The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
25 spots left as of Tuesday
There’s still a chance to join in on the pageantry of the Fat Tire 40 bike race this Saturday, June 27 at 8 a.m. sharp.
As of Tuesday, 75 of the 100 spots were filled, leaving 25 openings for anyone looking to enjoy some of the finest single track the north end of the valley has to offer, all in one ride.
For those of you who haven’t been riding much, the Fat Tire 40 may well be the perfect introduction to your riding regimen. It’s called getting in shape in a day. Furthermore, do this race and the rest of your rides this summer will seem like easy street.
That said, here’s the rundown on the course. Start at the east end of Elk Avenue, head up Tony’s to the Upper Upper Loop to Brush Creek Road before you proceed to the “Strand Hill corkscrew.”
The “Strand Hill corkscrew” consists of riding up the Canal Trail and Strand bonus to Farris Creek Trail. The course returns to the Strand bonus to Strand Hill Trail proper before finishing going down the Canal Trail.
From there the course heads to the Deer Creek Trail and then hits Prospector and Columbine on Crested Butte Mountain before linking back to the start of the Upper Loop to Tony’s and finishing right where it all began on the east end of Elk Avenue.
The course comes to a total of 42.6 miles, a length Fat Tire 40 co-organizer and mountain bike stokester Dave Ochs calls a “two-water-bottle ride.”
Recent reports from the course say the recent rain made the course “desirable and not so desirable” with some mud, but that was on Monday, June 22.
Nevertheless, whatever the trail conditions Ochs asks riders to “Be respectful of private property both on the course and at the start/finish area. Also, follow proper trail etiquette—let’s not braid these trails.”
There are two official aid stations. One will be at the bottom of the Canal Trail and a second one, the Squirt Long-lasting Dry Lube aid station, will be at the end of the Deer Creek trail section.
Both aid stations will be in the highly trained hands of the Crested Butte Search and Rescue team so don’t forget to get your $3 Search and Rescue card. Water will be provided in coolers but you have to fill up your “two water bottles” and/or camelbak yourself. In addition, there may even be the odd assortment of “hippy granola bars, bananas and maybe some chocolate” available.
Ochs reminds participants that this is a long race. While proper care will be given to those in need, i.e. those injured or massively dehydrated, Ochs warns, “You’re not going to get rescued if your feet hurt and you want your mommy.”
Registration is still available online or in person at the Fat Tire Bike Week expo area. Race day registration will also be available, provided spots are left, from 6 to 7:30 a.m., in the expo area.
The racer meeting will be at 7:45 a.m. sharp. All race volunteers need to meet at the start/finish area for final instructions, again the east end of Elk Avenue, at 7 a.m.
Share the stoke, y’all.
