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JUNE
rIDEr mAnUAL
VOLUME 1
WELCOME CYCLISTS
Congratulations!
You’ve been selected to participate in 31st
edition of The Denver Post Ride The Rockies
Bicycle Tour presented by ViaWest. From
the playground of the rich and famous to
the Napa Valley of beer, this year’s tour has
a little something for everyone; communities
steeped in Colorado history, rich in cultural
attractions and offering an abundance of
recreational opportunities.
This June, RTR will visit one of the state’s
iconic landmarks in Independence Pass,
ascend Fremont, Tennessee, Vail and Ute
Pass and cut through the heart of Rocky
Mountain National Park by way of Trail Ridge
Road; the highest paved roadway in the
North America.
Host communities include Tour favorites
Carbondale, Aspen, Copper Mountain, Estes
Park and Ft. Collins; and making its RTR
debut is the charming town of Grand Lake.
After a rewarding day in the saddle, be
sure to soak up each host community and
their planned activities; from local cuisine
and boutique shops to beer gardens, music
performances and cycling seminars.
Whether you are a first-time participant or
a veteran of our Tour, you will likely have a
number of questions. The 2016 Rider Manual
is your source for a fun and safe ride. This
year the Rider Manual will be issued in three
volumes so be sure to tune into each edition.
We encourage you to also visit our website
throughout the spring and summer as it is
updated frequently. Should you have any
questions not addressed in this manual,
please give us a shout.
Keep the rubber-side down!
CONTACT
INFORMATION
Address
The Denver Post
Ride The Rockies
101 W. Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80202
RTR General Line
303-954-6700
Fax
303-954-2784
Website
ridetherockies.com
RTR Inbox
rtr@denverpost.com
Chandler D. Smith
Tour Director
303-954-6702
chsmith@denverpost.com
Renee Wheelock
Community Relations Manager
303-954-6704
rwheelock@denverpost.com
Liz Brown
Event Coordinator
303-954-6703
lbrown@denverpost.com
Betsy Batts
Tour Assistant
303-954-6707
bbatts@denverpost.com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Policies & Procedures
• What is RTR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
• Cancellations/Refunds . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Preparing for the Rockies
• Dates to Remember . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
• Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
• Town Shuttles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
• Overnight Accommodations. . . . . 9
• Baggage Transportation . . . . . . . . . 11
• Get Your Body Ready . . . . . . . . . . 12
oTraining. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
oClinics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
oRide With Nelly . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
oAspen Gran Fondo. . . . . . . . . . 14
• Get Your Bike Ready. . . . . . . . . . . . 15
oBoxing Your Bike . . . . . . . . . . . 15
oBicycle Rental. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
oBike Shop Coupon . . . . . . . . . . 17
• RTR Merchandise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
On the Route
• Route Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
• Ride with GPS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
In the Towns
• Week-long Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
• RV & Private Support Program. . 21
RTR’s Charitable & Green Side
• Denver Post Community
Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
• Grant Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
RTR’s 7th Annual Prologue
• Maximize your RTR experience . . 25
Big Thanks!
• Volunteers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
• Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
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POLICIES & PROCEDURES
WHAT IS RTR?
The Denver Post Ride The Rockies is an annual
Bicycle Tour that takes 2,000 cyclists, assisted by
more than 100 volunteers, on a 6-7 day ride on
paved roads through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains
each June.
Ride The Rockies route is different each year, but
always climbs a few challenging mountain passes
and showcases the state’s spectacular scenery.
Daily rides can be as short as 35 miles or as long
as 100 miles, but generally average 60-70 miles.
While the Tour route changes each year,
the benefits and responsibilities of the host
communities remain the same. Benefits include
publicity, positive economic impact, fundraising
opportunities and a grant provided to an eligible
nonprofit agency in each host town. Cyclists in
2015 spent an average of $250,000 in a 24-hour
period in each town and many cyclists returned as
tourists at a later date. Host communities provide alternative lodging, inexpensive
community meals and entertainment.
CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS
Refund requests must be submitted through email at rtr@denverpost.com and the
following processing fees will apply:
• $95 Regular Tour / $300 Prologue Tour processing fee for cancellations
between March 4 – April 10, 5:00 p.m. MST.
• $125 Regular Tour / $350 Prologue Tour processing fee for cancellations
between April 10 5:01 p.m. MST – May 15 at 5:00 p.m. MST.
• After May 15, 5:01 p.m. MST – no refunds will be issued, regardless of the
circumstances.
Refunds will not be issued for any voluntary donations to the Denver Post
Community Foundation or online orders that were made during registration.
Refunds will apply for the private support vehicle pass. Please see page 23 for all
details. Registration slots are non-transferable.
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PREPARING FOR THE ROCKIES
DATES TO REMEMBER
First Time Rider Social
• April 5 – The Denver Athletic Club; 6:00 p.m.
RTR Welcome Package
• 2nd week of April – will be mailed through USPS
Wheat Ridge Cyclery Pre-Tour Clinic
• May 19 – Wheat Ridge Cyclery; 6:30 p.m.
Early Packet Pick-Up
• June 4 – Denver Athletic Club; 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Denver Post RTR Event Guide
• June 5 – published @ ridetherockies.com and denverpost.com
7th Annual RTR Prologue Ride
• June 10 - 12 – Aspen, CO
Packet Pick-Up
• June 11 – Roaring Fork High School; 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Ride The Rockies Bicycle Tour
• June 12 – 17 – Carbondale, CO to Fort Collins, CO
TRANSPORTATION
Alpine Cycle Connection (ACC) is providing travel packages for
Ride The Rockies cyclists. Reservations are required and will be
accepted beginning March 7 at 9:00 a.m. MST.
Charter Bus Transportation on 6/11 & 6/17
June 11
Option #1A - 9:00 a.m. Bus from South Denver Highlands Ranch Park & Ride to
Carbondale - $89
Option #1B - 9:45 a.m. Bus from North Denver Ward Road Park & Ride to
Carbondale - $89
Option #1C - 9:30 a.m. Bus from Fort Collins to Carbondale - $89
Option #1D - 12:00 p.m. Bus from Denver International Airport to Carbondale - $89
Limited seats available at current prices. Book early!
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The drop location for all options on June 11 is the Headquarter site at Roaring Fork
High School in Carbondale. There will be NO week-long parking at either Denver Park
& Ride location.
June 17
Option #2A - 1:00 p.m. Bus from Fort Collins to Denver International Airport - $49
Option #2B - 3:30* p.m. Bus from Fort Collins to Highlands Ranch P&R - $49
Option #2C - 3:30* p.m. Bus from Fort Collins to Ward Rd. P&R $49
Option #2D - 3:30* p.m. Bus from Fort Collins to Denver International Airport - $49
Option #2E - 3:30* p.m. Bus from Fort Collins to Carbondale** - $129
Limited seats available at current prices. Book early!
* Departure times are tentative and will be set upon finalization of the RTR closing
ceremony.
** Minimum participation is required for Option #2E. Participants who register for this
option will be notified by May 1 if the minimum requirement has been met.
For more information and reservations please visit cyclewithalpine.com –
or call 970-626-9913.
Charter Bus Reservation/Cancellations
Reservations must be made and payments received by May 11th. Additional $10 charge
for reservations made after April 30th. Cancellations received after your booking has
been processed thru May 13th incur a $10 per person/per option processing fee. No
refunds after May 11th. No show, no refund.
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Confirmation
Confirmation for all Alpine Cycle Connection Services will be sent via e-mail in
PDF format after your order has been processed (3 to 5 days). Please provide a valid
e-mail address that will accept e-mail with attachments from cyclewithalpine.com. If
you do not have access to e-mail please indicate on your order and we will provide
mailed documents. You will receive a response after submitting your order to confirm
receipt. You may also e-mail us questions at rtr-mail@cyclewithalpine.com.
Bicycle Transportation
Bus fares include transportation of one bicycle. Bicycles must be boxed in an
approved container for ALL bus transportation options (See instructions on page
6). You may also utilize High Country Shipping (877-231-1363), the preferred bicycle
shipping service for Ride The Rockies, see below for more information.
VIP Bicycle Transportation – New for 2016!
Alpine Cycle will be providing White Glove Service from Fort Collins to Carbondale
on June 11 for your bicycle should you wish not to box it up. Bicycles will be placed in
the Alpine Cycle trucks, individually blanketed and not stacked. There are a limited
number of spots for this service and an accompanying bus seat purchase is required.
Alpine Cycle trucks will depart Fort Collins with the 9:30 a.m. bus departure and will
arrive in Carbondale at approximately 1:30 pm. White Glove Service is available for
$49 per bicycle. Please note that his option will only be available from the Fort Collins
departure on June 11.
Bike Shipping
If you don’t want the hassle of transporting your
bike and/or luggage from your home to the start
of Ride The Rockies then we encourage you to
ship your bike directly to the start of the ride
in Carbondale, CO with High Country Shipping
(HCS). HCS is a registered UPS and FedEx shipper with over 14 years of experience
and have worked directly with RTR for the past 8 years. HCS will schedule UPS to
pick up your bike case from your home, office or bike shop, track your shipment and
have your bike case waiting for you at the start of RTR. Mechanics are available for
assembly and disassembly at your request. During the event they will store your bike
case and have it waiting for you at the finish of the ride.
Return shipping is just as easy!
Ship your Camping Gear and Luggage too!
Sign up today at highcountryshipping.com – or call 970-708-4792 and let them
simplify your life! Please note: For those riders bringing their bikes to the event
themselves, bike case storage and transport is available through HCS for a $25 fee –
payable on site. No reservations necessary.
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TOWN SHUTTLES
Shuttles will be provided free of charge to get you around each host community,
from the HQ Site and to various destinations including: Entertainment Site, grocery
stores, ATM’s and Ride The Rockies hotels that were booked through Alpine Cycle
Connection*. In each host community, a shuttle stop will be marked at the HQ Site
to start your journey.
*Shuttles will run to the lodging properties and neighboring communities listed
below.
Shuttles will pick up at the Headquarter site and drop off at lodging destinations on
arrival day. On the departure day, shuttles will pick-up at the lodging properties and
return you to the Headquarter Site. Some destinations will have a specific pick-up
and drop-off time and others will run continuous loops. All pick-up and drop-off
times will be listed in the Map Book, which you will receive at registration on 6/11.
NOTE: B&B’s may be booked through Alpine Cycling Connection, but due to
location and safety concerns, shuttles will be unable to drop-off and pick-up at
these properties; bookings will be reserved for those with their own vehicles.
Shuttles will run to the lodging properties and neighboring communities
listed below
June 11 – Carbondale
• Days Inn
• Comfort Inn
• Distillery Inn
• Winding River Resort
• Black Bear Lodge
• Grand Lake Lodge
• Rapids Lodge
• Gateway Inn
June 11-12 – Aspen
• The Gant
• Limelight Lodge
• Aspen Meadows Resort
• Molly Gibson Lodge
• Hotel Aspen
• Inn At Aspen
• Hotel Jerome
June 13-14 – Copper
• Copper Mountain Resort
Properties
June 15 – Grand Lake
• Soda Springs Ranch
• Daven Haven Lodge
• Mountain Lakes Lodge
• Western Riviera
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June 15 – Granby
• Littletree Inn
• Inn At Silvercreek
June 16– Estes Park
• Best Western Plus Silver
• Comfort Inn
• Comfort Inn
• Discovery Lodge
• Coyote Mountain Lodge
• Stanley Hotel
• Twin Owls Motor Lodge
• Days Inn
• Rocky Mountain Park Inn
• Econo Lodge Inn & Suite
• The Estes Park Resort
OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS
There are five options for sleeping arrangements during Ride The Rockies:
1. Outdoor camping at the Headquarter Site
• Designated grassy areas, fields or dirt lots will be identified in each host
community
• You bring your tent, sleeping bag etc. and set it up each night
• No reservations
• RTR will transport your tent and sleeping bag as long as it fits in one bag with
the rest of your gear and does not exceed 70 pounds
NOTE: While we strive to have ample grass options for outdoor camping, this is
not always possible. Please not that grass options are limited during our two night
stay in Copper Mountain, however plenty of space will be designated for outdoor
camping.
2. Indoor camping at the Headquarter Site
• Designated areas inside the Headquarter Site venue will be identified, space
is typically in a gymnasium
• You provide your own sleeping bag and pad and set it up
• No reservations – space is first come, first serve
• RTR will transport your sleeping bag and pad as long as it fits in one bag with
the rest of your gear and does not exceed 70 pounds
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3. Sherpa Packer Too LLC – Valet Camping
• A full mobile tent service that will supply, transport, setup and tear down the
equipment
• Reservations must be made in advance
• Visit sherpapacker.com for more information or call 720-331-2401
4. Hotels, motels and B&B’s
• Lodging must be booked directly through Alpine Cycle Connection
• Requests are submitted through Alpine Cycle Connection’s website,
cyclewithalpine.com and are handled on a first-come first-serve basis
• Cyclists may opt-in for baggage service to and from their hotel throughout
the week as a part of their overall accommodation package, more details
found on page 15.
• RTR buses will only provide pick-up and drop-offs at properties booked
through Alpine Cycle Connection
• Buses will transport cyclists to and from the following neighboring towns for
additional overnight accommodations:
oCarbondale to Aspen
oGrand Lake to Granby
NOTE: Some lodging reservations will only be available to those with their own
form of transportation as the RTR charter buses are unable to service certain B&B’s
and hotels due to distance and safe routes in and out. Alpine Cycle Connection will
provide more details upon reservation.
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5. Private home stay program
• Only available in certain towns
• Host communities manage the process and will coordinate for cyclists to stay
in a local residents home for a small fee
• See the “Host Communities” tab on the Ride The Rockies website for
participating communities
Additional Notes:
• Ride The Rockies travels with shower trucks and portable toilets to augment
lines at the indoor facilities
• Lodging facilities open at 10:00 a.m. daily at each day’s destination facility
BAGGAGE TRANSPORTATION
One bag per cyclist (70 lbs. max.) will be transported throughout the Tour. A nonframed waterproof durable duffel bag is suggested. Trash bins are not allowed. This
type of luggage is hard to maneuver and is dangerous for our baggage staff to load.
This one bag must include your tent, sleeping bag and clothing for the week.
There are three baggage trucks; early, middle and late. The early and middle trucks
leave when they are full. The late truck leaves the host community at 9:00 a.m.
sharp. Cyclists may drop off bags starting at 5:15 a.m. and are responsible for loading
their own bags onto the truck. Afternoon pick-up will be located at the designated
baggage area at the headquarter site in the destination town.
RTR baggage service does not coordinate with Sherpa Packer or Alpine Cycle
Connection for baggage pick-ups/drop-offs.
Alpine Cycle Connection Baggage Transfer
If you are able to book your own sleeping accommodations for Ride The Rockies,
Alpine Cycle Connection will transfer your bags directly to and from your hotel, motel
or B&B each day during Ride The Rockies.
NOTE: You will be responsible for transportation to and from properties booked on
your own. RTR shuttle buses will not service lodging properties not booked through
Alpine Cycle Connection.
$125 Per Person for the Week Includes:
• Custom baggage tags for your itinerary
• Morning pick-up of bags at your hotel
• Early afternoon drop-off of bags at your hotel
Reservations and Cancellations
• Baggage service must be booked online. Forms are available at
cyclewithapline.com
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• Reservations required by May 13th
• Partial weeks accepted
• Participants may NOT SHARE Baggage Service, the $125 fee is a per
person rate
• There will be NO Baggage Transfer Service sign up on Saturday, June 11th
• Additional $10 charge for reservations made after April 30th
• There is a $10 per person fee for cancellations received after your booking
has been processed through May 13
• No refunds after May 13
Registration for all Alpine Cycle Connection services may be done at
cyclewithalpine.com. If you have additional questions, please call 970-626-9913.
Confirmation
Confirmation for all Alpine Cycle Services will be sent via e-mail in PDF format
after your order has been processed (10 to 14 days). Please provide a valid e-mail
address that will accept e-mail with attachments from cyclewithalpine.com. If you
do not have access to e-mail please indicate on your order and we will provide
mailed documents. You will receive a response after submitting your order to
confirm receipt. You may also e-mail us questions at rtr-mail@cyclewithalpine.
com.
GET YOUR BODY READY
Training
With proper training, your week on Ride The Rockies will be a fun and rewarding
experience!
Consistency is the most important component of preparing to ride over 400 miles
and our good friends at Carmichael Training System have put together a program
for your use. The program starts out with three rides per week and progresses
to 5 rides per week. You may need to shift days around or even skip some of
the specific efforts prescribed. That’s fine, but all the while aim to achieve the
frequency (3-5 rides per week) and the total weekly hours. That consistency and
frequency are more important than any of the specific workouts in the program.
If you are able to follow the program more closely and complete the workouts as
prescribed, you’ll notice that this is a progressive program. It begins with steadypace rides, followed by a block of tempo work, then max sustainable efforts and
last a series of climbing repeats. All of the workout descriptions and training
intensities can be accessed at ridetherockies.com/training/.
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Training Tid Bits:
- Time in the saddle and back-to-back days on the bike are important for
conditioning your body (rear end, shoulders, hands, etc.) to what you’ll
experience at RTR.
- Early on in your training have your cycling position checked by a
professional bike fitter. A proper fit will enhance comfort and performance,
and reduce soreness and the potential for overuse injuries as you increase
your weekly mileage.
- Experiment and figure out what works best for your nutritional/hydration
strategy during training. Try different foods and drinks on training rides so
you know what works and what causes stomach issues before RTR.
- Sleep. You’re likely to be riding more in the next few months than you’ve
been riding in the past few months. Recovery and adaptation happens
when you’re sleeping, so go to bed earlier and focus on getting more
restful sleep.
- Don’t obsess over weight loss. You’ll probably lose some weight naturally
through an increase in mileage. But restricting your caloric intake while
increasing your exercise workload can harm your recovery and hinder your
training progress more than losing a few pounds will help you go uphill.
Focus on fitness first and let your weight follow.
- Don’t train through a cold. If you get a cold, focus on getting well rather
than trying to train through it. You might lose a week of riding, but that’s
better than losing 2-3 weeks due to a cold that won’t go away.
- When in doubt, rest. If you’re too tired to have a quality ride or workout,
you’re better off resting. Fewer great rides will do you more good than a
lot of mediocre ones.
Clinics hosted by Ride The Rockies
First Time Rider Social
Pre-Tour Clinic / Route Review
Tuesday, April 5
Thursday, May 19
6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Denver Athletic Club
Wheat Ridge Cyclery
Grand Ballroom
7085 W. 38th Avenue
1325 Glenarm Place
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Denver, CO 80204
Please RSVP for both clinics at
ridetherockies.com/clinics/
Join us at the First Time Rider Social and
enjoy an evening of free food, beverages,
prizes and plenty of tips about the Tour
to put your mind at ease. The event is
FREE!
Join us to learn all the details of the
2016 Ride The Rockies route, what
to pack and important nutrition
information. Food and beverages
will be provided, free of charge.
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Ride With Nelly
On day 3 of the RTR Tour, the Copper Mountain Loop, Nelson Vails will host
a VIP group ride starting at 7:30 a.m. This ride is focused on raising money
for Colorado nonprofit organizations that The Denver Post Community
Foundation supports. All participating cyclists will receive a Primal custom
“Ride with Nelly” jersey. The day will begin with a group photo at the start line
followed by free pancakes from Dan the Pancake Man & Flippin Flapjacks at
the first aid station. Only 200 limited edition “Ride with Nelly” autographed
jerseys will be produced. Sales will benefit The Denver Post Community
Foundation. Pre order and reserve your limited edition jersey today!
Donation to participate: $105.00
Aspen Gran Fondo
Join Lance Armstrong and friends on Saturday, June
11th for the Aspen Gran Fondo. The 50-mile ride
starts at Paepcke Park in Aspen at 9:00 a.m. The loop
starts off going to Snowmass, through Woody Creek,
pass Old Snowmass and back to Aspen for the final
stretch.
The route will have something for everyone with
its steep climbs and rolling hills, flat sections and
gorgeous scenery. The bike ride has a total ascent
of 4,633 feet and has a maximum elevation of 8,421 feet. The ride features
Watson Divide (2 miles of steep uphill and downhill gravel terrain).
Ride The Rockies participants are offered a registration discount of 20%.
Please register through granfondoaspen.com and enter the discount code
RTR2016.
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GET YOUR BIKE READY
Boxing Your Bike
To ensure the safe transportation of your bicycle on airlines, chartered
transportation or via UPS, it must be boxed.
TO PACK MOST BICYCLES, YOU WILL NEED:
• 5 & 6 mm allen wrenches.
• Pedal wrench or 15 mm open wrench.
• If you do not own a case, get a bike box from a bicycle shop. Be sure the
box is large enough to accommodate your frame size.
• Parts box to hold the pedals, other small parts and tools.
*Note: If you are shipping a bicycle via UPS, please note 130 dimensional inches
(length plus girth) is maximum parcel size.
DIRECTIONS:
1. If traveling by air, deflate your tires to approximately half their normal
pressure.
2. You may need to remove or lower your seat. If so, mark your seat post
so you can easily return it to the correct position. Loosen the seat post
binder bolt, but do not remove it from the frame. Remove or lower the
seat post and saddle.
3. Remove the pedals and place them in the parts box.
*Note: The left pedal is reverse threaded. Both pedals are removed by
turning the top of the wrench toward the rear of the bicycle.
4. Remove handlebars and “nest” them within the frame:
• Aheadset stem: Remove stem faceplate. Remove the handlebars.
Replace stem faceplate.
• Quill stem: Loosen the stem binder bolt, but do not remove it. If
the stem and bars do not move freely, place a piece of wood on the
stem and tap it with a hammer. Remove the handlebars and stem.
5. Remove the front wheel. Remove the quick release skewer from the hub
and place it in the parts box.
6. Place a spacer between the fork dropouts to prevent the fork from
bending. (A small block of wood or an extra front hub can be used as a
spacer.)
7. Remove any other accessories that may interfere with getting the bike
in the box. Place small accessories in the parts box. (Some bicycles will
require removal of the rear wheel to fit in a UPS approved box.)
8. Place tools in the parts box. (You’ll need them to put the bike together.)
9. Pad the bicycle using cardboard, foam or bubble wrap and put it in the
box.
10.Put the parts box and the saddle/seat post, if removed, in the box.
11. Place the front wheel (and rear wheel if removed) in the box next to the
frame.
12. Secure the bicycle in the box by padding it or tying it to the box.
13. Seal the box with packing tape.
14. Mark both sides of the box with a name and address.
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Bicycle Rental
Ride The Rockies strongly recommends that you take your own bicycle on the
Tour. Presumably, you’ve trained on your bike and are very familiar with its fit and
handling. If you are not able to use your own bike, The Bicycle Doctor offers a
reasonable weekly rental package:
2016 Scott CR1 10
-Full carbon frame
-Compact double Shimano 105/ultegra mix kit
-A stocked flat kit (the first tube and Co2 cartridge free!) and your choice of
platform Look Keo, Shimano road or Shimano mountain pedals
Price: $300 + tax
Contact The Bicycle Doctor at 303-831-7228 or BicycleDR.com
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10 off
$
a tune-up and
check-up at any of
these participating
stores:
Wheat Ridge Cyclery
7085 W. 38th Ave. • Wheat Ridge • 303.424.3221
The Bicycle Doctor
860 Broadway • Denver • 303.831.7228
Sports Garage
2705 B Spruce St. • Boulder • 303.473.0033
Campus Cycles
2102 S. Washington St. • Denver • 303.698.2811
7310 W. Colfax Ave. • Lakewood • 303.698.2811
Venture Sports
100 West Beaver Creek Blvd. • Avon, CO 81620 • 970.949.1318
100 Bachelor Gulch Trail • Avon, CO 81620 • 970.845.2425
298 Hanson Ranch Rd. • Vail, CO 81657 • 970.477.8095
16 Vail Rd. • Vail, CO 81657 • 970.477.8096
* Must be redeemed by June 1, 2016
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RTR MERCHANDISE
Celebrate your Tour acceptance with official RTR apparel. This year’s line includes
limited edition t-shirts, tech shirts, tank tops, long sleeves, jackets, hats, Primal
technical garments and more. The merchandise tent will be located at either the
headquarter or entertainment site each day of the Tour. Shop online in advance at
ridetherockies.com/merchandise.
Each registered participant will receive a Welcome Package in the mail complete
with a merchandise gift certificate, commemorative hat and official RTR sticker.
Place your sticker in a location where everyone will know you’re one of the 2,000
cyclists selected for this year’s ride. Wear your gear proudly as you prepare for the
Tour. Packages will be shipped during the 2nd week of April.
25
$
Gift Certificate
Redeem your RTR gift certificate online by visiting
ridetherockies.com/merchandise before May 15, 2016.
Items can be shipped directly to you (shipping costs additional)
or reserved and picked up anytime during the Tour at the
merchandise tent. This certificate may also be redeemed during
the Tour at the merchandise tent while quantities last.
RTR PARTICIPANT TRACKING NUMBER:
You will use your RTR participant tracking number on the
shopping checkout page. Your number is case sensitive.
front
These numbers are distributed in
case this card is lost.
This card may not be redeemed for cash or used on Primal technical gear. Expiration date: June 24, 2016.
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ON THE ROUTE
RIDE WITH GPS
We’re excited to announce a new partnership with Ride with GPS
for the 2016 event season! The following page will serve as your
information hub regarding the daily routes: ridewithgps.com/
events/2016-RTR
On the event page you may “RSVP” to the ride, which will save a
link to all of the routes and make them easily accessible. You can
download any of the routes to your Garmin unit, or use the Ride with GPS app on
iPhone or Android to view, record and navigate. After the Tour, the event page will
update to show you and others who record with or upload to Ride with GPS.
Founded in 2007, Ride with GPS has established itself as the preferred route
planning website of bicycle clubs, events and the first choice for cyclists focused
on experiencing and sharing great bicycle rides.
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IN THE TOWNS
WEEK-LONG PARKING
There will be an attendant at the entrance of the parking lots during the following
times to check you in, issue a week-long parking pass and collect payment. To help
expedite the process please bring a check or exact cash.
START TOWN
Carbondale
Carbondale Middle School
180 Snowmass Dr.
Carbondale, CO 81623
Hours & Cost
Friday, June 10 – 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 11 – 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 12 – 5:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Cost: $15.00
Funds raised will benefit Carbondale Middle School Student Organizations
FINISH TOWN
Fort Collins
TBD
Hours & Cost
Friday, June 10 – 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 11 – 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Cost: $15.00
*Please note – if you reserved a spot with
ACC on the Fort Collins to Carbondale
Shuttle, the bus will depart promptly at
9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 11.
*Shuttles will be available on June 17 from
the Odell Brewing Company finish line to
week-long parking in Carbondale.
*Minimum participation is required.
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RV & PRIVATE SUPPORT PROGRAM
Click here to buy your pass today!
Passes available until April 24 or while supplies last – limited to the first 200.
Program Overview:
The Private Support Vehicle Pass Program has been revamped to bring you better
parking, more personalized support and a great list of discounts and attractions in
each host community!
We understand that some RTR participants like to share their experience with
family and friends who prefer to drive their own vehicles and provide private
support for their loved ones. Ride The Rockies welcomes private support vehicles
and we will do our best to accommodate their needs with our Private Support
Vehicle Program. This program provides guaranteed parking for support vehicles
near HQ sites, which is a luxury on a tour where space is at a premium. The nearby
parking allows easier access to your riders and all the entertainment that occurs
throughout the week. In addition to the convenience for private support vehicles,
the program helps create a safer route for your loved ones riding in the Tour. There
has been a growing concern for the safety of our riders due to the amount of traffic
created by private support vehicles.
Remember: Ride The Rockies is a fully supported Tour which limits the need for
private support vehicles to be on the tour route itself.
To help manage the number of private support vehicles, both on the route and in
the host communities, each vehicle supporting a rider will be required to purchase
a Private Support Vehicle Pass. Participants of the Private Support Vehicle
Program will be mailed a decal prior to the tour. The decal will allow you access to
designated parking areas near the HQ site in each host community and will need to
be applied to your vehicle before arriving on registration day and remain on your
vehicle the duration of the tour.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and participation in this program! If you
have any questions before the event, please contact Renee Wheelock at 303-9546704 or rwheelock@denverpost.com.
Expectations and Considerations:
• Vehicle passes are limited to 200; if you do not purchase the pass you will
not be guaranteed parking at or near the HQ site.
• To help foster a safer environment for our cyclists, private support vehicles
are required to drive alternate routes to each days destination (directions
will be provided).
• Private support vehicle parking will be as close to the rider venues as
possible – the private support vehicle area is not an RV park – more likely
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it’s a city park, someone’s field or a parking lot – hook-ups (water, electricity
and dumping stations) are not provided.
• Drivers should arrive at the destination town’s HQ site between 10:00 a.m. –
5:00 p.m. (with the exception of the event start date on June 11th which will
open at 11:00 a.m.). In locations with limited space, it’s difficult to best utilize
the space when vehicles arrive either too early or too late in the day. Please
plan your travel time accordingly.
• Each host community will provide a list of attractions and discounts taking
place while we are in town. The list will be mailed to you with your decal and
we encourage you to arrive early and take advantage of these special offers
while waiting for your participant to arrive.
• Quiet Hours – When possible, we try and locate vehicles that have
generators separately from those without. In addition, the private support
vehicle area will observe quiet hours (no generators) from 10:00 p.m. to
5:00 a.m. every day.
Vehicle Registration Fee
A registration fee of $175 is required for each private support vehicle. The fee
includes:
• Access to the services provided at the overnight site including showers,
restrooms, beer garden, daily entertainment, other food vendors, bike
mechanics and the medical tent.
• Designated parking area at or near the HQ site.
• Identified area for participant gear drop off so you have easy access to
setting up camp for your rider (if you plan to do that for them).
• Fun list of attractions and discounts in each host community
• Alternate driving directions from start town to destination town
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• RTR merchandise coupon for 10% off total purchase; coupon may only be
redeemed during the event, June 11 – 17, at the official merchandise tent; one
per pass
• Entry into Rocky Mountain National Park; specific hours & regulations apply –
only vehicles with an official decal on their vehicle will be allowed entry at no
additional cost
• Registered private support vehicle drivers will receive a packet in May that
will include alternate driving directions, site maps with designated parking
for private support vehicles and a vehicle decal. THIS DECAL MUST BE ON
YOUR VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE START OF THE TOUR OR YOU WILL NOT BE
ALLOWED ACCESS TO PARKING AREAS. Volunteers will manage parking
security in each host community and will not allow vehicles without a decal.
Private Support Volunteer Liaison
Ride The Rockies will have a volunteer who serves as a private support vehicle
liaison. He/she will make sure you are well looked after and answer any questions you
have during the week.
Refund Policy
If you wish to cancel your private support vehicle pass, you will receive a partial
refund of $80 until May 31. If decals have already been mailed, refunds will not be
processed until your vehicle decal has been returned to Ride The Rockies. Please
send a written request to rtr@denverpost.com. No refunds will be issued after May 31.
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RTR’S CHARITABLE SIDE
THE DENVER POST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Denver Post Community is the community relations
arm of The Denver Post. Through a variety of events
and programs – including Ride The Rockies – The
Denver Post Community invests a value of more than $6
million in local nonprofit organizations and events each
year. Through grants, sponsorship, in-kind advertising,
signature events and volunteerism, The Denver Post
Community strives to improve and enrich the lives of
those in our community. Through the Foundation, all money raised is distributed to
Colorado nonprofits in the areas of arts, youth, education and basic human services.
GRANT PROGRAM
The Ride The Rockies Community Foundation Grant Program
returns for its fifteenth consecutive year! We are excited to offer this
program which is designed to support nonprofit agencies that work
to improve the lives of Coloradans in the towns hosting Ride The
Rockies. In partnership with Wells Fargo, one $5,000 grant will be
awarded to a deserving nonprofit in each 2016 host community.
The Grant Program funds nonprofit organizations that provide
services for low-income children and youth through recreation, education, or the arts
and/or agencies that offer direct-service literacy programs.
Since the program began in
2001, over $555,000 has been
granted to towns throughout
the state. We are honored to
award $30,000 in grants to
six deserving nonprofits at
this year’s Tour. Check back in
April to see who the 2016 grant
recipients will be!
Please join us each afternoon
at the Entertainment Site to
congratulate our grant recipients
and present them with their
$5,000 check. Consult your
Map Book for exact times and
locations.
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RTR’S 7TH ANNUAL PROLOGUE
MAXIMIZE YOUR RTR EXPERIENCE
Elevate your Ride The Rockies experience with
the Prologue Ride. There are still a few openings
in the Experience, June 10-12. Start the weekend
by meeting other Prologue participants and
cycling celebrities at a welcome reception on
Friday night at the historic Hotel Jerome in
downtown Aspen; where you will spend two
nights. Kick off Saturday morning with a big
breakfast to prepare for the ride ahead. After a
trip through Snowmass, the 47-mile route will
take cyclists to the Aspen Monastery and then
back to the Jerome where lunch will take place
on the patio terrace. Enjoy a massage before
you head off to dinner under the stars at the Rock Bottom Ranch in Basalt.
Ron Kiefel
7-Time Tour de France
Competitor & Olympic
Bronze Medalist
Ted King
Tour de France
& Giro d’Italia
Participant
Tim Johnson
3-time United States
National Cyclocross
Champion
The 2016 cycling celebrities include Ted King, past Tour de France, Giro
d’Italia and World Championships participant; Tim Johnson, 3-time United
States National Cyclocross Champion; and Ron Kiefel, 7-Time Tour de France
competitor & Olympic bronze medalist. Special guests also include former
professional cyclist and member of the U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team,
Scott Mercier; co-founder of Skratch Labs, Dr. Allen Lim; co-author of the Feed
Zone cookbooks, Biju Thomas; Olympic medalist, Nelson Vails; and Canadian
Olympian, Lyne Bessette.
Call 303-954-6703 to upgrade today!
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BIG THANKS
VOLUNTEERS
Ride The Rockies is made possible
through the hard work and dedication
of our volunteers. We are most grateful
and appreciative of their time and
efforts. Please remember to thank them
while participating in the Tour.
The Tour is looking for new volunteers
to add to this year’s staff. These
positions include working at aid
stations, road marshaling, route support
and helping at the Headquarter site.
Check out our volunteer page on the
website for more information on job
positions, the volunteer manual and how
to apply.
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OUR PARTNERS
Ride The Rockies would not be possible without the support and contributions
of our sponsors, bike technicians and demo partners. We would like to recognize
ViaWest as the new presenting sponsor of Ride The Rockies! Please support our
Tour partners; they are an invaluable asset to our ride.
DEMOS
TECHS
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Scale the
Summit and
Reach for
the Clouds
with ViaWest, a COLOborn company and
presenting sponsor of Ride The Rockies
To learn more about ViaWest solutions
and community involvement, visit
www.viawest.com or call 800.497.8086
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