News
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — It’s official: When it comes to bicycling in Colorado, Glenwood Springs is where it’s happening.
The annual Ride the Rockies bicycle tour will begin and end in Glenwood this summer.
Two thousand cyclists will take on the weeklong cycling challenge starting Sunday, June 14, and ending when cyclists pedal from Aspen to Glenwood on Friday, June 19. The tour will be 380 miles long.
This summer, Glenwood Springs will be the host city for both major bicycle tours of Colorado.
In October, organizers of the 15th annual Bicycle Tour of Colorado named Glenwood Springs as its starting and ending point. That tour will take riders through Hotchkiss, Grand Junction, Montrose, Crested Butte, Buena Vista and Glenwood Springs. The tour will be 513 miles and runs from June 21-27.
The weekend on which Ride the Rockies cyclists finish is also Strawberry Days weekend.
The annual Ride the Rockies bicycle tour will begin and end in Glenwood this summer.
Two thousand cyclists will take on the weeklong cycling challenge starting Sunday, June 14, and ending when cyclists pedal from Aspen to Glenwood on Friday, June 19. The tour will be 380 miles long.
This summer, Glenwood Springs will be the host city for both major bicycle tours of Colorado.
In October, organizers of the 15th annual Bicycle Tour of Colorado named Glenwood Springs as its starting and ending point. That tour will take riders through Hotchkiss, Grand Junction, Montrose, Crested Butte, Buena Vista and Glenwood Springs. The tour will be 513 miles and runs from June 21-27.
The weekend on which Ride the Rockies cyclists finish is also Strawberry Days weekend.
More information
To register: www.ridetherockies.com
To volunteer: (970) 945-2425 About community grant: (303) 954-6703; enorris@denvernewspaperagency.com Official information number: (303) 954-6700 |
Ride the Rockies will take cyclists from Glenwood to Hotchkiss over McClure Pass on the first day of riding. This is the first time Ride the Rockies has ever gone over McClure Pass. The route then goes through Gunnison, Salida, Leadville and Aspen before returning to Glenwood.
This is the fourth time in the 24-year history of Ride the Rockies that Glenwood will be the host community.
A $5,000 grant will also be awarded to nonprofit organizations in the host communities.
Ride the Rockies last came through Glenwood Springs in 2007.
Krista DeHerrera of Valley Events Inc. is the local coordinator for Glenwood, as she was in 2007. She says there are a number of reasons why Glenwood appeals to tour organizers.
“Glenwood Springs is centrally located within the state, it’s surrounded by great scenery, there’s amazing rivers and some great attractions for the riders,” she said.
Riders will stay in local motels or camp at the high school. Locations for other events will be announced later, DeHerrera said.
There will still be a few more meetings to smooth out the planning and organization of the Glenwood arrangements, she added.
The volunteer effort is huge for an event like this. DeHerrera said that Ride the Rockies is a tremendously organized tour and it will tackle a lot of it, but a local volunteer effort is still needed.
DeHerrera said they are looking for groups to handle three main areas: bicycle security, emptying the truck when it arrives on the final day, and a food vendor.
For the riders to find local attractions and things to do, DeHerrera said there will be an information tent set up that will be handled by the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association. Local businesses will provide brochures and other material for visitors to look over.
The bike tour provides an economic bump to host communities. According to a press release, in 2008, cyclists spent an average of $269,500 in a 24-hour time period in each town.
Ride the Rockies is a non-competitive event open to cyclists of all ages. The tour routinely receives around 4,000 applications for the ride but only 2,000 spots are available.
Riders can register now and lottery applications will be accepted through Feb. 20. Lottery announcements will be made by the end of February.
This is the fourth time in the 24-year history of Ride the Rockies that Glenwood will be the host community.
A $5,000 grant will also be awarded to nonprofit organizations in the host communities.
Ride the Rockies last came through Glenwood Springs in 2007.
Krista DeHerrera of Valley Events Inc. is the local coordinator for Glenwood, as she was in 2007. She says there are a number of reasons why Glenwood appeals to tour organizers.
“Glenwood Springs is centrally located within the state, it’s surrounded by great scenery, there’s amazing rivers and some great attractions for the riders,” she said.
Riders will stay in local motels or camp at the high school. Locations for other events will be announced later, DeHerrera said.
There will still be a few more meetings to smooth out the planning and organization of the Glenwood arrangements, she added.
The volunteer effort is huge for an event like this. DeHerrera said that Ride the Rockies is a tremendously organized tour and it will tackle a lot of it, but a local volunteer effort is still needed.
DeHerrera said they are looking for groups to handle three main areas: bicycle security, emptying the truck when it arrives on the final day, and a food vendor.
For the riders to find local attractions and things to do, DeHerrera said there will be an information tent set up that will be handled by the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association. Local businesses will provide brochures and other material for visitors to look over.
The bike tour provides an economic bump to host communities. According to a press release, in 2008, cyclists spent an average of $269,500 in a 24-hour time period in each town.
Ride the Rockies is a non-competitive event open to cyclists of all ages. The tour routinely receives around 4,000 applications for the ride but only 2,000 spots are available.
Riders can register now and lottery applications will be accepted through Feb. 20. Lottery announcements will be made by the end of February.
24th annual Ride the Rockies
June 13 Glenwood Springs — Registration
June 14 Glenwood Springs to Hotchkiss: 80 miles over McClure Pass (8,755 feet) June 15 Hotchkiss to Gunnison: 80 miles along North Rim of Black Canyon June 16 Gunnison to Salida: 65 miles over Monarch Pass (11,312 feet) June 17 Salida to Leadville: 60 miles along Upper Arkansas River June 18 Leadville to Aspen: 55 miles over Independence Pass (12,095 feet) June 19 Aspen to Glenwood Springs: 40 miles |
