2012 Colorado Death Ride Recap: Smokin'!

Views of beautiful Red Mountain during the daytime. Participants of this year's Death Ride were unable to appreciate the beauty (or teeth-chattering drop-offs) of Red Mountain Pass because of the 2 am start time.

The 2012 Colorado Triple Crown ventured to the southwest corner of Colorado on July 1, 2012 for the Colorado Death Ride, the second stage of this year's Triple Crown series. The Colorado Death Ride traverses the San Juan Skyway, easily one of the most spectacular series of highways in the continental U.S. and one of the most photographed regions in the state of Colorado. For cyclists, the Death Ride--with its repeated exposure to high altitude and unpredictable weather conditions--is an endeavor that is never taken lightly! The course features 16,000 feet climbing in 225 miles. It is the most difficult single-day event on the RMCC event calendar and the longest double century event on the Ultramarathon Cycling Association's (UMCA) Ultracycling Cup event calendar and arguably the highest as well, crossing three passes that exceed 10,000 feet in elevation (Molas Pass, Coal Bank Pass, and Lizard Head Pass) and one pass that even exceeds 11,000 feet in elevation (the notorious Red Mountain Pass).

Exhausted at the finish, Mark is grateful to have survived his fourth Colorado Death Ride.

This year's Death Ride had record attendance: 18 ride starters, including 15 Death Ride rookies! Riders encountered generally favorable weather conditions, but temperatures were much warmer than in previous years, ranging 10-15 degrees warmer than in 2011. As expected, however, temperatures remained chilly in Silverton, CO with an overnight low temperature of 42 degrees, a frigid way to start any ride! Wind conditions were not nearly as cooperative as in previous years. The typical southwesterly tailwinds up the scenic Dolores River Basin (from Dolores, CO to Rico, CO) were on hiatus for this year's event, instead yielding to pesky headwinds up the canyon. This 39 mile section of highway, which climbs over 2,000 feet, also proved to be the most difficult section for many riders. RMCC club president, Charlie Henderson, commented on that section of the course, "I don't know why riders find that section so difficult. It is really not very steep. But every year we have riders who are really struggling by the time they reach Rico. The warmer temperatures and wind definitely made conditions more difficult for the riders." Headwinds over the Dallas Divide were also a bit unpredictable for this year's event. Riders in the earlier part of the afternoon experienced the traditional, pleasant tailwinds while crossing over the Dallas Divide from Placerville, CO to Ridgway, CO. However, winds switched directions as the afternoon progressed, turning into an unpleasant headwinds for many participants as they made the final descent to Ridgway.

Ryan Franz, riding the Death Ride for the first time, posted another strong finish in preparation for the Hoodoo 500 in August. 

The story of the week leading up to this year's Colorado Death Ride, however, was the Weber wildfire along Hwy 160 near Mancos, CO, the southwestern section of San Juan Skyway. Unseasonably hot and dry weather conditions created extreme fire conditions across the state. With wildfires raging south of Mancos along Hwy 160 and in other parts of the state, the town of Mancos was on evaculation alert for the entire week preceding the Death Ride. The Weber fire clearly threatened to shut down this year's event. Fortunately, cooler temperatures, light rain showers, and favorable wind conditions in the final 48 hours leading up to this year's event allowed fire fighters to get an upper hand on the wildfire, allowing the Death Ride to proceed as planned. Riders did encounter some smokey conditions along Hwy 160 near the community of Cherry Creek (to the east of Mancos), but conditions were safe enough to allow the event to proceed.

Marc Moons, the 2010 and 2011 California Triple Crown Stage Race Champion, decided to take a year off from the California series to participate in the Colorado Triple Crown. Not yet fully acclimated to the thin Colorado air, Marc rode admirably in his first Colorado double century. (It was good having you out there, although I imagine my name is now highlighted in your "little black book." :)

With the Weber fire well contained, this year's Death Ride got off to a smokin' start! A group led by Mark Lowe, Ryan Franz, Marc Moons, and Paul Spencer set a blazing 20+ mph to the base of Red Mountain Pass in Ouray, CO. After reaching the base of the pass, Paul (who was riding his first high altitude double century event) backed off the pace a bit while Mark, Ryan, and Marc pressed forward, grinding their way up the windy Red Mountain Pass as it snaked its way up the mountainside. Marc, the 2010 and 2011 California Triple Crown champion, had less than one week to acclimate to the rarified Colorado air after competing in insanely hot Terrible Two double century in Santa Rosa, CA in mid-June. Marc rode admirably, refusing to get dropped during the high altitude climbs. Marc commented afterward, "the altitude was killing me!"

Steve Rudolph completed his first Colorado Death Ride (and the longest single-day cycling event of his life!) Nice job, Steve! I had no doubts that you would finish strong!

The trio continued to work together over Molas Pass and Coal Bank Pass, ultimately completing the 81 mile stretch (with nearly 7,000 feet of climbing) from Ridgway to Durango in 4.5 hours (18.1 mph). Some untimely GI issues forced Marc to seek a brief respite and he unfortunately was never able to catch back onto the wheels of the RMCC veterans. Ryan and Mark continued westward, tackling Hesperus Hill to the west of Durango, CO. As the two riders ascended the gradual 2,000 foot climb, Ryan also backed off the pace a bit, leaving Mark out front. Mark, with his typical locomotive riding style, continued to power his way forward 135 miles for a solo finish, with Ryan and Marc finishing not too far behind. 

Tom Miller continues to get faster and faster! Tom finished is second Death Ride in 13:35, 2 hours and 48 minutes faster than last year's time!

In the end, Mark eclipsed last year's course record time by seven minutes. When asked about breaking last year's record, Mark explained, "I wasn't really sure if I was going to be able to improve on last year's time. [We] made excellent time to Durango, but I lost a ton of time riding up the Dolores River Valley because of the headwinds. Fortunately, when I reached Rico, the winds switched directions and I was able to take advantage of the tailwinds over Lizardhead Pass to Telluride." Mark elaborated, "this record belongs to Ryan and Marc as much to me. Without their hard pulls during the first 81 miles to Durango, I never would have been in position to beat last year's time. Wind conditions and much warmer temperatures were not nearly as favorable this year, so this would have been impossible to accomplish without their help!"


Congratulations to all of this year's Colorado Death Riders! And for the two riders who didn't finish, I hope we'll see you back for next year's Death Ride.  

Charlie is whooped after a long day of supporting Colorado Death Riders. Thanks Charlie!

Thanks to the following individuals for making this event run smoothly:

1. RMCC president, Charlie Henderson, for making the long drive to Ridgway to provide rider support once again for this year's event.
2. Art and Melissa McWhirter from Durango, CO, who provided event support with aid stations in Dolores, CO and Rico, CO.
3. Nick at Lizardhead Cyclery  in Dolores, CO for letting us park our support vehicles next to his shop.
4. All of the rider spouses who provided support to riders along the way!

Rider Data:

• 18 ride starters, the largest number of Death Ride starters ever!
• 15 Colorado Death Ride rookies
• 2 riders from out-of-state
• 16 official finishers, 2 DNFs
• No women...C'mon, you're killing me!!
• New course record: 12 hours, 22 minutes (18.19 mph)
• Three finishing times under 13 hours (First time with three sub-13 hour finishing times)

Brief Results:

1. Mark Lowe, Arvada, CO: 12:22
2. Ryan Franz, Boulder, CO: 12:48
3. Marc Moons, Petaluma, CA: 12:55

Full event results will be posted on the RMCC website in the next few days...

Craig Howell finished his first Death Ride in 14:19...a most-excellent time for a rookie! 

Kelly Shannon, who completed his first Death Ride, experienced some wicked cramping after the ride, but was glad to survived! Kelly's dog unfortunately "chickened out" for this event, refusing to ride in Kelly's jersey pocket! "Bark, bark!" he explained. (Translation: "I was too big of a scaredy cat!")

Boulder's Alec Sharp used his expert mountaineering skills to conquer the climbs of the Colorado Death Ride, his first official double century event. Nice ride, Alec!

Paul Spencer, who competed in the 2011 Tour D'Afrique, completed his first high altitude double century. (You picked a tough one Paul! You are indeed mad! Nice ride!)

Michael Henderson, who never takes a bad picture, continues to dial in his double century nutrition. Nice finish, Michael!

Josh Horwood struggled a bit a times with the dreaded "bonk," but managed to finish his first Death Ride in plenty of time. Nice ride, Josh!

Tim O'Leary posted another strong finish! This was Tim's first Death Ride!

Jason Kaminski had his on-the-bike nutrition dialed in for his first Death Ride. Jason appeared much more comfortable at the finish of this event than Denver-to-Aspen. (You're one event away from finishing the Triple Crown!) Nice job!

Mel Morris ventured back to Colorado from Amarillo, TX to complete his first Death Ride. Mel appeared much more comfortable with the thin Colorado air for this event! Good to have you back!

RMCC veteran Tim Miller battled through some knee problems to successfully complete his first Death Ride. Nice ride, Tim. I hope the knee is better for the Grand Loop!

Todd LeBlanc earned the distinctive honor of the "most combative" rider for the day. Todd battled through nutritional problems, GI problems, rainstorms, and a monumental "bonk," to finish his first Death Ride in plenty of time. (They don't always go smoothly, my friend, but you hung in there! Nice job...and you still finished with a smile!)

The beautiful Mt. Sneffels range seen from the Dallas Divide. As most riders make the bomber descent toward Ridgway from the top of the divide, it's easy to forget to appreciate how spectacular this mountain vista truly is! 

Next up...the Tim Kalisch Memorial Grand Loop!

Colorado Death Ride: 2 Days and Counting!

The picturesque Mt. Sneffels Range, photographed from the Dallas Divide

The Colorado Death Ride is the second stage of the 2012 Colorado Triple Crown. At 225 miles, the Colorado Death Ride is the longest double century event on the UltraMarathon Cycling Association (UMCA) UltraCycling Cup calendar and arguably the hardest single-day event on the RMCC calendar. The Death Ride has LOTS of climbing! The total vertical gain for the Death Ride is 16,000 vertical feet, climbing over three mountain passes that exceed 10,000 feet in elevation and one pass that exceeds 11,000 feet! No other event on the UMCA calendar has so many individual climbs that expose riders to high altitude! The Death Ride has jaw-dropping mountain scenery that is second-to-none! The San Juan Mountains are frequently one of the most-photographed regions in the state of Colorado. After riding this route, you will understand why this is the case. Be sure to keep your digital camera in your jersey pocket. You'll definitely want to have it on this ride!

Red Mountain, photgraphed from Red Mountain Pass

General Information:

**Weber Fire: 6/29/12, 9:07 pm...

Here's the absolute latest on the fire near Mancos along Hwy 160:

Weber Fire Containment Increases to 45%

Firefighters continued to make good progress today in preparing containment lines around the Weber Fire. The masticator worked on creating a fuel break in a critical area west of East Creek. Crews and dozers continued to clear fuels in other areas of the fire perimeter. Firefighters made progress in mopping-up today, including around structures and along the northwest edge of the fire. With firefighters' hard work the containment has increased up to 45%. Tonight, firefighters plan to work on the containment lines, mop-up, and patrol the perimeter watching for flare-ups and other potential problems.

For the second day in a row, the Weber Fire didn't show obvious plumes of smoke. The cooler weather and higher humidity made the fire burn with less intensity. Although the smoke has laid down we still have uncontained fire line. The potential for fire spread is still in the extreme category. With the forecast of warmer, drier weather the next few days, some of the embers smoldering in large chunks of wood or underground in tree roots are likely to flare up. More smoke is likely to be visible, and some residual patches of vegetation in the fire interior are likely to burn.

Difficult and treacherous terrain on both the northern and southern ends of the fire has not allowed firefighters to safely construct hand lines directly on the fire perimeter. The northern location is downhill from the communication site, south of Highway 160. The other is on the south end of the fire, near the junction of Weber Canyon and East Canyon. Fire personnel have been closely monitoring the downhill spread of the fire in these areas while preparing the indirect containment lines.

Operations Section Chief, Ed Waggoner stated, "Firefighters have made great progress in preparation for the burn-out on the north end, which we expect to do tomorrow. Completing the burn-outs will bring us much closer to full containment on this fire. With the number of fires burning in the west, it is important to wrap up this fire safely and efficiently, freeing up resources to help with other fires."

Fire meteorologists will be watching the weather tomorrow afternoon to make sure it is favorable for a successful burnout operation.

Highway 160 and Mesa Verde National Park are open. County Road 41 is open south to County Road G. County Road 46 and the portion of County Road 41 south of County Road G are still closed.

In spite of the fire, the "Death Ride" will procede in one form or another. We have created an alternate course based out of Ridgway that we will use if Hwy 160 if conditions along Hwy 160 are not safe or tolerable for riding. Clearly this is not the ideal situation, but I know that many of you have planned your entire Independence Day holiday weekend around this event and I don't want your holiday weekend to go to waste. So plan to make the journey to Ridgway this weekend! We will ride on Sunday...

We won't make a final decision regarding which route we will use until Saturday, but if conditions remain favorable, we'll ride the San Juan Skyway loop in its entirety. We are still planning to have a brief pre-ride meeting Saturday afternoon at 4 pm and the Ridgway Lodge and Suites to get riders signed in, talk about which course we are going to use, and address any questions that you might have. If you can't make this meeting, please let me know and plan to sign-in Sunday morning at 1:30 am.

Mark
cell: 303-895-9532

P.S. If you're reading this after 10:00 pm, you need to get to bed! Tomorrow is going to be a very short night!!


1) Ride Date: Sunday, July 1, 2012

2) Host Hotel/Start and Finish Location: Ridgway Lodge and Suites, 373 Palomino Trail, Ridgway, CO. Phone: 970-626-5444.

3) Registration: Riders need to be pre-registered AND pre-qualified to participate. Registration for this event has been extended until June 28, 2012, 7:00 pm and is avaible on the RMCC website. For questions about registration or pre-qualification, please e-mail Mark Lowe: mvlowe5@comcast.net.

4) Ride start/check-in: Rider check-in at 1:30 am in the motel lobby. Ride start at 2:00 am. Yes...this is an early start, but we want participants to finish the ride during the daylight hours, especially on a holiday weekend. Consider setting two alarm clocks as this can be an easy start to miss! Lights and reflective gear are required!

5) Official support vehicles: We will have one support vehicle to SAG this ride AND one volunteer support vehicle which will provide additional support in Dolores and Rico. The RMCC support vehicle will be driven by Charlie Henderson (Charlie's cell phone: 720-480-9714). Participants riding without private SAG support should plan to use this support vehicle to transport gear bags. These gear bags will be accessible at checkpoints along the course. Participants riding with private SAG support need to register their support vehicle with Charlie prior to the start of the ride, letting him know that they will have support from family or friends. Riders with private SAG support may be asked to support other riders.

6) Time limits: Please keep in mind that this is a timed cycling event! Participants have 19 hours to complete this ride to earn an official finishing time and to receive Colorado Triple Crown credit. Riders can only begin riding at the official start time and must reach all checkpoints before the following time cut-offs to receive an official finishing time: 1) Silverton, 5:00 am, 2) Durango, 8:30 am, 3) Dolores, 12:30, 4) Rico, 3:45 pm. 5) Ridgway, 9:00 pm. If riders are going to leave Rico after 3:00 pm OR ride over the Dallas Divide after 8:00 pm, please call Charlie to let him know!

7) Checkpoints: We will be using event passports for this event. All riders should plan to have their event passports validated at the following official checkpoints: 1) Silverton, gas station, 2) Durango, Exxon gas station on Hwy 160, 3) Dolores, Dolores Food Market, 4) Rico, Conoco gas station on the left side of CO Hwy 145, 5) Ridgway, Ridgway Town and Suites Motel. Finishers should have their event passports validated by RMCC staff at the finish.

8) Additonal Support Points: Riders with private SAG support may also receive additional support at these locations: 1) Molas Pass, 2) Lizard Head Pass, 3) Telluride Junction, 4) Sawpit/Placerville, 5) Dallas Divide. Note: The Conoco Station at Telluride Junction can be extremely busy. Please watch for traffic at this support point. Special notes about support: 1) If the weather turns nasty, support can be anywhere! 2) Faster riders may out-run the support vehicle after Rico and will not be to access their gear bags after leaving this check point. These riders need to plan ahead and bring the supplies and gear that they will need to complete this ride!

9) Abandonment: If you need to abandon the ride for any reason, please call Charlie Henderson at 720-480-9714 as soon as possible to let him know! Additionally, if you are going to leave Rico after 3:00 pm or arrive at Ridgway after 9:00 pm, please call Charlie to let him know! We don't want to spend all night worrying about where you are! Please note that we do not sweep the course!

10) Emergencies: If you have an accident or injury that requires emergent attention, please call 911. Please call Charlie ASAP to let him know!

11) Event Rules: Please review the event rules before the ride on Saturday: http://coloradotriplecrown.blogspot.com/2011/05/rules-regulations-and-safety.html

Mountain waterfall, photgraphed from Imogene Pass, not far from Ouray

2012 Mt. Evans Challenge Recap

RMCCers prepared for the start of the 2012 RMCC Mt. Evans Challenge, Colorado's hardest hill climb!

A small (but hardy) contingency of RMCCers lined up for 2012 edition of the Mt. Evans Challenge. This RMCC Challenge Series event features over 9,000 feet of lung-searing climbing to an altitude of 14,127 at the top of Mt. Evans, North America's highest paved road. Event participant Steve Rudolph summed up the Mt. Evans Challenge best, "[This] is a hard climb! I alway forget how difficult this climb really is!" Challenge series organizer, Mark Lowe added, "the Bob Cooke Mt. Evans Hill Climb is a very hard race, especially when it is ridden at a 'race pace' effort! However, I think that this event is potentially even harder! It's 20 miles longer and has about 2,400 more feet of climbing. Since the ride takes most riders four to six hours to complete, it definitely involves more careful attention to nutrition and hydration." All participants would agree that this climb is not to be taken lightly!

RMCCers begin the Mt. Evans Challenge with an early morning jaunt up Lookout Mountain in Golden, CO

The Mt. Evans Challenge, which typically falls on the RMCC calendar in June, is essentially a 48 mile, draft-legal time trial from Golden to the summit of Mt. Evans. The event, which has a six hour time limit, serves multiple purposes for RMCC members. For some riders, the Mt. Evans Challenge is a chance to prepare for the upcoming Bob Cooke Mt. Evans Hill Climb race in July. Other participants used the event to fine-tune their climbing skills for next weekend's Colorado Death Ride in Ridgway, the second stage of the Colorado Triple Crown. And with temperatures expected to be well over 100 degrees in the Denver area, the event marked an opportunity for all participants to escape the unusual June heat in eastern Colorado to the much cooler temperatures at the Mt. Evans summit.

Mark Michel with his stealth, new Calfee Design Luna Pro at the summit of Mt. Evans, after 9,000+ feet of climbing!

Congratulations to all this year's riders! Event results will be posted on the RMCC website in the next few days.

No RMCC course records were broken today, but the event did feature perhaps the best comeback of the year! For the first time since 2011, RMCCer Mark Michel participated in his first Challenge Series event. For those of you who are not aware, Mark was involved in a horrific bicycle accident last summer. During a club Tuesday night hillclimb, Mark was struck by a turning vehicle who did not see him as he innocently passed through an intersection in Morrison, CO. The accident left Mark with internal injuries and numerous broken bones on the left side of his body. Mark was in the intensive care unit at St. Anthony's Hospital in Lakewood for several weeks and had several surgeries on his left knee, left arm, and left clavicle before he began the long road to recovery.

However, in spite of all his broken bones and injuries, the accident did not break Mark's mind, his spirit, or his enthusiasm for cycling. And after many surgeries and many months of physical therapy (and a few unfortunate set-backs along the way), Mark decided to choose the Mt. Evans Challenge--Colorado's ultimate hillclimb--as his comeback event. My hat's off to Mark for his courageous comeback ride after conquering a personal challenge that would have had many of us "throwing in the towel" on life and cycling all together!

It's good to have you back out on the road!!!

Mark hoists his Calfee Design after conquering both Mt. Evans and numerous injuries from his accident in 2011. Welcome back, Mark! (But don't drop that beautiful new bicycle! :)

Steve Rudolph cruises into the checkpoint at Echo Lake.

Tom Groves arrives at Echo Lake. Tom is relieved that he only has another 3,400 feet of climging to reach the Mt. Evans summit.

Tim Miller making the ascent up Lookout Mountain as the heat of the sun begins to bake the Denver area. Temperatures reached over 100 degrees in Denver, unusually hot for June! Riders were relieved to find temperatures in the low 60s on the Mt. Evans summit.

Special thanks to Will deRosset who drove down from Ft. Collins, CO to provide event support for this ride! Unfortunately, it turned out to be a somewhat disastrous day for Will. While driving over the permafrost-damaged pavement at Summit Lake, the oil pan on Will's vehicle was damaged, leaving Will stranded at 13,000 feet. Through some trials and tribulations, we did manage to get Will safely back to Ft. Collins!

Additional Images From Denver-to-Aspen

A few more images from the 2012 Joe Lookingbill Denver-to-Aspen Classic on June 16, 2012. All photos were taken by event volunteer Dan McDonald.

RMCC Denver-to-Aspen event volunteers, Charlie Henderson and Dan McDonald

RMCCers making the ascent up Independence Pass

Eric Nelsen cruising into the Kenosha Pass checkpoint

Colorado Triple Crown Veteran on top of Independence Pass

Jason Kaminski and Keith Jenson griding their way up Independence Pass

Mark Lowe and Ryan Franz reaching the control point at Kenosha Pass after 7,000 feet of climbing

Mel Morris, feeling the effects of the high altitude, ascends past some of the impressive rock formations on Independence Pass

Michael Henderson grinds his way up Independence Pass, looking daper in his Colorado Triple Crown kit!

Tim O'Leary is all smiles on Independence Pass!

2012 Denver-to-Aspen Recap: NBTW! (Nothin' But Tailwinds!)

The 2012 Joe Lookingbill Denver-to-Aspen Classic is in the books! And it truly was a classic! For the first time in recent memory, the cycling gods and weather gods came into near perfect alignment to produce near "perfect" weather conditions, conducive for comfortable riding conditions and blazing fast times for many riders.

The Denver-to-Aspen course features over 13,000 feet of climbing (some of it at very high altitude) in 180 miles. Denver-to-Aspen, perhaps more than any of the other event of the Colorado Triple Crown, is at the mercy of the weather gods. Headwinds across the South Park Valley or the Arkansas River Valley (from Buena Vista to Twin Lakes) can easily add one-to-two hours to rider's finishing times. This year's Denver-to-Aspen, however, had the most cooperative winds in recent memory. Charlie Henderson, RMCC club president and ride leader, summed it up best, "In all of the years I have been running this event, I have never seen winds as favorable as these!" Indeed, it was a pleasant surprise to all of this year's participants to encounter light tailwinds from Fairplay to (and over) Trout Creek Pass AND a gentle southwesterly tailwind from Buena Vista to the turn-off for Hwy 82 at Twin Lakes, a truly rare occurrence for this event.

Many riders started the event with a bit of trepidation about the weather forecast. The generally favorable forecast in the days leading up to Denver-to-Aspen had deteriorated significantly in the 36 hours prior to start of the ride, with forecasters predicting a 50% chance of rain and risk of severe thunderstorms in the Denver area. Much to the chagrin on this year's participants, the wet weather never materialized west of Kenosha Pass as had been predicted. Riders did encounter a few light rain showers on the eastern slopes of the Independence Pass and headwinds off of Twin Lakes, but the generally cooperative weather had most riders grinning from ear-to-ear!

Right from the start, riders encountered a gentle tailwind from the east as they ascended Deer Creek Canyon and High Grade Road. RMCC veterans Ryan Franz and Mark Lowe, accompanied by RMCC new-comer Eric Nelsen, set a brisk pace up the first climb of the day, clearing Pleasant Park in a mere 61 minutes before tackling the westward rollers along Hwy 285 through Aspen Park, Pine Junction, and Bailey. Ryan and Mark continued to ride together, cresting Kenosha Pass (10,001 feet elev.) in record time (3 hours, 1 minute). From the moment both riders made the plunge from Kenosha Pass into the South Park Valley, it became gleefully obvious that the virtually omnipresent headwinds of the South Park Valley had taken haitus for this year's Denver-to-Aspen. Ryan and Mark continued a brisk paceline over Red Hill Pass (9,993 feet) into Fairplay. Ryan started to back off the pace a little bit south of Fairplay and Mark--salivating once again at the temptation of riding a sub-10 hour Denver-to-Aspen--dropped the proverbial "hammer," picking up the pace to clear the South Park Valley from Kenosha Pass to Buena Vista in 2:28 (23.9 mph).

With the blessing of gently southwesterly tailwinds (and with Ryan in hot pursuit), Mark continued a brisk pace from Buena Vista up to Twin Lakes and up the plush eastern slopes of Independence Pass (12,095 feet elev.), ultimately clearing the pass 8 hours, 38 minutes after the 4:00 am start in Ken Caryl. In the end, Mark and Ryan both eclipsed the 10-hour barrier, a first for this event. Mark's 18.62 average speed bettered his 2011 course record by 24 minutes. However, former professional racer Michael Carter's 19.1 mph average speed, recorded when Denver-to-Aspen was run as public double century event during the late 1990s, still remains the fastest mile-per-hour time recorded on the Denver-to-Aspen route. Steve Rudolph, at 52 years young, rounded out the men's podium with a stellar sub-11 hour Denver-to-Aspen, a personal best for Steve. Diana Benoit, our lone female competitor for 2012, also posted a personal best time on the Denver-to-Aspen course. RMCC distance legend Carol Hvrada's average speed of 16.1 mph, recorded in 2005 when Denver-to-Aspen was run as a 300 km brevet, remains as the female benchmark for this event.

Congratulations to all of this year's riders!

Thanks to Charlie Henderson and Dan McDonald for providing event support for this year's Denver-to-Aspen.

Ride Data:

• 24 Registrants
• 19 starters, 2 non-starters, 3 no-shows
• 10 Denver-to-Aspen first timers
• 19 official finishers
• 18 of 19 riders finished in sub-15 hour time, successfully completing the first leg of Colorado Triple Crown
• Two sub-10 hour finishing times (first sub-10 hour times for this course)
• New course record: 9:40 (18.62 mph)

Preliminary results (top 3):
Men:

1. Mark Lowe, 9:40
2. Ryan Franz, 9:56
3. Steve Rudolph, 10:50

Women:

1. Diane Benoit, 11:45

Full results will be posted on the RMCC main page soon.

Images of 2012 Joe Lookingbill Denver-to-Aspen Classic:

Mark can sleep peacefully, finally cracking the sub-10 hour barrier after 4 previous Denver-to-Aspen attempts.

Ryan Franz, taking advantage of his aerodynamic prowess and bomber downhill skills, also posted a stellar sub-10 hour time.

RMCC veteran Steve Rudolph posted  a personal best at this year's Denver-to-Aspen with a time of 10:50. Steve is contemplating riding the Death Ride in 2 weeks. (C'mon, Steve, I know you want to do it!)

RMCC new-comer Eric Nelsen, competing in his first ultra-endurance cycling event, posted an amazing sub-11 hour time...not bad for a first-timer! Eric is using Denver-to-Aspen to prepare for the Bob Cooke Mount Evans Hill Climb in July.

Tom Miller, competing in his second Denver-to-Aspen, battled through wheel problems to better last year's time by 2 hours 25 minutes! Nice job Tom!

Josh Horwood completed his first Denver-to-Aspen posted an impressive 11:35 time! 

Craig Howell also completed his first Denver-to-Aspen with aspirations of completing the Triple Crown.

RMCC veteran Kelly Shannon, completed his first Denver-to-Aspen since 2006. It was good having Kelly back out there! (Kelly decided to make the ride a bit more difficult this year by riding with the dog in his rear jersey pocket. :)

Diane Benoit was our lone female competitor this year. Diane posted a personal best time of 11:45. Nice job, Diane!

Mark Pfiel struggled a bit with some G.I. issues during the climb up Independence Pass, but managed to recover and finish in plenty of time. Nice job, Mark!

Riding his first Denver-to-Aspen, RMCCer Todd LeBlanc posted an excellent time of 12:07! 

Tim O'Leary completed his second Denver-to-Aspen over an hour faster than last year's time!

Glad to have survived, Mike DiPardo completed his first Denver-to-Aspen in 12:41.

RMCC club veteran and Colorado Triple Crown finisher, Dick Wiss, at the Woody Creek Tavern

Colorado Triple Crown veteran, Michael Henderson, at the finish of this year's event.

Mel Morris, who traveled from Amarillo, TX to compete in this year's Denver-to-Aspen, is using the Colorado Triple Crown series as preparation for the Furnace Creek 508 in October. Congratulations, Mel!

Keith Jenson (and son) at the Woody Creek Tavern. This was Keith's first Denver-to-Aspen.

Jason Kaminski after successfully completed the first leg of the Colorado Triple Crown. Congratulations Jason!

Duane Walborn at the finish of Denver-to-Aspen. Nice ride, Duane!

Fearless RMCC president, Charlie Henderson, once again provided event support for this year's Denver-to-Aspen.
Thanks Charlie!

RMCCer Dan McDonald also sacrificed his Saturday to support Denver-to-Aspen! Thanks for your help, Dan!

Aspen trees line the shoulders of Independence Pass as riders make the bomber descent down the pass into Aspen. 

Denver-to-Aspen: One Day and Counting!

June 16th is almost here! It's one week and counting until next weekend's Joe Lookingbill Denver-to-Aspen Classic! Here's a few extra notes for next weekend's event:

1) Weather: The weather forecast still looks pretty good for next Saturday for Littleton, Fairplay, and Aspen. However, there is currently is a 30% chance of rain showers (some could be severe) in the Denver area with highs in the low 80s in Denver. Riders should be prepared for possibility of rain!

2) Registration: You need to have pre-registered for this event! Registration for this event is now closed. If you missed the window to register, we hope you will consider trying in 2013!  

3) Check-In: Rider check-in begins at 3:00 AM at the Ken Caryl and C-470 RTD Park-n-Ride. The ride starts at 4:00 AM. Please be ready 15 minutes early for pre-ride instructions.

4) Gear Bags: All riders may provide a well-marked (BIG letters, easy to read) gear bag that can be placed in our primary support vehicle prior to the start of the ride. Coolers are acceptable.

5) Course notes:  As of June 8, 2011, CDOT is not reporting any delays from road construction on Hwy 285, Hwy 24, or Hwy 82. Please do not miss the turn for Smith Way, which is the second-to-last turn before reaching Woody Creek! It is easy to miss, especially after a long day in the saddle. Remember: it is one of the first right-hand turns after passing the Aspen Airport (which is to the west).

6) RMCC support vehicles: We are planning on having two RMCC support vehicles for this ride. Support vehicles will be stocked with extra water, a floor pump, (and hopefully a spare set of wheels, Shimano-compatible, 10-speed cassette). The primary vehicle will be driven by Charlie Henderson (cell phone: 720-480-9714). Participants riding without private SAG support should plan to use this support vehicle to transport gear bags. These gear bags will be accessible at checkpoints along the course. Participants riding with private SAG support must register their support vehicle (name of driver, cell phone number, make/model of vehicle, and license number) with Charlie prior to the start of the ride. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Please e-mail Charlie (CharDi2528@aol.com) with this information by Thursday, June 14, or if it is last second, please bring a note card with this information and give this to Charlie prior to the start of the ride.

7) Checkpoints/Passports: After much debate, we have decided to use event passports again this year. This enables riders to record their times if they get ahead of our support vehicles. All riders should plan to have their event passports validated at the following official checkpoints: 1) Conifer (the RTD Park-n-Ride on the north side of Hwy 285), 2) Kenosha Pass Summit, 3) Buena Vista (the intersection of Hwy 24 and Linderman Avenue along the right side of the road), 4) Twin Lakes store, and 5) Woody Creek Tavern. Finishers should have their event passports validated by Charlie or RMCC staff at the Woody Creek Tavern. If Charlie is not present at the finish, you can mail your event card to: Charlie Henderson, 2 Blue Grouse Ridge Road, Littleton, CO 80127.

8) Additonal Support Points: All riders with personal support vehicles can receive support at the above checkpoints AND at the following locations: 1) Bailey (Conoco station on the right) and 2) Fairplay (the Sinclair/Strip mall on the right as you enter town), 3) Independence Pass summit.

9) Special notes about support: 1) If the weather turns nasty, support can be anywhere! 2) There are no guarantees that official SAG vehicle will be able support riders at Twin Lakes store. Faster riders may out-run the support vehicle after Buena Vista and will not be to access their gear bags after leaving Buena Vista. These riders need to plan ahead and bring the supplies and gear that they will need to complete this ride! Remember: temperatures will likely be considerably colder on top of Independence Pass! Additional water can be purchased at the Twin Lakes store, but not on Independence Pass.

10) Time cut-offs: To successfully complete Denver-to-Aspen, you must get to Buena Vista expeditiously! Riders should plan to take the shortest breaks possible at checkpoints and support points. To ensure rider safety, we have two time cut-offs: 1) Buena Vista: 3:00 pm, 2) Twin Lakes store: 5:00 pm. If riders do not arrive at these checkpoints by these times, they will not receive official finishing time. 3) Woody Creek. Riders must reach the Woody Creek Tavern by 7:00 pm to receive Colorado Triple Crown credit and qualify for the other events of the Triple Crown. Riders who reach Woody Creek after 9:00 pm will not receive an official finishing time. It is RMCC policy to not have participants finish this ride by descending Indendence Pass in the dark!

11) Safety: Please ride with extra caution durign the event at the following locations: 1) Pine Junction to Baily: watch for rumble strips!, 2) Trout Creek Pass: the shoulder narrows considerably as Hwy 285 descends into Johnson Village. Traffic is fairly brisk! 3) Independence Pass (Aspen side): Hwy 82 is often littered with rocks and there are several large potholes on the descent into Aspen! The road is also very narrow in places and can have lots of traffic!

12) Abandonment: If you need to abandon the ride for any reason, please call Charlie Henderson at 720-480-9714 as soon as possible to let him know! Additionally, if you are going to leave Twin Lakes after 4:00 pm or arrive in Woody Creek after 8:00 pm, please call Charlie to let him know! We don't want to spend all night worrying about where you are! Please note that we do not sweep the course!

13) Emergencies: If you have an accident or injury that requires emergent attention, please call 911. Please call Charlie ASAP to let him know!

14) Event Rules: Please review the event rules before the ride on Saturday: http://coloradotriplecrown.blogspot.com/2011/05/rules-regulations-and-safety.html

Congratulations to Dick Wiss!

Dick Wiss, with his trusty Serotta, displays his well deserved Colorado Triple Crown kit. Dick completed the Colorado Triple Crown in 2009 and now becomes the second RMCCer to successfully complete the California Triple Crown series.

Congratulations to RMCCer Dick Wiss (64 years young!) for successfully completing the 2012 California Triple Crown! In order to become an official California Triple Crown "winner," riders must successfully complete three of the California double century events in a single cycling season. California has 21(!) different double century events that riders can participate in. All of these rides (given their 200 mile distance) are difficult; however, some of the events borderline "insanely difficult," featuring steep grades, intense heat, and between 18,000 to 20,000 feet of climbing. Like the events of the Colorado Triple Crown, the California events are not officially "races," but they are timed events. The primary goal of these events is to finish safely within the allotted time limit. However, there is a certain degree of "bragging rights" that comes with finishing competitively. And with nearly 500 riders(!) completing the California series in 2009, 2010, and 2011, finishing competitively is something to brag about! To complete the California series, Dick successfully completed the following events:

1) El Camino Real Double Century: Irvine, CA, 2/18/12
2) Solvang Spring Double Century: Solvang, CA, 3/24/12
3) Mulholland Double Century: Agoura Hills, CA, 4/14/12

Dick, who successufully completed the inaugural Colorado Triple Crown in 2009, co-resides in Boulder during the summer months and Phoenix, AZ during the winter months. Dick was able to use his intense winter training in the Arizona sun to prepare for California Triple Crown series. Dick is using these events to prepare for this summer's RMCC Colorado High Country 1200 km brevet!

Congratulations again to Dick!