RMBP May-June - Bicycle Paper.com
Transcription
RMBP May-June - Bicycle Paper.com
May/June 2013 BicyclePaper.com Vol 2 Issue 1 Transportation Is it Altitude or Attitude? What Keeps Colorado Among the Healthiest States in the Nation? By Alyssa Altman, Marketing Manager for the Denver Century Ride C olorado is widely known as being among the most active and healthiest states in the nation. For years, it has been considered the “lone ranger” in winning the national fight against obesity. With its health conscious political leadership, unique culture and abundant active lifestyle opportunities, there are many reasons why Colorado is able to maintain this prestige. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has kept track of American adults’ body mass index (BMI) since 1985. Colorado has consistently ranked among the most fit and slimmest states in the nation according to their data. In 2013, Colorado was once again named the leanest state, with only 18.7 percent of the adult population considered obese — it is also the only state in which less than 20 percent of adults are obese. Led by Governor John Hickenlooper, Colorado’s political leaders have made significant impacts on infrastructure in order to combat obesity and encourage healthy lifestyles. The Governor has played a critical role in the implementation of specific initiatives, which encourage residents to maintain their overall fitness and well-being. Cycling, as a form of transportation, exercise and fun activity, has emerged as a major component of this broader plan and has ultimately changed how Coloradoans, and the nation as a whole, view the sport. In 2009, Hickenlooper announced a plan to improve Denver’s “bikescape” and bicycle infrastructure throughout the city in an effort to stimulate alternative transportation, increase the opportunity for safe cycling, and promote the activity within city limits. By creating a comfortable, connected and safe environment, Hickenlooper hoped it would further encourage residents to incorporate bike riding into their daily lives and become woven into the fabric of the community. With additional ambitious goals to increase the percentage of bicycle commuters from 1.6 percent in 2010 to 10 percent by August 2018, Hickenlooper supported improvements that would standardize bicycle lanes and improve signage with regular road and street maintenance. Along with a $250,000 grant dedicated to bicycle mobility enhancements, these city wide improvements set the stage for Denver to be recognized among the top cycling cities in America. This type of political See “DENVER FITNESS” on page 7 Aspen The Race Across America Riding the Line Between Endurance, Beauty and Time By Laura Kindregan & Chad Moore A ny athlete preparing for a big event feels the adrenaline rushing, the excitement flowing and the trepidation of the unknown during the months and months of preparation colliding into one race. For athletes competing in The Race Across America (RAAM) Powered by Trane, it is more than just a race, it becomes a part of them forever. In its 32 years, the event has seen thousands of athletes set a goal and take the challenge of completing the toughest endurance race in the world. Once again, RAAM 2013 is starting in Oceanside, Calif., and ending in Annapolis, Md. What is unique for this year’s edition is that the solo field is shaping up to be the most competitive in the history of the race, with three of the last four editions’ winners returning to compete against one another. Not only will they be battling each other, they will attempt to break Pete Penseyres’ solo record established in 1986. This particular group has the best chance to break the record, which entails crossing the U.S. (3,000 miles) in under eight days. RAAM has a history of shaping lives and taking worldclass athletes to the next level. Compared to other endurance LAW races, it unfolds slowly, with solo and team athletes experiencing the country, not just seeing it. They feel the heat, the curves in the roads and the hills and mountains while climbing over 170,000 vertical feet and crossing 12 states. A notable team to follow in this year’s team relay field is Love, Sweat & Gears. In their second race appearance, the ladies are out to break the women’s 4-person team record, and team member Julie Lyons poignantly expressed her emotion after completing RAAM in 2012: “There are so many different levels to RAAM, it’s not just about going out and riding your bike. I am just a normal person who had a goal and set out to achieve that goal.” “I did not expect the team experience to be what it was, the intimacy, spending a week on the road, the preparation before, and the journey home after the completion, is life changing,” says Ann Lantz, team member of Love, Sweat & Gears. Relay categories feature 2-, 4-, or 8-person squads that race relay-style, with each group orchestrating their own strategy. RAAM has added a live tracking system on its See “RAAM” on page 9 Badges The rich and famous love it. So do the area's many cyclists. The bike path can be a pleasant experience for everyone if used correctly. pg 4 pg 5 These head tube accoutrements have a storied history and are significant to builders. pg 8 Trivia & News The All-Time Greats I n the last few years and indeed the last few weeks, we have had the great fortune of witnessing the exploits of riders who are already being counted amongst the all-time greats. Belgian Tom Boonen and Swiss Fabian Cancellara’s achievements in the Northern Classics, Belgian Philippe Gilbert in the Ardennes, and Spaniard Alberto Contador in the Grand Tours all come to mind. Surely young phenom Peter Sagan of Slovokia is already on his way to such status as well. This month’s column celebrates the all-time greats. Oh, and as no one will dispute that Eddy Merckx is the greatest cyclist ever, he is featured in only one question! Q1. Who is the only rider to win all the Grand Tours on his first attempt? Q2. Who holds the record for the most stage wins in a single Grand Tour? Hint: Unlike most modern prolific stage winners (sprinters), this rider also won the general classification (GC). Q3. There are five classics in professional cycling known as “monuments” due to their history, difficulty, and prestige. They are Milan-San Remo (Italy), Tour of Flanders (Belgium), Paris-Roubaix (France), Liege-Bastogne-Liege (Belgium), and the Tour of Lombardy (Italy). Who has won the most monuments? Q4. Who is the only rider to score the rare double of the Tour of Flanders (in April on the cobbled bergs of Belgium) and the Tour of Lombardy (in October in the mountains of Italy)? P art of the Bicycle Racing Association of Colorado’s (BRAC) mission is to develop and grow grassroots cycling in Colorado. A big portion of that is the commitment to women racers. They encourage females who are relatively new to cycling to join a club to “find support, training tips, carpooling to races, and options for coaching, equipment and improvement.” Each year BRAC designates several criterium races as Senior Women Mentoring Events where more experienced racers ride along with the Category 4 field. While shadowing, these mentors offer advice to create a fun and safe environment. On May 4, BRAC, along with Bicycle Colorado and TheCyclist-Lawyer.com, will host Answers on page 9 Greegor Named FC Bikes Program Manager F ort Collins searched long and hard to find its new FC Bikes Program Manager. The yearlong process culminated with the hiring of Tessa Greegor from Seattle, Wash. Greegor, 30, has been the principal planner for the 14,000 members of non-profit Cascade Bicycle Club for the past five years where she worked on the Seattle Bike Master Plan and helped advise local government planners on rider safety. She was also involved with managing federal grants. With a BS in Environmental Studies and a master’s degree in Urban Planning, more specifically on Urban Design and Non-Motorized 2 l Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper Transportation, in 2012 the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals recognized Greegor as the Young Professional of the Year. Part of her work will include updating the Transportation Master Plan, which “serves to document a bold vision for the long-term multimodal transportation system that will support the Fort Collins community well into the future.” Along with the master plan is building up the bike share program in an effort to help the city achieve the League of American Cyclist’s Platinum level status. Greegor will assume her new role on May 13. a women’s racing camp from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the School of Mines’ Student Center Building in Golden, Colo. Coaches will teach handling skills and other subjects pertinent to good racing. Registration is just $35 and includes a T-shirt, lunch, prizes, food and drinks. The event calls for pre-registration only and and a one-day USAC license is necessary for non-USAC members. There is a 30-person limit. To register go to www.MadSync.com. BRAC also hosts an annual Women’s Summit dedicated to “addressing issues specific to gaining and retaining more women bicycle racers.” To find more information, visit www.coloradocycling.org. Boulder Valley Velodrome Updates Q5. When considering Belgium’s “Golden Week,” which features the Tour of Flanders, Ghent-Wevelgem, and Paris-Roubaix (all cobbled classics), who is the all-time greatest on the pave? Dave Campbell has been writing race trivia since 1992. He began racing in 1982 in Wyoming, moving to Oregon in 1987. After years of racing triathlons, he returned to his roots as a competitive cyclist, now racing in the Masters category. BRAC Promotes Women’s Cycling By Darren Dencklau I n 2005, Frank Banta and Doug Emerson formed Boneshaker, LLC, a business venture created to bring a velodrome to Colorado’s central Front Range area. The following year the partners purchased land in Erie, Colo., and the duo has been working diligently since then to get the “Olympic-caliber” facility — a 250-meter track featuring 42-degree banks and 12-degree straightaways, a club house, and bike storage depot — up and running. Originally scheduled to be open late last summer, Boulder Valley Velodrome has experienced various setbacks that have kept the facility from opening, but it is now scheduled to open in the summer of 2013. Banta — who has more than four decades of construction experience — and Emerson have utilized the services of local architect David Beal and renowned velodrome designer, Peter Junek, during the building phase. Currently they are looking to raise membership numbers and to find sponsors that have interests that are in line with those of the velodrome’s mission. In other words, they don’t want to simply have a corporate sponsor with deep pockets and little interest in the sport. The opening is scheduled “by July, 2013,” says Emerson, who is also the owner of long running and successful University Bicycles in Boulder. “It’s difficult to pin down, but we hope to be operational by mid-summer.” It will become the de facto training facility for Olympic hopefuls and it’s a place where parents can get their kids involved in a structured, drugfree, athletic environment. Emerson states that the majority of rider development on the track will be geared towards female and Junior riders. He believes track racing builds community and improves riding skills that crossover to other cycling disciplines as well. It also makes racing cheaper and safer for participants. “Think about how easy it’s going to be to put on a race at the velodrome ... there’s no road closures,” he remarks. For up to date information visit bouldervelodrome.com or facebook.com/bvvelodrome. May / June 2013 Community Bicycle Longmont is Growing By Bryan Ganzel May / June, 2013 Volume 2 • Number 1 Publishers Jay Stilwell Ryan Price Associate Publisher Claire Bonin Editorial Editor Claire Bonin Assistant Editor Darren Dencklau Writers Alyssa Altman Bicycle Racing Association of Colorado Dave Campbell Ellen Chow Darren Dencklau John Duggan Bryan Ganzel Katie Hawkins Maynard Hershon Logan Hood Paul Johnson Paul Kieler Laura Kindregan Joe Kurmaskie Chad Moore Brad Tucker Photographers Brian Bishop, Cycling Soul Craft USA Denver Century Darren Dencklau Paul Johnson Race Across America Joshua & Co Photography Cover Photo Team members of Love, Sweat & Gears supporting each other during the 2012 edition of the Race Across America. Photo by Brian Bishop, Cycling Soul. Art and Production Design and Production Amy Beardemphl Advertising Contact Darren Dencklau Phone 206-903-1333 x 103 Toll Free: 1-888-836-5720 [email protected] [email protected] Distribution Distribution & Mailing Get Active Colorado, LLC Calendar Powered by Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper is published 3 times per year from March to November by Seattle Publishing. Subscription is $14 per year; $26 for two years. C olorado is known as a cyclist’s state. With everything from world class road races and high alpine mountain passes to epic singletrack treasures, there’s a lot of riding to be found here and something for everyone. While there are at least a dozen cities that come to mind when people think of bikes and Colorado, Longmont probably isn’t one of them, but to the thousands of people, those families and friends who were in Longmont over Father’s Day weekend last year, they know better. Father’s Day is usually filled with homemade cards, bad ties, and if dad is lucky, some meat from the grill and beers from the cooler. In Longmont, it is different: it features a Saturday afternoon of riding bicycles on a route around town followed by food trucks, adult style beverages, and live music. And Father’s Day itself ? Dads use it for recovery! Having fun during the 2011 G’Knight cruiser ride. Photo courtesy of Joshua & Co. Photography. Ryan Kragerud moved to Longmont in 2004 and found himself looking for a good way to make connections with his new neighbors. Figuring that if he could get at least one other person out on a bike with him, it would allow him to call it a successful ride, so he started pedaling around town getting the word out about a great way to meet people on Wednesday evenings. Gradually people started showing up, friends and connections were made, and families grew up as they rode around town. Fast forward a few years, and Kragerud’s Wednesday rides were filled with riders having a great time. He eventually joined the local club and bicycle advocacy group Bicycle Longmont, and soon thereafter became president of the organization to assist with the goal of getting “more people on bikes, more often,” the 501(c)(3) organization’s mission, along with educating and advocating for cycling in the area. Since their inception, they have added to their lineup in addition to the Wednesday ride, including a bike valet service at Longmont’s Farmer Market, a film festival, a meetup group, the annual G’Knight Ride and their Holiday Bike Program. Bicycle Longmont was asked to help fund and assist the local Kid’s Holiday Bike Program, which, through the local YMCA, gives refurbished bikes to kids who wouldn’t otherwise get one. After a few years of adequate but hard to find donations, the organization decided that a larger fundraiser would help fund and grow the giveaway project. In 2011 many suggestions on how to accomplish the goal were thrown around including the idea of a half century that would take riders outside of town, although this was not ideal for showing off the city and getting more casual cyclists involved. Eventually, Bicycle Longmont settled on a Saturday afternoon cruiser ride. After rousing sponsorship interest, local craft brewery Oskar Blues stepped forward with a huge sponsorship, and the G’Knight Ride was born. 2012 was a resounding year for Bicycle Longmont, as they engaged a cumulative 9,000 cyclists over all of their events, rides and services. The member-led, member-organized meetup rides drew a cumulative ridership of 1,700 people while the Bike Valet service doubled its number of events, and at the local Farmers Market volunteers parked nearly 2,200 bicycles. Bike Night had a 19-week season that topped 2,000 riders. Wednesdays nights in Longmont are now known as “Bike Night,” and attracts little kids in trailers, and gray-haired folks well into retirement age. People not riding join in by gathering on their porches and waving as the riders snake through town. The G’Knight ride grew two-fold, reaching more than 2,300 riders, giving the organization a huge bump in exposure and creating over 2,300 smiles. Lastly, Bicycle Longmont, with the help of corporate sponsors and volunteers, raised more than $9,300 for the Kid’s Holiday Bike Program. Besides those increases in ridership, the group also focused energy outward across the community. In May, the League of American Bicyclists upgraded Longmont to Silver level status after many years of hard work to live up to the organization’s mission statement. This designation was seen as being so successful that in June 2012, the city council changed the name of the town to “Bikemont.” Additional good news came last September when the owners of NewMark Merrill, the local enclosed mall they hoped to renovate into a new retail space, made an offer to allow Bicycle Longmont to rent the empty auto repair bays at the end of the building. More than a dozen volunteers spent a Saturday morning loading and unloading the organization’s used bike and parts stock into the 6,000-square foot space. Soon after, they cleaned and repaired the entire bike stock for the Kid’s Holiday Bike Program. The year concluded with the best day any kid could have: receiving a new bike day. Not just for a dozen kids, or even a couple hundred as in years past, but thanks to the support received and volunteer work, Bicycle Longmont helped fund and facilitate the giveaway of 560 bikes to local families. Not a bunch to sit on their latest success, the organization put “growth” again on the agenda for the third annual G’Knight Ride. The 2013 event is moving to a larger park, blocks from Longmont’s revitalized downtown. Riders will be treated with a route through areas of town unseen during previous rides. And the expo area will at least double in size with the addition of a simultaneous Rocky Mountain Bike Festival (RMBF). The RMBF has had several homes over the last couple of years, but with a change in ownership to G’knight Ride organizer Scott Conlin, it has found a new home (Bicycle Longmont will be able to take over permanent possession this summer). Conlin expects the expo area to grow from 20 vendors to more than 70. Riders and bike enthusiasts alike will be able to browse and talk to bike builders and vendors before and after their cruise through town. Registration has been capped at 3,000 participants and already the number of entries is higher than last year. With the help of Bicycle Longmont, the next time you’re in the area you’ll want to make the town one of your stops. Come and join Kragerud as he leads families and friends like the pied piper of bikes through town, much like he has done for many years. Bring the cruiser bike and enjoy a good time. 68 South Washington St., Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-903-1333 and Fax: 206-903-8565 Toll Free: 1-888-836-5720 All materials appearing in Bicycle Paper are the sole property of Bicycle Paper. No reprinting or any other use is allowed without the written permission of the Publisher or Editor. Unsolicited contributions are welcome. All manuscripts should be accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelope. Write or call for editorial guidelines and deadlines. Bicycle Paper is listed in Consumer Magazine and Agri Media Source SRDS. President Jay Stilwell [email protected] Vice President Ryan Price [email protected] May / June 2013 Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper l 3 Profile How’s Your Aspen? By Logan Hood A spen, Colo., is a mountain town that sits at an elevation of nearly 8,000 feet. Located in Pitkin County, the area was originally inhabited by Ute Indians and was actually named Ute City until white miners took residence in the late 1800s during the state’s silver boom-era. In 1880 it was renamed after the abundance of aspen groves in the area. Early white residents were mostly “entrepreneurs, athletes, idealists and environmentalists,” according to the Aspen Chamber. Modern Aspen was built around the historic part of town when it faced a declining population after the collapse of the silver market — that lasted until Aspen Mountain was developed into a ski resort in the ‘40s and the advent of the Aspen Skiing Corporation came about. Sometime during 1962 the city paved 16 downtown blocks — around this time the first condominium was built as well. Today, Aspen is one of many year-round resort areas found in Colorado, albeit one of the most expensive places to buy real estate in the country; many who work here actually live in nearby towns such as Carbondale, Basalt, and Glenwood Springs. Not only does Aspen have some of the best skiing and snowboarding during the winter, there are a host of bicycling opportunities in the shoulder seasons and during summer months. Much of the area surrounding Aspen is public land within the White River National Forest. The Maroon Creek, Castle Creek and Hunter Creek Valleys are all easily accessible from town and boast plentiful hikes and bike trails. That said, the majority of the high mountain area surrounding Aspen lies within the designated wilderness areas of Maroon Bells-Snowmass, Hunter-Fryingpan, and Collegiate Peaks, denying access to mechanized transportation, including bicycles. Road rides are somewhat limited by the seasons, as the winter months are generally snowy and cold, but with the emergence of fat bikes, it’s possible to ride year round, snow or no snow. When the temps rise and the roads dry up, there are a plethora of opportunities to explore on skinny tires. Most anyone will agree that the out and back ride on Maroon Creek Road to the base of Maroon Bells is one of the most scenic routes in the North American Rockies. Best of all, it is not a very steep clim, it features limited vehicular traffic and is accessible only by bus between the hours of 9 a.m and 5 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day (with a few exceptions). Another favorite is the Aspen to Ashcroft and back ride, about 44km total. The local advocacy group in the area is the Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association (RFMBA). The organization works hard to ensure that mountain biking is accessible and does its best to help build trails and educate users as well as encourage participation through volunteer trail work. “Our mission is to make the best possible trail network while working with numerous entities,” says Charlie Eckert, Vice President of RFMBA. Recent projects include negotiating to preserve riding access with those wanting to designate more wilderness areas. The group is also working with the Forest Service regarding the Smuggle Mountain area. The Forest Service has brought in partners to plan this region. One of the major challenges they face is finding a balance between protecting the space and its natural habitat while also allowing users to enjoy the various recreational opportunities. Eckert states that it is at “the top of the page for us.” In May of 2012, Aspen was awarded Silver Level Status by the League of American Bicyclist’s Bike Friendly Community program, thanks in large part to the city’s urban master planning effort, which has introduced bike lanes and other such infrastructure. The community has worked diligently A lone rider climbing at elevation. Photo courtesy of Logan Hood. with Pitkin County and the adjacent towns to implement shared use paths and the goal is to connect them with a safe route away from regular traffic. One such trail is the Rio Grande, which runs from Glenwood to Carbondale (also a Silver status community) and to Aspen. This assertive master plan ties in with the Canary Initiative, a countywide effort to reduce carbon emissions. The Aspen Cycling Club features roughly 250 members and each year they hold races alternating between road and mountain bike events. The series welcomes all levels of riders and includes a kids’ category. Entry fees are just $5 for club members and $10 for non-members. Ute City Cycles, Hub of Aspen, Ajax Bike and Sport, and Aspen Velo are the town’s main bike retailers. In addition to selling high-end bikes, most also rent cruisers, full-suspension mountain bikes and carbon fiber road bikes. They are a great resource for advice on the best routes and stretches of singletrack on Aspen and Smuggler Mountains, the Montezuma Basin, and Pearl and Independence Passes. Kicking off the summer cycling event schedule is the annual Ride for the Pass (May 18), where participants get to climb to Independence Pass before the road is opened to motorized vehicles. The following day is the Aspen Cycling Criterium, where the area’s best roadies race through the streets of downtown. On August 19 and 20, Aspen will again host national and international professional racers and their entourages during the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. The town also partners with the 10th Annual Susan G. Komen Aspen/Snowmass Ride for the Cure two days before on August 17. The Aspen/Snowmass Ride for the Cure is the only ride dedicated exclusively to funding breast cancer treatment, screening, education, research and survivor support programs for Susan G. Komen grant recipients in Western Colorado. As a participant one can choose the adequate challenge, a 100-mile full century, 62mile metric century or ride the 37-mile route. The course takes participants through Maroon Bells, Ashcroft, Woody Creek and Snowmass, and offers a breathtaking backdrop of the Aspen trees. A minimum fundraising of $250 is required. Those who may be at first intimidated, but interested, will have the opportunity to access online coaching, training, hotel accommodation discounts, and fundraising support necessary for this high altitude life-changing experience. More details can be found at www.komenaspen.org. So when traveling the I-70 corridor en route to places like Fruita or Moab to get your cycling fix, consider taking a left in Glenwood Springs and checking out what the valley has to offer. You may be surprised. For a complete calendar of Aspen events as well as visitor information, visit www.aspenchamber.org. Health Ride Through Your Asthma By Katie Hawkins P et dander. Pollen. Pollution. Cold weather. These may cause you to cough, but what you may not realize is that it could be more than allergies or a common cold. If you find yourself experiencing wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and fatigue while exercising, you may be one of 300 million people around the world who suffer from asthma. However, that doesn’t mean you have to avoid riding, especially if proper precautions are taken. “Asthma is an inflammatory process,” explains Daniel DeMerell, MD, of Allergy, Asthma, and Dermatology Associates in Hillsboro, Ore. “Three different things are occurring: constriction of the muscle in the airway, increased mucus secretion, and inflammation, causing obstruction of the lungs.” Some may suffer from chronic asthma, while for others it may be exercise induced — both can be triggered by allergens and cold weather. Treatments such as inhalers and bronchodilators work to reduce swelling and mucus production in the airway. Some may only need a rescue 4 l Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper inhaler once in awhile, while others may need daily preventative medication. “People in good shape may not realize they are limited and can do better if they are treated,” says Michael S. Kennedy, MD at the Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center and participant in the Seattle to Portland (STP) and Trek Tri-Island rides. He and Dr. DeMerell encourage riders who may be suffering from symptoms to see a doctor. They also give advice on how to best ride with asthma: • See a specialist. Meet with a doctor to form a treatment plan that is best for you. Each asthmatic is different and may require different combinations and frequency of medication. • Avoid triggers. Whether it is cold outside, flowers are in bloom or your route has some hills, bike during the right season and in the best location for you. If you ride during the winter or on chilly mornings, wear a ventilated mouth cover or breathe in through your nose. If you find yourself breathing too heavily up a hill, dismount and walk to the top. • Prepare for a ride. If you have an inhaler, use it 15 to 20 minutes before exercise. Long rides may require you to use it again. If you are riding with a partner, let them know where you keep your rescue inhaler. Note: if you find yourself using your rescue inhaler more than a few times per week, you may need a daily medication instead. Speak with your doctor. • Work your way up. Listen to your body and know your limits. Start out slowly by going on short rides until you feel more comfortable at a faster pace and for longer distances. Warm up slowly for 10 minutes before strenuous exercise and take time to cool down. Perhaps join a spin class to keep up your endurance if it is too cold to bike outside. The better physical shape you are in, the easier it is to tolerate obstruction. • If you have an attack, stop all activity and stay calm. Get away from or remove any obvious triggers and take your prescribed medication. Try to slow any erratic breathing. If symptoms continue, seek medical attention quickly. • Warm up. If you don’t have an inhaler and find yourself suffering from symptoms, get to an area with warm, humidified air to help release constriction of the airway (perhaps by turning on the shower and letting the room steam up). Purse your lips, take deep breaths, and exhale. Everyone’s body is different, so some of these steps may vary depending on severity. By taking these precautions and educating yourself, asthma won’t keep you from physical activity. “Everyone can exercise with asthma, whether you are a hardcore cyclist or weekend rider,” says Helen Greenwell, a casual rider who rode in the Ride Around the Sound fundraiser for the American Lung Association. “You just have to prepare for it.” May / June 2013 Law Bike Path Etiquette By Brad Tucker, ColoradoBike Law T hough many of us in Colorado ride our bicycles 12 months out of the year, there are without question many others who wait for warmer weather. Many of those “fair weather cyclists” frequent the many miles of excellent bike paths that we have throughout the state. While these paths are an excellent way to enjoy cycling, they also present a variety of hazards and risks that we don’t often face on the roadways. I refer to these stretches as “bike paths” as I am sure that many of you do as well. In reality, these are multi-use paths that are frequented by a number of different types of users. Year-round users who ride them often know very well that in addition to cyclists, they are utilized by walkers, runners, dogs (leashed or not), in-line skaters, baby strollers, skateboarders, and even horseback riders. Before venturing out on these trails, it is important to keep in mind the variety of users, and the risk of mishaps that can result when such a diverse group shares a recreational path. When I speak to clubs, communities and organizations, I always encourage people to travel on these paths in a safe and courteous manner. Utilizing common sense is the fundamental principle. While multi-use paths can make for some very enjoyable riding, they are really ill-suited for fast and serious training. The risks associated with that type of cycling go up significantly when being done by groups of cyclists riding in a pack. Because of the wide-range of users, you will unquestionably be faced with passing others. When doing so, it is the safest practice to pass on the left, when the trail is clear of traffic. While it is important to give an audible warning before overtaking others, you should also keep in mind that the person you are passing may very well not know how to react to your warning. On multiple occasions I have shouted “On your left” only to have the walker begin moving to their left. Many non-cyclists are simply not accustomed to the types of commands that are so routine among us. Slowing down, such that you have additional time and space, can help mitigate the problem. Additionally, the more information you can impart, the better. “I’m on your left side” is probably more informative to a casual walker utilizing a multi-use path than would be the much more common “On your left.” It is very important to expect the unexpected. When approaching a dog, it is essential to quickly gain an understanding as to whether or not the dog is on a leash. If it is, it is important to know the length of the leash; extremely long or retractable leashes can cause more of a risk to cyclists than Metal Cowboy Taking the Time Machine for a Spin unleashed dogs. This is just another example as to the importance of slowing down when the path is crowded, and traveling at speeds that are safe and appropriate for the conditions. Of course, it is also important to stay on the right side of the path unless overtaking others. Regretfully, in my bike law practice I have represented many cyclists who were injured on these paths through no fault of their own. The injuries have come from many causes, most of which are outlined above. If you are unfortunate enough to be injured in an accident on a multi-use path, it is just as important to secure information and evidence as it is in a roadway accident. If possible, make every effort to have the mishap investigated by the authorities. Law enforcement should respond to a crash that includes injuries. Even if an accident report is not required by your jurisdiction, law enforcement can assist in gathering and exchanging information. Getting any witness details before they leave the scene can make the difference between ultimately receiving fair compensation or not. It is also imperative to get full and complete identifying information of the other party. Typically in accidents such as this, the homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy A group of G’Knight riders on the bike path. Photo courtesy of Joshua & Co. Photography. applicable to the other party will provide liability coverage for personal injury claims arising out of an accident. In situations of serious injury, it is wise to contact an experienced bicycle attorney right away so that important evidence and data can be secured as quickly and effectively as possible. Despite these risks, we are fortunate to have hundreds of miles of multi-use paths to enjoy in Colorful Colorado. When we all work together, these paths can provide some of the most relaxing, scenic and enjoyable cycling our state has to offer. Brad Tucker is an avid cyclist, member of Bicycle Colorado’s Board of Directors, and an attorney with a specialty in bicycle liability and insurance issues with ColoBikeLaw.com. If you have questions concerning legal issues effecting cyclists, you can contact him by e-mail at [email protected], or by phone at (303) 694-9300. By Joe "Metal Cowboy" Kurmaskie “April hath put a spirit of youth in everything." - William Shakespeare For those who know me, the mantra “It’s Always A Good Day To Ride,” isn’t just a cool catchphrase of mine, it’s a way of life. Having made the voluntary choice of weekend-only access to a car, it’s also, at times, a harsh reality. Wind, rain, sleet, hail, sleety/hail, sideways rain, it doesn’t matter and it doesn’t last. Eventually, and more often than outsiders would believe, the Pacific Northwest gives up its seasonal riches and you find yourself trekking the boys to school through a sunrise masterpiece worthy of a roped off area in an art museum. April has been called the cruelest month, but for us it’s the best time to be in the saddle. The light in the mornings and evenings is ethereal, everything is in bloom, the dogwoods, the rhododendrons, the cherry blossoms and those other pink trees I mistook for cherry blossoms until my scientist wife who did graduate work in tree identification laughed at me. It’s the time of year I can actually feel the bike taking me back. Every time I mount it I feel a slight rush to the head, a flutter in my stomach, because I know something so many of us have forgotten; we’ve had the means to time travel sitting in our garages and basements all along. It’s a real Dorothy and the Wizard moment that I make my boys aware of as we prepare for another trip back. I revert to my former self, to when I was 10 years old and everything was a challenge, an obstacle course, a game of wits and speed and cunning, and of course, it was always being covered by ABC Sports with full color commentary. These days I do my own commentary for the boys who are hanging on the back and laughing up a storm. “Looks like we have some traffic up ahead on the course, two dog walkers and a distracted coffee drinker. Ring the bells boys, I’ll take evasive action!” I cut the distance between the sidewalk and the turn, smile and wave as we jump the curb, splash a leftover puddle, and rip and roar into the rest of our morning, quacking out to the ducks overhead and taking in the aromas of a neighborhood in full bloom and projecting in eye popping technicolor. And to think, not more than a week ago I had to answer the well meaning, well intended question of whether I could afford a car... I’d like my official answer entered into the record now. Who among us can afford NOT to ride a bicycle? A Guide To Falling Down In Public: Stories of Finding Balance On A Bicycle by Joe “Metal Cowboy” Kurmaskie will soon be available. Visit metalcowboy.com to pre-order it. May / June 2013 Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper l 5 Mountain Bike What? TRAIL CLOSED? By Paul Kieler L ast fall, many riders from the Front Range were met with the most unwelcoming of signs as the proper funding and approvals in place, the they traveled to the Fraser Valley area of Grand County: TRAIL CLOSED. For the unin- Forest Service commenced the removal project formed mountain biker, the signs seemed to appear out of nowhere and were centered near Winter and so trails were temporarily closed. Park Ski Resort continuing westward to the St. Louis Creek area. This is an area widely known for Additional mountain bike trail closures loits miles and miles of prime mountain bike trails. So what gives? cated near Winter Park in the Tunnel Hill area Beginning in 2012, the Sulphur Ranger District of the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest, are concentrated on tree removal to reduce fuels whose job is to maintain the forest service roads and trails, initiated a tree hazard removal project. for fire protection as well as other safety hazards. The current phase of the project includes an area covering more than 100 miles of roads and trails. The goal of the Tunnel Hill Fuels Reduction It included many of Grand County’s best biking routes, which were closed Project is to create “a while tree cutting and clearing were conducted. This initiative was specificritical firebreak between cally designed to remove dead and dying trees within falling distance of Winter Park Resort, the roads and trails in an attempt to provide a safer recreational environment Town of Winter Park and for users of all types. This safe zone can be up to 60 feet in width and the Arapaho National Forrequires a great deal of hard work. est.” Closures include the These activities were concentrated in several popular recreation areas. Serenity, Twin Bridges and Trails were temporarily closed in the Fraser Experimental Forest, St. Louis Ice Hill trails, which will be Creek, Vasquez and Little Vasquez drainages and included local favorites closed for at least a portion such as Flume, Zoom, D2 and WTB as well as many others. Occasionally of the 2013 riding season. the project also required the closure of forest roads providing access to The hazardous tree these trails. In many spots, slash piles of recently cleared timber are left to removal project is only dry or cure prior to future burning when conditions allow. one aspect in the greater The trees were specifically targeted where there is intense mountain effort to provide a comprepine beetle (MPB) infestation. As most Coloradoans are aware, the MPB hensive and safe system of outbreak that began 10 years ago has decimated much of our forests. In trails in the Grand County some locales up to 80 percent of the mature trees, primarily composed of Singletrack meandering through aspen trees. region. As the Forest Serlodgepole and ponderosa pine, have been impacted. The region surround- Photo by Darren Dencklau. vice continues its efforts to ing the eastern portion of Grand County has been so impacted that trees were falling without even keep existing trails open and safe, many other being windblown. Their trunks were so weakened by the MPB attack, even the bases at ground groups are looking to add trails. The Bureau of level were unable to support the trees. These areas located within the Sulphur Ranger District were identified as hazardous with potential danger of injury due to fallen or falling timber. With Land Management, US Forest Service, Denver Water Board, Winter Park Resort, Grand Mountain Biking Alliance and the Headwaters Trail Alliance are currently in the planning stages of a trails master plan. The Grand County Trails Master Plan will include input from local municipalities such as Granby, Fraser and Winter Park. The primary goal is to provide access and new routes to connect Grand County trails. Initially, work will focus on the eastern edge of the county to add and connect various trail systems and existing routes. Details on the overall system will become available during the coming months and next few years. Katherine Armstrong, Public Affairs Specialist for the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests, recommends researching the areas you plan to ride prior to hopping into your car. With more than 450 miles of trails and roads within the Sulphur Ranger District, more hazard mitigation work is expected to continue. In an effort to help trail users, the Sulphur Ranger District has developed a program called “Know Before You Go.” It provides several informational sources to reference when planning a mountain bike trip to the Grand County area. Resources include visiting the Forest Service website (www.fs.usda.gov/arp), keeping informed via See “Trail closed” on page 9 Book Review A Bike Snob Abroad By Darren Dencklau E ben Weiss, more widely known as BikeSnobNYC, has been putting his satirical brand of humor on the state of cycling culture for quite some time now. What started out as an anonymous blog by some unknown smartass from the big city has become a social phenomenon, and his popularity — much like cycling — has skyrocketed in the past few years. Coincidence? Maybe so, but I would venture to say that his books and the regular touring and speaking he does to support them have added to the allure and overall boost of urban riding. His latest effort, A Bike Snob Abroad, is a lot less about categorizing and poking fun at tattooed skintight-jean-wearing fixed gear riders and heavily bearded uber commuters who live and sleep in yellow rain jackets and cheap bike shorts. Instead, it is more about the significance and the possible impact of the bicycle being seen as utilitarian here in the United States instead of simply a way to get one’s kicks, terrorize pedestrians, or get in the way of drivers. You see, in many European countries, bikes are as integral in everyday life as the automobile is on America’s roadways. In his travels he finds that other cultures barely bat an eye upon seeing a helmet-less rider or someone transporting a child that’s not stuffed inside a trailer wearing a brain bucket, whereas in the States both instances would undoubtedly be frowned upon ... or even worse if these “infractions” were combined. He also expounds on the boundaries that keep many from riding. On page 118 he details how many of today’s cyclists started through recreational riding and so they are somewhat pretentious when it comes to the type of bike they’re willing to mount — he admits to being one of those such people. “This is probably one of our greatest handicaps as a cycling nation — the complete inability to simply jump on any bike and ride ... the few of us who do actually ride can’t so much as hop on a basic city bike without fussing over seat height and bar width and lamenting the lack of foot retention,” he writes. This mentality later ties into bike sharing programs, which he experienced while briefly visiting London. Americans are very independent, so things tend to have to be personalized to fit our perception of who we think we are — this includes the tricked out Escalade, the souped-up Subaru WRX ... or in Seattle, the shiny black Amazon.com-issued Audi A4 complete with a hurried puffyjacketed driver. Being seen on a generic step-through bike that others are also on may quell the coolness factor. But what if we didn’t care and saw shared bikes for what they are — convenient. After all, that’s what most of us modernized humans want, something that doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to fulfill our needs. What if you didn’t need to own a bike? “Fixed-gear riders may talk about ‘Zen,’ but I can’t think of anything more Zen than being a cyclist who doesn’t own a bike,” he writes on page 152. It made me stop and think. Although I 6 l Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper could never fathom not having my own, it would sometimes be nice to just grab a bike, head to my destination, do my thing and then grab a different one on the way back — never fretting about someone stealing something I worked so hard for, or in the very least swiping my flask out of its custom cage (true story). In many ways Weiss calls out our unwillingness to change and let go of tradition. In America we like to own things and let others know this without any uncertainty. Sadly, many out there think they own the roads, especially if paying for gas, the taxes and fees that come along with automobile possession. Add to that the monthly car payment and insurance, there’s a strong feeling of “I pay for this, get out of my way.” I can relate to much of the reminiscing Weiss writes about in the book, as we are about the same age. His tales of riding to the record store to buy punk and metal albums as a teenager and simply riding around town to watch people was a normal and frequent escape for me and my friends in the small town I grew up in. It was a time of complete freedom, then one day when that magical number 16 came up it was no longer acceptable to be seen pedaling around on two wheels. Instead, the automobile became a status symbol and burning rubber in the parking lot was the next rite of passage and the surefire way to gain acceptance among peers. That said, at least I could play my music on the car stereo — although thinking back, I used to carry a boom box with me while pedaling around my neighborhood, usually something like Judas Priest or Ted Nugent turned up to 10. So what does my teenage self have to do with this particular book? Much of A Bike Snob Abroad is about the simplicity of bicycles and where they stand to help create safer streets and a positive change in our society. This straightforwardly written and rather short publication sometimes goes astray and often the prose does get redundant (his movie to life comparisons, at least five, were a bit much), but in the end it compelled me to think; not only of where we stand as cyclists today, but where we came from, our roots. And if more people remembered where they came from, perhaps we’d all get along a little better and take a few small steps that are necessary to creating a better world to live in. A Bike Snob Abroad, Strange Customs, Incredible Fiets, and the Quest for Cycling Paradise. Eben Weiss, aka BikeSnobNYC. Chronicle Books. Hardback. 192 pages. $16.95. May / June 2013 Transportation record breaking crowds and increasing statewide popularity continue to brand Colorado as a state support has been key in encouraging the kind of healthy lifestyles Colorado is known for and aids dedicated to the sport. Through strong leadership and political supthe state’s ability to fight off the obesity epidemic. To push fitness activities further into the mainstream, Governor Hickenlooper worked to bring port, improved infrastructure, increased access, two nationally recognized cycling focused opportunities to Denver — the Denver B-Cycle program awareness and education, Colorado has develand the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Denver B-Cycle was the first large-scale municipal bike shar- oped a culture in which its residents can more ing system in the United States. In 2008, 1,000 bicycles were distributed at high traffic connection naturally adopt active, healthy lifestyles through exercise and nutrition. For points around the city and rented to the public Coloradoans, weekends for a nominal fee. In its first year, participants spent hiking, skiing, cylogged 5,552 bicycle rides totaling 26,463 miles, cling, running, kayaking and burned 818,899 calories. This bicycle sharing or visiting outdoor events system opened up the concept to everyone in the is considered standard Denver area — owning a bicycle was no longer practice and many take a factor in whether or not residents were able to advantage of the 300 days gain the benefits of riding. of sunshine. Whether resiHickenlooper also played an important role dents or visitors are lookin bringing the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, an ing for organized athletic annual professional road bicycle race, to Colorado. events or wish to head out During the seven-day stage race, the event visits independently, there is a more than 11 host cities across the state and attracts multitude of choices availthe world’s most elite professional cyclists. It has able. Events such as the sparked an unprecedented interest from crowds Coldwell Banker Denver of new fans who line the roads enthusiastically, crossing the finish line at the Denver Century Ride. Century Ride, Ride the cheering the peloton as it flashes by. In both 2011 Riders Photo courtesy of Denver Century Ride. Rockies and the Tri for the and 2012, more than one million people attended the Pro Cycling Challenge. More than half of those spectators reported that they actively ride bikes Cure, among many others, support and encouras part of their fitness routine. Reminiscent of the energy that surrounds the Tour de France, the age athletes of all levels. “Denver fitness” FROM PAGE 1 The Vegetarian Athlete The Denver Century Ride, the city’s only urban-based century ride, offers cyclists the opportunity to explore miles and miles of bike safe streets throughout the metro area. With four routes ranging from 1 to 100 miles, participants can choose their challenge as they decide between the signature hill climb up Lookout Mountain or take on the wide-open roads of the Front Range. The event offers the opportunity for entire families to enjoy a full day of outdoor activities. In 2012, 25 new miles of bicycle lanes were added to Denver streets to bring the total to 96 miles. It is anticipated that the city will reach the milestone of 100 dedicated bike lanes sometime in 2013. Through the continued support of the state’s “bikescape” and the repeated improvements of infrastructure, Colorado's political leaders have created a long-term successful plan to keep everyone healthy and active. At 5,280 miles above sea level, residents enjoy the beautiful weather, varied terrain and challenging altitude whether through cycling, hiking or the many other activities. Simply put, it is part of Colorado’s culture. With three cities in Time Magazine’s “Most Active Cities” list, Boulder, Arvada and Denver help lead the state in its efforts to generate the opportunity and culture, which help maintain Colorado’s prestige as the leanest state in the nation. Health By Ellen Chow, MS, RD, CSSD, CD B eing a well-balanced vegetarian is not easy. Being a well-balanced vegetarian athlete is even more challenging. The good news is that it is possible and rewarding with some practice. There is certainly no lack of vegetarian world-class athletes, from runners to bodybuilders. Not only can this choice be good for your health, it is also eco-friendly and gives that “doing the right thing” feeling. The definition of vegetarianism continues to evolve. With the exception of veganism, the variations are plant-based diets with limited meat intake. The different types of diet include: • Veganism: a diet that excludes animal products in general, including honey; additional forms of veganism are macrobiotic, Rastafarian (Ital), and fruitarian vegetarians. • Lacto-vegetarianism: excludes animal products except for dairy. • Lacto-ovo-vegetarianism: excludes animal products besides dairy and eggs. • Pesce-vegetarianism: excludes animal products aside from fish and seafood. • Pollo-vegetarianism: excludes animal products other than poultry. Excluding vegans who consume a strictly plant-only diet, vegetarians who eat as little as 3 to 5 ounces of meat or egg almost always fulfill their nutritional requirements. This is evident by Danish researchers who compared aerobic capacity and immune response to exercise-induced stress1. The results were identical despite animal protein providing 10 percent and 3 percent of total calories in the mixed Western and lacto-ovo diets, respectively. Those who avoid dairy should make an effort to include calcium, vitamins B2, B12, and D from other foods and/or dietary supplements. Overall, when planned well, a vegetarian diet is a viable option in providing complete nutrition for athletes and the general population. The ABC’s of Vegetarian Athletes Since even a small amount of meat, seafood, poultry, and dairy would satisfy one’s needs for protein, iron, and vitamin B12, this discussion emphasizes on veganism and strict vegetarians. A= Adequate Athletic training requires a significantly higher caloric intake than does exercising for recreation or health. It is of paramount importance, therefore, for vegetarians to consume enough calories without overusing fats. This can be challenging due to the low calorie density of plant foods. Thankfully, many whole grains and legumes are high in complex carbohydrates and proteins. Creative use of plant fats also adds calories and flavors to vegetarian dishes. Nutrient metabolism is a miraculous process in which intake is only Vegan Lacto-ovo Food/Calories 1600 2000 2500 1600 2000 2500 Whole grains 5 7 12 5 6 9 Legume & soy 3 3 3 3 3 3 Vegetables 6 8 9 6 8 9 Fruits 3 4 4 3 4 4 Nuts 2 2 2 1 1 2 Oils 1 2 2 1 2 2 Dairy - - - 2 2 2 Eggs - - - - - - Loma Linda University. School of Public Health, Dept of Nutrition3. May / June 2013 one factor, which must be accompanied by proper absorption, retention, and utilization of said nutrients. For example, there are over 400 types of anemia and only a handful of them are related to dietary intakes such as iron, vitamin B12, folate, and protein2. Consider regular medical checkups to prevent unintended nutritional deficiencies. When appropriate, your providers can direct you in selecting quality dietary supplements and monitor their safety and effectiveness. B= Balance Relating to the aforementioned challenge of adequate energy intake, not only do you want to avoid a high fat diet, albeit from plant sources, maintaining a consistent balance of macro and micronutrients is crucial to your performance. For cyclists without health concerns, a “base” diet with 50 percent calories from carbohydrates, 25 percent fat, and 25 percent protein is a good start. Additional carbohydrates for rides and small amounts of protein and fats for recovery are very appropriate. C= Convenience After you developed a well-rounded meal plan, is your routine sustainable? Does it fit your lifestyle without demanding hours of shopping and cooking? How about social gatherings and dining out? Some of your meals may be prepared in a larger batch that will last for several days. Sharing meals and taking turns to bring lunches and snacks among vegetarian friends can also save time and add variety. Fortunately, the Northwest is no stranger to vegan cuisine and dining choices are abundant. It is possible, and sometimes advised, for people with chronic conditions such as arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, type 1 and 2 diabetes, and celiac disease, just to name a few, to pursue a vegetarian diet. Consult your healthcare providers to create personalized meals. One group that warrants special attention is adolescent vegetarian athletes. Even a few months of “experimental vegetarianism” can result in anemia and lower bone mass accumulation when poorly implemented. The good news is that they can likely be reversed when nutritional status is corrected. Regarding weight management, note that meatless does not always mean low calories. Foods such as cooking oils, nuts and seeds, hummus, and avocados are rich in calories. Vegetarian diets can be flavorful and provide adequate nourishment for athletes. Vegans need to address vitamin B12 supplementation and include ample calcium, iron, and vitamin D. The following chart provides an overview of the number of servings required to maintain a healthy vegan and vegetarian diet while meeting various caloric needs. References: 1. Richter EA, Kiens B, Raben A, et al. Immune parameters in male athletes after a lactoovo vegetarian diet and a mixed Western diet. Medecine & Science in Sports and Exercise. 23(5): 517-521. 1991. 2. MayoClinic.com. mayoclinic.com/health/anemia/DS00321/DSECTION=causes 3. The Vegetarian Food Pyramid. Loma Linda University, School of Public Health, Dept. of Nutrition. 2008. vegetariannutrition.org/food-pyramid.pdf Ellen is a Seattle-based sports and wellness nutritionist. She works with athletes of all ages. She also works extensively with athletes who have stable cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Ellen can be contacted at endgamenutrition.com. Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper l 7 Memorabilia The History of Head Tube Badges By Paul Johnson, Classic Cycle B icycles have personalities. Some bikes develop theirs over miles and miles (like a notched headset that pulls to one side). Sometimes they take on the personal style and behavior of their owners such as the battered and grimy commuter or the sleek racer. Other times a bicycle is born with a personality tattooed to its forehead — a head tube badge. The little metal badges that builders put on the front of their frames may not seem as important to cycling as the derailleur or carbon fiber tubing for example, but badges have been around since cycling’s very beginning and come in thousands of variations. In our own little Classic Cycle museum we showcase a fraction of the badges that have been made, and we have more than 400 unique versions. The craftsmanship and pride built into a brand really comes through in these small components that adorn both the classics and their newer handmade counterparts. Around the turn of the last century, the brass ornaments on the front of frames tended to be overly ornate and grandiose. Like today, builders of the era would hire artists to create an image for their label, something to bring customers through their door and to differentiate their bikes in crowded showrooms. These early graphic designers would try to infuse their clients’ product with all kinds of different qualities. Pictures of birds in flight and different types of weaponry were popular. Images that evoked regal qualities, industry, and gods on high were common; Mercury’s winged feet showed up on more than a few early head badges. Some brands were more practical than others. Wastyn Cycles, for instance, didn’t go for fancy logos or images of arrows in flight. They just wanted everyone to know where to get one of their bikes and simply etched the store address onto their badge: 2629 Fullerton Avenue in Chicago. Brennan racing bikes, a premier label among professional racers in the 1930’s, didn’t use a head tube badge. In fact, Brennan’s frames had no branding at all and simply let their reputation and word-of-mouth bring in new customers. From the 1930’s through the mid-century, Art Deco style took hold, as did imagery borrowed from comic books and popular culture. The Monark Silver King badge was a cool one, evoking images of skyscrapers and the machine age. The Ludwig badge made it look like a biplane was bearing down on anyone too slow to get out of the way. The Paris Cycle one featured the Eiffel Tower (of course). The French Rochet has a lion sitting proudly on top of the earth. The Armstrong brand also features a globe, and it looks like it was taken from the top of Clark Kent’s Daily Planet office building. Beginning in the ‘50s, it seemed that bike brands were trying to convey a modern image above all else. Badges and logos with simple and clean lettering became more common. Emblems that featured rockets and evoked the space age replaced Roman gods and flying birds. Raleigh had a British Blue Streak missile on one of their bikes and NASA’s Apollo rockets were featured on a couple as well. Of course, the Olympic rings and World Champion stripes show up on a number of badges. Builders have generally been pretty honest, using these easily recognizable symbols only if an athlete riding their bike had actually won a gold medal. Sometimes a builder reinforced its style and image with its head badge. The British brand Hetchins often utilized curvy tubing and intricate ornate lugs on its bicycles. For a busy design like a Hetchins, a simple logo with block lettering just won’t do, they instead look like a royal coat of arms. Dario Pegoretti, a modern Italian craftsman, is known as much for his abstract paint jobs as he is for building custom steel bikes. When the paint has more in common with Jackson Pollack than with Schwinn, the insignia needs to preserve that vibe. Pegoretti’s contemporary stainless steel badge is edgy and elegant. A perfect fit. Washington Cycle & Supply in Tacoma once produced a line of bikes with model names like the Senator and the President. The head badges that adorned them look like they belonged on U.S. currency. It’s too bad that economics play a role in badge design. Early on, Schwinn had fairly intricate emblems, and had different versions made for various models in their line-up. Over the decades, they became simpler and were somewhat standardized across the line as they sold more and more bikes. Imagine selling half a million bikes each year — reduce the production cost on labels by just a few cents and the savings can really add up. Today, custom builders often offer upgrade to materials such as sterling silver and even real gold badges for buyers, however, that kind of bike jewelry will certainly add quite a bit to the total price. Modern carbon fiber bikes still employ head badges, but in decal-form to save a little bit of weight. The Colnago club logo and the Bianchi crest are still around, but these days they’re not made out of brass, but full color decals stuck under a layer of clear coat. To find out more about badges and their history, visit Paul at the Classic Cycle Museum. He’ll be happy to show you the collection. Photos courtesy of Paul Johnson. Paul Johnson owns Classic Cycle on Bainbridge Island in Washington. If you want to admire some of these great badges in person, Classic has a showcase full of famous and historic brands. 8 l Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper May / June 2013 Mountain Biking “RAAM” FROM PAGE 1 “TRAIL CLOSED” FROM PAGE 6 Twitter at www.twitter.com/usfsarp, and signing up for email notifications on upcoming projects and trail information from the Sulphur Ranger District at [email protected]. As the snowpack begins to melt and the trails start to dry out, the Fraser Experimental Forest and Vasquez areas will be open for the 2013 summer biking season. Other spots including the Idlewild, Grand Lake and Church Park regions will also be open. Riders beware though, as temporary trail closed signs will be a fixture in Grand County for the next several years, but there will always be a place for the informed rider to go and have a great time. With all the work required to keep the trails safe, users such as us mountain bikers can do our part to help maintain them. The best way is simply to get involved. The Adopt-A-Trail Program is a volunteer directed initiative to keep Fraser Valley trails maintained for all and is administered by the Headwaters Trail Alliance. Additionally, the Grand Mountain Bike Alliance is a group with the specific goal of enhancing the Fraser Valley mountain bike experience. Remember to always use designated trails and avoid cutting and riding on non-designated trails. Bike only when conditions are favorable and refrain from riding wet, saturated sections, which can accelerate erosion and deteriorate the watersheds. Following a few simple rules can increase our riding enjoyment and help to maintain the beautiful trail networks we love. So when the weather conditions are right and the trails are open, get out there and enjoy. Trivia Answers Answers from page 2 Allied Forces-Team 4Mil/Strategic Lions at the finish of their 400-mile RAAM Challenge Series in Oceanside, Calif., on April 6, 2013. Photo by Brian Bishop, Cycling Soul. website so browsers can follow along and read the stories of the teams and racers setting their sites on this shared cross-country adventure. The heart behind the athletes, support crews and organizers keeps racers coming back to set new records and this attracts new racers training for the first time. As some might expect, RAAM is not limited to professional cyclists, but rather it’s open to pro and amateur athletes alike. While solo racers must qualify to compete, anyone may organize a team and a support crew to try to prove they have what it takes. Seeking a new challenge is notable pro motocross and supercross racer and world-class athlete, Micky Dymond, who has his sights set on conquering RAAM in 2014. This year will serve as a period of training, preparation and qualifying for his 2014 quest. As a part of that journey, RAAM will join him and bring you a behind the scenes look at his progress. “Riding The Line,” a video series highlighting the ins and outs of RAAM through the eyes of several solo racers and teams, will air each month leading up to RAAM 2013 and into the “off-season” as 2014 approaches. The first episode, released this past March, introduced Dymond as the host and the athletes to be followed as they prepare to race and learn what it takes to compete. Team racers have a maximum of nine days to complete the distance with most finishing in about seven and a half. They cover 350 to 500 miles a day, racing non-stop. Solo competitors have a limit of 12 days to reach the finish, with the fastest crossing the line in just over eight days. Solo racers log between 250 to 350 miles a day, balancing speed and the need for sleep. RAAM has a rich and storied past. In 1982 four individuals raced from the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles to the Empire State Building in New York City. Covered by national television, the race captivated the public’s imagination. Teams were added in 1992 and it quickly became the May / June 2013 most popular and fastest growing segment of the race. Relay racing made the event accessible to any reasonably fit cyclist and continues to grow each year. From triathletes and Xterra racers to ultramarathoners, athletes are always looking for the next challenge, but many find it difficult to move from one field to the next, so RAAM has established the RAAM Challenge Series, a seven-city series created to give people the opportunity to dip their toes into endurance cycling. The Challenge Series offers distances to push limits and discover the adventure of endurance cycling in some of the best cycling locations in the country. Five events remain on this year’s calendar: Portland, Ore. (May 11); Minneapolis, Minn. (August 17); Sacramento, Calif. (September 14); Columbus, Ohio (September 28); and Daytona, Florida (November 2). Each event offers a glimpse into what RAAM is, whether choosing the 120- (a true gran fondo), 200-, or 400-mile solo RAAM qualifier. A half step between the series events and the full size RAAM is the Race Across The West (RAW). RAW runs concurrently with RAAM, following the same course, but ends in Durango, Colo. At 860 miles, it provides a good insight of what the full-length team endurance event would be like while still accomplishing an exploit, featuring terrain that is arguably the most beautiful in the country. There is no other race in the world like RAAM. It inspires and it is a true test of speed, endurance, strength and camaraderie. It is unlike anything else out there. Fred Boethling, owner of RAAM and the oldest solo finisher, still revels in the feeling he had after completing RAAM in 2006: “I look back and have an incredible sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that has stayed with me and always will.” To learn more about the Race Across America and associated events, visit raceacrossamerica.org. A1. Frenchman Bernard Hinault. He won the Vuelta in 1978 (then held in April/May) and his debut Tour de France a few months later. The following year he again won the Tour and he then won his first Giro in 1980. “The Badger” is definitively one of the all-time greats. A2. Belgian Freddy Maertens. In 1977, he won 13 stages of the Vuelta Espana enroute to the overall title. A3. Who else could it be ... Belgian Eddy Merckx. He won an incredible 19 of them including seven Milan-San Remos, two Tours of Flanders, three Paris-Roubaix, five Liege-Bastogne-Lieges, and two Tours of Lombardy. A4. Belgian Rik Van Looy, an early tormenter of Merckx. “The Emperor” accomplished this singular double in 1959 and won eight monuments as well as two world titles. A5. Belgian Tom Boonen, the only rider still actively racing (and winning), has won a total of 10 cobbled classics. His three Flanders, four Roubaix, and three Ghent-Wevelgems eclipse the mighty Merckx and Van Looys, who had eight each. He is truly the all-time greatest cobblestone racer to date. Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper l 9 Bike Safety Courtesy Gap Equals Deathtrap By John Duggan, Attorney-at-Law A s I have written about many times before, negligent left turning motor vehicle drivers are responsible for more than half of the bike versus car incidents that I investigate. In most of these situations, the cyclist is not on the driver’s radar screen and the motorist simply looks right through or past the rider without actually registering the bicyclist’s presence. The ever-growing miles of dedicated bike lanes and sharrow lanes have added a new wrinkle to the “left hook” incident. I call this dangerous situation the “courtesy gap deathtrap.” As you probably know, in most jurisdictions cars and bikes are subject to the same traffic laws and are supposed to share the road. Dedicated bike lanes, however, are exclusively for cyclists and cars cannot drive or park in them. Motorists can turn across them, but only after yielding the rightof-way to cyclists. The courtesy gap deathtrap scenario arises most often when riding during peak commute times when motor vehicle traffic is stop and go. Assume that you are pedaling northbound in a dedicated bike lane on a busy arterial street. While motor vehicle traffic is crawling, your lane is wide open and you are able to cruise along at 15 to 20 mph while chuckling at the motorists going nowhere — this is one of the benefits of cycling. See Diagram A. Unbeknownst to you because your view is obstructed by the stopped or slowly moving automobiles to your left, a car approaching from the opposite direction (southbound) is stopped and is waiting for traffic to clear so that it can turn left. A short distance ahead of you, a northbound car stops to create a small opening — a courtesy gap — and then waves to the driver waiting to turn, signaling that it is OK to do so. Although the left turning car has a duty to yield to all oncoming vehicles, including bicycles, before executing a left turn, the driver in this example assumes it is all right to proceed because the nice motorist who opened up the courtesy gap just waved him/her through. Unbeknownst to everyone, including you, the driver who opened the gap, thinking he was doing a good deed, really created the perfect storm. As the left turning driver travels through the opening with potentially no visibility of the bike lane, he/she T-bones you. Although just moments before you were relishing how great it was to be smoothly rolling along despite the heavy traffic, you are now bouncing on the pavement. This situation rarely ends well for the cyclist. A corollary situation to the above example is the “right hook,” which occurs when you are traveling along in a dedicated bike lane and one of the motor vehicles that is stopped or slowly moving to your left becomes impatient and abruptly (usually without signaling) attempts to make a right turn directly across your path. See Diagram B. When riding in a bike lane while traffic to the left is either stopped or slowly moving, cyclists need to be hyper-vigilant. This is another one of those situations where just because the law says you can go “X” miles per hour, it does not mean that you should. As in most situations where bicycles Diagram A Diagram B and cars are sharing the roadway, ride defensively and assume that an automobile could abruptly attempt to turn across your path. If you see a gap open in the traffic or if there are driveways or cross streets along your path, proceed with extreme caution. The greater the motor vehicle congestion, the slower you need to go so you can take evasive action when necessary. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and may save your body and your bike. Ride safely! John Duggan is an avid cyclist and Seattle attorney who represents injured cyclists. He is a member of the Cascade Bicycle Club, Bicycle Alliance of Washington and Washington State Association for Justice. He sponsors multiple local cycling teams and cycling related causes. He can be reached at 206-343-1888, 206-714-1085 or [email protected]. Product Reviews Motorex Dry Lube Craft PB Featherlight Jacket By Darren Dencklau By Darren Dencklau I n my opinion, one of the most detestable sounds known to man is the squeaking of a dry chain. As a cyclist, it often dismays me when I approach another rider from a distance and I can hear their drivetrain screaming in agony like a frightened and dying raptor in the jaws of a bloodthirsty Tyrannosaurus Rex. And if I can hardly stand it for only a brief moment, how can the navigator of said bike simply ignore it? Motorex has long been respected for their lubricants, particularly for motorcycles, and the Swiss company now makes a line of both wet and dry lubes for bicycles. They claim the products are “biologically degradable” and come in 100ml drip bottles — they also make a spray on. I generally opt for dry lubes, as I’ve found that wet Photo by Darren Dencklau. lubes tend to leave my drivetrain extremely messy. Motorex’s dry lube is a wax/ oil combination and the directions state to shake well and apply to a clean and dry chain. Following these directions and making sure I hit every pin, I then lifted my rear wheel off the ground and pedaled through several full rotations before wip- 10 l Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper ing the excess off with a rag. This process usually does the trick and leaves the outside plates clean while the pins and rollers are amply lubricated. After my first spin I noticed that there was quite a bit of build-up and I needed to re-wipe everything again. After the next ride, same thing — a dark residue was left on my cassette, pulleys and chainring. This combined with winter road grime makes for an unattractive sight. The chain did stay well lubricated, so much so that if I ignored the filth, I could pedal many miles before needing to reapply. Overall, I would recommend Motorex Dry Lube for those that need the protection during big efforts such as long distance racers and when riding in deplorable conditions — it really does keeps things rolling smooth. However, for the commuter and the OCD types who like their things really clean, I would recommend using something that doesn’t collect so much grime. MSRP for 100ml drip bottle is $9. For 300ml spray, $15. Visit motorexbicycle.com/mb for more information. C raft’s Performance Bike line “embraces riders who live their sport.” The company’s Performance Bike Featherlight jacket is designed for the positioning and movements of cyclists and has longer arms and a longer tail for better coverage while hunkered down in the saddle. Other features include a small back pocket, elastic cuffs, a fleece neckband, reflective panels on all sides, ventilation panels, and it is lightweight and easily pack-able. The material is made of polyamide and polyester. It does a good job of keeping the body temperature regulated and the side vents allow for air to flow freely. The back pocket is a nice feature for carrying either small food items like an energy bar and/or gel, or it can also be used to carry some cash and ID; the bungee drawstring keeps contents secure and it draws in the back panel of the jacket to reduce any unnecessary flapping while riding — one of my favorite features of the Featherlight. Although it works sufficiently during a light mist, it quickly becomes saturated when the rain really starts to fall. I would venture to say this garment is water resistant, by no means waterproof. As for the wind, it does a great job and it fits snug, making it a great choice on road rides and for the commute. MSRP for the PB Featherlight jacket is $90. Find out more at craftsports.us Photo courtesy of Craft USA. May / June 2013 Calendar Welcome to the Region’s Most Comprehensive Bicycle Calendar All events are listed chronologically within their respective sections: Events (clinics, expositions, lectures, etc.), Camps, Multisport (events that include cycling as part of the competition), Series (competitions where cumulative point standings are awarded), Cyclocross, Mountain Bike Racing (competition featuring singletrack and other off-road riding), Mountain Bike Touring (rides featuring singletrack and off-road riding), Road Racing (bicycle competition), Road Touring (road rides of various distances and for any type of bicycle), Track (velodrome-type events). To conserve space, we’ve chosen to run websites only on events where both website and email are available. If you are an organizer and your event is not listed, or if the information listed changes, contact us and we will gladly update the calendar. Please send your event information in the same style and format seen here. All aspects of this event calendar are copyright 2013 Bicycle Paper. This calendar may not be transmitted or reproduced by any means, electronically or printed, without written consent of the publisher. Events June Jun 28–30: Park City Festival Park City, UT. Presented at Park City Mountain Resort. Fully supported 30-62-mile road rides for all level of abilities - from training wheels to pros. Fun rides, expo, pumptracks, mtb guided trail rides, demos, live entertainment and more. kpwc.org Jun 29–30: Keystone Mountain Bike Festival Keystone, CO. Weekend of racing in the RME Snake River Race, guided group rides, individually self-guided ride, coaching clinics, kids activities, music, yoga, food, beer garden, movie, and more. Thane Wright, 970-401-1422, warriorscycling.com Camps May May 3–5: BetterRide MTB Skills Camp Golden, CO. Learn the mental and physical sides of downhill MTB racing. In this 3-day camp you will learn the skills to ride faster, more efficient, balanced, in control and of course how to have more fun. For other dates and locations see website. Gene Hamilton, BetterRide, 970-335-8226, betterride.net June Jun 14–16: BetterRide MTB Skills Camp Salida, CO. Learn the mental and physical sides of downhill MTB racing. In this 3-day camp you will learn the skills to ride faster, more efficient, balanced, in control and of course how to have more fun! For other dates and locations see website. Gene Hamilton, BetterRide, 970-335-8226, betterride.net Jun 15–18: High School MTB Camp Laramie, WY. 4-day camp at Curt Gowdy State Park for students 13-18. All skill levels welcome. Ride, learn about trail and bike maintenance, nutrition, fitness and more. Food provided. Richard Vincent, Laramie Enduro, 307-760-1917, laramieenduro.org Jun 15–16: Zoefitness Altitute Camp Albuquerque, NM. Zoe Nance, 817-266-4557, zoefitness.com Multisport May May 4: HRCA Cinco de Mayo Highlands Ranch, CO. 5km and 15km run. Valerie Kuhns, Highlands Ranch Run Series, 303-471-7039, highlandsranchraceseries.com May 4: Ironman St. George 70.3 St. George, UT. 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run. Official IRONMAN 70.3 U.S. Pro Championship. Helen, 905-415-8484, ironmanstgeorge.com May 11: Spring Sprint Triathlon Salt Lake City, UT. Fantastic bike course and a run that finishes in the Olympic Oval making this course the most spectator-friendly venue in the state. Cody Ford, US Trisports Race Management, LLC, 801-558-2503, ustrisports.com May 12: Jay Benson Triathlon Albuquerque, NM. Sold out. nmsportsystems.com May 17–18: Red River High Mountain Half Marathon Red River, NM. Half-marathon and 5km at high altitude. Goes from historic mining town of Red River through Upper Valley. Out and back course. Runner reception follows. Rebecca Sanchez, Red River Chamber of Commerce, 575-754-2366, redrivermountainbikerace.com May 18: NMARC #1 Albuquerque, NM. Beginner to advanced racers who want to practice adventure skills. 3-4 hour event. Category: 4 person, 2 person coed, men and women. Hike, bike, paddling legs. Jeff Hunker, New Mexico Adventure Racing Series, meetup.com/New-Mexico-Adventure-Racing-ClubMeetup-Group May / June 2013 June Jun 1: Adventure Xstream Buena Vista Buena Vista, CO. Sprint (3-6hrs), Sport (6-12hrs) courses. Kayak, trek, rappel, mountain bike. Solo, 2-person teams, unsupported or supported. Will Newcomer, Gravity Play Sports Marketing, 970-403-5320, gravityplay.com Jun 1: Salem Spring Triathlon Salem. 10th annual. Sprint distance triathlon. Aaron Shamy, Racetri Event Series, 801-518-4541, racetri.com Jun 1: Xterra Four Corners Farmington, NM. 1-mile swim on west side of Farmington Lake, 17-mile MTB course and new scenic 5-mile running loop. Ingrid Gilbert, 505-326-7602, xterrafourcorners.farmingtonnm.org Jun 1: Xterra Lory Fort Collins, CO. Perfect for beginners or experts. Course is designed so that anyone can have fun and be challenged. 1/2-mile swim in Horsetooth Reservoir, 12.2-mile singletrack rolling bike leg, 4.8-mile trail run. Limit 325. Lance Panigutti, Without Limits Productions, 303-408-1195, withoutlimitsracing.co Jun 8: Billy the Kid Tombstone Triathlon Fort Sumner, NM. Sprint and Olympic distances, individual and team entries. Fundraiser for Fox and Vixen Athletic program. Packet pick up at Fort Sumner Admin Building. Patricia Miller, Fort Sumner Municipal Schools, 575-799-7752, [email protected] Jun 8–9: GoPro Mountain Games Ultimate Mtn Challenge Vail, CO. Compete in 10km spring run-off, XC, Road TT, and either Class II Down River Sprint or SUP Surf Sprint, fastest combined time wins. Scott Bluhm, 970-777-2015, tevamountaingames.com Jun 8: NMARC #2 Cochiti Lake, NM. Beginner to advanced racers who want to practice adventure skills. 8-hour event. Staged at Tetilla Peak Boat Ramp. Mountain biking, paddling, trekking, rappelling. Steve, New Mexico Adventure Racing Series, meetup.com/New-Mexico-Adventure-Racing-ClubMeetup-Group Jun 8: Ruidoso Sprint Triathlon Ruidoso, NM. High altitude event starts with 3.5mile lakeside trail run, 10-mile hilly bike ride and ends with 400-yard indoor swim. Benefits Ruidoso Trails Coalition. Limit 200. Pre-reg. only. Bicycle Ruidoso CC, 503-863-4228, bicycleruidoso.com Jun 8: The Point Adventure Race South Jordan, UT. Graffiti Racing presents a multisport endurance event featuring mountain biking, running/trekking, paddling, a climbing challenge, and navigation using a map and a compass to attain check points. A multi-city race using urban paved trails and wilderness trails to travel a course covering approximately 30-60 miles in a 6-hour period. Scott Browning, Graffiti Racing LLC, Graffiti Racing LLC, Graffiti Racing LLC, Graffiti Racing LLC, 801-867-5039, graffitiracing.com Jun 8: Tune Up Triathlon Highlands Ranch, CO. Great way to start the season or for those new to the sport. 500-yard pool swim, 12-mile bike leg, 5km run on challenging paved course. Staged at Recreation Center at Westridge. Kids’ version available. Valerie Kuhns, Highlands Ranch Run Series, 303-471-7039, highlandsranchraceseries.com Jun 8: XTERRA Moab Triathlon Festival Moab, UT. XTERRA sport and full open water offroad triathlons, Moab sprint and Olympic open water, trail run, and kids’ triathlon. Dan Aamodt, 801-635-8966, triutah.com Jun 12–16: FIBArk Festival Salida, CO. MTB bike races, water sport, hill climb run and more. fibark.net Jun 15–16: Tough Mudder Avon, CO. 25 obstacles spread over a 10- to 12mile course designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina and mental grit. Solo or team entry. Takes place at Beaver Creek Resort. Party to follow. Tough Mudder, toughmudder.com Jun 23: Storrie Lake Triathlon Storrie Lake, NM. 1.5km swim, 40km ride, 10km run. Also Sprint distance. Multiple divisions. Chasing 3 Race Production, chasing3.com Jun 23: TriBoulder Boulder, CO. Challenge yourself at mile high elevation. Sprint and Olympic distances. Cedric Keppler, 318-518-7303, bbsctri.com Jun 23: Xterra Curt Gowdy Cheynne, WY. Uses Curt Gowdy State Park trail system. 1200m swim in the Granite Reservoir, 14 miles of singletrack riding through aspen groves and open meadows, 5.4-mile trail run finishing at Aspen Grove Trailhead. Lance Panigutti, Without Limits Productions, 303-408-1195, withoutlimitsracing.co Cyclocross July Jul 25: Raleigh Midsummer Nights Cyclocross Race Dear Valley, UT. Highest and richest non-series ‘cross event. Races for Elite men and women, category 3,4, and a “Wheelers and Dealers” category. Part of Dealer Camp, an industry trade show. Country’s highest ‘cross race at 7700’. Brandon Bingham, 801-726-4411, Bikedealercamp.com mountain Weekly Tuesday Laramie MTB Series June 18–August 13 Laramie, WY. Series of 6 events. Start at 6pm at Tie City parking lot. No license required. Beginner, sport and expert classes. Courses change every week and length varies upon category. Overall calculated on points, total of all 6 races count, wheelie contest tiebreaker. No race 7/2, 7/16 and 7/30. Evan O’Toole, laramiemtbseries.com Wednesday Ascent Cycling Series June 5–July 31 Colorado Springs, CO. Series of 5 races with categories for all ages. Weekend races are worth 10 points, starts at 9am. Weekday races at 6pm count for 5 points. Venues: Bear Creek Terrace or more technical Palmer Park. Singletrack, double trails and gravel road for 2.3-mile lap. Race #4 at Cheyenne Mountain State Park on Saturday. Lapped riders will be pulled. Must start last race to count for overall series standings. Andy Bohlmann, Sand Creek Sports, 719-591-4671, sandcreeksports.com GBS Short Track Series May 22–July 17 Golden, CO. Series of 8 events presented at Lookout Mtn Youth Services Center. Registration opens at 4:30pm. 4 starts, Juniors start 5pm, men C and women B at 5:25pm. Men B and women A at 6:05pm and men A at 6:35pm. Juniors race free. Lee Waldman, 720-313-5312, goldenbikeshop.com/shorttrack Sundance / Soldier Hollow Weekly May 1–August 14 Sundance, UT. Wednesday nights, May - August at 6:30pm. On July 4 race is at 9am. Venue alternates between Soldier Hollow and Sundance. Pros/experts 1hr race time, sport 45min, beginner 30min. Kids race at 5:30pm. Must participate in 10 events to be eligible for season overall points. Weekly points allocated to top 15 in each category. Double points on 8/7. Registration for Sundance events at Sundance Bike Shop, Soldier Hollow Charter School for Soldier Hollow. Weekly prizes, raffle and overalls. Mark Nelson, 435-654-1392, weeklyraceseries.com Town Challenge Race Series May 29–August 21 Steamboat Springs, CO. 7-race series that includes hill climb and cross-country events. Top 15 get points each race, overall calculated on best 6 out of 7. Multiple categories and age groups. David Stevenson, 970-879-4300 x 355, townchallenge.com Zia/Devo STXC Series April 17–July 10 Durango, CO. Weekly series for Juniors. Course changes every week. B’s at 6pm, A’s at 6:30pm. Zia Eliminator on 5/22, Super Duper Fun race 5/29. Sarah Tescher, 970-779-8480, durangodevo.com Series Big Mountain Enduro Jun 15–18, 29–30; Jul 6–7; Aug 31–Sep 1; Sep 28–29 Various. Epic trail rides in incredible destinations with timed race sections on the descents. Moderate to advanced. Multi-day, multi-stage format. Brandon Ontiveros, Big Mountain Enduro, LLC., bigmountainenduro.com Enduro Cup May 4; Jul 19–20 Park City, UT. Three races, crowns a series winner based on points. Third race date and location TBD. Daniel Roper, 801-560-6479, endurocupmtb.com Intermountain Cup Series - ICup May 11, 27; Jun 1, 29; Jul 6, 27; Aug 3 Various, UT, WY. 10-race series offers individual and team competitions. Overall calculated on points, all races count. Cash and merchandise. Racers should carry their own health insurance. No mechanical assistance. Individual, team and high school competition. Marek Shon, 801-209-2479, intermountaincup.com New Mexico Endurance Series - NMES Jun 1, 22; Jul 13; Aug 10; Sep 14, 28; Oct 19 Various, NM. 8 self-sufficient endurance hardcore grassroots endurance MTB races. Not suited for younger or inexperienced riders. Participants keep track of their own time and distance. Race for bragging rights. Lenny Goodell, nmes.wordpress.com New Mexico Off-Road Series - NMORS May 4, 11; Jun 8–9; Jul 21, 27–28; Aug 31; Sep 7, 15, 28; Oct 5 Various, NM. Series of 13 events run throughout the season. Open to all categories and singlespeed. Overall calculated on points - top 8 results count, min of 5 races. Only XC races count. Jersey for category champions. Each XC is qualifier for Nationals. Final overall series standings determine the State Champion. David Halliburton, 575-312-5991, nmors.org Rocky Mountain Endurance Series Apr 20; May 4, 18; Jun 1, 29–30; Jul 14 Various, CO. Series of 6 marathon, half marathon, XC, and half XC races. Categories: Men, women, open. Multiple age divisions. Overall calculated on points. Event points to top 20. Series pass available. 10% of all profits goes to various charities. Thane Wright, Rocky Mountain Endurance, 970-401-1422, rockymountainendurance.com Trestle Gravity Series Jun 22–23; Jul 6–7; Aug 10–11; Sep 1–2 Winter Park, CO. 4-weekend race series at Winter Park Resort. Traditional DH one day, Air DH the next. Registration closes at 4pm the day before the race. Winter Park Competition Center, 970-726-1590, epicsingletrack.com UT Gravity Series May 25–27; Jun 8–9; Aug 10–11 Various. Some of America’s best gravity racing. Ron Lindley, 801-375-3231, go-ride.com Utah State Championships Series Apr 20; Jun 8, 22; Sep 21 Various, UT. 4 events including a circuit race, XC and two 50-mile races. $10,000 Pro purse pays fastest men and women of the day, regardless of category, and more. Season pass or single race entry. Category U9 to Pros. Distance and course varies according to category and level. Top 10 gets points toward series overall - team and individuals. Individual competition now combined with Intermountain Cup. Bob Saffell, MTB Race Productions, LLC, 801-588-9020, raceuscs.com/points Winter Park Epic Singletrack Series Jun 15, 29; Jul 13, 27; Aug 10, 24 Winter Park, CO. 6-race series at Winter Park Resort. Formats vary, but always include male and female divisions. U15 to Masters 60+. Starts in waves so race with your group. Medals awarded to top 3 in each age class and sub-categories: Beginner, sport, expert, and Pro. Start at 10am. Winter Park Competition Center, 970-726-1590, epicsingletrack.com Zia Rides Race Series May 18; Jun 15–16; Oct 19 Various, NM. 4-event series. Must ride at least 3 to win. Men’s solo and singlespeed, women’s solo, duo and teams of 4. Recognizes top 3 men and women. If you ride in as a team, points still accrue as individual. Points to the top 10 in each category at each event. Lindsay Mapes, Zia Rides, ziarides.com Racing May May 3–4: 18 Hours of Fruita Fruita, CO. Kick off the season with Colorado’s only 18-hr team MTB race. Midnight start at Highline Lake State Park. 7-mile loop. Solo or teams of 2, 4, 6-8. Must register by April 29. Limit 100 teams. Event Marketing Group LLC, fruitamountainbike.com May 4: Battle the Bear - REM #2 Lakewood, CO. No license required. Bear Creek Lake Park, 10-mile fast loop with 5 short pushing climbs and singletrack. Marathon 60 miles, halfmarathon 30 miles, XC sport 20 miles, beginner 10. Runs clockwise (aka Front Range 60). Part of Rocky Mountain Endurance Series. Rocky Mountain Endurance, warriorscycling.com May 4: La Tierra Torture - NMORS #3 Santa Fe, NM. XC only. Start 9am. Pro/Cat 1/ SS (3 laps) and Cat 2 (2 laps) with 9.5 miles and 1075’ of climbing. Cat 3 (2 laps) 4 miles and 325’ of climbing each loop. Free jerseys for the first 100 to register. Part of New Mexico Off-Road Series - NMORS. Jan Baer, LLT Organizing Committee, latierratorture.com May 4: Mag 7 Enduro Park City, UT. Fun, flowy enduro racing in the Gemini Bridges area. Part of Enduro Cup. Ali Goulet, 801-560-6479, endurocupmtb.com May 5: Alien Run MTB Aztec, NM. XC event in Hart Canyon goes past the UFO crash site. One of the best trails in the Four Corners area. Fundraiser. Distance varies depending on categories. 10-26 miles. Beginner, sport and expert courses. Ed Strauss, 505-334-22057, alienrun.com May 11: 12 Hours of Mesa Verde Cortez, CO. Grassroots race on network of singletrack in the shadow of Mesa Verde. 16 miles on Phil’s World trails. Solo, duo and 3-, 4-person teams. Theme for this year - superheros! Proceeds benefit local non-profit Montezuma County partners. Kids race. 12hoursofmesaverde.com May 11: Call to Sundance - ICS #4 Sundance Resort, UT. XC, 2 loops: 7.1 miles topping out at 7100’, and the small 0.5-mile on lowest part of Archie’s Loop. First race starts at 8am for U9, 8:30am for U12, others 9:30am. Part of Intermountain Cup Series - ICup. Marek Shon, 801-209-2479, intermountaincup.com May 11: Desert RATS Classic Fruita, CO. 100km endurance race on western slope of Colorado. Challenging out and back on Kokopelli Trail. 5 rest stations. Not for casual rider. Sport to Pro, also tandem and singlespeed categories. Cutoff - 10 hours. Reid Delman, Gemini Adventures, 303-249-1112, geminiadventures.com May 11–12: Firebird 40 & La Femme Eagle, CO. Distances 8-40 miles depending on category. Open M/W, citizen, singlespeed, duo M/W. Firebird Hotlap for Junior and citizens. Ripping singletrack, $7500 cash purse, also includes Firebird la Femme (Sunday) and Strava Eagle Enduro, RM Bicycle and Outdoor expo and more. Part of Eagle Festival. Mike McCormack, 970-485-5847, eagleoutsidefestival.com May 11: Gunny Enduro Grand Junction, CO. Mike Driver, LTR Sports, 970-257-7678, ltrsports.com May 11: Oak Flats - NMORS #4 Tijeras, NM. Presented at Oakflats Campground. All categories from first time racers to Pros. Distance varies based on category. Separated course for first timers and kids. Cash prize. Part of New Mexico Off-Road Series - NMORS. Antonia DeHorney, D.A.S.H., 505-604-2177, dashforlife.org May 12: Unravel the Scratch Gravel Helena, MT. At Scratchgravel Hills. All categories. 5.8-mile loop, 70% double track, 30% singletack. Start/finish at Echo Drive Trailhead. Juniors (11-14) race short course for 3 miles. Kids race available. Chad Dexter, Big Sky Cyclery Race Team, 406-442-4644, bigskybikes.com May 18: Dawn ‘til Dusk Gallup, NM. Fun, laid-back, grassroots 12-hour. Sweetest singletrack course in the Southwest. 13-mile loops with 1600’ of climbing. Authentic Native American art as prizes. Solo, singlespeed, duo, teams of 4 and fun categories. Kids race. Start 7am. Part of Zia Rides Race Series. Lindsay Mapes, Zia Rides, 505-863-4228, dawntilduskrace.com May 18: Dirty Double Fondo Salida, CO. Salida to Harstel, Guffey, Salida on mostly dirt/gravel roads, little pavement. Bring lights. 200km at high altitude in the middle of nowhere race. Improved course. MTB or ‘cross bike. Unsupported event limited to 74. Colorado Endurance Series, coloradoes.wordpress.com Family Friendly Ride Supports Bicycle Colorado Commercial Rocky Mountain Road Cup Point Scale Bronze, Silver, Gold Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper l 11 Calendar May 18: Indian Creek - REM #3 Sedalia, CO. 11, 20, 40 or 60 miles. Junior and kids race. 20-mile loop through scenic singletrack and double track of juniper, ponderosa, aspen, and rolling hills. 3-minute intervals between categories. Free camping. Awards ceremony. Part of Rocky Mountain Endurance Series. Rocky Mountain Endurance, warriorscycling.com May 25–27: Sundance Showdown Sundance Resort, UT. Super-D Saturday, DH Monday. Part of UT Gravity Series. Ron Lindley, Sundance Resort, 801-375-3231, go-ride.com May 25–26: The Original Growler Gunnison, CO. Half Growler is 32 miles - sold out but you can enter the Full Growler and be scored in the Late Bus 32 on Sunday. Sunday: Full Growler (64 miles) limited to 350 riders, noon cut-off. Singletrack. Benefits Gunnison Trails. gunnisontrails.com May 26: Iron Horse Classic MBS MTB Race Durango, CO. A multi-lap course originating from downtown Durango that will challenge all abilities. Lap length approximately 7 miles with flowing singletrack, steep climbs, and fast downhills. Multiple categories. IHBC Director, 970-259-4621, ironhorsebicycleclassic.com May 27: Stan Crane Memorial XC Race - ICS #5 Draper, UT. ICS #5, 7th annual. Monday race, great XC course start/finish at the equestrian center. About 80% singletrack on a 9.8-mile loop. Total elevation 1100’/lap, first start at 8:15am for U12, others at 9am. Part of Intermountain Cup Series - ICup. 801-233-1400, intermountaincup.com May 30–Jun 1: 24 Hours of Erock Castle Rock, CO. 8th annual. 24-hour race at Greenland Open Space, just south of Castle Rock. Start 6:30pm Friday. Stunning views, 8.25-mile loop. Staging at 6098’, highest point 7450’. Solo and team event. Chip timing. Part of Elephant Rock Cycling Festival. Scot Harris, 303-282-9020, 24hoursoferock.com June Jun 1: Deer Valley Pedalfest - ICup #6 Deer Valley, UT. Multi-lap course with climbs and twisty singletrack downhill. Part of Intermountain Cup Series - ICup. intermountaincup.com Jun 1: Pajarito Burnout - NMES #2 Los Alamos, NM. New event. Start at Pajarito Brewpub. 70ish miles with 10,500’ of climbing. Option for 32 and 43 miles as well. See race series for details. Dylan Harp, NM Endurance Series, nmes.wordpress.com Jun 1: PV Cycle Derby - REM #4 Elbert, CO. Valley Scout Ranch. Roll through prairie grassland and plains of eastern Colorado. 22mile loop winds through low hills of black forest and ponderosa pine. 14, 22, 44, 66 miles. Kids race. Part of Rocky Mountain Endurance Series. Rocky Mountain Endurance, warriorscycling.com Jun 2: Beti Bike Bash Lakewood, CO. Colorado’s XC Women Championships. Women’s only MTB race and festival. All levels welcome. 4-mile loop, 300’ climbing per lap, non-technical, mostly singletrack. Expo, prizes, kids race and great swag bag. Bring the whole family. betibikebash.com Jun 7–9: Chile Challenge - MSC #2 Angel Fire, NM. Saturday DH practice, DS, XC race at Angel Fire Resort. Sunday Super D and DH races. XC long loop is 9 miles with 60% singletrack, short loop 5.5 miles. Kids race. Part of GRT Tour. Bigfoot Productions, 720-407-6142, racemsc.com Jun 7: GoPro Mountain Games Slopestyle Vail, CO. Presented at Golden Peak. Scott Bluhm, Vail Valley Foundation, 970-777-2015, tevamountaingames.com Jun 8: GoPro Mountain Games MTB Race Vail, CO. XC for all categories including Juniors at Golden Peak. Kids race, freeride dual. Scott Bluhm, Vail Valley Foundation, 970-777-2015, tevamountaingames.com Jun 8–9: Oso HS MTB Race NMORS #5 Angel Fire, NM. For all riders from beginners to Pros. Special category for first time racers. Distance between 6-25 miles which includes the “luge” berms section. Short track and XC events. Proceeds benefits ALS research. Part of New Mexico Off-Road Series - NMORS. Hogan Koesis, 505-255-4222, osohigh.com/Oso_High_MTB_Race.html Jun 8: Palisade Classic and Grand Mesa Grind Palisade, CO. Full Grind, Sport and Beginner Half Grind races. BBQ, music and more. Rondo Buecheler, 970-464-9266, palisadecoc.com Jun 8: Salida Big Friggin Loop Salida, CO. Singletrack, high elevation. Ride the base (88 miles) or long (106 miles with 13,000’ of climbing) loop. Start at Cafe Dawn 6:30am. Unsupported event limited to 74. Tom Purvis, Colorado Endurance Series, coloradoes.wordpress.com Jun 8–9: The Captain Colorado Springs, CO. Saturday: Enduro #1 in N. Cheyenne Canyon (Pipeline to 7 Bridges). Enduro #2 in Palmer Park. Sunday: Enduro #3 12 l Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper using St. Mary’s Trail. Total 14+ skill testing miles. After race party. Tim Scott, Palmer HS Cycling Team, 719-651-6037, facebook.com/thecaptainrace?sk=wall Jun 8: Wasatch Back 50 - USCS #2 Wasatch County, UT. Exciting new race course starts east of US 40, finishes at Homestead Resort. Limit 350. Part of Utah State Championships Series. Bob Saffell, MTB Race Productions, LLC, 801-588-9020, raceuscs.com Jun 8–9: Wolf Mountain Mayhem Wolf Mountain Resort, UT. Saturday: Super D (afternoon start). Sunday: Downhill (morning start). Part of UT Gravity Series. Ron Lindley, 801-375-3231, go-ride.com Jun 15–16: 24 Hours in the Enchanted Forest / USAC 24-Hour MTB Nationals Gallup, NM. New staging area at McGaffey campground. 18 miles of singletrack on pristine and premier trails outside Gallup in the high Zuni Mountains. Solo, duo, teams of 4-5 or corporate. Race start at 11am. Kids races, yoga, live band and more. Also 6- and 12-hour races. Part of Zia Rides Race Series. Zia Rides, 24hitef.com Jun 15: Bailey Hundo Epic Race Bailey, CO. Invitational event. 100-mile endurance race with over 45 miles of singletrack. Benefits youth biking initiatives in Colorado. See website for invitation requirement. Brenda Hobgood, bailey100.com Jun 15–18: Big Mountain Enduro #1 Angel Fire, NM. Opener. Elevation changes that will challenge even the most accomplished riders. Day of lift-accessed terrain and a day of backcountry singletrack. Angel Fire Resort. See race series for details. Big Mountain Enduro, LLC., bigmountainenduro.com Jun 15: Winter Park Epic Singletrack Series #1 - HC Jun 29: 40 in the Fort Fort Collins, CO. At Lory State Park. Two tough laps for 40 miles with 9000’ of climbing. Some course changes. Beginners, “Just for Fun,” where 2 riders do one lap each simultaneously. Benefits Overland MTB Club. Overland MTB Club, 970-430-5336, overlandmtb.org Jun 29–30: Big Mountain Enduro #2 Crested Butte, CO. Some of the longest descents in the area. Some of the most challenging and scenic courses on the North American tour, blending high altitude backcountry and lift-accessed stages. See race series for details. Big Mountain Enduro, LLC., bigmountainenduro.com Jun 29: Durango Dirty Century Durango, CO. Self-supported epic limited to 74. Singletrack, some paved roads, dirt roads and more trails with 13.5 miles of climbing. 97 miles. Short loop 82 miles. Start 6am at San Juan Cycles, finish at Durango Brewing Co. Colorado Endurance Series, coloradoes.wordpress.com Jun 29: Sherwood Hills - ICS #7 Logan, UT. Sherwood Hills Resort, multiple laps, winding singletrack through trees. 9am. Part of Intermountain Cup Series - ICup. Kayleen Ames, 435-757-4310, intermountaincup.com Jun 29–30: Snake River - REM #5 Keystone, CO. Start/finish at River Run Village at Keystone Resort and Keystone Mountain Bike Festival. Part of Rocky Mountain Endurance Series. Rocky Mountain Endurance, warriorscycling.com Jun 29: Winter Park Epic Singletrack Series #2 - XC Super Loop Winter Park, CO. Hit the singletrack with our super loop course that has some new twists (more singletrack!). Racing for all ages and abilities. Check-in starts at 8am. The race begins promptly at 10am. See race series for details. Winter Park Competition Center, 970-726-1590, epicsingletrack.com Winter Park, CO. A 5.3-mile non-technical hill climb with 2160’ elevation gain. Start 10am at base of Winter Park Resort climbing to top of Mary Jane Ski Area. See race series for details. Winter Park Competition Center, 970-726-1590, epicsingletrack.com Jun 30: Goldrush 100k Marathon Salida, CO. XC race for all levels. Three different courses using the Arkansas Hills trail system or Salida Mountain trail system, based on your ability. Distances vary based on category. Expert, singlespeed, sport and kids races. fibark.net July Jun 16: FIBArk MTB Race Jun 16: KMC Classic Colorado Springs, CO. Council Grounds at Palmer Park. Colorado State XC Championships for Junior, Senior and Master men categories. AMBC race for men. Alison Dunlop Series event for Juniors. Andy Bohlmann, Sand Creek Sports, 719-591-4671, sandcreeksports.com Jun 22: Dixie 200 Parowan, UT. Self-supported, 200 miles of trail and remote terrain between Bryce Canyon and Brian Head in southern UT. Virgin River Rim, Thunder Mountain, Grandview and several other trails. Start 7am at intersection of 2nd Left Hand Canyon and Hwy 143. Dave Harris, 2-epic.com/events/dixie200.html Jun 22: Round Valley XC - USCS #3 Park City, UT. 10-12-mile laps, mostly singletrack. Rolling hills, swoopy turns. Kids race U12 at 3:30pm. Adult races start at 5pm. Part of Utah State Championships Series. Bob Saffell, MTB Race Productions, LLC, 801-588-9020, raceuscs.com Jun 22: Santa Fe Big Friggin’ Loop NMES #3 Santa Fe, NM. Slight changes to 2012 route. 72 miles, 13k of climbing or option of medium loop 56 miles / 9.6k of climbing. Unsupported, not for beginners. Start 6:30am from 2nd St. Brewery. Limit 74 riders. See race series for details. Scott Broome, NM Endurance Series, nmes.wordpress.com Jun 22–23: Trestle Gravity Series #1 Winter Park, CO. See race series for details. Winter Park Competition Center, 970-726-1590, epicsingletrack.com Jun 23–30: Crested Butte Fat Tire Bike Week Crested Butte, CO. 30th annual week-long MTB celebration including the infamous Chainless World Championships (June 28), Fat Tire 40 (June 29), Bridges of the Butte (June 30) and the Butte 24-Hour Townie Tour (June 22-23). 970-349-6438, cbchamber.com Jun 28–Jul 4: San Juan Huts 200 Durango, CO. Choose either the solo epic selfsupported adventure at 214 miles, 22,600’ of climbing with a 48-hr limit or the 7-day supported stage race from Durango to Moab, UT. Uses the San Juan Huts southern route. Epic race runs July 2-4. Kathy Hudson, Terra Firma Racing, 972-966-1300, terrafirmaracing.com Jun 28: Sundance Single Speed Challenge Sundance, UT. The only true singlespeed race in Utah, this proves to be an incredible event. Singlespeeders get a unique chance to race head to head. Czar Johnson, Sundance Resort, 801-223-4121, sundanceresort.com/explore/sum_biking_races.html Colorado Springs, CO. Race from the edge of the great plains up more than 5000’ to tree line and crests on the shoulders of Pikes Peak. Mix of wide trails, double track and forest service roads. Perfect for new and experienced riders. Jery Furman, Palmer HS Cycling Team, goldrush100.com Jul 4: Firecracker 50 Breckenridge, CO. All categories. Sparkler race for Juniors. Beginners ride 14 miles. Field limit 750. Ride solo or with a teammate for one 25mile lap each. Climbing per lap: 5400’. Rippin’ descents and plenty of singletrack. Pro Ultra Endurance Tour (UET) event. Jeff Westcott, Maverick Sports Promotions, 970-390-4760, mavsports.com Jul 6–7: Big Mountain Enduro #3 Keystone, CO. Some of the most raw and rugged lift-accessed mountain biking in the US. Rock gardens, drops, and high-speed features. Seven rowdy stages, non-stop festival and entertainment. See race series for details. Big Mountain Enduro, LLC., bigmountainenduro.com Jul 6: Fire Road Cycling - Dirt Fondo Cedar City, UT. 25k, 60k, 100k distances. Starts at Main Street Park 8am. 7000’ total elevation gain for 100km, 4000’ for 60km. Equal prize $ for overall men and women in the 100km. 25-qualifying slots for the Leadville 100 up for grabs for 100km. Paul Huddle, 858-518-0042, fireroadcycling.com Jul 6: Test of Endurance 50/100 OXCS #10 Blodgett, OR. 100k, 14,000’ of climbing on monster course. 50 miles, 6400’, goes to Coast Range and back. Amazing support. Limit 100. Only the 50 is part of series. Part of Oregon XC Classic Series - OXCS. Mike Ripley, Mudslinger Events, 541-225-7946, mudslingerevents.com Jul 6–7: Trestle Gravity Series #2 Winter Park, CO. See race series for details. Winter Park Competition Center, 970-726-1590, epicsingletrack.com Jul 7: OuterLocal Summer Games Jackson, WY. MTB event as part of the festival. Start 10am at Phil Baux Park at the base of Snow King. Other events include trail running, bouldering and paragliding, capped off with free concerts. Jeremy Dodge Jul 12–14: Snowmass Enduro Snowmass, CO. 3-day, 4-stage event all on the same bike. Epic Super D, XC, jump trail, DH. Over 8000’ of descending. 85% downhill, 15% uphill. snowmassvillage.com Jul 13: Chama Redneck Epic NMES #4 Chama, NM. Top of Cumbres Pass. 4 distances - new Moonshine 100 Proof Epic of 100 miles, Shake n Bake Epic 70 miles, Bobby Epic 50 miles or Geezuz Epic 26 miles. Climbing varies between 3 to 10+km. See race series for details. David Burdette, NM Endurance Series, nmes.wordpress.com Jul 13: Leadville Silver Rush 50 Leadville, CO. 50-mile out-and-back at high altitude in Leadville’s historic east side mining district. Route is extreme. 8-hour time limit. 50-mile run the next day with 14-hr limit to claim Silver King and Queen titles. Qualifier for Leadville 100. Josh Colley, Lifetime - Leadville Race Series, 719-219-9351, leadvilleraceseries.com Jul 13: Winter Park Epic Singletrack Series #3 - Valley Point to Point Winter Park, CO. Start in Winter Park and finish in Fraser following some of the valley’s best singletrack. Beginner course 18.8 miles, full course 23.5 miles. Start 10am, open to riders of all abilities 8 years and older. See race series for details. Winter Park Resort, 970-726-1590, epicsingletrack.com the event sponsors. All events are in & around the Uintah Basin, there is no charge or entry fee. Troy Lupcho, Altitude Cycle, 435-781-2595, altitudecycle.com June Jun 1: National Trails Day Various. Events of all sort, including trail building and rides, presented by various organizations in all part of the country. imba.com Jul 14: Breckenridge 100 (B-68 & B-32) - REM #6 Jun 2: Subaru Elephant Rock Jul 21: Colorado Trail Race Jun 15: Tour de Cure - Southern Colorado Breckenridge, CO. 100-mile solo or 3-person team. Nestled between 3 ski resorts, cloverleaf course with 13,719’ of climbing. Shorter B-68, B-32 available. Camping. Start at Carter Park. B-100 or B-68 counts towards NUE RME. NUE event. Part of Rocky Mountain Endurance Series. Rocky Mountain Endurance, warriorscycling.com Durango, CO. Starts in Denver, finishes in Durango. 470 miles, 65,000’ of elevation gain. Start 4am, end date varies. Unsupported event. Expert riders only. Colorado Endurance Series, coloradoes.wordpress.com Jul 21: Signal Peak Challenge NMORS #6 Silver City, NM. Distance varies between 8-30 miles. Two courses with 4- and 8-mile laps. Part of New Mexico Off-Road Series - NMORS. Nathan Shay, nmcycling.org Jul 25–28: Colorado Freeride Festival Winter Park, CO. Some of the best MTB riders compete for over $45,000 in slopestyle, Enduro World Series, air DH, XC, trials and pond crossing events. Jerady Zunno, Winter Park Resort, 970-726-1590, coloradofreeridefestival.com Jul 27: Laramie Enduro Laramie, WY. Challenging 72.5-mile course climbing over 8600’. All above 7500’. Singletrack, dirt roads, experienced riders only. At Happy Jack Recreation Area. Benefits regional non-profits. Lottery reg opens Feb 1. Richard Vincent, 307-760-1917, laramieenduro.org Jul 27–28: Sandia Peak Challenge NMORS #7 Albuquerque, NM. Part of New Mexico Off-Road Series - NMORS. Joanna Eckstein, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - NM, nmors.org Jul 27: Winter Park Epic Singletrack Series #4 - Epic XC Winter Park, CO. See race series for details. Winter Park Resort, 970-726-1590, epicsingletrack.com Touring May May 2–5: Kokopelli Trail Fruita, CO. 4 days, 142 miles of singletrack, jeep trails and retired railroad. Rest stops and lunches. Camping, gear transportation. Limit 90 riders. Bikerpelli Sports, 303-875-9000, bikerpelli.com May 3–5: P.A.S.S. Bookcliffs Trailfest Price, UT. Trail rides (new trails debuted), free camping (bring your acoustic instruments for the campfire jam), food, live music, chaos & mayhem, Friday afternoon warm-up ride will be pretty mellow with a party atmosphere, Saturday & Sunday we ride for REAL - Rides range from short & mellow to ridiculous. Fuzzy Nance, 435-637-2453, PASStrails.com May 9–12: Kokopelli Trail Fruita, CO. 4 days, 142 miles of singletrack, jeep trails and retired railroad. Rest stops and lunches. Camping, gear transportation. Limit 90 riders. Bikerpelli Sports, 303-875-9000, bikerpelli.com May 11: Mission to Ride Montrose, CO. Intermediate and advanced COPMOBA guided MTB rides in Gunnison Gorge Nat’l Conservation Area. Start 8:30am. Bike rodeo, wine and food fest the next day. Benefits Montrose Medical Mission. missiontoride.com May 17–19: MECCA Spring MTB Festival Green River, UT. Registration begins Friday at 1pm followed by a “warm up ride.” Evening meal is provided as is a prize drawing. Saturday begins with breakfast and then all-day, guided rides, ranging from beginner to advanced. Finish up on Sunday morning with a provided breakfast and a guided (or on-your-own) scenic ride. Family-friendly. Kim Player, 435-653-2440, biketheswell.org May 18: Amazing Earthfest Fredonia, AZ. Joy Jordan Woodhill Trail Ride. 10- and 20-mile non-technical loop on hardpack natural surface with expansive views of the Kaibab Plateau and colorful cliffs of Grand Staircase. Meet at the Fredonia Welcome Center 8am. Rich Csenge, 435-644-3735, amazingearthfest.com May 23: Indian Creek MTB Ride Golden, CO. Difficult 30 miles with 3000' of climbing. 24-mile loop, up to Colorado Trail through Roxborough trail and Indian Creek. Bring lots of water and energy snacks. Meet 8:45am at parking lot south of Indian Creek. Rob Layman, 303-638-0457, teamevergreen.org May 25–26: Numb Fest Vernal, UT. 2 fun and action packed days of organized riding and festivities. There will be organized trail rides each day based on ability level with gatherings in the evening involving food, beverage, revelry, and prizes provided by Castle Rock, CO. 26th annual. 27-mile off-road with rolling hills, high plains and canyons. Dirt roads, paved roads and bike paths. 7-mile family ride. Starts/ends at Douglas County Fairgrounds. Scott Olmsted, 303-282-9020, elephantrockride.com Woodland Park, CO. Meadow Wood Sports Complex. 14-mile MTB route. Also 14-, 50- and 86-mile road routes available. Lunch and festivities. Kelly Jackson, 800-diabetes ext. 7020, tourdecurecolorado.com Jun 16–22: Desert RATS MTB Tour Fruita, CO. Supported tour of 148 miles with overnight camping site. Tent and food provided, gear transport. Mileage between 18-40 per day from Loma to Rabbit Valley, Fish Ford, Slickrock, Porcupine Rim trail and more. Reid Delman, Gemini Adventures, 303-249-1112, geminiadventures.com Jun 23–28: Grand Staircase Escalante Mountain Singletrack Panguitch, UT. 6-days. The Grand Staircase Lower Canyons provide exploring, camping, and back country MTB opportunities. Available 7/14-19, 8/18-23, 9/15-20. Barb Goff, Escape Adventures, 800-596-2953, escapeadventures.com Jun 28–30: KPCW Cycling Festival Park City, UT. Showcasing Park City’s award winning trail system! Guided rides (Mid Mountain, Round Valley, Prospector & more). Live bands, vendors, expos, food & beverage, fun for the whole family. Held at The Yard, 8am-8pm. Cindy Bywater, 435-649-9004, kpcw.org Jun 28–Jul 4: San Juan Huts 200 Tour Durango, CO. 7-day supported stage race/tour from Durango to Moab, UT. Uses the San Juan Huts southern route. Take your time and see all the sights. We carry your gear to keep you light and our professional chef will make you want to stay another week. Kathy Hudson, Terra Firma Racing, 972-966-1300, terrafirmaracing.com Jun 29: Bear Lake Monster Cross Montpelier, UT. Dirt fondo along the back roads of the Bear Lake Valley. 100- or 62-mile options with KOM and other challenges for those with competitive streaks. Cyclocross or MTB are your best options. Jared Ebom, 801-599-9268, BearLakeMonsterRide.com Jun 29–30: Bridges of the Butte 24-hour Townie Tour Crested Butte, CO. A 24-hour-long cruiser bike tour benefiting the Adaptive Sports Center Argentina Program. Teams and individuals welcome. Costumes encouraged. Tours the town, crossing as many bridges as possible from 3pm to 3pm. Adaptive Sports Center, 970-349-5075 x 104, adaptivesports.org July Jul 6: Fire Road Cycling - Dirt Fondo Cedar City, UT. 25, 60, 100km distances, starts at Main Street Park, 8am, 7000’ total elevation gained for 100km; 4000' total for 60km. 25 qualifying slots for the Leadville 100 up for grabs for 100km event. Paul Huddle, 858-518-0042, fireroadcycling.com Road Weekly Tuesday CSP Table Mountain Race Series June 4–August 27 Golden, CO. Criterium held at CSP training facility on South Table Mtn. 6pm start for Senior men and women. Medals for best overall sprinter and finisher based on points. First series runs May to end of June, second series July to end of August. Jonathan Heidemann, 303-798-5925, peaktopeaktraining.com Wednesday Karen Hornbostel Memorial TT Series April 10–May 22 Denver, CO. Series of 7 TT at Cherry Creek. Series sold as a 7- or 4- race package, no individual event entries. Must be ACA member. All categories from Junior 10-12 to Master 65+, retro, tandem and hand cycles. Start at 4:30pm, 20-second intervals, ACA transponders mandatory. Course is 9.6 miles long featuring fast turns, rolling terrain and uphill finish. Overall best 6 of 7. Fundraiser for ACA and the Cancer Fitness Institute. Alain Boisvert, 720-536-5934, limabeanscycling.com May / June 2013 Calendar Wednesday Night Criterium Series May 8–June 26 Albuquerque, NM. Series of 7 events. 1.1-mile course at Balloon Fiesta Park. Great racing for adults and kids. Handicap race format. Junior gear restriction in effect. Rain or shine. Starts at 5:30pm with D, followed by C, B and A. Race 20-50 minutes. Mike G, 505-280-1399, nmcycling.org Thursday Nationwide Whole Foods NewMark Merrill Crit Series April 18–July 25 Longmont, CO. Criterium series. Barry Lee, Sanitas Sports, 720-244-8228, coloradocycling.org series DCWF Criterium Skills Series May 12; Jun 1, 8 Albuquerque, NM. Primarily designed for Cat 5 men and Cat 4 women. Instruction followed by 30-40-minute mock criterium. Higher category riders welcome to assist with riders’ skill development. Upgrade points. Juniors race for free. Presented at Wilson Stadium. Jennifer Buntz, Duke City Wheelmen Foundation, 505-306-1443, dukecitywheelmen.org New Mexico Road Series - NMRS Jun 2, 9; Aug 4, 18 Various, NM. A series of 8 races, possibly 9 (TBC). Overall calculated on points, must do a minimum of 3 to qualify. Out of district riders eligible for series prizes. All races scored separately, not on omnium. Final race counts for double points. Men and women Cat 1/2/3, both Cat 4, men Cat 5, Masters 50+ men and Juniors. Points awarded based on number of participants. Event identify at NMRS. Jennifer Buntz, nmcycling.org Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC) May 4, 5, 11, 17–19, 25–26, 25, 26–27; Jun 1, 2, 9, 15, 16, 22–23, 29; Jul 6, 7, 14, 20, 21, 26–28; Aug 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 31–Sep 2 Various, CO. Season long points competition for individual and club members. Gold level events awards points to the top 30, silver events top 20 and bronze top 15. Overall calculated on top 16 results for individual, top 20 for team. BRAC, coloradocycling.org UCA Premier Points Series May 11, 17–19, 31–Jun 2; Jun 8, 8, 15, 29; Jul 6, 27; Aug 3, 17–18, 24 Various, UT. Season-long points series administered by the Utah Cycling Association. Consists of weekend races. Points calculated for all licensed category riders and abilities. Mike Hansen, utahcycling.com Volcan TT Series Jul 21; Aug 4, 11 Albuquerque, NM. 20km rolling out and back with moderate descent and climb out to the Rio Puerco Valley. Random start every 30 seconds. Categories for 10+. Jeff Huser, 505-228-9150, nmcycling.org Racing May May 1–5: SRAM Tour of the Gila Silver City, NM. Offering 8 categories. A 5-day stage race for UCI Men; women Pro1/2; men 1/2; men 3 and Masters men A consisting of 3 RR, ITT and a crit. 4-day stage race open to men 4, Masters men B and women 3/4 and consists of 2 RR, TT and crit. Also 2 citizen races. Jack Brennan, Tour of the Gila Inc., 575-590-2612, tourofthegila.com May 4: Antelope Island Classic Antelope Island, UT. Utah State Road Race Championships for Masters and Juniors. Starts at west end of causeway, then across the causeway towards the ranch and ends on the island. Mileage from 32 to 60. $2000 cash plus prizes. James Ferguson, Bountiful Mazda Cycling Team, 801-476-9476, bmbbc.com May 4: Cafe Velo Tri-Lakes TT Palmer Lake, CO. 14.2-mile challenging TT on Douglas County roads. USAC and citizen divisions. Chip timing. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Brad Mosier, CP Racing, 719-331-4361, cpracingteam.com May 4: Gran Fondo Moab Moab, UT. Ride the spectacular Manti-La Sals on Loop Road. Start/finish in Moab. Climb +5500’ in 60 miles. Mass start. Steep climbs, rolling hills, flat sections, gorgeous scenery. Scott Guzman Newton, Poison Spider Bicycles, 435-654-8650, granfondomoab.com May 5: Koppenberg Road Race Superior, CO. 5.5-mile circuit course with 300’ elevation gain, including 2-mile dirt road with short 17% hill climb. Distances vary according to category: 1 to 8 laps. Kids race. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Lance Panigutti, Without Limits Productions, 303-882-8304, withoutlimits.com May 9: RAAM Texas Challenge Austin, TX. Enduro unsupported 200 and 400 miles, terrain varies based on distance. Expo and May / June 2013 post-event party. The 400 miles is a qualifier for RAAM. Rick Boethling, Race Across America, 720-381-6053, raamchallenge.com May 11–12: Albuquerque 50+ Games Stanley, NM. Tentative date. Open to Albuquerque/Bernalillo county residents aged 50 by December 31. Age divisions. Top 3 move on to NM Senior Olympics. Events include 1 mile, and 5, 10, 20, and 40K time trials. Bob Pyeatt, City of Albuquerque, 505-823-6467, cabq.gov/seniors May 11: Derek Leyde Downtown Criterium Salt Lake City, UT. Downtown criterium. Great single day event in the true 4-corner criterium style. RaceDay Event Management, racedayeventmanagement.com May 11: SLC Downtown Criterium Salt Lake City, UT. Fun and fast 4-corner crit around Pioneer Park, 300 W and 300 S. Part of UCA Premier Points Series. Marek Shon, Crit Racing LLC, 801-209-2479, utahcritseries.com May 11: Wheels of Thunder Littleton, CO. Criterium, 1.6-mile closed loop with undulating terrain and uphill finish. Good pavement. Kids of Thunder Race. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Richard Beutner, Int’l Christian Cycling club, 303-818-4420, christiancycling.com May 12: DCWF Criterium Skills Series Albuquerque, NM. See race series for details. Jennifer Buntz, Duke City Wheelmen Foundation, 505-306-1443, dukecitywheelmen.org May 17–19: Bear Lake Classic State TTT Championships Garden City, UT. Blue Water Resort. Friday: 3.4-mile climb ITT. Saturday: 51-mile flat loop RR around Bear Lake. Sunday: 5-man TTT 51 miles around Bear Lake (3rd wheel counts). TTT doesn’t count for UCA points. Part of UCA Premier Points Series. Kevin Rohwer, Races 2 Race, 435-770-9852, race2raceevents.com May 17–19: Superior Morgul Classic Superior, CO. Friday: TT - Morgul Bismark course (bronze). 6.3-mile TT. Saturday: Criterium: Summit “L” shaped course runs through downtown (silver). Sunday: Infamous RR is back from a 20-year absence. 13.3-mile loop has 750’ vertical elevation gain with significant grades. Finish at the top of the Wall (gold). Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Tony Panigutti, Without Limits Productions, 303-882-8304, withoutlimits.com May 18–19: L’Eroica Historic Race Grand Junction, CO. 102 miles, recreating the 1899-1915 (90 paved, 12 dirt) race between Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs. Epoque attire recommended for extra points. Chris Brown, Brown Cycles, 970-245-7939, browncycles.com/leroica.htm May 18: Ride for the Pass Aspen, CO. 10-mile race on Independence Pass the weekend before road opens to car traffic. 2600’ elevation gain from 8550’ start. Benefits Independence Pass Foundation. Mark Fuller, Independence Pass Foundation, 970-963-4959, independencepass.org May 19: Aspen Cycling Criterium Aspen, CO. Technical, fast-paced crit through the twisty streets of downtown Aspen. 0.8-mile, 10-corner course. All categories. Start 9am, Pros race at 12:30pm. Kids race 12pm. Run in conjunction with Ride for the Pass. Sandra Doebler, City of Aspen, 970-429-2093, aspencyclingfestival.com May 25: Boulder Orthopedics TT / TTT Boulder, CO. 31km in North Boulder. USAC license required. TTT men’s team of up to 5 riders, women’s 4. Mixed aged and categories allowed. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Bill Brant, Boulder Orthopedics, 303-588-2697, bouldermasterscycling.com May 25–26: Colorado Mini Classic Silt, CO. Saturday: TT out-and-back along Colorado River. Crit with 8 corners on 0.8-mile course around Veteran’s Park. Sunday: 14-mile circuit race with challenging climbs and a trip down “Roller Coaster” on each lap. Awards party. Open to Juniors and U23. Omnium format. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Bill Sommers, BRAC, 970-309-1514, coloradocycling.org May 25–27: Iron Horse Classic Omnium Durango, CO. Road race: 47 miles, 5700’ of climbing, fast descents. Criterium in downtown Durango. TT: rolling, with short climb. Omnium format or single event. Kids events, citizen tour and concert. Gaige Sippy, IHBC Director, 970-259-4621, ironhorsebicycleclassic.com May 25: Sugarhouse Criterium Salt Lake City, UT. Bring the entire family and enjoy some of Utah’s best crit racing in Salt Lake’s Sugarhouse Park. Marek Shon, Crit Racing LLC, 801-209-2479, utahcritseries.com May 25: Sun Crest Hill Climb Challenge Draper, UT. Benefits Water For People Foundation. Start 8am Draper Equestrian Center - 1600 E. Highland Drive (13500 South). RR 15 miles with two hill climbs. Ends at top of Sun Crest. Brad Gilson, 801-684-7770, DraperTrails.com May 26–27: Nationwide WFM Glenwood Springs Road Race p/b ACME Glenwood Springs, CO. Saturday: Red Canyons RR. Sunday: Cottonwood Pass RR. Both events bronze level. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Barry Lee, Sanitas Sports, 720-244-8228, coloradocycling.org May 26–27: Utah State TTT and TT Championships Salt Lake City, UT. State Team Time Trial Championship Saturday, individual Sunday. Dirk Cowly, 801-699-5126, utahcritseries.com May 31–Jun 2: Salt Lake Valley Bike for Kids Stage Race Daybreak, UT. Criterium, RR and TT. USAC license required - one-day licenses available. Proceeds benefit Bikes for Kids Utah. Part of UCA Premier Points Series. Alex Kim, 801-503-9064, bikesforkidsutah.com/bikes-for-kids-stage-race June Jun 1: Coal Miner’s Classic / SKM Louisville, CO. Scott Kornfield Memorial. Criterium on 1.4-mile course with uphill finish. All categories. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Andrew Bagnato, Louisville Velo Club, 303-641-9589, americancycling.org Jun 1: DCWF Criterium Skills Series Albuquerque, NM. See race series for details. Jennifer Buntz, Duke City Wheelmen Foundation, 505-306-1443, dukecitywheelmen.org Jun 1: High Stakes Criterium Las Vegas, NV. Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Registration 6am - closes 15 minutes before each start. Course is 1.2 miles, flat with 6 corners and 2 chicanes. Amazing pavement with no curbs. USAC sanctioned. David McDonough, Broken Spoke Bikes, 702-823-1680, brokenspokebikeslv.com Jun 2: City Park Criterium Denver, CO. Tight, fast course through many roundabouts. All categories. Kids race. Cash prizes. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Lee Herndon, 970-333-1572, rockymountainroadclub.com Jun 2: Crest Race - NMRS Albuquerque, NM. Part of New Mexico Road Series - NMRS. Randy Corcoran, nmcycling.org Jun 7–8: Rockwell Relay Moab, UT. Four-person relay, three legs per rider, covering 528 miles. Start 8am at Sweeney Park in Moab. Goes non-stop to St. George. Courtney Stewart, Rockwell Relay, 801-643-4673, rockwellrelay.com Jun 8: Cache Valley Classic Clarkston, UT. This 100-, 50- or 25-mile race is fun, challenging, with only one major climb (1 mile, 7-10% grade between Trenton and Clarkston - Little Mountain) and one minor climb (1 mile, 4% grade 1 mile south of Clarkston. All new race course; only climb Little Mountain one time (50 and 25 miles); twice for 100 miles. Part of UCA Premier Points Series. Kevin Rohwer, Races 2 Race, 435-770-9852, race2raceevents.com Jun 15: High Uintas 10,000 RR Kamas, UT. One-day, 80-mile, point-to-point road race from Kamas, UT, to Evanston, WY, over Bald Mountain Pass. Part of UCA Premier Points Series. Dirk Cowley, RaceDay Event Management, 801-209-2479, racedayeventmanagement.com Jun 15: Wilson Stadium Criterium Albuquerque, NM. Regional District Championships. Jennifer Buntz, nmcycling.org Jun 16: Mike Horgan HC p/b Veloshine Boulder, CO. The Classic Boulder Hill Climb Race. Hard-earned 22 miles with over 4100’ in elevation gain will take you up Canyon, Magnolia Rd, Peak to Peak Highway, and the Shelf Rd to the finish at Lake Peterson. All categories. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Tony Panigutti, Without Limits Productions, 303-882-8304, withoutlimits.com Jun 20–23: Utah Summer Games Cycling Cedar City, UT. Time Trial, Hill Climb, Criterium, Road Race with overall Omnium. Casey McClellan, Utah Summer Games, 435-865-8421, utahsummergames.org Jun 21: Pedal Paddle Battle Canon City, CO. 20-mile race starts at AAE Beach in Parkdale and heads up south side of Royal Gorge (1100’) then across the famous bridge and park and down Hwy 50 for 8 miles. In conjunction with the Pro raft race. Start 6:30pm. Gordon Eckstrom, Fremont Adventure Recreation, 719285-8169, royalgorgewhitewaterfestival.com Jun 22–23: Dead Dog Classic Stage Race Laramie, WY. Saturday: RR - 20 to 80 miles with two climbs depending on category, elevation to 10,200’. Sunday: flat high altitude TT and historic downtown Laramie criterium. Small field size for safety reasons. $8000 in purse. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Michael Harokopis, Laramie Bicycling Network, 307-760-4797, deaddogclassic.com Jun 22: Idaho State TT Championships Nampa, ID. Rudy Estrada, 208-713-3705, idahobikeracing.org Jun 22: Lap the Lake 50 Race Leadville, CO. Challenging race consists of one lap (22 miles) or three laps (50 miles) around scenic Turquoise Lake. Paved road, demanding ascents, challenging descents. Elevations from 9650’ to 10,800’. Start 9am. Amber McGee, Lake County Recreation Dept., 719-486-7484, lakecountyco.com Jun 22: Sanpete Classic RR Spring City, UT. RR for Juniors to Master 55+. 46, 72 or 98 miles depending on categories. No large elevation changes, but rolling hills and false flats. Start 10am. Eric Thompson, 801-541-3840, skiutahcycling.com Jun 8: DCWF Criterium Skills Series Jun 22: Sedillo Hill Road Race Jun 8: Little Mountain RR Jun 23: Balloon Fiesta Park Criterium Albuquerque, NM. See race series for details. Jennifer Buntz, Duke City Wheelmen Foundation, 505-306-1443, dukecitywheelmen.org Clarkston, UT. Challenging, yet fun. 16-mile circuit race with one major climb (1 mile, 7-10% grade) and 1 minor climb (1 mile, 4% grade). Total elevation gain: 600’ per lap. Staged at Clarkston City Park. First start 8am. Part of UCA Premier Points Series. Kevin Rowher, Races2Race, 435-770-9852, race2raceevents.com Jun 8–9: Rocky Mountain Senior Games Keenseburg, CO. Qualifying event for Summer National Senior Games. TT: 5km and 20km, RR: 20 and 40km on flat course. Registration deadline 5/21. Minimum age requirement 50. Alan Boisvert, Lima Beans Cycling Promotions, 720-536-5934, limabeanscycling.com Jun 8: Sunshine Hill Climb Boulder, CO. 9.14-mile climb with 3200’ elevation gain. Last 3.5 miles on dirt. Jorge Espinosa, GS Ciao, 303-521-4096, coloradocycling.org Jun 9: GoPro Mountain Games - TT Vail, CO. Open to all. Class for all categories. Scott Bluhm, Vail Valley Foundation, 970-777-2015, tevamountaingames.com Jun 9: North Boulder Park Classic Boulder, CO. North Boulder Park, 0.7-mile circuit. Fields limited to 100. Cash prize. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Keith Harper, 720-240-3108, coloradocycling.org Jun 9: Tour de Los Alamos - NMRS Los Alamos, NM. Oldest race in the SW. Circuit race, 28-84 miles long. Licensed and citizens’ categories. Rolling to hilly loop. Neutral/parade start from downtown. 27-mile race for public/ citizens around National Laboratory. Sunday, tentative criterium. Part of New Mexico Road Series - NMRS. Roadrunners Cycling Club, tourdelosalamos.org Jun 12–16: NM Senior Olympics Roswell, NM. Qualifier for Nationals. 50+ racers. 888-623-6676, nmseniorolympics.org Jun 15: Colorado TT Championships Denver, CO. John Stenner Memorial. 20km and 40km distances. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Yvonne van Gent, Schwab Cycles Racing Team, 303-997-8550, coloradocycling.org Albuquerque, NM. Regional road race championships. Woody Woodruff, Olve Rapido, nmcycling.org Albuquerque, NM. Woody Woodruff, nmcycling.org Jun 23: Black Forest Classic Gran Fondo Elizabeth, CO. 100km and 88 miles of the Bijou Basin. Start at Evans Park at 8am. Don Leyn, Colorado River Club, blackforestclassic.com Jun 29: Hell and Back RR Salt Lake City, UT. Out and back road course north of the Great Salt Lake. Part of UCA Premier Points Series. Marek Shon, 801-209-2479, utahcritseries.com Jun 29: The Sonic Boom Master Championships Louisville, CO. Colorado State Master Criterium Championships plus selected categories. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Andy Johnson, Sonic Boom Racing, 303-527-0092, sonicboomracing.com Jun 29: Wright Stuff Challenge Oak Hill Norwood, CO. Hill climb. Also 5 and 10 km run. Wright Stuff Community, 970-327-4021, wrightstufffoundation.org Jun 30: Guanella Pass HC Georgetown, CO. Category 1 climb, 12 miles, 3150’ with section of 8-9%. $2000 in cash and merchandise. Mass start per category with neutral start. All categories from Juniors 13-14 to Masters 65+. Scott Bilyeu, CTB Racing, 303-914-4265, guanellapasshillclimb.com Jun 30–Jul 4: Utah City Criteriums Wasatch Front, UT. Five-day criterium festival. July 1: 4-corner fast course in old downtown Midvale. July 2: Lehi Roller Mills course. July 3: Flat and fast Bountiful circuit. July 4 goes up and down on Holladay Blvd and Laney Ave. Dick Cowley, RaceDay Event Management, 801-699-5126, racedayeventmanagement.com Jun 30: Women Riding Well TT Albuquerque, NM. nmcycling.org July Jul 5–7: Single Track Bike Shop Omnium hill climb, Sunday Williams/Perkinsville RR. Juniors to Masters 60+. Joe Shannon, Flagstaff Cycling, 928-523-1740, Flagstaffcycling.Squarespace.com Jul 6: Gran Fondo de Taos Taos, NM. New course. 105 or 84 miles. Longer routes follow beautiful rural terrain of the Taos, Mora, Angel Fire, Taos loop. Start/Finish at Taos Youth and Family center. Rest stops, timed. Benefits the Taos Sports Alliance. Jennifer Buntz, Duke City Wheelmen Foundation, 505-306-1443, taossports.com Jul 6: Porcupine Hill Climb Salt Lake City, UT. 12th Annual. Start: Porcupine Pub & Grille, finishing at Brighton Ski Resort, Big Cottonwood Canyon. Part of UCA Premier Points Series. Mike Meldrum, Porcupine Cycling Club, 801-424-9216, porcupinehillclimb.com Jul 6: Rock the River RR Glenwood Springs, CO. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Mitchell Hyra, Dotsero, 970-688-0102, coloradocycling.org Jul 7: Nationwide Niwot Downtown Criterium Niwot, CO. Fast, fun, exciting and technical downtown criterium in historical Niwot (2nd Ave). 1-mile course. 7 corners, 2 sharper than 90 degrees. Open to all categories. BAR yellow group only. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Sanitas Sports, coloradocycling.org Jul 13: Firestone 88 Criterium Classic Firestone, CO. Brand new to the Colorado cycling scene. Get ready for .88 miles of wide-open and freshly paved roads! Course offers fun corners that can be taken at full speed and wide-open fresh paved roads. Tony Panigutti, Without Limits Productions, 303-882-8304, withoutlimits.com Jul 14: Longmont Criterium Classic Longmont, CO. Senior criterium championships plus select categories. Longest running race in the state. 0.7-mile mostly flat L-shaped course winds through historic neighborhoods. Wide smooth streets. Part of Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC). Nadine Pyter, Twin Peak Cycling, 303-233-7125, coloradocycling.org Jul 17–21: Cache County Stage Race Cache Valley, UT. Tentative date. S/F on Holladay Blvd. Course incorporates a hill climb on 4500 South, a descent down 2300 East and a wicked turn on to Laney Ave back onto Holladay Blvd. Something for every racer. Dirk Cowly, 801-699-5126, racedayeventmanagement.com touring series Challenge Series Short Course May 5, 25; Sep 7 Various, CO. 3-event series. 80-100 miles with challenging climbs. Overall season standing calculated on time. rmccrides.com Triple Crown Series Jun 15, 29; Jul 27; Aug 10 Various, CO. 4-event series featuring the toughest of the RMCC Challenge Series. Timed one-day double centuries designed to push cyclists to the limit of endurance. Complete Joe, Death Ride and Grand Loop in a single calendar year and get the coveted Colorado Triple Crown finisher title. Overall season standing calculated on time. Events also part of Ultracycling Cup. rmccrides.com touring May May 3: Colorado Front Range Fleche Various, CO. Teams to set departure and routes. Must be at least 360km+, 24-hour limit. Recommended start between 7-8am on Saturday. Lights required. ACP sanctioned. John Lee Ellis, Rocky Mountain CC, 303-604-1163, rmccrides.com May 4: Law Enforcement Memorial Ride Memorial Ride Albuquerque, NM. 1st annual memorial bike ride honoring New Mexico’s fallen officers. 30km and 100km options. Start 7:30am in Albuquerque, end in Sante Fe. 100k riders get a ride back on the Rail Runner. Kids bike rodeo. Benefits Albuquerque PD Chaplain Unit Fun CUF. Maggie Schold, facebook.com/pages/NMLE-MemorialRide/182918215165697 May 4: Tour de Brewtah Salt Lake City, UT. 4th annual. Themed “May the Fourth be with You.” Tour as many local microbreweries in the valley to support the Homeless Youth Resource Center, The Sharing Place, and Wasatch Community Gardens. Tim Stempel, 602-463-1547, tourdebrewtah.org May 4: Biker’s Edge Cinco de Mayo Century Kaysville, UT. Fully-supported 100- and 50-mile ride starting in Kaysville at 7am. Made for every level of rider with a gradual 1800’. Community fun ride with great food. Free. Taylor Arnold, 801-544-5300, bebikes.com May 5: Boco Loco Bike Bash Boulder, CO. 8-mile family ride, 34-, 60-, 102-mile courses. S/F at Gerald Stazio Softball Fields. Expo, finish line entertainment and more. Benefits Justin Parker Neurological Institute and Boulder Community Hospital Foundation. Boulder Community Hospital, bocoloco.org Flagstaff, AZ. Omnium format, must complete all 3 stages. Friday 20km TT, Saturday: Snowbowl Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper l 13 Calendar May 5: Boulder Fearsome Five Boulder, CO. 100 miles. 1500+’ of climbing. Climb Flagstaff Mountain, Magnolia Rd, Sugarloaf Rd, Fourmile Canyon/Sunshine Canyon, and Super Jamestown in one day. How many can you climb in 11 hours? Part of Challenge Series Short Course. Mark Lowe, Rocky Mountain CC, rmccrides.com May 5: Rose Hill Rally Grand Junction, CO. Family-oriented, fully-supported ride through scenic farm country around Grand Junction and Fruita. 31-, 62-mile routes. Meals, T-shirt, rest stops, massage, scavenger hunt, kid’s activities, prizes, demo bikes. Canyon View Park at 7am. Benefits Rose Hill Hospitality House. Ed Lipton, St. Mary’s Hospital & Regional Medical Center, 970-242-5940, stmarygj.org May 9: RAAM Texas Challenge Austin, TX. Fully supported recreational 30 and 60 miles, 120 gran fondo, competitive unsupported 200 and 400 endurance miles. Terrain varies based on distance. Expo and post-event party. Rick Boethling, Race Across America, 720-381-6053, raamchallenge.com May 11: Back Roads of the Great Basin 300km Brevet - SLR Saratoga Springs, UT. 300km self-supported brevet. Saratoga Springs to Vernon, Eureka, Nephi, returns along the west side of Lake Utah. Modified route from 2012. Richard Stum, Salt Lake Randonneurs, 435-462-2275, SaltLakeRandos.org May 11: Black Forest Littleton, CO. 300km. A rollerfest straddling the spine of the Palmer Divide. ACP brevet. Lights required. Start 5am at Mineral and Santa Fe Park and Ride. John Lee Ellis, Rocky Mountain CC, 303-604-1163, rmccrides.com May 11–12: Gila Inner Loop Super Tour Silver City, NM. 2-day ride. Day 1: 40 miles on the Gila Inner Loop Scenic Byway with moderate to steep climbs and descents through Gila National Forest. Day 2: Mimbres River Valley back to Silver City. 34 miles. Daily options for longer rides. Fully supported. New Mexico Touring Society, nmts.org May 11: Mission to Ride Montrose, CO. 30-, 40-, 60-, 100-mile routes. Century is challenging with arduous climbs, spectacular views. The 40 is difficult, 60 mellow and the 30 a locals’ favorite. Starts between 5:30-9am at Columbine Middle School. Bike rodeo, wine and food festival the next day. Benefits Montrose Medical Mission. Kevin Davis, 970-596-4108, missiontoride.com May 11: Spokes for Hope St. George, UT. Women’s only century ride. 30-, 50-, 70-, and 94-mile options for all abilities. Fully supported. Start 8am from Town Square. Proceeds go to Help Abused Women and Children. Margaret, SpinGeeks, 435-229-6251, spingeeks.com May 11: Springville to Nephi - BCC SS at State Fair Park. Courses open 7:30am-5pm. Fully supported. Part of Salt Lake City Week. Jon Smith, Cycle Salt Lake Century Inc., 801-596-8430, cyclesaltlakecentury.com May 18: First Ascent Metric Century Ride May 25: Foothill Climbfest Herriman, UT. Fully-supported women’s only ride. 20-, 40-, 60-, 80- and 100-mile routes. Mix of urban and rural roads through southwest part of Salt Lake Valley. Starts at Butterfield Park 7am. Includes T-shirt, swag, lunch, and finish line party. Limit 1300. Dani Lassiter, Infinite Cycles and Healthy Herriman, 801-635-9422, goldilocksride.com May 25–27: Luna Lake Tour May 18: Goldilocks Women’s Ride May 18: Little Red Pre-Red - BCC SS Mendon, UT. Self-supported. Ride 100 miles clockwise around the loop. Shorter options available. Convenience stores abound on the route. Don Williams, Bonneville Cycling Club, 801-474-2282, bccutah.org May 18: Moonshadows in Moab Moab, UT. Watch the full moon rise briskly above the mountains, take in the sweet sage of the desert as you make your way to the Earth’s edge overlooking the Colorado River 2000’ below. Fully supported, 44- or 62-mile options, 6pm-midnight. Beth Logan, Skinny Tire Events, 435-260-889, skinnytireevents.com May 18: Ride for the Pass Aspen, CO. 10-mile ride on Independence Pass the weekend before road opens to car traffic. 2600’ elevation gain from 8550’ start. Benefits Independence Pass Foundation. Mark Fuller, Independence Pass Foundation, 970-963-4959, independencepass.org May 18–19: Tour of the Swan River Valley (TOSRV) Missoula, MT. 43rd annual. 2-day challenging and fun 226-mile tour through western Montana. Ride to Seeley Lake, Bigfork, and back along Flathead Lake. Food stops and baggage shuttle. Limit 200. Tim Marchant, Missoulians On Bicycles, 406-250-7228, missoulabike.org May 18: Valles Caldera Double Cross White Rock, NM. 200km brevet. New route, simple out and back from White Rock Overlook Park to Jamez Springs with a detour to Bandalier NM Visitor’s Center. Start 6am. John Mazzola, NM Brevet Series, 505-263-7090, nmbrevets.com May 19–22: Bicycle Brainstorming Tour Richfield, UT. Experience and learn the history and culture in Utah’s designated National Heritage Area along Heritage Highway 89. Unique supported bike ride. Susan Crock, 435-773-7920, utahheritagefoundation.org May 19–24: Bryce-Zion Libby, MT. 2-day loop tour in scenic western Montana. Homemade food, no traffic, fantastic community support. Benefits Kootenai Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity. Limit 400. Lottery reg. Susie Rice, 406-293-2441, stokr.org May 19–25: Color Country to Canyonlands May 12: Amazing Earthfest GSENM Road Ride Kanab, UT. 37 miles out and back through Johnson Canyon into Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (all paved). Meet at Knuckle Head’s Bike Shop in Kanab. Option: 60 miles or MTB ride. Rich Csenge, 435-644-3735, amazingearthfest.com May 15: Ride of Silence Various. Cyclists worldwide take to the roads in silent procession to honor cyclists killed or injured while riding on public roadways. Many locations in each state. See website for location near you. Start 7pm. rideofsilence.org May 16: Greystone Ranch Loop Evergreen, CO. 18 miles, 1700’ of climbing. Moderate level. Joel Marks, Team Evergreen Bicycle Club, 303-670-3491, teamevergreen.org May 17: Bike to Work Day Various. Ride your bike to work. Stop at any of the commuter booths along the way. Check with your local clubs and bike shops. bikeleague.org May 18–19: Bike MS: Ride the Vortex Cottonwood, AZ. Sedona Verde Valley. Two-day ride offering 50, 75 and 100 miles on day 1 and 30 or 50 on day 2. Staged at Verde Valley Fairgrounds, fully supported. It’s not just the miles that matter - it’s the unforgettable experience. Blaine King, 480-968-2488, bikemsarizona.org May 18: Cripple Creek Colorado Springs, CO. 300km ACP brevet. Lights required. Start 4am. Visit Colorado backroads. John Lee Ellis, Rocky Mountain CC, 303-604-1163, rmccrides.com May 18: Cycle Salt Lake Century Salt Lake City, UT. 36-, 67-, 100-mile mostly flat rural routes with views of the Great Salt Lake. Start 14 l Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper Albuquerque, NM. 1372 miles to Champaign, IL. Fully supported. Relaxed pace, spectacular scenery. Rest day in Santa Fe. 800-971-2453, crossroadscycling.com Golden, CO. Start with easy ride through Golden to 18-mile climb up Golden Gate Canyon followed by Peak to Peak Scenic Highway on beautiful forested, mostly flat road. Optional Coal Creek Canyon climb and back to Golden. Benefits Livestrong. Start at Golden HS. Colorado Cycling Team, 303-522-0649, coloradocyclingteam.org Springville, UT. 100 miles. Meet at Cracker Barrel in Springville. Self-supported, non-members welcome. From Springville thru Lincoln Beach, Goshen to Nephi, return thru Santaquin. Mild hills. Start 9am. Also options for 55 and 75 miles. Don Williams, Bonneville Cycling Club, 801-641-4020, bccutah.org May 11–12: STOKR cling Escapes, 714-267-4591, CyclingEscapes.com May 23–Jun 12: Middle America Tour St George, UT. Phenomenally gorgeous Bryce and Zion National Parks are the perfect place for a tour on car-free roads. Sunday-Friday. Average 35 miles per day. All levels. Most meals included. Also 5/26, 6/2, 6/16, 9/1, 9/15, and 9/29. Bicycle Adventures, 800-443-6060, bicycleadventures.com Springdale, UT. 7days, 442 miles, 29,000’ elevation gain. Mileage varies from 23-112 miles per day. Very scenic. Also 9/15. Cycling Escapes, 714-267-4591, CyclingEscapes.com May 19: Community Classic Bike Tour Loveland, CO. Celebrating 25 years, the CCBT features 62-, 37-, 30- and 10-mile routes through the beautiful foothills of Larimer County. All rides begin and end at McKee Medical Center. Dawn Paepke, McKee Medical Center Foundation, 970-203-2519, McKeeFoundation.com May 19–25: Epic Bike 5 National Parks Zion Nat’l Park, UT. 5 National parks and scenic byways in 6 days. Zion National Park, Bryce National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park and Lake Powell. Richard Merrick, Cycling Escapes, 714-267-4591, CyclingEscapes.com May 19: Gran Fondo Santa Fe Santa Fe, NM. Michael McCalla, Bike n Sport Racing, 406-381-2690, nmbikensport.com May 19–24: Santa Fe - Taos Tour Santa Fe, NM. Ride New Mexico’s high desert, including Bandelier Nat’l Monument and Enchanted Circle. Feast on epic cuisine, explore ancient cliff dwellings, world famous art and culture. Also available Sept 15-20. Bicycle Adventures, 800-443-6060, bicycleadventures.com May 19: Santa Fe Century Santa Fe, NM. 28th annual. 25-, 50-, and 100mile routes. Flat, rolling, moderately hilly terrain. Includes water bottle, numbers, maps, route marking, rest stops, SAG. See 100 miles of history pass under your wheels. Willard Chilcott, 505-982-1282, santafecentury.com May 21–26: Tour of Arches & Canyonlands Moab, UT. 5 days, 350 miles, 18,000’ elevation gain. Also 5/12 and 10/6. Richard Merrick, Cy- Littleton, CO. 80 miles, 8000’ of climbing. Start 8am from Ken Caryl Park and Ride. Deer Creek Canyon, Black Mountain/Brook Forest, Parmalee Gulch Road, High Drive, and Brook Forest/Black Mountain in reverse. Part of Challenge Series Short Course. Charlie Henderson, Rocky Mountain CC, 720-480-9714, rmccrides.com Springerville, AZ. 166 miles of rural quiet roads thru quiet towns - Quemado, Reserve and Luna, NM. Runs through Gila and Apache National Forests. Starts in Springerville, AZ. bikegaba.org May 25: Pony Express Century Eagle Mountain, UT. Century start at Epic Biking and roughly follows the Pony Express route past Faust, to Rush Valley, and back. Start 8am. Includes food, drink, T-shirt. Metric Century and 30-mile options. Dan Burton, Epic Biking, 801-653-2039, epicbiking.com May 25: Quarter Horse Ride Durango, CO. 25-mile ride from Durango to Purgatory. 2300’ of climbing. Food and celebration at the finish. Benefits Mercy Health Foundation and community organizations. Part of Iron Horse Classic. IHBC Director, 970-259-4621, ironhorsebicycleclassic.com May 26–Jun 1: Land of Enchantment Classic Plus Albuquerque, NM. Intermediate to advanced, average 60 miles per day. Follow the Turquoise Trail through historic mining towns beneath the Sandia Mountains, High Road to Taos beside Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and the legendary Enchanted Circle. All meals included. Start/finish in Albuquerque. Bicycle Adventures, 800-443-6060, bicycleadventures.com May 27: Antelope Island 100 - BCC SS Antelope Island, UT. Memorial Day. Meet at Westpoint Park. Start 9am. Open to all, mild hills to Antelope Island and back. Bring cash to access the causeway and extra bottles to have water on the island. Don Williams, Bonneville Cycling Club, 801-641-4020, bccutah.org May 29–Jun 1: Road Respect Southern Utah Cedar City, UT. Sponsored by UDOT, DPS, UHP and Bike Utah. Kanab (5/30), Washington County/St. George (5/31), “Ride the Gap” (6/1). Keri Gibson, 801-273-7571, roadrespectutah.org June Jun 1: Buena Vista Bike Fest (BVBF) Buena Vista, CO. Beautiful century loops to Leadville along the scenic rolling hills of Turquoise Lake Rd, around the Mineral Belt Trail through historic Leadville Mining District and back to Buena Vista. Post-ride meal and party. Also 35, 50 and metric century. Start at MePhelemy Park. Limit 800. Ann Smith, Buena Vista Bike Fest Committee, 719-528-6834, bvbf.org Jun 1: Double Loop Four 400km Brevet - SLR Nephi, UT. Self-supported 400km ride travels south to Koosharem, Junction & Richfield. Modified from 2012 so as to travel on US-50 in the less busy early morning hours. Richard Stum, Salt Lake Randonneurs, 435-462-2275, SaltLakeRandos.org Jun 1: Fairplay - Cañon City Colorado Springs, CO. 400km ACP brevet. Visit South Park and Fairplay and Cañon City in the Arkansas Valley. Start 4am. Lights required. John Lee Ellis, Rocky Mountain CC, 303-604-1163, rmccrides.com Jun 1: Little Red Riding Hood Lewiston, UT. Fully supported, non-competitive, women only cycling event. 18, 36, 50, 80 and 100 miles through Cache Valley in Northern Utah. No big climbs. Limit 3000. Penny Perkins, Bonneville Cycling Club, 801-474-2282, bccutah.org Jun 1: Ride the Gap Parowan, UT. Ride through the Parowan Gap where beauty couples with cosmic phenomena. Travel through time and see what ancient people have left behind. Fully supported, perfect weather. 30-, 55- and 100-mile options. Start 8am. Limit 1500. Ryan Gurr, SpinGeeks, 435-674-3185, spingeeks.com Jun 1: Tour de Cure Albuquerque Century Bernalillo, NM. Fabulous urban scenic city views and the beautiful Sandia Mountains on a 100-mile perimeter loop. 25-, 50-, 65-mile routes available. Also, 10-mile fun family ride on flat roads and bike paths. Start at Balloon Fiesta Park. Ron Guerrero, Heart Hospital of NM, tour.diabetes.org Jun 2–7: Bryce and Zion Tour St George, UT. Phenomenally gorgeous Bryce and Zion National Parks are the perfect place for a tour. Sunday-Friday. Average 35 miles per day. All levels. All meals included. Also available 6/16, 9/1, 9/15, and 9/29. Bicycle Adventures, 800-443-6060, bicycleadventures.com Jun 2–8: Northern New Mexico Alpiner Albuquerque, NM. 386 miles, 7 days. Ride to the mysterious Jemez Mountains by way of Turquoise Trail, the Truchas Climb, Taos Canyon, and Bandelier Nat’l Monument. 800-417-2453, timbertours.com Jun 2: Subaru Elephant Rock Castle Rock, CO. 26th annual. 27-, 32-, 62-, and 100-mile options. Dirt roads, paved roads and bike paths. 8-mile family ride. Starts/ends at Douglas County Fairgrounds. Scott Olmsted, 303-282-9020, elephantrockride.com Jun 6–10: Hills and Canyons Tour Boulder, CO. Experience the Front Range by riding flat roads, moderate hills, and paved canyon roads. Challenging but well-suited for intermediate or advanced riders. Finish Line Cycling, 720-295-0758, finishlinecycling.com Jun 7–8: RTR Prologue Ride Gunnison, CO. Exclusive event to kick off Ride the Rockies. 50 participants have the opportunity to ride with celebrities while treated with premier accommodations, private breakfast, massage, bike fit, 5-star dining, swag and entry in RTR. $2500 donation goes to Denver Post Community Foundation. Denver Newspaper Agency, 303-954-6700, ridetherockies.com Jun 8–9: Bike Touring 101 Salt Lake City, UT. 7th annual overnight selfsupported bike tour for new and experienced bike travelers to Wasatch St. Park. Start in SLC area and Park City. Louis Melini, Utah Bicycle Touring Society, [email protected] Jun 8: Cache Valley Classic Clarkston, UT. Don’t text-n-drive and ruin-theride, 62.5-mile metric century. Fun, challenging, with only one major climb (1 mile, 7-10% grade between Trenton and Clarkston - Little Mountain) and one minor climb (1 mile, 4% grade 1 mile south of Clarkston). Kevin Rohwer, 435-770-9852, race2raceevents.com Jun 8–14: Cycle Utah St George, UT. Stellar tour through unique canyons and cliffs. Zion, Bryce Canyon and Grand Staircase Nat’l Park. Fully supported. Adventure Cycling Association, 800-744-2453, adventurecycling.org Jun 8–10: Death Ride Tour V Ride for Life Silverton, CO. A 3-day, 232-mile ride over 5 mountain passes with 16,500’ of climbing. Nightly stops in Telluride and Durango. Fully supported. Limit 275. Benefits Colorado Children’s Hospital and ALS Association. Barry Sopinsky, Death Ride Tour Inc., 720-320-3375, deathridetour.com Jun 8–15: Denver Post Ride the Rockies (RTR) Telluride, CO. 28th annual. 3 scenic mountain passes, a trek over the highest suspension bridge in the US and 20,400’ over 7 days and 513 miles. Ascend Lizard Head, Wolf Creek and Poncha Pass, visit the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park before finishing at Cheyenne Mountain Resort in CO Springs. Renee Wheelock, Denver Post, 303-954-6704, ridetherockies.com Jun 8: Fremont Area Road Tour (FART) Lander, WY. 25 miles, 100km and 100 miles. Includes breakfast, BBQ, T-shirt and bottle. In conjunction with BrewFest. Start at Dillon Park. Mark Lilygren, Lander Cycling Club, 307-840-3131, landercycling.org Jun 8: Lefthand Canyon Louisville, CO. 400km. ACP brevet. Starts 4am at RTD Park-and-Ride lot NW of US-36 and McCaslin. Lights required. John Lee Ellis, Rocky Mountain CC, 303-604-1163, rmccrides.com Jun 8: Pedaling 4 Parkinson’s Denver, CO. 55-mile bike ride (road and mountain bikes welcome). A warm-up for serious cyclists and good challenge for modest riders. Free lunch, prizes, and family friendly activities afterwards. Rest stops every 10 miles. Benefits Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research. Lauren Williams, 3 4 Fighting Parkinson’s, 888-548-3002, 34fighting.org Jun 8: Tour de Cure - Utah Brigham City, UT. Designed to inspire beginning cyclists and challenge avid riders. 100-mile century, 60-mile metric century (80-mile option without hill), 25-mile quarter century and family fun ride. Stage at Rees Pioneer Park. Min $150 fundraising. Dustin Stark, American Diabetes Association - Utah Chapter, 801-363-3024 x 7071, main.diabetes.org/utahtourdecure Jun 8: Tour de Habitat Lakes to Peak Orem, UT. The official ride of Orem SummerFest. Easy 20-mile lake ride. Challenging 60 miles with 4000’ of climbing Peaks route up Squaw Peak, South Fork and Alpine Loop Summit. Well supported. Start at Lakeside Park 9am. Family ride. Benefits Habitat for Humanity of Utah County. Eric Bennett, 801-796-9888, TourDeHabitat.com Jun 8: Wine Wench Winery Cruise Palisade, CO. Fruit and wine tour for the nonracer, 3 routes for road bikes to beach cruisers. Ride through the Orchards and Vineyards of Palisade. Rondo Buecheler, 970-464-9266, palisadecoc.com Jun 9–12: Bicycle Brainstorming Tour Richfield, UT. Experience and learn the history and culture in Utah’s designated National Heritage Area along Heritage Highway 89 on this uniquely supported ride. Susan Crock, 435-773-7920, utahheritagefoundation.org Jun 9: Palisade Bike and Wine Fest Palisade, CO. Ride along the Palisade Fruit and Wine Byway. 5, 7 and 25 miles for the entire fam- ily and all levels. Lunch, music, BBQ and more. Kids activities. palisadecoc.com Jun 9–14: Whiterock Canyons Tour Grand Junction, CO. Challenging tour with less mileage but more climbing, perfect for intermediate to advanced riders. Ride through Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce National Park, and Grand Staircase National Monument. 215 to 350 miles. Late dates available. John Humphries, Lizard Head Cycling Guides, 970-728-5891, lizardheadcyclingguides.com Jun 13–15: Road Respect Wasatch Front Tour Provo, UT. Sponsored by UDOT, DPS, UHP and Bike Utah. SLC and SLCo (6/14), Ogden and Weber Co. (6/14). Keri Gibson, 801-273-7571, roadrespectutah.org Jun 13–21: Rocky Mountain Tour Salt Lake City, UT. Tackle the Wasatch Mountains, Soldier Summit, past Book Cliffs and north of Arches Nat’l Park. Challenging at times, rolling to finish in Pueblo, CO. 601 miles. Bill Lannon, America By Bicycle, 888-797-7057, abbike.com Jun 15–16: Anaconda Bicycle Festival Anaconda, MT. anacondabikefest.org Jun 15: Canyons of Cache - BCC SS Wellsville, UT. Self-supported 100 miles. Start 8am at Wellsville Bowery Park. Climb Blacksmith Fork Canyon, Sardine Canyon, down into Brigham City, then along west side of Wellsville Mountains and back to the Cache Valley. Jen Green, Bonneville Cycling Club, 801-641-4020, bccutah.org Jun 15: Chugwater Tour de Chili Chugwater, WY. 10, 24 or 45 km followed by Chili Cook-off event. Camping available. Benefits the Chugwater Schools Bosster Club. Brandon Ray, 405-202-4310, bit.ly/tourdechili Jun 15: Denver Century Ride - Rocky Mountain Bicycle Festival Denver, CO. 4th annual Father’s Day ride with 4 courses: 25-, 65-, 82-, and 100-mile options. Kids Bike Parade. Start 6:15am. Start/finish at shops at Northfield Stapleton. Fully supported. Post-ride celebration. Supports Bike Denver. Lauren Ripko, denvercenturyride.com Jun 15: G’Knight Ride Longmont, CO. Celebration of cycling. Kid’s festival, 1, 3 and 10 miles. Expo, kids skills course, food, music and beer garden. Scott, Bicycle Longmont, gknightride.org Jun 15: High Uintas Great Challenge Tour Kamas, UT. 1-day, 80-mile, point to point from Kamas, UT, to Evanston, WY, over Bald Mountain Pass. Gran Fondo for citizen riders and touring riders. Limit 500. Dirk Cowley, RaceDay Event Management, 801-699-5126, racedayeventmanagement.com Jun 15: Huntsman 140 Delta, UT. Delta to Salt Lake City and back. Choose to ride 25, 75, or 140 miles. Benefits Huntsman Cancer Institute. Jen Murano-Tucker, Huntsman Cancer Foundation, 801-584-5815, huntsman140.com Jun 15: Joe Lookingbill Denver-Aspen Classic Littleton, CO. Epic 180 miles, 13,000’ of climbing, 17-hour limit. Lights required. Start 4am in Littleton and travel to Aspen traversing some of Colorado’s most diverse mountain scenery, including Kenosha Pass, the South Park Valley, and Independence Pass. Amazing views. Part of Triple Crown Series. Mark Lowe, Rocky Mountain CC, rmccrides.com Jun 15: Starlight Spectacular Colorado Springs, CO. Start 10:30pm. 14- and 22-mile rides. Ride through the Garden and city. Great for all ages. Benefits Trails and Open Space Coalition. Trails and Open Space Coalition, 719-633-6884, trailsandopenspaces.org Jun 15: Tour de Cure - Southern Colorado Woodland Park, CO. Meadow Wood Sports Complex. Family ride, 50- and 86-mile routes. 14-mile MTB route available. Lunch and festivities. Kelly Jackson, 720-855-1102 ext. 7020, tourdecurecolorado.com Jun 22: Holly Frontier Tour de Prairie Cheyenne, WY. 20th annual. Courses ranging from 10 to 100 miles, well supported for riders of all skills and ages. Starts at Lions Park. Goes through Medicine Bow Nat’l Forest to Lincoln Memorial. Goody bag, T-shirt, breakfast, and lunch included. Scott Philipps, Cheyenne Parks & Recreation Department, 307-637-6423, cheyennecity.org Jun 22: Lap the Lake 50 Ride Leadville, CO. At 10,200’ elevation, the highest 50-mile in Colorado and around Turquoise Lake in the majestic Sawatch Mountains. Also 22-miler. Start 9am. Enjoy the majestic Sawatch Mountain Range scenery with the two highest peaks in Colorado as backdrop. Amber McGee, Lake County Recreation Dept., 719-486-7484, lakecountyco.com Family Friendly Ride Supports Bicycle Colorado Commercial Rocky Mountain Road Cup Point Scale Bronze, Silver, Gold May / June 2013 Opinion DropYou dot com By Maynard Hershon I think of cycling as a social sport. I love riding with friends, chatting away the miles. I don’t believe I’d have stuck with cycling if I hadn’t, early on, found groups of congenial riders. I learned from them how group rides should be orchestrated — not as individual workouts with a common starting point — but as actual group rides. I’ve struggled in recent years finding good rides and good folks with whom to ride. I feel sure that many old roadies share my frustration. I’ve joined clubs and ridden with groups out of shops — but never found the ride I was seeking. Alas. No grail. The last couple of years, more and more local rides are posted online via meetup dot com. I’ve done quite a few of these meetup rides, and I did one yesterday, a Sunday. I believe this one is an every-other week ride, and pretty long, I’d say, for late March, early in our Colorado riding season. The leader does not call his ride a no-drop affair, but he also does not warn away new riders or those who are just getting back on the bike after a long winter break. We had maybe 20 people at the start. There is no club, you’ll remember, that means anything: no racing team, no meetings or club jerseys, no feeling of belonging to anything. You typically see no one you recognize, or no one you’ve ridden with more than once or twice. You are not going to meet anyone or form riding friendships. The leader did not suggest we introduce ourselves, one at a time, to our assembled friends. Folks looked at one another and spoke rarely if at all. There was no club — and no clubbiness — in evidence. It was 20 strangers gathered together to allow a few of them to make 12 or 14 others feel like slugs, like couch potatoes. I should mention here that no one learned anything on that ride. People who knew how to draft, drafted. No one waited for riders who could almost hang and offered to help them. No one asked anyone please to ride a straight line or to point out holes or to refrain from passing on the narrow bike path when a guy was walking his dog just ahead. Unlike group rides of fond memory, there was no presumption that everyone would ride together, that the pace would be, uh, sustainable, that everyone will have a social good time. You start with the group and then you’re on your own. You’re encouraged to download a map of the ride route to your phone so you can stay on course — with no one to follow. You’re encouraged to leave the ride or route whenever you feel the urge. Finish solo or turn around and ride home. It’s all good. It was my intention to ride half the distance, stop for an iced tea and pedal home. I would like to tell you that I succeeded in doing just that but it’d be a falsehood, right here in Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper. I could not hang. The guys at the front left the starting place in their big chainrings, much as they might’ve had it been a road race. They never looked back. At my turnaround point 25 miles into the ride, the “group” was six silent young men. If they felt like winners, having dropped twothirds of the riders, they surely did not exult. Because the pace was fast and because I did not see a wheel I felt I could trust to follow, I rode by myself and watched the front guys slowly grow smaller in the distance. There I was, on a ride the nature of which I deplored, riding with people I did not know, had evidently nothing in common with, and felt I could not trust as riders. I watched as the group came apart in the first half mile, to come back together briefly at a bike path junction 10 miles in. At which point the ride leader told us that it was every one for him/herself, that the front group was going to this place or that, and we could do what we wanted. Not much later he passed me on the inside in a blind bend, on the oncoming side of the bike path, on his tri-bars. I felt bad about many aspects of that ride, but my inability to hang with the front guys bothered me most. I’m many years older than they are; I shouldn’t expect to be able to keep up, I suppose, but I don’t feel much slower than a few years ago. I feel like the same bike rider. I don’t like admitting I’m not. I feel I should be able to sustain the pace at a ride that was not listed as a training ride for racing cyclists or even people preparing for gran fondos or centuries or whatever. Sunday’s ride was just that, a ride, come one come all. Not. As the years pass, as I grow incrementally slower and the nature of so many group rides changes, my good feelings about weekend cycling as social occasions take a beating. I enjoy my weekday rides, almost entirely solo, sometimes amble and sometimes brisk-paced loops on empty bike paths and quiet roads. If I hadn’t come into our sport in what now seems to have been a golden age of cycling as a way of life, I might be delighted with today’s so-called group rides. If I were 28 again, maybe I’d be the hammer, entirely uncaring about folks I dropped. Maybe I’d be more into electronic shifting and carbon fiber than ride etiquette and simple consideration. Maybe not. Calendar Jun 22: Mountain Top Experience Ride Woodland Park, CO. Short: 19 miles, Intermediate: 75 miles, and the Century route: 106 miles. Beautiful ride through Colorado history. Fully supported. Great SAG support, BBQ lunch, massages, T-shirt. Deborah Maresca, Mountain Top Cycling Club, 719-687-2489, mountaintopcyclingclub.com Jun 22: Provo A Go-go - BCC SS Draper, UT. Self-supported ride south from Draper Park thru Orem and Provo with the short option turning at University Parkway in Provo. Meet at Draper Park. 30, 60, 100 miles. Don Williams, Bonneville Cycling Club, 801-474-2282, bccutah.org Jun 22: Sanpete Classic Fun Ride Spring City, UT. Courses that go around the rural Sanpete Valley roads. Start 9am. BBQ lunch, awards, and raffle after. Eric Thompson, 801-541-3840, skiutahcycling.com Jun 22–23: St. Vrain Canyon Louisville, CO. 400, 600 and 1000km. Lights required. Start 3am. Register by 6/12. Lights required. John Lee Ellis, Rocky Mountain CC, 303-604-1163, rmccrides.com Jun 22: The Ghost Ride Toele, UT. 100- or 62-mile tour of Tooele Valley. Honoring the cyclists who are no longer with us. Short ride of silence following ride through small towns, scenic vistas and rolling hills in Utah’s west desert terrain. Jared Eborn, 801-599-9268, theghostride.com Jun 22: Three Kings North Salt Lake, UT. Winding through North Salt Lake, Three Kings offers some of the steepest climbs of the season. Choose to tackle one, two, or all Three Kings. Whoever tackles them fastest will take home the prizes. Matt Jensen, 801-550-0778, threekings.nslcity.org Jun 23–29: Bicycle Tour of Colorado Canon City, CO. 7-day fully supported tour in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Camping services, baggage transportation, route maps, road markings, aid stations every 15-30 miles, bicycle repair services, medical support. Limit 1500 riders. Kent Powell, 303-985-1180, bicycletourcolorado.com Jun 23: Black Forest Classic Gran Fondo Elizabeth, CO. 100km and 85 miles of the Bijou Basin. Start Evans Park 8am. Don Leyn, Colorado River Club, blackforestclassic.com Jun 23: Golden Gran Fondo Golden, CO. 20, 60 and 90 miles. Follow the historic circuit to Lookout Mountain and Peak to Peak Hwy. Lung busting ascent, alpine vistas and spectacular views. Registration deadline 6/16. May / June 2013 GFNCS, 765-247-2453, granfondonationalchampionshipseries.com Jun 23: Tour of the Carson Valley Genoa, NV. Mormon Station State Park. Fully supported 11-mile family ride, 20-, 44-, and 60-mile options. SAG. Post-ride BBQ, live entertainment. Bike The West, 800-565-2704, bikethewest.com Jun 24: RANATAD Sundance, UT. Start at Sundance, ride the Nebo Loop to Nephi, to mouth of American Fork Canyon, over Alpine Loop and back. 165 miles with over 11,000’ of climbing. Shorter 100-mile option: Nebo Loop and back to Payson. Czar Johnson, 801-223-4121, sundanceresort.com Jun 28–30: Park City Festival Park City, UT. Presented at Park City Moutain Resort. Fully supported 30-62 miles road rides for all level of abilities - from training wheels to pros. Fun rides, expo, pumptracks, mtb guides trails rides, demos, live entertainment and more. kpwc.org Jun 29: Bike MS Colorado - 1 day Fort Collins, CO. Choose the 25- or 40-mile options. Start/finish on CSU campus, join the 2-day riders for end of day celebration. Course open 9am. Benefits Colorado-Wyoming MS chapter. Alexis Johnson, National MS Society, CO/WY Chapter, 303-698-5403, bikemscolorado.org Jun 29–30: Bike MS: Harmons Best Dam Bike Ride Logan, UT. 40-, 75- and 100-mile routes available on Saturday, 40 and 75 miles on Sunday. Flat and friendly routes with option to climb Blacksmith Fork Canyon. Start 7am at Cache County Fairgrounds. Fully supported. Min fundraising $250. Becky Lyttle, National MS Society - Utah Chapter, 801-424-0112, bikeutu.nationalmssociety.org Jun 29: Colorado Death Ride Durango, CO. 225 miles, 16,000’ of climbing, 19-hour limit. Lights required. Start 2am. Scenic ride across San Juan Skyway. This epic route crosses some of Colorado’s most spectacular mountain passes, including Coal Bank/Molas Pass, Red Mountain Pass, Dallas Divide, and Lizard Head Pass on the same day. Counterclockwise. Part of Triple Crown Series. Mark Lowe, Rocky Mountain CC, rmccrides.com Jun 29–30: Newmont Bike MS Colorado p/b Point B Westminster, CO. 2-day ride with 1-day option on Saturday. New routes. Day 1: choose 68, 73 or century route. Sunday: 66 or 75 miles. Enjoy majestic scenery while riding to Ft Collins for the night and return via different route. All levels, age 12+. Limit 3000. 1-day option (25 and 40) staged in Fort Collins. Alexis Johnson, National MS Society, CO/WY Chapter, 303-698-5430, bikemscolorado.org Jun 29: RATPOD Dillon, MT. 1 day, 130 miles with 5500’ of climbing to benefit Camp Make-A-Dream, a cost-free medically supervised camp program for children, teens, young adults and families affected by cancer. Limit 650. Visit scenic Big Hole Valley. Jennifer Benton, Camp Make-A-Dream, 406-549-5987, ratpod.org Jun 29–30: Rough Riders 200 Angel Fire, NM. New event. Day 1: 104 challenging miles with 6000’ elevation gain going through Taos, Sipapu and Mora. Day 2: famous 100-mile Enchanted Circle loop with a twist (Palo Flechado and Bobcat Passes). Ride one or both. Diane Martinez, Hound Dog Events, 575-224-1595, roughriders200.com Jun 29–Jul 5: San Juan Loop Gunnison, CO. 6 days, 358 miles, 24,000’ elevation gain, 5 mountain passes. A challenging cycling vacation. Cycling Escapes, 714-267-4591, CyclingEscapes.com Jun 29: Timpanogos Gran Fondo Orem, UT. Start at Timpanogos High School at 6:30am. 4500’ of elevation over 41.6 miles alpine loop. The climb is challenging, descent is exhilarating, and the views are unforgettable. Timed climb. Josh Rohatinsky, 801-830-2420, timpgranfondo.com Jun 29: Wright Stuff Challenge Oak Hill Challenge Norwood, CO. Hill climb. Also 5 and 10km run. Wright Stuff Community, 970-327-4021, wrightstufffoundation.org Jun 30–Jul 5: Colorado Cols Silver City, NM. Stunning route through Southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. Other dates available. Lizard Head Cycling Guides, 970-728-5891, lizardheadcyclingguides.com Jun 30: Silver Road Half Century Georgetown, CO. Half century ride over Guanella Pass (11,700’) twice. Held in conjunction with Guanella Pass Hill Climb. Supported. Après party. Benefits CO Lungs4Life and Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s. Scott Bilyeu, CTB Racing, 303.914.4265, thesilverroad.weebly.com/index.html July Jul 6: Gran Fondo de Taos Taos, NM. New course. 105 or 84 miles. Longer routes follows beautiful rural terrain of the Taos, Mora, Angel Fire, Taos loop. S/F at Taos Youth and Family center. Rest stops, timed. Benefits Taos Sports Alliance. Jennifer Buntz, Duke City Wheelmen Foundation, 505-306-1443, taossports.com Jul 6: Honor Ride - Denver Aurora, CO. Start at Bicycle Village. Register as solo or team. Fundraising event to help improve the health and wellness of healing heroes. 15, 27, 61 miles. Christopher Swan, Fitness Challenge Foundation, 818-888-7091, ride2recovery.com Track weekly Tuesday CVA Tuesday Night Racing Jul 7–13: Climb Time - Elevation Gain May 21–August 27 Colorado Springs, CO. Tentative dates. Schedule of events varies each week. All participants must be licensed members. A, B, and C self-category racing. A must for those hoping to upgrade. No points. Racing starts at 7pm. Claire Sanderson, csvelodrome.org Jul 13: Golden Gate Gadabout Thursday Salida, CO. Many rides will start above 6000’ and climb up to 12,000’. Climb mountain passes, descent long, curvy routes while experiencing spectacular views of the Continental Divide and Rocky Mountains. Finish Line Cycling, 720-295-0758, finishlinecycling.com Louisville, CO. 200km, start 7am from RTD Parkand-Ride lot NW of US-36 and McCaslin. Lots of great climbing up Golden Gate Canyon and on Peak to Peak Highway. John Lee Ellis, Rocky Mountain CC, 303-604-1163, rmccrides.com Jul 13: Tour de Ladies Parker, CO. Women’s only ride, fully supported event through the rolling hills of Douglas County. 30 and 62 miles. No trailer or tagalong allowed. Swag and finish line post-ride Lunch and Lounge. Supports Douglas County Women’s Crisis & Family Outreach Center. Pre-reg only. Kathie Shandro, Colorado Riders Club, 303-850-1812, tourdeladies.com Jul 13–14: Triple Bypass Evergreen, CO. Day 1 - East: Evergreen to Avon. 120 miles and more than 10,000’ elevation gain over 3 mountain passes (Jupiter, Loveland, Vail). Limit 3,500. Day 2 - West: Avon to Evergreen inaugural ride. Limit 2500. Double Triple Bypass: Ride both days. Team Evergreen Bicycle Club, 303-800-7613, teamevergreen.org/triple Jul 14–21: Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure - Leg 6 Craig, CO. Start with a building day before riding 35 to 88 miles per day to reach Salt Lake City, UT. Part of the larger cross-country bike ride. Can also join in for a day. Allen Slabaugh, Fuller Center for Housing, 229-924-2900, fullercenter.org/bikeadventure Jul 14–19: Tour de Wyoming Cody, WY. 17th annual Top of the World Tour. 6 days, 330 miles over Beartooth Highway and Dead Indian Pass. Benefits Cycle Wyoming. Amber Travky, Cycle Wyoming, 307-742-5840, CycleWyoming.org CVA Thursday Night Racing May 23–September 12 Colorado Springs, CO. Tentative date. Weekly night race series open to Senior men 1-2, Senior women, Senior men 3 and Junior riders. Points are allocated to the A and women’s group to determine both Rider of the Year winners. Event schedule varies. Racing starts at 7pm. Canceled if raining. csvelodrome.org Track May May 17–19: Matrix Track Cup Frisco, TX. ATRA NCS event. Age-based races, elite and amateur men and women. Elimination, Scratch, Points and more. superdrome.com June Jun 28–29: Hellyer Velodrome Challenge San Jose, CA. ATRA NCS event. See website for schedule. Mark Altamarino, ridethetrack.com July Jul 20–21: Boulder Orthopedics Colorado Track Championships Erie, CO. First championships on the new track. Rob Kelly, 303-875-5523, bouldervalleyvelodrome.com Family Friendly Ride Supports Bicycle Colorado Commercial Rocky Mountain Road Cup Point Scale Bronze, Silver, Gold Rocky Mountain Bicycle Paper l 15 The Amgen People’s Coast Classic September 8-13 2-, 4- and 6-day ride Ride the Oregon coast! Sun Valley Dirt Rally Sun Valley, Idaho June 29-30 2 days - 50 miles of scenic forest roads each day Come ride the dirt to stop the hurt!