Biking Events

2009 Mountain Bike Event Summary

THE 2nd ANNUAL ORIGINAL GROWLER MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE

The Original Growler is back for 2009 and will be Sunday May 24th on an all new course: a 32-mile lap at the Hartman Rocks area on BLM public lands. At this time we’re planning to use last year’s course but in the opposite direction and with a couple of twists and turns thrown in. The well-marked course contains loads of classic Gunnison singletrack - trails like Skull Pass, Top of the World, Rattlesnake and Joshos. You won’t be bored! Each lap will climb around 4,000 vertical feet (but never more than a few hundred in one shot.) One mass start for all categories, both distances. 7am sharp. Travis Brown won last year’s 64 in just over 6 hours.

Two races, the 64-mile Original Growler (two laps) and the 32-mile Half Growler (one-lap) are presented by Gunnison Trails, a Colorado non-profit organization. Gunnison Trails is dedicated to maintaining and expanding the singletrack experience in the Gunnison area. All proceeds from the Growler benefit Gunnison Trails.

Spring Mountain Biking Series at Hartman Rocks, Dates TBD

Get ready for summer at Gunnison Valley Bicycle Club’s (GVBC) Spring Mountain Biking Series at Hartman’s Rocks in Gunnison. The series will consist of varied routes for competing kids, beginner/intermediate and expert riders.

Registration starts at 5:15 at the base of Hartman’s the day of the race and costs $12. Kids under 12 compete for free! An awards party, food and fun follow each race.

Get a group of friends and ride together at the GVBC Spring Series! Results for the race will be printed in the Gunnison Country Times following every race. Proceeds will go to Hartman Rocks for upkeep and trail work If you have any questions, please call Brian Riepe at 970/641-9336.

June 24 - 28 29^th ANNIVERSARY FAT TIRE BIKE WEEK
A Crested Butte mountain biking festival that celebrates the birthplace of mountain biking. participate in group rides, wild events, and shop or demo bikes at the expo.
“Chainless Downhill”, “Bike Rodeo” & “Clunker Critt”
Location: Crested Butte
On-Line Registration: www.ftbw.com
Email: Crested Butte Chamber

June 20 - 21 9^th ANNUAL WILDFLOWER RUSH RACE*
Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) presents the 9th Annual Wildflower Rush Cross Country (XC) and Downhill (DH) Races. CBMR will provide a marquee venue for the fifth stop in the Mountain States Cup (MSC) series.
Location: Mt. Crested Butte, Crested Butte Mountain Resort
On-Line registration: www.skicb.com
Phone: 970-349-2221

*Mountain States Cup Series Race

11^th Annual PowerAde Pinnacle Summer Race Series, Dates TBD and FREE SHIMANO youth Series (ages 12 and under)

A regional recreational racing series created in 1998 by Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR). The popular race series is geared for fun and competition, from beginner to expert riders, for a total of 12 racing categories. The races consist of varying lengths and difficulty to challenge riders of all abilities on Mt. Crested Butte’s network of trails and quality single-track. The races take place on Thursday evenings at 5:45 PM. At The ski area base, again this year the series will be offering the Free Shimano Youth Series for kids during the same time. The series has been experiencing more and more families each year, so it only makes sense to make it fun for everyone. The Free Shimano Youth Series is designed to give children the opportunity to compete like their parents in a positive and fun environment.
Pizza or pasta, beer and prizes follow every race.
Location: Mt Crested Butte, Crested Butte Mountain Resort
On-Line registration: www.skicb.com
970-349-2221

Aug 15 & 16 ^7th Annual 24 HOURS IN THE SAGE
Gunnison’s Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreation Area again sets the stage for a summer race of a different sort: a 24-hour relay. Individual entrants, duo teams, four-person men’s and women’s teams, and five-person co-ed teams ride a 13-mile loop continuously from noon Saturday, Aug. 15 to noon Sunday, Aug. 16. The person/team in each category with the most laps wins.
The loop incorporates 14 different trails, with almost 80 percent single track and 1,100 feet vertical gain per lap

Location: Gunnison
On-Line Registration: GearWerks
Email: 24 Hours in the Sage
Web: 24HoursInTheSage

Sept. 12 & 13 33^d ANNUAL PEARL PASS BIKE TOUR
The World’s longest running bike event in History
Location: Crested Butte to Aspen (and back)
www.mtnbikehalloffame.com

RIDE THE SKI SLOPES ALL SUMMER

Chairlift rides at Crested Butte Mountain Resort are available to summer mountain bikers and hikers. Red Lady Express lift transports mountain bikers and hikers. From rolling single-track to more advanced technical terrain, Crested Butte Mountain offers miles of summer trails to entice bikers of all abilities and ages.

Silver Queen lift transports hikers to just below the summit at 11,400 feet. From there, sightseers can climb to the 12,162-foot Mt. Crested Butte peak, stop for a picnic or simply take in the spectacular views of the Elk Mountains Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Both lifts open June 21, with Silver Queen operating through Labor Day, Sept. 1, and Red Lady Express running through Aug. 13. Prices for lift tickets, including tax, cost $17.85 for an adult all-day lift ticket offering unlimited rides on either lift or $15.60 for one ride only on either lift. Two-out-of-three-day and week-long pricing also is available. For more information, contact (970) 349- 2262 or visit www.skicb.com.