Grand Loop 310km Brevet – July 9, 2005

Tips for the Rider

® Official Checkpoints – Lyons, Estes Park, Fall River Pass visitors center on Trail Ridge Road, Granby (Jct. US-34 and US-40), Berthoud Pass, and Idaho Springs. If the support vehicle is not at a checkpoint when you pass, use the establishment listed on your card to validate your passage.

® Support Vehicle – There is one support vehicle, whose primary mission is rider safety on this high mountain route. The vehicle will also provide water. In addition, riders may hand off food, clothing, and lights to the vehicle. If you do this and you depart the finish ahead of the support vehicle, you’ll need to make arrangements to retrieve your belongings after the finish.

® Faster Riders – The Lyons and Estes Park checkpoints are situated such that even the fastest riders should not outrun the support vehicle. Normally, the vehicle will also reach Fall River Pass ahead of everyone. Beyond that, fast riders are on their own (emergencies aside).

® Park Entrance Fee – You are responsible for the $5 cyclist entry fee to Rocky Mountain National Park.

® Nutrition/Hydration – Apart from the support vehicle, there are sufficient stores en route to supply your needs, including: Lyons, Estes Park, Fall River Pass visitors center (with a café), Kawuneeche visitors center, Grand Lake, Granby, Tabernash, Fraser, Winter Park, Empire, and Idaho Springs.

® Terrain – Golden-Boulder-Lyons is rolling, with no appreciable net elevation gain. Lyons to Estes Park is a climb from 5,300 to 7,800 ft. Estes Park to Trail Ridge Road summit reaches over 12,000 ft., making for 7,000 feet of almost unbroken climbing over the 40 or so miles from Lyons to the summit. Trail Ridge Road is above timberline on the 9-mile stretch between Rainbow Curve to Fall River Pass, and is quite exposed in places. From Fall River Pass, you descend 4,000 ft. to Granby. The Fraser Valley (8,500 ft.) from Granby to Winter Park is gently rising, except for one ridge. Next, you climb to Berthoud Pass (11,315 ft. – Continental Divide). The descent is through Empire into the Clear Creek Valley and Idaho Springs. The final climb of note is the two-mile grind up Floyd Hill, east of Idaho Springs. You will be on I-70 for the two miles between El Rancho and Genesee. A rolling climb brings you to the top of Lookout Mountain (and Buffalo Bill Cody’s Grave), finishing with a serpentine descent into Golden.

® Shortcuts – There are no vehicular shortcuts back over the Divide, or in fact anywhere on the route. (Rollins Pass is traversible by mountain bike; the Moffat Tunnel is served by Amtrak.)

® Weather – One reason the Grand Loop is ridden counterclockwise is to get over Trail Ridge before afternoon storms and traffic build. Still, in exposed, mountainous landscape, you should be prepared with adequate clothing for storms in cold conditions.

® John Marino Competition – As the past two years, the Grand Loop is a UMCA John Marino Competition (JMC) event, worth 1 Difficulty Point. For JMC credit, you must be a UMCA member.

® RUSA and ACP Credit – The Grand Loop is an ACP (Audax Club Parisien) brevet this year. This means that RUSA members get distance credit for this brevet towards RUSA awards, as well as credit towards ACP awards, and the option of purchasing an ACP 300km medal.

® 1200km Randonnée Qualification – 1200km events (including Boston-Montreal-Boston and the Colorado Last Chance) accept the Grand Loop as 300k credit towards qualifying.

® Lighting – Remember that lighting and reflective equipment are REQUIRED for the ride start, which will have 2½ hours in darkness. Lighting includes street-legal headlight and taillight. Reflective equipment includes vest, ankle bands, and reflective material on your bike.

® Finish and Brevet Card – If you depart the finish in Golden before the support vehicle arrives, note your arrival time on your card, sign it, and mail it to John Lee Ellis, 2155 Dogwood Circle, Louisville CO 80027. Please do this promptly, so we can post results and submit them to RUSA and the UMCA.

® DNF – We do not sweep the course. If you do not finish the brevet, you may leave a message with the ride manager at a phone number he will supply, and at 303-604-1163 (results processing).

® Not a Race – Observe traffic rules and ride responsibly. SAFETY FIRST. And have fun!

- Brevet Basics -

® Brevets are not races. Finishing is more important than finishing time. Lending assistance to other riders who require it is more important than finishing quickly. The last rider to finish within the time limits gets precisely the same credit as the rider who’s first to come in.

® Observe traffic regulations, be safe, share the road, and be courteous to your fellow riders, fellow road users, checkpoint establishments, and members of the communities you visit.

® Brevets are tests of persistence and self-reliance. If you have personal support, they may only meet you at the checkpoints.

® Make sure your brevet card is filled out completely, including each checkpoint entry and your signature. Incomplete brevet cards (including missed checkpoints) are grounds for DQ.

WAIVER: In signing below, I acknowledge that I understand this waiver’s intent, and I for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, and representatives, do hereby agree and will absolve and hold harmless the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club, Randonneurs USA, Ultra-Marathon Cycling Association, and any other parties connected with this event/these events in any way, from and against any blame and liability for any harm, loss, inconvenience or any other damage of any kind whatsoever, which may result from or be connected in any way from my participation in this event/these events.

In addition to the absolute and unqualified release from all liability, I hereby represent that I am physically capable of participated in this event/these events; that my bicycle and any other equipment I may use is in good working condition; that I will observe all applicable traffic and event rules; and that I will wear a helmet and generally conduct myself in a safe and prudent manner while participating in the event(s); that I undertake this ride as a personal bike tour and take responsibility for my own safety.

I further agree to abide by the rules for riders of brevets. I certify that I am a member in good standing of the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club, and that I have read this waiver and release and understand its significance.