Saddle up for West Elk Bicycle Classic

The finest tour of the West Elks

The West Elk Bicycle Classic is a 130-mile ride climbing nearly 10,000 feet (209 km, 3,000m) from Gunnison to Crested Butte circumnavigating the West Elk Mountains in a gran fondo format. Of course, we know that some of you may not feel up to that so we also have a 100-mile route. The event benefits Western State Colorado University Cycling Team and will start 7 a.m. September 2, 2012.
The gran fondo is literally a “big ride” that originated in Italy. In the gran fondo style, you will leave in a mass start with cyclists ranging from professional racers to recreational cyclists, giving you the best of both worlds. You will feel as if you are in a race like the Pro Challenge as there will be official timing and scoring, turn marshals and epic start/finish lines complete with barricades, banners, music and an announcer. Imagine riding into Crested Butte as Levi Leipheimer did with throngs of screaming fans.
After the ride, you will be treated to a great meal by Donita’s Cantina, New Belgium beer, and Camp 4 coffee, a raffle, and some of the great Crested Butte vibe.
The route follows the north rim of the Black Canyon from Gunnison to Crawford and back to a Crested Butte finish coming down Kebler Pass. This is a hidden gem that sees little traffic and is full of amazing scenery. Even the local riders can’t get enough of this ride. The ride will feature great aid stations spaced generously where you can recuperate and eat great food and drinks, professional road support, amazing roads, scenery, challenge and a chance to see friends from other events. Top that off with great schwag, medals for finishing, and the mountain riding that the Gunnison area has to offer and you have an experience that you will never forget and you will want to do again.
Teams of racers (five or more people) will be staged at 6:30 a.m. before the race. If you want to race but couldn’t talk your friends into racing, organizers will form teams on registration day of riders with similar abilities. Individual rides will start with the teams. At 7 a.m. will be the mass start in Gunnison. The lead peloton will have an escort car for 27 miles to Blue Mesa dam. Riders should, of course, stay as far right as they can unless overtaking other racers. There are also special low-cost entry fees if you sign up with five people on your team.
Dave Wiens, a mountain biking stand-out, Western graduate and the Mountain Sports director, will be present at the race. Western State Colorado University has a rich heritage with riders such as Dave Wiens and Brian and Jenny Smith graduating from the program. The cycling team recently won the 2011 Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference Title for Division II. They went on to place fourth at Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals with several individual podium appearances in both cross country and gravity events.
Led by head coach Eszter Horanyi, the team has expanded to include a cyclocross team and a road team in 2012 to help them grow and improve.
Proceeds from this event will help fund scholarships for athletes and help offset travel, coaching, and equipment costs.
Are you tough enough to do this? This event is designed for the type of people who want to see how far they can push themselves and have a great time doing it.