Ride the Rockies June 9-15 2012: The annual Ride the Rockies event ride begins tomorrow in Gunnison, Colorado. The ride often appears on lists of the best ride events/tours in the United States. On a route that changes every year, in 2012 the popular 6-day ride will lead more than 2,000 cyclists from Gunnison, Colorado, to Fort Collins, Colorado. In between they will visit small picturesque Colorado towns and cross many beautiful mountain passes, with 24,937 feet of climbing in 442 miles of riding.
Update 06/14/12: The final day's route of Ride the Rockies into Fort Collins will be rerouted due to the over 50,000 acre fire burning west of Fort Collins, CO. The new route will bring the riders from Estes park, down Hwy 34 into Loveland, and then north: http://www.fcgov.com/news/index.php?id=4344
The new route is:
Hwy 34 (Eisenhower) into Loveland to Wilson Avenue
North on Wilson to 50th Street
East on 50th Street to Taft Avenue
North on Taft to Laurel Street in Fort Collins
East on Laurel to Loomis Street
North on Loomis to Mountain Avenue
East on Mountain Avenue onto Lincoln to the Odell Brewing Company.
Update 06/14/12: The final day's route of Ride the Rockies into Fort Collins will be rerouted due to the over 50,000 acre fire burning west of Fort Collins, CO. The new route will bring the riders from Estes park, down Hwy 34 into Loveland, and then north: http://www.fcgov.com/news/index.php?id=4344
The new route is:
Hwy 34 (Eisenhower) into Loveland to Wilson Avenue
North on Wilson to 50th Street
East on 50th Street to Taft Avenue
North on Taft to Laurel Street in Fort Collins
East on Laurel to Loomis Street
North on Loomis to Mountain Avenue
East on Mountain Avenue onto Lincoln to the Odell Brewing Company.
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| 2012 Ride the Rockies route map |
June 9 — Gunnison – Registration
June 10 — Gunnison to Hotchkiss | 79 miles | North Rim of the Gunnison National Park
June 11 — Hotchkiss to Carbondale | 68 miles | McClure Pass – 8,755 ft.
June 12 — Carbondale to Leadville | 83 miles | Independence Pass – 12,095 ft.
June 13 — Leadville to Granby | 94 miles | Fremont Pass – 11,319 ft. & Ute Pass – 9,165 ft.
June 14 — Granby to Estes Park | 63 miles | Trail Ridge Rd./RMNP – 12,183 ft. & Milner Pass – 10,758 ft.
June 15 — Estes Park to Ft. Collins | 55 miles | Glen Haven, Masonville & Horsetooth Reservoir
June 10 — Gunnison to Hotchkiss | 79 miles | North Rim of the Gunnison National Park
June 11 — Hotchkiss to Carbondale | 68 miles | McClure Pass – 8,755 ft.
June 12 — Carbondale to Leadville | 83 miles | Independence Pass – 12,095 ft.
June 13 — Leadville to Granby | 94 miles | Fremont Pass – 11,319 ft. & Ute Pass – 9,165 ft.
June 14 — Granby to Estes Park | 63 miles | Trail Ridge Rd./RMNP – 12,183 ft. & Milner Pass – 10,758 ft.
June 15 — Estes Park to Ft. Collins | 55 miles | Glen Haven, Masonville & Horsetooth Reservoir
The 27th annual Ride the Rockies tour will feature 5 scenic mountain passes, 2 national
parks, 1 century option and 24,937 vertical ft. over the course of 6
days and 442 miles.
Additional information:
Outside Magazine – Yes You Can: Ride The Rockies
Activities in the towns:
Activities in the towns:
I am joining in last minute for a quick visit to the tour. Oh how I wish I could ride the entire week. Instead I will be driving down with some good friends tomorrow, and riding part of the route on the first day into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. I'll be there with my camera to capture the mood of this amazing movable cycling feast.
Images by Ride the Rockies media
Images by Ride the Rockies media
Good luck on your adventure!
Follow the RtR Tour: twitter.com/denverpostrtr
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RideTheRockiesFans
the Denver Post newspaper coverage: www.denverpost.com/ridetherockies