Bicycle Tour of Colorado

[Kathi]

The Bike tour of Colorado has published its 2007 route and is taking signups. Signup Cost increases Monthly.

Call it the tour de ski it starts in Steamboat, then visits Winter Park, Loveland, Keystone, Copper, Vail, Ski Cooper, then Copper again before returning to Steamboat.





http://www.bicycletourcolorado.com/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=41

[cherinyc]

Hey Kathi - I am surprised no one has replied to this thread. As soon as I saw your info, I sent a link over to my BF to look at. I think it would be great (hard but great). I have so many rides I want to do once I get to CO. If I am not careful I will end up signing up for a bunch of rides on the same days...and I am sure I will have to work at some point....or do I? :cool:

[Pedal Wench]

Same plan for us as the last two years. Wait and compare routes and dates to RideTheRockies and pick between the two. It's gonna be hard to beat this route though. Looks like an incredible ride!

[Kathi]

Wait and see is our plan too. I haven't done either so I'm open.

Cherinyc, when are you coming? Are you coming to Denver? There's lots of nice riding around here without going into the mtns. The weather is usually pretty good all year round.

[spokewench]

I did the BTC this year. It was pretty hard for a non-endurance athlete like me. The 2007 looks easier (no 100 mile days!) I think I saw the longest day at 75 miles (that's much more doable for me)

We shall see. I'm thinking I'd like to do more of a mountain bike week long thing maybe in the Durango area this year! There are great trails there.

[cindysue]

I'm thinking about this one. It will be worth the $5-50 registration increase to wait and see....

[Pedal Wench]

Anyone with insights to where RTR is going this year? They're usually pretty close. Anyone?

[IFjane]

I would like to hear from anyone who has done the Triple Bypass in the past. I have been challenged to do it this year and if I am going to make 120 miles & 10,300 ft. of climbing in one day :eek: , I need to know what to expect (besides being VERY tired!).

I saw the stats for 2005 - only 15% of the riders were female. Are any of you out there?? Any advice/information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[cindysue]

I didn't get into Ride the Rockies (lottery), so I have a decision to make.

Do I attempt the Tour of Colorado?

How the heck does someone find the time/energy to train for
35,000 feet of climbing in 418 miles. Ouch!

[Kathi]

I made it on RTR. :) I'm retired so I have plenty of time to train.

Does the BTC website have a training plain? If not RTR has one. I'm sure it'll work for BTC as well.

[Pedal Wench]

I made it on RTR. :) I'm retired so I have plenty of time to train.

Does the BTC website have a training plain? If not RTR has one. I'm sure it'll work for BTC as well.

I'm in too! Not retired, NO time to train. Should be fun!!!:p

[sarahkonamojo]

Also got in!
Third year so I'm not as freaked out, but day one will be tough!

Looking forward to some training miles. Freelance, I set the schedule, but even then it seems like it is hard to fit it all in.

sarah

[spokewench]

I didn't get into Ride the Rockies (lottery), so I have a decision to make.

Do I attempt the Tour of Colorado?

How the heck does someone find the time/energy to train for
35,000 feet of climbing in 418 miles. Ouch!

I did BTC last year and I work full time and I'm not into killing myself training. I trained a lot for me, mostly hill climbing, but I did real good (which means not fast) but comfortable most of the time.

If I can do it you surely can!

[cindysue]

I did BTC last year ....

Thanks for the confidence boost!

OK, I'm nearly convinced. Did you use a Sherpa last year? I'm on the fence. It seems silly to pay someone $200 to set up/tear down your tent especially when you don't have to carry it yourself, but it would be nice to have everything set up in a nice flat clear space after a long day on the bike and not have to get up early to take it down in the morning....

Also - Did you pre-pay for meals or go into town?

[Pedal Wench]

Also got in!
Third year so I'm not as freaked out, but day one will be tough!

sarah

Day 6 is the one I'm most scared of: http://www.routeslip.com/routes/26111

[Pedal Wench]

Hmmm, Day 1 is kinda scary too. Love that climb right at the end of a long day... http://www.routeslip.com/routes/26242

[sarahkonamojo]

day 6 will be tough for sure. But it will be day 6. We should be in a groove and ready to tackle the big thing. Or not.

The problem is the showers in Leadville aren't very nice. Use the shower truck if you can.

sarah

[Pedal Wench]

The good thing about day 6 is that I'll be looking forward to the section along Twin Lakes. We stayed at some little cabins there a few years ago when we hiked Mt. Elbert, and I can't wait to see that area again. So, that will be my payoff for climbing Independence Pass.

Edit: Sorry to have hijacked a BTC thread and turned it into an RTR thread... :(

[spokewench]

Thanks for the confidence boost!

OK, I'm nearly convinced. Did you use a Sherpa last year? I'm on the fence. It seems silly to pay someone $200 to set up/tear down your tent especially when you don't have to carry it yourself, but it would be nice to have everything set up in a nice flat clear space after a long day on the bike and not have to get up early to take it down in the morning....

Also - Did you pre-pay for meals or go into town?

I did not use Sherpa although it might have been nice. Hubby and I stayed two nights in a motel (that I arranged beforehand on my own, one day in Gunnison after the 100 mile day and then the next day as well, did laundry there); the rest of the time we camped. It wasn't too bad setting up and tearing down. One time, I just barely got the tent up without tying down or anything as the rain started pouring - just jumped in the tent to hold it down and waited it out. Make sure you have water proof bags. It kind of depends how much disposable money you have, the sherpa makes it a lot nicer.

As far as the food, I ordered the dinners and my husband had breakfast and dinners cause he needs LOTS OF FOOD. Most of the days, I was in early to mid afternoon so I just waited to have lunch then (I would get a sandwich somewhere or a burrito from the food vendors on site) There was a coffee vendor for the morning so that was good. Dinners out at the restaurant in some of the towns was a pain cause they restaurants were so full. I was glad to have the option of the dinner meal so I was sure I got enough food.

The fruit, pb&J's, etc. was so excellent on the rest stops. Great rest stop food

[cindysue]

I did not use Sherpa although it might have been nice. ....

Great info, SW. Thanks so much!!!!!

[spazzdog]

So...

Is the Bicycle Tour of Colorado the new incarnation of Ride the Rockies or is it a separate event??

clueless-spazz

[Pedal Wench]

Sorry, Spazz,

We completely destroyed a lovely thread about Bicycle Tour of Colorado, which historically takes place the week after Ride The Rockies.

They're two seperate events, although they tend to plan their routes in similar parts of the state each year. Rumor has it that BTC was started to handle people who didn't make the lottery cut of RTR. Both are great events - BTC tends to have tougher days, but include a rest day, where RTR is slightly easier, but no rest days. BTC has better food supplied, RTR has better vendors selling food. Both use the same Porta-potty company and both use the same motorcycle police support.

Sorry for the confusion, and again, sorry for hijacking the original thread.

[spazzdog]

No apologies necessary... Colorado is Colorado, right :D

educated-spazz

[cindysue]

- BTC tends to have tougher days, but include a rest day, where RTR is slightly easier, but no rest days. BTC has better food supplied, RTR has better vendors selling food. Both use the same Porta-potty company and both use the same motorcycle police support.

more great info. Thanks! I should hire you as my personal consultant. I can pay you in lunabars :)

[spazzdog]

Hey CindySue... I'll work for Mojo's (peanutbutter pretzel and mixed nut).


mmmmmmm-mmm! spazz-o-licious

[Pedal Wench]

Hey CindySue... I'll work for Mojo's (peanutbutter pretzel and mixed nut).


mmmmmmm-mmm! spazz-o-licious

Hey -- back off! I was here first!!!! :p

CindySue -- have you discovered the "cyclist forum" on the BTC website. TONS of good info there. I wish you could access the archives from last year - lots of good opinions and advice, although obviously slanted towards BTC and away from RTR, understandably.

All three years, we've debated between the two rides, so that's why I've done so much research on both of them.

Either ride promises to be a blast!

[cindysue]

CindySue -- have you discovered the "cyclist forum" on the BTC website. TONS of good info there. I wish you could access the archives from last year - lots of good opinions and advice, although obviously slanted towards BTC and away from RTR, understandably.

oh yes! I've been posting away.....

[sarahkonamojo]

I have a riding sister and brother in law living in SF. I always try to talk them into btc or rtr, but they fear the altitude. (No luck getting them out here, yet.)

I figure that if you train in the Bay Area you are more than ready for the climbs in Colorado. And the altitude, well, that could be an issue, but I suggest they arrive a couple of days early to acclimate.

Let us know how your training goes and how you handle the altitude.

Have a great ride.... Still a ways off, I know,

sarah

[cindysue]

..... And the altitude, well, that could be an issue, but I suggest they arrive a couple of days early to acclimate.....
sarah

Thanks! I learned a big lesson in Utah last year during Little Red Riding Hood. And that location (~5000') was less than half the altitude at BTC (up to nearly 12,000'). :eek: I did not drink enough water and had a headache for three full days following the event. I was drinking lots of water after the event but it still took me several days to recover.

I arrive in Denver on Thursday, three days before the event and will travel from Denver to Steamboat the day before the event. I'll be bringing electrolyte capsules in addition to forcing myself to drink plenty of water during (and before) the event.

[spokewench]

CindySue - Are you back? How did it go?

spoke

[cindysue]

CindySue - Are you back? How did it go?

spoke

thanks for asking. Here's the report: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?p=220513#post220513

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D