By Bill Plock
“It’s nice to connect to the Front Range and I’m excited for this route” said Jason Carolan of Flexential, the title sponsor of Ride the Rockies at the last night’s energetic route announcement at Audi Denver. For the first time in a few years the route is not a loop and will end in Golden.
Golden City Council member Paul Haseman said, “we are thrilled to welcome the riders to Golden and look forward to hosting a party for end of this great tour.”
Key Sponsors (L to R) Dave Edwards (Primal) Jason Carolan (Flexential) Stephen Powers (Audi Denver)
The ride will start in Copper Mountain with a long scenic day ending in Glenwood Springs. Day two is shorter, riding in the Roaring Fork Valley and staying in Basalt. The third day pushes riders on another 100 mile day while tackling Independence Pass and descending along the Arkansas river into Salida. Day four has riders pedaling north up Trout Creek pass (no gimmee) to Fairplay and over Hoosier Pass to Breckenridge where they will stay for two nights. Day five has a couple of options of rides around Dillon Reservoir with a possible extension up Ute Pass or maybe this is simply a day to hang at the pool?! The final day, riders will take Swan Mountain to Loveland pass and make their way to Golden with a descent down Colorado’s most biked mountain, Lookout Mountain and into town.
Samaritan House Team Shows the Route
In total the ride is 436 miles with over 27,000 feet of climbing.
Dieter Drake, the new race director of Ride the Rockies after the acquisition of the ride by Ventures Endurance (also owners of RAGBRAI) said, “I am excited to see parts of Colorado I have never seen and meet people on the ride and in these communities.”
(L to R) Dieter Drake, Don Richards, Kathy Murphy
The ride takes on some of Colorado’s most iconic passes and byways: Fremont Pass, Tennessee Pass, Battle Mountain, Independence Pass, Trout Creek Pass, Hoosier Pass, Swan Mountain and Loveland Pass.
The ride passes through so many towns and stops including: Copper Mountain, Minturn, Avon, Edwards, Eagle, Gypsum, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale Basalt, Woody Creek, Aspen, Twin Lakes Buena Vista, Salida, Fairplay, Alma, Breckenridge, Frisco, Keystone, Georgetown, Idaho Springs, and Golden.
Riders will cross historic Battle Mountain Bridge
Look for some articles soon on places of interest along this route, things like:
History of Lookout Mountain: https://303cycling.com/lookout-mountain-historical-climb-for-over-100-years/
Tennessee Pass—10th Mountain Division training grounds. Skiing legend and Vail resident Chris Anthony recently released a documentary about the 10th Mountain Division, here is a recap: https://www.skyhinews.com/news/10th-mountain-division-documentary-mission-mt-mangart-makes-its-debut-in-denver/
Battle Mountain — Historic company town of Gilman, https://www.uncovercolorado.com/ghost-towns/gilman/
Battle Mountain Bridge—a significant engineering feat, https://www.vaildaily.com/news/building-the-battle-mountain-bridge/
How’s the logistical issue of non-collocated start/finish solved?
I was a volunteer for Ride the Rockies in 2021. May I have any information on how I will be able to volunteer again in 2022. What date does registration begin and end?