The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Tour the trails and maybe even the pain cave; volunteers appreciated
Do it right and you get an incredible tour of the local singletrack. Do it wrong and you get a tour of the pain cave. It’s time for the Fat Tire 40, one of several incredible events at Crested Butte Bike Week, June 26-30, the oldest mountain bike festival in the world.
The Fat Tire 40 harkens back to the bike week races of old, with riders embarking on a massive tour of some of the best trails in and around Crested Butte, including the network of prime singletrack on Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR).
It’s not part of any bike racing-sanctioning committee (does that mean Lance can race?)—it’s just all part of good times on Crested Butte trails.
“We’re going back to the original reason to be here,” explains race director Dave Ochs. “And people are coming back around to race in these soul events.”
The fun starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 29 with a neutral start from the base of Crested Butte Mountain. From there participants will get a chance to ride up and around the trails of CBMR before heading out into the hills via the Upper Loop, Strand Hill and Deer Creek before returning back to the CBMR trail system and finishing back at the base of CBMR.
The course comes in just under 40 miles long with plenty of climbing and if you’re looking to make a move early in the race, Ochs has some advice.
“It’s a tough race. If you don’t save anything for Deer Creek, you could end up in the pain cave,” warns Ochs. “That’s when you don’t like Deer Creek.”
There will be aid stations at the end of the Strand Hill section and at the end of the Deer Creek trail fully stocked with Acli-Mate and Clif Bar products, but you are welcome to drop off additional supplies of your own at either or both of the aid stations. 2013 Original Growler champion Janae Pritchett swears by pickles and Cokes.
Since the course does take riders into some pristine country, Ochs does ask that people show it, and fellow riders, some respect.
“Be respectful of the ground you’re on,” says Ochs. “Race hard, but do the right thing.”
While in past years there were options for the pro riders and not-so-pro riders, i.e., the Fat Tire 40 and the Wildcat, this year everyone is in on the fun together with just two classes, open men and open women.
There will still be plenty of prizes to hand out for overall winners as well as age class divisions.
Ochs predicts the leaders to post some “crazy” times, completing the course in the neighborhood of three hours and 30 minutes.
“3:30 is the time to break,” says Ochs. “Last year, the top 20 were sub-four hours.”
Or, you could just ease into your own cadence and just hope to finish.
Either way, the Fat Tire 40 has got whatever it is you’re looking for in a bike race and the trails are peaking.
“I’m crazy excited about it,” says Ochs. “Especially because of how good the trails are riding right now and the Lupine peaking.”
To register and for more specific information about the course check out www.cbbikeweek.com. Registration is open online until Friday, June 28 or you can register the morning of the race until 7 a.m. at the CBMR base area. The race will be capped at 300 riders.
And, as always, volunteers are what make the race a success and Ochs needs everyone from course marshals to help at the aid stations. To volunteer call Dave Ochs at (970) 349-7324.
