Summit County, Colorado is hosting two big bike rides in June and July this year.  In fact, these bike rides occur every year.  July 21st to the 23rd is the Courage Classic, a 157 mile bike ride that goes from Leadville to Copper Mountain the first day for almot 4,000 feet of elevation gain.  The second day has a little less elevation gain as the route takes them around Lake Dillon to Breckenridge and back to Copper, but there is the option of riding 100 miles by adding a loop to the north if the riders want to.  The last day is another 4,000 feet in 45 miles as they ride from Copper Mountain back up to Leaville over Fremont Pass. 

The Courage Classic is a benefit ride for The Children's Hospital and all the riders are raising money for the hospital. I have  clients who are Frisco homeowners who ride in the Courage Classic every year, and if you would like to support their fund raising efforts, you can do so through the Courage Classic website.  The photo to the right shows them crossing the finish line wearing their  Bert and Ernie jersies.  They wear them because there are so many kids that come out for the ride and the kids love Bert and Ernie!     Personally, I would rather hike up a mountain than ride a bike but they really enjoy their rides!  Below is the route for this ride.

The second big bike tour is the Ride the Rockies.  The Denver Post has sponsored the ride every year since 1986 and this year will be their 21st.   Daily rides can be as short as 35 miles or as long as 100 miles, but generally average 60-65 miles.  It is such a popular ride that they have a lottery for participants and limit the number to 2,000.  Last year they had 4,000 applicants.  The riders for this year are well into their training, but they will take applications in February for the 2008 ride.  Check out the suggested training schedule!  This year the ride is 455 miles long, starting and ending in Frisco, Colorado.  The ride goes over some major mountain passes and takes 6 or 7 days.  The riders camp in the host towns, usually at the local school so they have access to showers.  There they rest up, carbo load, and get ready for the next day's ride.