Central Colorado Cycling Events 2005
May 2005
May 6-8 — 5th Annual Chalk Creek Stampede, Nathrop -
sponsored by Race Performance Management. 
XC Information -Saturday, May 7th - 8:00 a.m.- beginner wave 2 laps, 10:00 a.m. - sport wave 3 laps, 1:00 p.m. - expert wave/ semi pro/ pro wave 4 laps. Course description: 7 mile loop with a mix of double track and buttery smooth single track, be prepared for windy conditions, an occasional cactus and a bovine dropping every now and then. 4X Information - Practice 7:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Seeding 10:00 a.m. Racing Starts at noon. For more information contact Keith Darner 719-221-1251 or visit: www.rpmcycling.org.

May 21-22 — Buena Vista Bike Festival, Buena Vista -
Sponsored by the Colorado Springs Cycling Club, the Chaffee County Chamber of Commerce and the New Belgium Brewing Company, this is one of Colorado’s finest biking events. Not a race but self-paced rides to Leadville on Saturday and an informal ride to Mount Princeton Hot Springs on Sunday. Century and metric century rides. Evening entertainment and food. 719-395-6612 or visit: www.bvbf.org.

May 21 — Cruiser Criterium, Downtown Salida -
Benefit for FIBArk river festival. Non-performance bike races for kids and adults. Town cruisers only! Helmets required. For more info contact the FIBArk Administrator- 719-539-6918.

June 2005
June 19-25 — The Denver Post Ride The Rockies is an annual bicycle tour that takes 2,000 cyclists on a 6-7 day ride on paved roads through Colorado's Rocky Mountains each June. The ride route includes Chaffee County on Thursday, June 23 from Gunnison to Salida over Monarch Pass and Friday, June 24 from Salida to Leadville. For more information, call 303.820.1338 or visit: www.ridetherockies.com.

June 26 - July 2 — 11th Annual 2005 Bicycle Tour of Colorado - Seven fun filled days of road bicycle touring through the beautiful Colorado Rockies including Leadville, Buena Vista and Salida. The BTC offers a fully supported tour with aid stations, staff, entertainment, great food, and fun. Ride route goes from Leadville through Buena Vista to Salida on June 27 and from Salida to Crested Butte on June 28. For more info visit: www.bicycletourcolorado.com.

July 2005
July 16 — The 2005 Leadville Silver Rush Mountain Bike Race, Leadville -
Course is 50 miles out and back within the high altitude environment of Leadville's historic east-side mining district. The route is extreme in true Leadville fashion. Well supplied aid stations with cut-off time at half-way point.

This is a NORBA sanctioned race. NORBA rules apply with some exceptions. Due to the extreme nature of this race, NORBA points are not awarded. Non-NORBA members will be required to purchase a one-day license and pay an additional $10.00 at check-in. For more info call 719-486-3502 or go to: www.leadvilletrail100.com.

July 30, 31 — South Central Racing and Chaffee Mentors Present a Weekend of Bike Racing, Salida -
This bike racing event includes two basic events: A road race which is a mass start event that will begin and end in downtown and be a series of laps on a course of approxiamately 13 miles in length. Separate races will run throughout the day from beginners doing one lap to pros who will race nine laps.

A criterium is a multiple lap, short course ( .7 mile)  race on closed streets in town. All levels of participation will be offered. This is a great spectator event.

Along with the pro race there will be several races for local participation and a fund-raising ride on the race course to benefit Chaffee Mentors.

This event is permitted and sanctioned by the American Cycling Association which provides insurance for the participants and property owners. ACA also provides officiating, advertising and promotion of the event.

August 2005
Aug 11-14 — ESCAPE Ride 2005 -
Southern Colorado AIDS Project's (S-CAP) Sixth Annual Bicycle Ride, Buena Vista - This year featuring the hills, valleys, forests, and plains of Colorado's scenic Chaffee County. Long (70-100 miles) and short routes (30-50 miles) will be offered in order to make the ESCAPE Ride accessible to novice riders, yet challenging for experienced riders. Every route will begin and end at the Buena Vista KOA. Proceeds will support the client services, education, and prevention activities of the Southern Colorado AIDS Project, whose goal is to return 100 percent of the monies generated by riders back to S-CAP client services.

The ESCAPE Ride routes will accommodate all levels of experience and both mountain bike and road routes will be available. Short routes (20-40 miles) will be offered both days as well as a longer route (70-100 miles). Additionally, these routes can now be combined. For off road riders, access is available to trails in the San Isabel National Forest located directly east of the host location campground. The event will be fully supported with all meals, snacks, SAG, cabins, and campsites. All participants that register and raise the required minimum pledge amount will receive a special commemorative jersey, as well as a T-shirt, other goodies, and a sense of satisfaction knowing they are making a difference in peoples lives! For more information and registration contact S-CAP at 800-241- 5468 or visit: www.s-cap.org.

August 13 — Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race, Leadville -
This 100 mile course is within the beautiful, high altitude mountains and valleys of Leadville. The majority is on backcountry dirt roads with some short sections of paved road. The entire course is above 9,000 feet and climbs to almost 13,000 feet. Six well-supplied aid stations with cut-offs.

The race is an out-and-back course; 50 miles out to the highest point on the course, the Columbine Mine aid station at 12,600 feet, then turn around and come on back to Leadville. This is a NORBA sanctioned race. NORBA rules apply with some exceptions. Due to the extreme nature of this race, NORBA points are not awarded. Non-NORBA members will be required to purchase a one-day license and pay an additional $10 at check-in. For more info call 719-486-3502 or go to: www.leadvilletrail100.com.

August 28 — The 7th Annual Crest Crank Mountain Bike Ride to End Domestic Violence, Salida -
The ride is a fund-raiser for the Alliance Against Domestic Abuse, a non-profit organization serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Chaffee County. It takes place on the Monarch Crest section of the Continental Divide Trail. Riders start at 11,315 feet and pedal 12 miles of spectacular single track and about 8 miles of four-wheel drive and graded dirt roads. All participants meet at Poncha Park for bike inspection and shuttle to the trailhead (both included in registration fee). Riders are asked to collect pledges totaling a minimum of $50 or riders can choose to pay a $50 flat registration fee. Also included in the cost of registration is a post-ride BBQ, Colorado Microbrewery beer, event t-shirts and loads of great door prizes! For more information, contact Megan at 539-7347.

September 2005
September 10-11 - 16th Banana Belt Loop Mountain Bike Race, Salida -
Kids events and a trials competition on Saturday – 26 mile mountain bike race on Sunday. Sponsored by the Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce, Absolute Bikes and Otero Cyclery. For more information call 877-772-5432 or 719-539-2068.