Golden Anti-Gravity Epic (and Mini-Epic) Century Recap

RMCCers at the start of this year's Anti-Gravity Epic Century.
(Notice the smiling faces! There weren't very many smiling faces at the conclusion of the ride after a challenging day of tough climbing, descending, and gravel roads!)

Event Summary:

Event:

• Golden Anti-Gravity Epic Century: 115 miles, 16,000 feet of climbing, and 46 miles of packed dirt, gravel and extremely rough roads
• Golden Anti-Gravity Mini-Epic Century: 83 miles, 11,000 feet of climbing, 24 miles of packed dirt, gravel, and extremely rough roads
• Beautiful, unseasonably warm weather with temperatures in the 80s in the Denver area and mid-60s in the foothills (Idaho Springs, Central City, and Black Hawk) along with some gusty breezes
• Stunning Colorado scenery and beautiful backroads, all within a 25 mile radius of Golden, CO

Participants:

• 19 pre-registered riders, 18 ride starters, 1 late cancellation, 3 DNFs...alas, no women...
• 6 riders completed the entire epic century course
• 5 riders completed the mini-epic course
• 4 riders completed the mini-epic course plus extra climbs!

Results:
Note: To be listed as a finisher, riders had to successfully complete all of the climbs for that course. Riders who did not complete the long course were listed as finishers for the mini-epic. For those riders who did not finish, it was still an excellent day of training!

Epic Century (115miles) Finishers:

• Ryan Franz, 36*
• Mark Lowe, 40
• Chuck Matthys, 55
• Eric Nelsen, 42
• Steven Philips, 47
• Steve Rudolph, 53

*Congratulations to Ryan Franz who posted the day's fastest time, completing the extremely challenging 115 mile course in 9 hours, 28 minutes! 

Mini-Epic (83 miles) Finishers:

• Don Cameron, 51
• Dave Gehlert, 50
• Josh Horwood, 34
• Tom Miller, 45*
• Mark Pfeil, 46
• Dave Ratcliff, 42*
• Trevor Rehm, 27*
• Jason Turner, 39
• Walter Zitz, 28*

*Did extra climbs!

Trevor Rehm, Steven Philips, Ryan Franz, Eric Nelsen, Steve Rudolph, and Tom Miller on top of Genesee Mountain, admiring the views of Golden below.

The start of the spectacular, twisty descent down Little Bear Creek Road from Squaw Pass to Idaho Springs. And yes...that's a gravel road!

Amazing views of historic mines as riders grind their way up Virgnia Canyon (Oh, My God Rd)

Steve Rudolph is all smiles (well...mostly smiles) after completing the final steep climb up Drew Hill and Crawford Gulch Rd from Golden Gate State Park. 

Tom Miller at the conclusion of the ride!