Organizers of this year’s Iron Horse Bicycle Classic events have shown again that success lies in providing fresh additions to what is at its core a celebration of bicycles.
There has been great praise for the first-time BMX event for select riders on a block of Main Avenue, which required truckloads of dirt and afterward a quick and thorough cleanup. We can expect that event to return.
Young riders were out in force downtown for a short event that included Main to Second Ave. and back. Really young riders on pedal-less bikes, referred to as balance bikes or “Striders” for the initial manufacturer, had their race course. They are able to acquire the balance and confidence they will soon need with conventional bicycles. Training wheels on a small bicycle, which have bridged that gap for decades, may soon be a thing of the past.
The number of youngsters under age five or six, participating with such enthusiasm, looked to assure the future of bicycle enjoyment and competition in Durango.
E-bikes were a component of this year’s citizens tour on U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday, traveling as far as Purgatory for the Quarter Horse, and many riders wore shirts representing Parkinson’s awareness.
Both Ed Zink and Gaige Sippy point out that e-bikes broaden the demographic that can enjoy bike riding, including participating in events such as the Iron Horse.
Another addition which received praise was the “gravel ride” on roads in the southeastern portion of the county. On the other hand, gone this year was the usual Monday downtown criterium due to not enough interest.
The Iron Horse organizers, including Chris Vivolo, Sippy, Zink and their hundreds of volunteers, deserve praise for the imagination they have brought to the Iron Horse weekend, broadening participation to include so many age groups with diverse activities which include so many skill and strength levels.
And kudos to the city of Durango, especially its special events department, and to CDOT and the state highway patrol for making the ride to Silverton possible, and safe.
We look forward to the 2018 edition of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic.
