies last.

  • We can be here all day talking about tire theory. There are a few ideal tires for FoCo Fondo. We do, however, 100% recommend a tubeless setup. You can pick up a set of tubeless rims for cheap, and it will change your quality of life.

    If you’re out to have fun and not worry about punctures and have surety of traction, we recommend WTB Vulpine. We’ve seen top riders increase tire widths rapidly over the past few years for flat resistance without much loss of rolling resistance. A WTB Vulpine in 36mm, 40mm, or 45mm is a great option… they are light and fast, but not crazy wide, and still have some tread pattern to keep the traction on for the turns. If you are looking for a more all-around do-anything option, try the WTB Resolute in a 42mm or 50mm.

    At some point there is diminishing returns for rolling resistance, but generally bigger tires will offer more protection from punctures and will offer a more comfortable ride, without necessarily sacrificing rolling resistance on mixed-terrain surfaces.

  • Helmets are a key part of your “kit” or clothing arrangement, but helmets are also a key component for safety. Following a decade of research, Lazer presents KinetiCore. Blocks and channels built into the EPS foam of the helmet create crumple zones that absorb energy in the event of an impact, helping protect the cyclist from energy that otherwise could result in injury.

    Check out what Lazer helmets has to offer, here, and if you can’t remember when the last time you replaced your helmet was, it’s definitely time.

  • A bad cycling bib can make 53 miles seem like 530 miles. Your touchpoints on the bike… hands, feet, seat, deserve all the loving care you can afford them. Castelli has been making the highest quality cycling clothes, manufactured in Italy for 150 years. Each piece is built to last. The Unlimited Line is their answer to gravel (Men’s | Women’s).

  • FoCo Fondo is a self supported event. You will need a strong kit to tackle any repairs and flats. We recommend these things for your kit.

    • A good seat bag (or downtube bike storange)

    • 1-2 Tubes

    • A good multitool (here is one we like)

    • A good plug kit for tubeless tires

    • A way to add air like a mini pump, Co2, or hand pump

    • Tire levers

    P.S. We 100% recommend a tubeless tire set up. You’ll have far fewer mechanicals on gravel roads versus traditional tubed set ups.

  • We love Fort Collins-based caveworks RIVET as an indoor bike set up in lieu of putting our precious outdoor bike on a smart trainer. It’s incredibly-purpose-built and let’s you customize your build or utilize those old parts you have lying around.

    We love pairing the RIVET with the Zwift. Check out our Winter Training Series, running Jan 1-Mar 8, 2026.

  • Kuat Racks offers tons of options for the carpooling riders with racks from singles up to four. Grab some friends and hop in, we’re going on an adventure. We’re big fans of the Piston options.