Transport from DIA
If you are flying in, you will probably arrive at Denver International Airport. Available transportation:
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RTD-Denver (Regional Transportation District) Bus Service - RTD-Denver offers dependable, comfortable service, $12 fare (no charge for bikes), and stops at the Louisville-Superior Park-and-Ride near the event start/finish (it will stop on the north side of US-36; the Quality Inn (formerly Comfort Inn) host motel is north across the parking lot, beyond the cinema) as well as Boulder, etc. This is the "AB" route.
RTD info - click on "skyRide". Note: returning to the airport, the bus will stop on the south side of US-36. There is a covered pedestrian walkway, with elevator, crossing US-36.
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There are also airport van shuttles, which will drop you at your motel, in the $25 range (plus possible charge for bikes), reservations not required. Inquire in the arrival area.
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Cycling from DIA is legal, signposted, and there are broad shoulders to ride leaving the airport. It is about 40 miles cycling from DIA to Louisville/Superior.
Ride Start Accommodations
There are several motels within ½ mile of the ride start (same side of US-36, some on the east side of McCaslin Blvd.).
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Quality Inn (formerly Comfort Inn) - 303-604-0181 - This is the ride start motel. West of McCaslin Blvd. Ask for the RMCC event discount rate.
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La Quinta - 303-664-0100 - East of McCaslin.
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Marriott Courtyard - 303-604-0007 - East of McCaslin.
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Hampton Inn - 303-666-7700 - East of McCaslin.
There are also motels in Boulder (5-7 miles further up US-36), and one or more in the Interlocken/Broomfield area (3-5 miles before the Louisville/Superior exit).
Around the Louisville motels are also numerous places to eat, hardware stores, and a cinema.
Bike Shops
There are several bike shops in the area, including:
Links of Interest
Excursions - Looking for some relaxation before or after the event?
Environment & Caveats
- Early-morning frost at higher elevation is possible. Bring adequate layering.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are typical in the mountains - these can bring cold rain and downdrafts.
- High altitude means increased sun exposure: use adequate sunscreen.
- Arid climate - pay special attention to hydration.
- Extended Climbs - None of the climbs are steep, but most are extended, and above 6,000 ft. will require extra energy.
- Wildlife can appear on the roads, especially at dawn at dusk. In addition to deer, elk, coyotes, and possibly bear and free-range cattle, be especially wary of moose, who can be aggressive and dangerous. Give moose the right-of-way.
- Cattle grates (to hem in free-range cattle) need care in crossing. There are a couple of cattle grates on this route. Keep a lookout, as they are not signposted. If you have never crossed one, feel free to take a conservative approach (viz., walking).
- Sunrise: 5:40 Sunset: 20:30.
- Average July temperature ranges:
| Low | High
| | Boulder | 59° | 88°
| | Steamboat Springs | 41° | 82°
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Stages
The stages are oriented towards riding the course unsupported, finishing in the 80+ hour time range, and taking into account the sparse services and accommodations along much of the route, especially at night (between 9pm and 6am). Your dropbag will be available on the evening of each day at the respective locations.
| Stage | Mileage | Destination | Climbing | Max. Elev. | High Points
| | 1 | 219 | Saratoga WY | 8,053 ft. | 10,276 ft. | climb over Cameron Pass
| | 2 | 199 | Steamboat Springs | 9,079 ft. | 10,700 ft. | Snowy Range; Muddy and Rabbit Ears Passes
| | 3 | 193 | Walden | 7,662 ft. | 9,527 ft. | climb over Willow Creek Pass
| | 4 | 147 | Louisville | 4,157 ft. | 10,276 ft | return climb over Cameron Pass
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Bagdrops
There are three bagdrop sites:
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Saratoga, WY
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Steamboat Springs
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Walden
Drop Bag Guidelines:
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You are allowed one largish duffel bag. It will be transported to succeeding bagdrop sites.
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Please label your bag with your name and contact info.
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You may hand off your drop bags at the inspection/orientation or at the ride start.
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You may retrieve your drop bags from the Quality Inn, Louisville beginning Thursday afternoon, July 14.
Checkpoints
Checkpoints are of the following types:
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Bagdrop Checkpoints Staffed by event officials. Sign in when arriving and sign out when departing on the rider log sheets provided.
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Establishment checkpoints such as stores - not staffed by event officials. Have someone working at the establishment register your card.
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Information Checkpoints - Annotate the card yourself, entering the time of passage and the answer to the question for that location on the control card.
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Secret Checkpoints - There may be one or more Event Staffed secret checkpoints along the route.
Rules and Procedures
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Riders are to follow the standard rules for brevets - see the Randonneurs USA "Rules for Riders" .
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Personal Support may travel the event route between checkpoints, but are only allowed to assist their rider (or others) at the checkpoints or en route in an emergency situation, and are not to "leap-frog" their rider. You must register your personal support (vehicle and contact info) before the ride start.
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If you must abandon or have other difficulties which delay you, you may leave a message on the Field Operations line (303-604-1163 or 303-579-5866) or at other numbers which may be provided. Please also mail your card to the address listed thereon.
Services en Route
| LaPorte / Ft. Collins | | Convenience store at Taft Hill Rd. and Rd. 38E. Vern's (convenience store and restaurant) in LaPorte (control). Ted's Place at Hwy. 14 and US-287. Several bike shops in Ft. Collins.
| | Poudre Canyon | | Ted's Place (mile 0): store. Poudre Park (mile 10): store. Mishiwaka (mile 14): cafe. Rustic: store with good selection (control). Resorts (ca. mile 42): possible camp-store items.
| | Gould | | Small store; selection and hours limited. NOTE: 1 mile east of Gould, Moose Visitors Center (water and restrooms).
| | Walden | | Two convenience stores. One grocery store on east side of road at north end of town.
| | Riverside, WY | | One grocery store (closes at 7pm). Mangy Moose bar and grill.
| | Saratoga, WY | | Several convenience stores in center of town (1 mile beyond control). Grocery store next to control. (Overnight control). No bike shops.
| | Centennial, WY | | Convenience store.
| | Laramie, WY | | Numerous convenience stores in I-80 corridor (one of which is a control). Several bike shops.
| Walden | | See above.
| | Steamboat Springs | | Numerous convenience stores, restaurants, and several bike shops. (Overnight control.)
| | Oak Creek | | A well-stocked convenience store.
| | Toponas | | A store: normally open 8am. Limited selection.
| | Kremmling | | Convenience store.
| | Hot Sulphur Springs | | A store. A cafe.
| | Granby | | A store at US-34 and US-40. More stores, restaurants, and grocery store over next mile (downtown) east on US-40
| | Grand Lake | | A convenience store (control) at jct. of US-34 and W. Portal Rd. (the main street); more cafes, etc., along the latter.
| | Rand | | Craft store with limited opening hours. No food. Some selection of drinks.
| | Walden | | See above. Overnight Control.
| | Poudre Canyon | | See above.
| | LaPorte / Ft. Collins | | See above.
| | Hygiene | | Stores on NW and NE corners.
| | Niwot | | A convenience store at Niwot Rd. and 79th St.
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Narrative
- Louisville - Horsetooth - Ted's Place (63 miles) - Lightly rolling terrain over quiet county roads. Some climbs over Horsetooth Reservoir by early light.
- Poudre Canyon - Cameron Pass (58 miles) - Most of this extended climb is fairly shallow. Grade picks up the final 12 miles, past South Fork. The canyon is characterized by old fashioned resorts. Few services, the best being the store at Rustic at the halfway point.
- Cameron Pass - Walden (31 miles) - Descent through wooded, marshy terrain, into the moose country of North Park. (A "park" is an open plateau in the mountains.) Services in Walden.
- Walden - Saratoga (67 miles) - Departing the upper part of North Park into open sage country, strongly rolling between jct. Colo. Hwy. 230 and Riverside. You will climb successively higher ridges until descending to Riverside. CAUTION: This rolling terrain is scenic but exposed and can be windy. Make sure you have plenty of liquids to reach Saratoga.
- Saratoga - Snowy Range (40 miles) - Extended climb through national forest of moderate grade. Some striking outcroppings and peaks at the summit. No services. Details of climb: from jct. Wyo. 230, (a) roughly 10 miles of rising rollers across ranchland, followed by (b) a descent into 4 miles of wooded valley and meadows, (c) the main, wooded climb from Ryan Park, and (d) around 5 miles traversing the Snowy Range (twisting and with short climbs and descents). Broken down this way, it is a scenic, quiet, and doable climb, despite the 4,000 ft. elevation gain.
- Snowy Range - Laramie (37 miles) - A quick descent to Centennial (first services past Saratoga), nestled at the eastern foot of the Snowy Range, then out onto the tree-sparse expanse of the Big Hollow (wind possible).
- Laramie - Walden (64 miles) - A gradual climb out of the Big Hollow to Mountain Home and terrain with trees, with a stiffer climb over the shoulder of the Snowy Range you just climbed, then back into North Park. Advisories: There is a store in Jelm / Woods Landing, and you may be able to get water at Mountain Home. Prevailing westerly winds may be partially blocked by the forest, but there is a broad cleared swath on either side of the highway.
- Walden - Muddy Pass - Rabbit Ears Pass - Steamboat Springs (58 miles) - Rolling climb through sage country to Muddy Pass. Here you join US-40, which is a busier road, but has a good shoulder on this section. A five-mile climb up to Rabbit Ears Pass ("eastern summit"). The actual pass is now north of the highway (visible). The modern highway makes several undulations rather than having one summit. Great views of the Yampa Valley descending to Steamboat Springs. CAUTION: No services on the segment from Walden to Steamboat Springs. Make sure you bring enough liquid to see you through 58 miles with a fair amount of climbing.
- Steamboat Springs - Toponas (40 miles) - Shallow climb through Oak Creek (store) to Toponas. Some interesting rockfaces. Toponas store may be open. (Topping off at Oak Creek a good idea.)
- Toponas - Gore Pass - Kremmling (53 miles) - Meadow to woodlands on a very quiet road. Not a big climb to Gore Pass. Historical marker on south side of the pass describes its dubious namesake. Quiet descent past large ranches. Six mile stretch of downward rollers on US-40 to Kremmling carries traffic with limited shoulder.
- Kremmling - Granby (26 miles) - After the first few miles, US-40 has a good to very good shoulder on most of this stretch. (And most of the Steamboat traffic takes Hwy. 9 from Kremmling.) Fairly flat and open, except in Byers Canyon heading into Hot Sulphur Springs, an old resort town. This section of US-40 is the Colorado Headwaters Scenic Byway.
- Granby - Grand Lake - Granby (29 miles) - Flat after an initial moderate climb. This is a more wooded area, bordering Lake Granby and Shadow Mountain Lake against the backdrop of the Rockies. Can be a fair amount of traffic, but a good shoulder.
- Willow Creek Pass - Rand - Walden (55 miles) - A moderate climb with a few stiffer sections through woods and meadows. Effectively no services, as Rand store has limited opening hours, and only drinks. Beyond Rand, opens onto the marshy plateau of North Park.
- Walden - Cameron Pass - Ted's Place (99 miles) - A fairly short climb to Cameron Pass. The road should be quiet at this time of day, but traffic may increase as you near the lower part of the canyon. Normally an up-canyon wind builds up as the day progresses, so you may find yourself working on the descent.
- Ft. Collins - Loveland - Hygiene - Finish (58 miles) - Route takes the west side of Ft. Collins, a built-up area, but good shoulders, on down to the west end of Loveland. Then on county roads via Hygiene and on to the finish. (Store in Hygiene. Stores in LaPorte and Ft. Collins.)
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