Ride the Rockies Start



"Workin' Progress" revving up the Ride the Rockies crowd



This year's Ride the Rockies Bike Tour start in Gunnison was a BIG success!  The 2500 riders and their support friends and families enjoyed the downtown festivities on Saturday afternoon and evening.  The City of Gunnison's bright yellow information tent was up and many volunteers answered a wide variety of questions for the visitors and promoted the big USA Pro Cycling Race later this summer.  The local band "Workin' Progress" entertained everyone with great music.  Food vendors and the local restaurants provided a delicious variety of "carb loading" goodies for the riders.  Most of the food vendors sold out by the end of the evening. The Gunnison Community School lawn was the site of the "tent village" on Saturday evening.  Potable showers and restrooms were set up for the riders' use.  Many riders limbered up for the long bike tour by riding in town and around the Gunnison Valley. 



Volunteer Shawn Meldrum answering
riders' questions about Gunnison



An opening ceremony, including remarks from Gunnison Mayor Jonathan Houck, took place at 7:30am Sunday morning before the riders headed west (into a strong head wind!) out of town on Highway 50, past Blue Mesa Reservoir, across the dam, over Black Mesa and ended the day in Hotchkiss.  Comments from the riders about Gunnison were very favorable!  We hope to see many of them back for vacations and biking adventures in the Gunnison Valley.