Salida Bike Fest 2013
Last week[September 11-15] was Salida’s 2013 Bike Fest; there were guest-speakers, a kids bike rodeo, the Chainless Race, the Monarch Crest Crank and even the return of a very popular local race, the Banana Belt Loop.
Friday’s Chainless race was, well, as you might have guessed from the name, a downhill race where the competitors donned all sorts of wonderful costumes while forgoing their bicycle’s chain. It was mayhem, it was hilarious, it was quite the spectacle. Since I intended to race the next day, I decided rather than participate in the Chainless Race, I would cheer the competitors[more drunken fools than racers] from the sidelines. Watching these costumed women, men and kids hurtle themselves down the Salida Mountain dirt-road, sans-chains, for little more than the thrill of it all was such a blast!
The Banana Belt Loop had been held for many years until it was abandoned by its organizer about six or seven years ago. Fortunately for us all, the good folks at Absolute Bikes and Salida Mountain Trails decided it should be resurrected. At 11am on Saturday 65 men and women lined up on the F Street Bridge for the 26 mile loop. Led out by the local constabulary, the pace was pretty hot from the start. Taking paved roads to the edge of town, we crossed the rail-road tracks before passing back past the start line along a gravel road. After a few miles, we hit the Bear Creek dirt-road and our 3,000′ climb began. At the top, we joined the Rainbow Trail; narrow single-track that can be both fast and smooth as well as rocky and technical. Turning off the Rainbow, there’s a very fast dirt-road decent that can easily end your day in spectacular style if you’re not careful. Turning onto the Little Rainbow and Race-track Trails, we completed the loop riding back to town along that same gravel road.
Still feeling the affects of last week’s Vapor Trail 125, I decided I would just take it easy and enjoy the ride, not really racing. So much for good intentions. Actually feeling strong I decided to push it a little bit and just see how it goes. Well, after just 2:06:37 I crossed the finish line, earning myself a very respectable 14th place. My third race this summer and it was a great time!
Sunday I spent the afternoon getting tattooed, so I missed the final event of Salida’s Bike Fest, the Monarch Crest Crank; a fundraising event for the Chaffee County Alliance Against Domestic Abuse. I understand, however, that the more than sixty participants who were shuttled to Monarch Pass to ride the Monarch Crest Trail enjoyed a great day of riding one of Colorado’s best trails.
To all the organizers and participants in this years Salida Bike Fest, I offer a huge thanks and congratulations for such a wonderful event. Heck, I even won a draw-prize!
 |
| Racing the Banana Belt Loop Race. Thanks to Taf McMurry for the picture.
It is prices generic cialis view that raindogscine.com obvious for most patients to be cared for with least amount financial stress. Some of these components have cialis 5mg australia been used in South America, China and India to promote sexual activities for men. Taking a lower dose will be of no concern generico cialis on line if you stick to the dosage prescribed. It was originally developed as a cardiovascular drug but when it was found that http://raindogscine.com/?order=3433 cialis canadian it can cure any sexual problem. |
.tiff) |
| Ryan and Shawn representin’ Absolute Bikes |
.tiff)
.tiff) |
| Chris Swan gettin’ ready to slay the Chainless Race |
.tiff)
.tiff) |
| Shawn and Ryan hurtling down hill |
.tiff)
.tiff) |
| Jason Willis, Chainless Champion, on his way to victory |
