June 2, 2025 • 7 mins
The KeyBank Gran Fondo is Saturday June 21. Event Director Jon Conkling and Michael Sytsma, West Michigan President at KeyBank join us to discuss this year's race!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Talk of the Town on news radio with thirteen
hundred and one oh six nine FM Steve Kelly and
Brett Pikita from West Michigan's Morning News. The date is
looming June twenty first, the Key Bank Grand Fondo is Saturday,
and you may find out more information online now at
Keybankgrandfondo dot com. In studio is our friend, event director
(00:23):
John Conkling. Thanks for coming in today.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Absolutely my pleasure. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Michael Seitzma is the West Michigan president at key Bank.
Thank you for coming in.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Good morning, Thank you for having us.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
John.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Let's talk about some of the nuts and the bolts.
Talk to us a little bit about this event. I've
learned from my fact sheet that grand Fondo means big
ride in Italian. I think that's your nickname now too,
isn't it?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
It could be, But yeah, this is exactly what that means.
It is a big ride. It's the biggest road cycling
event in Michigan. It's a huge charity fundraiser, and the
best part is it is for every level of cyclists,
from families pulling Burley's to hardcore cyclistsenthusiasts doing our eighty
mile route. We have routes for everyone, and literally we'll
(01:04):
have all manner of cyclists out there.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
And Michael, with this event coming up obviously rebranded key
Bank Grand Fondo, that's going to make you so proud
as the president of that organization. But there's usually we
find a story behind that when a business gets involved,
like for instance, the Anway River Bank Run, a lot
of people from Amway either volunteer or race that day
or participate. I'm guessing that's kind of a similar thing
(01:26):
with why this brands well with Key Bank.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I had the privilege of being able to participate in
the Grand Final years ago and it kind of got
its hooks into me and my family. It's a fantastic
event all ages. Like John was talking about, you've got
different skill sets, but write down the heart of Grand
Rapids all of these riders, and then you finish it
off with a great street party. I think it's the
best event to attend downtown to everybody from the family
(01:51):
and for Key Bank, having the opportunity to re engage
post COVID and get it started and continue to build
it has been an honor and it's just fun. I mean,
I had one of my daughters who was not really
a writer. Can I still go down and hang out
afterwards because it's such a great time. Like absolutely, So
whether you're writing or not, just join friends, join.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Family, Keybankgrandfondo dot com for more information. John, There is
a charity component to this as well. Talk to us
a little bit about what you're doing with some of
these proceeds for Mary FREEBD Rehabilitation.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Right.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
So, it is a great ride, it's a great event,
great party, all the things that Michael mentioned, but really
the DNA of this event is the charity component, the
fundraising component. So we've been proud to partner with Mary
FREEBD Rehabilitation. Last year we chose them as they are
are charity beneficiary and continuing that into this year. We
were able to raise eighty one thousand dollars last year
(02:45):
for our services, and this year we're raising money for
their Mary FREEBD Kids rehabilitation programs, their adaptive in wheelchair
sports and also their recreational therapy and that work and
that money that we're raising is staying right here in
West Michigan. It's helping family, these kids right here in
West Michigan. So it's a true community event. It's a
huge fundraiser and we're just proud to be able to
(03:07):
support them anyway that we can.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
So, John, I want to take the approach now if
you're listening, and I think more people, just like with
running or anything active, are getting into cycling and want
to be a part of this and maybe don't want
to be the competitive edge. They just want to, you know,
kind of dip their toe into the water, if you will.
What would you recommend for someone listening out there if
they want to get involved, maybe with a friend or
with family.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Like Michael said, so, we do have four different courses.
So we have the eighty mile which goes all the
way to Lakeshor and back, probably not achievable for that
type of person that you mentioned. We have the forty
which also is kind of far. But then we have
a twenty five mile totally achievable for just a casual cyclist.
Or we have a twelve mile family ride which is
actually sponsored by the YMCA, that's mostly on trails. It's
(03:49):
very safe. Again, as I mentioned, we'll have families pulling
Burley's with small kids and grandma and grandpa out there.
We get a lot of family groups doing that one,
and also a lot of first time will really hit
that family ride or the twenty five if they just
ride every now and then, completely achievable, completely easy for
them to kind of get that entry level and then
(04:10):
hopefully we'll get our hooks in them and then maybe
they're working their way up in future years to those
longer distances.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Key Bank grandfondo dot com for more information. Michael Seitzma
with key Bank, give us a little more this spirit
of community and collaboration between all of these organizations and
all of these sponsors to put your name on the
front placard to this big event.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Well, key Bank is relatively new to West Michigan. We
came to West Michigan four years ago, although key Bank
has been around for two hundred years. We're celebrating our
birthday this year. Key Bank is very focused on giving back,
participating in and developing our communities where we're located. And
so when we were looking relatively young, how can we
do that, Grand Fondo was just coming back and what
(04:57):
a great way for us to be able to engage
with a fantastic organization benefiting the community directly and have fun.
It just it was a perfect fit. So Key Bank
was very excited to be able to get involved.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
John, One of the things I want to ask you
too is I think one of the surges in cycling
has been as we always talk about the new things
that are coming to ground rapids and how cool it is,
but I mean talk about this trail system, whether it's
Ottawa County Muskegon County, can't cut of the access people
have and they can do it safely, recreationally and then
build up if they want to, those longer rides and
really make this a part of a fitness strategy for
(05:31):
them in the future.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
We're very fortunate here in West Michigan to have the
trail systems that we do and how they're constantly being
developed and connected. So it's really great for people who
are just starting to find the sport and learning that
love of cycling, and then from there, once they're more comfortable,
they're out with their families, they're kind of getting used
to the rules of cycling and passing and everything, then
(05:53):
you know they'll move out to the roads and they'll
start doing those longer distances. But the trail system really
does help in getting them acclimated to the sport and
seeing that it's a very easy health and wellness activity
and it's literally for all ages.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
That is event director John Conklin. We're also speaking with
Michael Seitzma, who is the West Michigan president of Key Bank.
Let's talk registration before we say goodbye to you guys.
How do we get involved, how do we sign up?
And when is two? When is it too late?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
So you can sign up right up to the day before,
which will be June twentieth on a Friday. Registrations right
now are open. You go to g you go, that's
the old key Bank Grand Fondo. That's g R a
N not Grand so Grandfondo dot Com. Registration link is
right there. You can find us on Facebook very easily.
(06:41):
You can easily do a web search. Everything goes right
to the registration and then you can get signed up
for the distance that you'd like. You can become a fundraiser,
which is a really big component of this. Fundraising is
very easy. We have fundraising incentives for folks. We have
top fundraiser prizes to really you know, trips and equipment
and bikes and everything you name it. I mean, some
(07:01):
really great stuff for those people passionate about fundraising. But
you can go to Keybankgrandfondo dot Com.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Again, it's Keybankgrandfondo dot Com. The event itself is June
twenty first downtown Grand Rapids well then and a lot
of outlying areas depending on how far you want to go.
Michael Seitzma and John Conkling, thank you so much for
coming in today.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Thank you for giving the opportunity, Thanks for supporting it.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Really appreciate it, guys. Thanks.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
This is Talk of the Town on news Radio with
thirteen hundred and one oh six nine FM.
It's Talk of the Town on news radio with thirteen
hundred and one oh six nine FM Steve Kelly and
Brett Pikita from West Michigan's Morning News. The date is
looming June twenty first, the Key Bank Grand Fondo is Saturday,
and you may find out more information online now at
Keybankgrandfondo dot com. In studio is our friend, event director
(00:23):
John Conkling. Thanks for coming in today.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Absolutely my pleasure. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Michael Seitzma is the West Michigan president at key Bank.
Thank you for coming in.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Good morning, Thank you for having us.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
John.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Let's talk about some of the nuts and the bolts.
Talk to us a little bit about this event. I've
learned from my fact sheet that grand Fondo means big
ride in Italian. I think that's your nickname now too,
isn't it?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
It could be, But yeah, this is exactly what that means.
It is a big ride. It's the biggest road cycling
event in Michigan. It's a huge charity fundraiser, and the
best part is it is for every level of cyclists,
from families pulling Burley's to hardcore cyclistsenthusiasts doing our eighty
mile route. We have routes for everyone, and literally we'll
(01:04):
have all manner of cyclists out there.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
And Michael, with this event coming up obviously rebranded key
Bank Grand Fondo, that's going to make you so proud
as the president of that organization. But there's usually we
find a story behind that when a business gets involved,
like for instance, the Anway River Bank Run, a lot
of people from Amway either volunteer or race that day
or participate. I'm guessing that's kind of a similar thing
(01:26):
with why this brands well with Key Bank.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I had the privilege of being able to participate in
the Grand Final years ago and it kind of got
its hooks into me and my family. It's a fantastic
event all ages. Like John was talking about, you've got
different skill sets, but write down the heart of Grand
Rapids all of these riders, and then you finish it
off with a great street party. I think it's the
best event to attend downtown to everybody from the family
(01:51):
and for Key Bank, having the opportunity to re engage
post COVID and get it started and continue to build
it has been an honor and it's just fun. I mean,
I had one of my daughters who was not really
a writer. Can I still go down and hang out
afterwards because it's such a great time. Like absolutely, So
whether you're writing or not, just join friends, join.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Family, Keybankgrandfondo dot com for more information. John, There is
a charity component to this as well. Talk to us
a little bit about what you're doing with some of
these proceeds for Mary FREEBD Rehabilitation.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Right.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
So, it is a great ride, it's a great event,
great party, all the things that Michael mentioned, but really
the DNA of this event is the charity component, the
fundraising component. So we've been proud to partner with Mary
FREEBD Rehabilitation. Last year we chose them as they are
are charity beneficiary and continuing that into this year. We
were able to raise eighty one thousand dollars last year
(02:45):
for our services, and this year we're raising money for
their Mary FREEBD Kids rehabilitation programs, their adaptive in wheelchair
sports and also their recreational therapy and that work and
that money that we're raising is staying right here in
West Michigan. It's helping family, these kids right here in
West Michigan. So it's a true community event. It's a
huge fundraiser and we're just proud to be able to
(03:07):
support them anyway that we can.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
So, John, I want to take the approach now if
you're listening, and I think more people, just like with
running or anything active, are getting into cycling and want
to be a part of this and maybe don't want
to be the competitive edge. They just want to, you know,
kind of dip their toe into the water, if you will.
What would you recommend for someone listening out there if
they want to get involved, maybe with a friend or
with family.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Like Michael said, so, we do have four different courses.
So we have the eighty mile which goes all the
way to Lakeshor and back, probably not achievable for that
type of person that you mentioned. We have the forty
which also is kind of far. But then we have
a twenty five mile totally achievable for just a casual cyclist.
Or we have a twelve mile family ride which is
actually sponsored by the YMCA, that's mostly on trails. It's
(03:49):
very safe. Again, as I mentioned, we'll have families pulling
Burley's with small kids and grandma and grandpa out there.
We get a lot of family groups doing that one,
and also a lot of first time will really hit
that family ride or the twenty five if they just
ride every now and then, completely achievable, completely easy for
them to kind of get that entry level and then
(04:10):
hopefully we'll get our hooks in them and then maybe
they're working their way up in future years to those
longer distances.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Key Bank grandfondo dot com for more information. Michael Seitzma
with key Bank, give us a little more this spirit
of community and collaboration between all of these organizations and
all of these sponsors to put your name on the
front placard to this big event.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Well, key Bank is relatively new to West Michigan. We
came to West Michigan four years ago, although key Bank
has been around for two hundred years. We're celebrating our
birthday this year. Key Bank is very focused on giving back,
participating in and developing our communities where we're located. And
so when we were looking relatively young, how can we
do that, Grand Fondo was just coming back and what
(04:57):
a great way for us to be able to engage
with a fantastic organization benefiting the community directly and have fun.
It just it was a perfect fit. So Key Bank
was very excited to be able to get involved.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
John, One of the things I want to ask you
too is I think one of the surges in cycling
has been as we always talk about the new things
that are coming to ground rapids and how cool it is,
but I mean talk about this trail system, whether it's
Ottawa County Muskegon County, can't cut of the access people
have and they can do it safely, recreationally and then
build up if they want to, those longer rides and
really make this a part of a fitness strategy for
(05:31):
them in the future.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
We're very fortunate here in West Michigan to have the
trail systems that we do and how they're constantly being
developed and connected. So it's really great for people who
are just starting to find the sport and learning that
love of cycling, and then from there, once they're more comfortable,
they're out with their families, they're kind of getting used
to the rules of cycling and passing and everything, then
(05:53):
you know they'll move out to the roads and they'll
start doing those longer distances. But the trail system really
does help in getting them acclimated to the sport and
seeing that it's a very easy health and wellness activity
and it's literally for all ages.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
That is event director John Conklin. We're also speaking with
Michael Seitzma, who is the West Michigan president of Key Bank.
Let's talk registration before we say goodbye to you guys.
How do we get involved, how do we sign up?
And when is two? When is it too late?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
So you can sign up right up to the day before,
which will be June twentieth on a Friday. Registrations right
now are open. You go to g you go, that's
the old key Bank Grand Fondo. That's g R a
N not Grand so Grandfondo dot Com. Registration link is
right there. You can find us on Facebook very easily.
(06:41):
You can easily do a web search. Everything goes right
to the registration and then you can get signed up
for the distance that you'd like. You can become a fundraiser,
which is a really big component of this. Fundraising is
very easy. We have fundraising incentives for folks. We have
top fundraiser prizes to really you know, trips and equipment
and bikes and everything you name it. I mean, some
(07:01):
really great stuff for those people passionate about fundraising. But
you can go to Keybankgrandfondo dot Com.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Again, it's Keybankgrandfondo dot Com. The event itself is June
twenty first downtown Grand Rapids well then and a lot
of outlying areas depending on how far you want to go.
Michael Seitzma and John Conkling, thank you so much for
coming in today.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Thank you for giving the opportunity, Thanks for supporting it.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Really appreciate it, guys. Thanks.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
This is Talk of the Town on news Radio with
thirteen hundred and one oh six nine FM.
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