Going, going ... but not yet gone.
Yes, you still have plenty of opportunities to participate in Iron Horse Bicycle Classic rides and races over Memorial Day weekend. If so inclined, you can actually still ride to Silverton on the morning of May 24.
The down and dirty:
There still are spots in the Mountain Horse Citizen Tour, a new event this year that begins at Durango Mountain Resort and ends in Silverton. It’s the climbing part of the classic Durango-to-Silverton ride. Basically, riders join the Iron Horse Citizen Tour in progress.
Jeff Frost, first-year director for the 43rd running of the Iron Horse, said Thursday that 75 of the approximately 250 available spots for the Mountain Horse are still available.
There still are spots in the May 25 mountain bike and kids races, and Cruzer Criterium and Downtown Criterium race.
There also are spots available for the May 26 time trial on East Animas Road (County Road 250).
Frost said he thinks an incorrect perception exists that the weekend events are closed. Only the Citizen Tour and road race on Saturday of event weekend are full. Those filled in less than 10 hours after registration opened in December.
“All the other events are wide open,” Frost said.
A couple of changes have allowed greater participation this year for nonracers.
The number of riders allowed to go over Coal Bank and Molas passes on that Saturday morning was increased from 2,500 to 3,000 this year under the Iron Horse’s permit with the Colorado State Patrol. So while there were about 1,900 Citizen Tour riders in 2013, there are 2,500 registrants this year, Frost said.
Also, the number of road racers was cut from about 600 to 250, while the Mountain Horse was added for up to 250 citizen riders.
“It really is in response to demand from noncompetitive riders who want to do the ride to Silverton,” Frost said. “There is a significant amount of the population that still wants to be challenged, but doesn’t necessarily want to race.”
Another option for riders who don’t want to make the big climbs is the Quarter Horse to Purgatory, which leaves at 7:40 a.m. May 24 from Buckley Park and finishes at Durango Mountain Resort. That field is unlimited.
An important note to both riders and travelers: U.S. Highway 550 will be closed from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 24 between Durango Mountain Resort and Silverton. The Iron Horse Bicycle Classic committee suggests leaving downtown Durango no later than 7 a.m. to make it through before the road closes to Silverton.
johnp@durangoherald.com
To register
For more information and to register for the 43rd running of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, visit http://ironhorsebicycleclassic.com.
