Crested Butte was voted the best riding destination in North America. Deadmans Gulch won the Best Tight N Twisty singletrack and Deadmans Ridge was awarded the Best Climb nod. The infamous 401 Trail also received an honorable mention as Trail of the Year.
Mountain Bike Actions 100 Things Every Mountain Biker Must Do Bucket List, March 2009 issue. Riding Crested Butte was number one.
BIKING LIFE
Gunnison Crested Butte is a place where biking is a part of everyday life. Even in winter, Townie bikes are a common form of transportation. Many people simply park their cars and ride two-wheelers to amazing trails, museums and concerts. Two of the state’s most popular summer rides will pass through: Ride the Rockies will be staying in Gunnison, June 15, and Bicycle Tour of Colorado will be spending two nights in Crested Butte, June 24-25.
Pitch in to help local riders with trail work days organized by the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association, www.cbmba.org , and Gunnison Trails, www.gunnisontrails.com and maybe theyll show you a favorite ride or two. To view trail reports and sign up for email trail report newsletters, visit www.coloradomountainbiking.info
2009 EVENTS IN BIKING
April 30 Gunnison Growler Mountain Bike Series, Gunnison
14 Gunnison Growler Mountain Bike Series, Gunnison
May 24, Original Growler Mountain Bicycle Race Gunnison
Gunnison & Crested Butte, Gunnison & Gunnison Growler Mountain Bike Series: May, June & Aug Gunnison Growler Mountain Bike Series
June 6, National Trails Day Trail Work Day, Crested Butte Mountain Bicycle Association, Crested Butte Region
June 15-16 Ride the Rockies Overnight Hotel in Gunnison
June 20 21 9th Annual Wildflower Rush Mountain States Cup Race, Mt. Crested Butte
June 24, 26 Bicycle Tour of Colorado. Overnight Stays and Day Off in Crested Butte
June 24 28 29th Annual Fat Tire Bike Week, Crested Butte
June 27, 28 Bridges of the Butte (24 hour townie tour), Crested Butte
June 27 Loco-Motive Adventure Race Gunnison
July 16, 23, 30, August 6, 13, PowerAde Pinnacle Summer Race Series Series, Mt. Crested Butte
August 15-16 7th Annual 24-Hours in the Sage Gunnison
Aug. 22 Gunnison Growler Mountain Bike Series, Crested Butte or Gunnison (TBA)
September 12-13, 2013 33rd Annual Pearl Pass Mountain Bike Tour Crested Butte
Sept. 17, Oct. 8 & 29 Gunnison Growler Mountain Bike Series
GUNNISON GROWLER MOUNTAIN Bike Series, Gunnison April October
The fourth Gunnison Growler Mountain Bike Series, which will be held on selected Thursday evenings in spring, summer and autumn (April 30, May 7, 14; Sept. 17, Oct. 8; 29; and Sept. 17; respectively) at Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Rec Area in Gunnison.
Also, a race is being planned for Aug. 22, on the 401 trail in Crested butte. If permits are not obtained, it will take place at Hartman Rocks. This classic mountain bike race/fun run series is open to all ages. There are four divisions for men and women: beginner, expert, sport, and single-speed open. The races start at
Original growler Gunnison May 24
Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the mountain biking season in Gunnison. Dave Wiens, a local racer who beat Lance Armstrong in Leadville 100 last year and has many other impressive wins to his credit, organizes this second annual mountain biking race. Register for the whole race. It includes two laps of Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Rec Area covering 32 miles. Or the Half Growler, which covers one lap. Participants must be proficient single-track riders and in good physical condition as each lap climbs approximately 4,000 feet. Participants will enjoy food and entertainment after the race at 7 a.m. Gunnison Trails receives all proceeds. To register, go to www.GunnisonTrails/events/growler The cost is with a cap of 200 riders.
If you are looking for a challenge to your mind and body over the weekend, the Sage Burner Trail Race is for you. It is a 25K and 50K run race at Hartman Rocks, May 23. This race was organized by Western State College at Hartman Rocks. Find out more at www.western.edu/sageburner
9TH ANNUAL WILDFLOWER RUS,
Mt. Crested Butte, June 20 21
Discover Crested Butte’s real single track at the 9th Annual Wildflower Rush. This is the fourth stop in the Mountain States Cup (MSC), regional mountain biking series.
Crested Butte Mountain resort in Mt. The event will be held at Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Mt. On Saturday, a free Shimano Kids Race will also be held. Racers will have plenty to do on June 21 with the Crested Butte Downhill, and the new Super-D. Visit www.racemsc.com for more information and to register.
29TH ANNUAL FAT TIRES BIKE WEEK
Crested Butte, June 24 28
Fat Tire Bike Week was voted the best festival in Bike Magazine’s third annual reader poll. It is not only Crested Butte’s birthplace, but also the oldest mountain bike festival in the world. FTBW is co-located with the Bicycle Tour of Colorado and Bridges of the Butte. This brings together road, mountain, and town biking in a town that welcomes them all.
FTBW celebrations feature local riders leading beginner, intermediate, and advanced tours of Crested Butte’s trails. There is ample time for socializing at the daily expo, which features live music, demo bikes, food courts, and a beer garden. Annual favorites include the Chainless Race down Kebler Pass, which is a fun and challenging event. The new Fat Tire 40 mountain biking race will cover 40-miles of classic Crested Butte singletrack. Other highlights include a historic townie trip, a cycling celebrity party and a Project Rwanda benefit concert. Contact the Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce at 545-4505 or visit www0.0mbw.com for more information. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce can be reached at 545-4505, or visit www0.0mbw.com
Bridges of the Butte Crested Butte June 27-28
The 24-hour townie bicycle tour takes riders over many bridges in downtown Crested butte. It runs from 3 p.m. to 3 p.m. June 27 through 3 p.m. June 28. You can either enter as an individual or as a group and cruise for 24 hours. You can enter as many people as you like, but there is no limit on the number of teams. Costumes are welcome but not necessary. This event is a unique one and benefits the Adaptive Sport Center. Pre-registration is preferred. Register online at www.adaptivesports.org For information, call 349-5075, ext. 107.
LOCOMOTIVE ADVENTURE RACE, Gunnison June 27
Salmon Crested Butte, a team that has traveled around the globe on the adventure racing circuit, is helping Gunnison River Festival to come up with a winning combination of running 11K, biking 25k at Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Rec Area, and ringing a bell at Gunnison Whitewater Park. The festival will run from June 26 to 28. For more information about the Loco-Motive Adventure Race, which starts at 9 a.m., visit www.gunnisonriverfestival or call 596-7094.
Mt. Crested Butte. July 16, 23, 30, August 6, 13,
Crested Butte Mountain Resort created this recreational racing series in 1998. It is designed to provide competition and fun for novice to expert riders. The races are divided into 12 categories. There are a variety of races on Mt. Crested Buttes’ network of trails and single track will be open on five Thursday nights in July and August, at 7:24 PM IN THE SAGE.
Gunnison August 15 16
Gunnisons Hartman Rocks Recreation Area is the setting for a 24-hour relay race in which individual entrants or teams complete a 13-mile loop from noon Saturday, August 15 through noon Sunday, August 16. The winner in each category is the person/team with the most laps. Also offered is a 12-hour race, which starts at midnight and ends at noon. Live entertainment and the World Townie Championships are other highlights of the weekend. Participants will be riding single-speed bikes equipped with either horns, fenders, or fuzzy seat covers. The race attracts around 200 participants, and proceeds go to Gunnison community projects. To register or for more information, contact 507-1148 or visit www.24hoursinthesage.com
33rd Annual Pearl Pass Mountain Biking Tour, Crested Butte To Aspen, September 12-13
The oldest mountain bike event on the planet, the 33rd Annual Pearl Pass Mountain Bike Tour runs from Crested Butte through Aspen via Pearl Pass on September 12 13. The first group of 15 to 20 bicycles from the Butte rode their one-speed town bikes across the 12,214.9 m Pearl Pass. This was in response to Aspenites who were riding their motorcycles up the pass. They parked them in front the Grubstake Saloon (now known as the Brick Oven) in Crested Butte. Upon their arrival, the Crested Butte rowdies pulled up downtown Aspen in front historic Hotel Jerome.
VISITOR INFORMATION AND PERSONALIZED VACATION PAKAGES
For more information about Gunnison Crested Buttes events and to book customized vacation packages, please call the Gunnison Crested Butte Tourism Associates’ official reservations center at 814-88993 or visit www.
GunnisonCrestedButte.com . United Airlines provides air access to Gunnison Crested Butte Regional Airport during the summer and autumn.
About Gunnison Crested Butte Colorado
Gunnison-Crested Butte lies among nearly two million acres of beautiful wilderness in southwest Colorado. Winter sports enthusiasts know the area for its world-class alpine skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing;Gunnison-Crested Butte is also a haven for outdoor summer activities. Visitors can enjoy a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, climbing and mountain biking, boating. Visitors year-round can enjoy unique restaurants, stimulating cultural opportunities and a wide variety of lodging options, including guest cabins, bed-and breakfasts, full-service resort hotels, and rustic inns.
Crested Butte has been designated the Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado and one of the National Trust for Historic Preservations Dozen Different Destinations in 2008. It is home to the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum, Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, and rich mining, ranching, and skiing heritage.
Three miles further on is Mt. Crested Butte is home to the ski area and active base area. It also houses the area’s conference center and exceptional hiking and biking trails.
Gunnison is a small town in western Colorado, 28 miles from Crested Butte. It’s home to the Gunnison Whitewater Park and Gunnison Valley Observatory. The Pioneer Museum, Western State College and the Gunnison Regional Airport. Both Gunnison and Crested Butte have vibrant central business districts that are full of shopping and dining options.
Gunnison County is home to the Curecanti National Recreation Area. This area contains dinosaur fossils and the Blue Mesa Reservoir. It is Colorado’s largest water body and hosts the largest Kokanee salmon fishing operation in the United States. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one of the country’s newest national parks. Gunnison County also includes the historic and charming towns of Pitkin and Gothic, Tin Cup and Marble, Powderhorn and Powderhorn. It also includes the more well-known communities of Gunnison and Crested Butte. Crested Butte. Gunnison County forms part of the West Elk Loop, Silver Thread Scenic and Historic Byways
