valygrl

Does anyone have any info on what BTC is planning to bypass the bike path? I'm not registered yet - heard they might have sent an email with an explanation - if someone could post the relevant bits or PM me the whole thing if posting is somehow inappropriate, I would highly appreciate it.

thanks in advance.

UGASkiDawg

Here's the whole e-mail....I'm very pissed at them about the day 7 thing. There is a half marathon running from Loveland Basin to Goergetown on that day and they should have known that and avoided it but now they are sayiing we will be forced into a shuttle from Loveland to Empire....idiots.



Hi from the BTC,

We are excited that you will be cycling with the
2011 BTC this summer!!

The winner of the
2011 Specialized Roubaix SL3 Pro Dura Ace bicycle
from ADVENTURE CYCLERY
in the BTC bicycle give away
in May was
Roger Fesmire of Golden Colorado.
CONGRATULATIONS ROGER!!!

Regarding the Glenwood Bicycle Path.
We are working out with CDOT our
possibilities. If we have to bus
from Gypsum there will be a $25 fee
for the two bus rides - $12.50 each way.
This will be collected at Tour Check-In
and on DAY 4 before getting on the bus.

If you want to participate in the
DAY OFF event at Glenwood Adventure
Park please call 970-945-4228

On DAY 7, the BTC will be shuttling cyclists from
Loveland Basin to Empire, a 16 mile shuttle, due
to a large event that the BTC must shuttle around.

valygrl

Lame. Thanks for posting that.

UGASkiDawg

No problem. I wrote them an unhappy email about the day 7 baloney as a returning customer. I know they have no control over the flooding in the Glenwood so while I don't like the idea of shuttling I can understand it. The idea of waiting in line with 1500 cyclist and their bikes because they failed to plan or know about a half marathon on the same route at them is inexcusable.

I'm pretty sure I was riding with you on the RMCC ride up coal creek last week. I was on the black and white Orca going up to Wondervu with you, Tom and Neil if I have the right person.

valygrl

Yes, that was me! Too funny.

eofelis 

I'm not doing BTC this year (I did last year) but a couple friends of mine are. I was wondering about the Glenwood Cyn situation.
I went to Palisade yesterday to see the river and it was ripping along, the highest I've ever seen it here.

You all have a great ride this year! I'll be there next year.

valygrl

Hey - any more info? the BTC facebook page now has someone commenting that the bikes will remain in Gypsum while the people are shuttled to Glenwood Springs for the rest day. Is that true?

UGASkiDawg

Yes True...here is the latest e-mail....looks like some real jerks at CDOT and Clear Creek County Govmt.....


Hi from the BTC,

We are excited that you will be cycling with the
2011 BTC this summer!!

Regarding the Glenwood Bicycle Path.
heading into Glenwood Springs on
DAY 4.
We visited the area yesterday. Parts
of the concrete path have completely
eroded away and are down river.
The BTC will reroute DAY 4 to stay
on Highway 131 from Steamboat Springs
to Wolcott, then cycle on old Highway 6
to Gypsum - 91 miles.
Bicycles will be kept at Eagle Valley
High School in Gypsum and cyclists will
be bused into Glenwood Springs on
DAY 4 and back to Eagle Valley High
School in Gypsum on DAY 6.
This is an unforeseen expense and we
are asking cyclists to pay $20
for the two bus rides and use of the Eagle
Valley High School.
This will be collected at Tour Check-In.

On DAY 7, the BTC has been negotiating
with the decision making personnel for the groups
involved on DAY 7. The BTC has cycled through
the town of Georgetown and on I70 in 2003 and
2007 with no issues. The BTC cycled on I70 in
2009, the year before last, coming into Grand Junction..
For some unexplained reason, CDOT is refusing
to share the road with this cycling event
on I70. An official from Clear Creek County,
who has been employed with the
County since January of 2010,
is also refusing to allow bicycles to
share the bicycle path with the runners.
The path at times is the two-lane old Highway 6.

We offered to have the bicycle tour
move very early in the morning on DAY 7 from
Summit High School through Georgetown and have
the running event could begin 30-45 minutes later.
The Administrator would not consider this option because
he did not want to move the start time of the event..

We suggested holding the BTC at Summit High
School and starting out later than 8am so we would
arrive at the bicycle path after the event was over.
This option would not consider either.
He said there were concerts planned in
Georgetown for that weekend and
the town did not want the traffic issues of cyclists
passing through their town.

With refusal to share the bicycle path and refusal to
share I70, the BTC is left with the choice to shuttle
cyclists from Loveland Basin to Empire, a 16 mile
shuttle. BTC cyclists will still have the climb and descent
of Loveland Pass.

We apologize for the inconvenience this causes.
We hoped we could compromise with CDOT and/or
the Clear Creek County Administrator but as we sat down
at the negotiating table with those involved, we realized
we were working with two government entities/individuals that
refuse to share our public-owned roadways and bicycle path.
Even the attempts by the Colorado State Patrol representative who was
there to encourage compromise were ignored.
The BTC is held hostage between county permits, National
Forest permits, town permits, and
CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation).

We apologize we could not find a way to make these
government entities and individuals realize that the cyclists
cycling with the BTC have a right to use the
bicycle path and I70.

We are having a difficult time trying to understand why
the BTC cannot cycle on I70 when we have done so
in the very recent past and why the bicycle path cannot
be shared by each event.
We are hoping for some kind of a break through.
For now, it seems we will be shuttling.

We encourage cyclists to keep DAY 7 in perspective
and to fully enjoy each day's fantastic cycling adventure in
Colorado's magnificent Rocky Mountains as you cycle
this year's BTC.

Again, we apologize for the inconvenience.
the BTC

valygrl

Unbelievable. Thanks once again.

UGASkiDawg

I don't really have a problem leaving my bike in Gypsum assuming it is inside and locked up. I appreciate them explaining the situation on Day 7. I am curious as to what is to stop me as citizen from just cycling on through since it's a public road/trail......

valygrl

If I read it right, it sounds like the police will be out keeping people off the trail and I-70.

I have a problem with leaving my bike in Gypsum, which is that my rest day activity was going to be cycling the Maroon Bells.

JustDraftn

What is the day in question here?

It is interesting that CCC is so concerned about controlling this
trail, but can't find the time to run a plow down it.
I have been up there 3 times and still can't make it to Loveland Basin.
Last weekend made it 4 of the 6 miles.

Miles2go

I look forward to hearing how everything shakes out for this supported tour. It seems like the timing of things isn't working in their favor this year. On top of everything else, the road through Rocky Mountain National Park closed last night and is still closed. That was the Bicycle Tour of Colorado route for today.

eofelis 

I am interested in hearing how things are going too. I have some friends who are doing BTC right now. I've been watching the weather where they are. Last I heard they were to ride back to Central City today and everyone to be shuttled to Granby since they can't ride Trail Ridge Road.

I was going to do BTC this year (did 2010) but I didn't ride enough this spring to prepare so I skipped it. Next year.

Miles2go

That's too bad. One of the top draws for this tour had to be riding over Trail Ridge Road. Well, weather should be better tomorrow.

colorado dale

as of 12:15 pm trail ridge road is open from granby newspaper

https://www.skyhidailynews.com/ARTICL...0629999/-1/RSS

eofelis 

I just exchanged a few texts with a friend doing BTC. She said she attempted TR Rd but turned back, but they opened the road after they turned back. Said riders who made it to the top said it was miserable. She is on a bus to Granby right now. She said 80% chance of precip and lows in the 30s for Granby tonight. Brr

c_bake

TRR was still closed at 11 so I drove out to Granby. I went by the school where the BTC camp was and some cyclists were riding in off of 34. I asked one if he came over TRR and he said yes. It must have been brutal. Its a great ride but I'm not sure it would be worth the risk, not for me anyway, I'm a local so I can ride it anytime I want.

I'm staying in Winter Park and can see patches of blue sky. Im looking forward to the ride out to Steamboat tomorrow.

Miles2go

9News Story about the tour on TRR today.

This was a video on tonight's news as well and will probably added to their website before long.

Miles2go

Video is up on the page now.

Steve B.

Can somebody explain to me why BTC (or even RtR for that matter) is so early in the year ?.

I did BTC in '99, the infamous San Juan rain-every-day tour and even in mid July the temps in the passes were hi 30's, but at least it was rain, not snow, even though the the Colorado State Police cancelled Day 2 and stranded 1200 folks in Silverton.

June is no time to be attempting this kind of organized ride thru 10,000 ft. passes and to assume the weather is going to be OK is absurdity and is one of the reasons I have not returned.

Steve B

Miles2go

I don't remember hearing any complaints about RTR this year but this tour (BTC) seems to have made some interesting choices, aside from setting hotel night on night #1 in the Colorado town that banned bicycling. The running race has a date set well, well in advance and is a timed race. Good luck in getting them to give up room on their course or to make changes given that they've planned accordingly, a year in advance. Then there's the bike path in Glenwood Canyon. Everyone is focused on the fact that it's closed because part of it dropped into the raging river. Well even if that hadn't happened, BTC wouldn't be allowed to use the path because the path is always closed until the runoff subsides. And Trail Ridge Road in June? Another gamble at the expense of the riders' experience.

All that said, our pals are out there on this tour. Have a super tour and don't let these challenges derail your smiles and laughter.

Miles2go

Issued by CDOT:

"Watch for Bicyclists on I-70 Saturday

June 23, 2011 - Central Eastern Colorado/CDOT Region 1 - CLEAR CREEK COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is advising drivers to be prepared for approximately 1300 bicyclists on Interstate 70, east of the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnel (EJMT), on Saturday, June 25.

From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., the right shoulder of eastbound I-70 will be closed to allow the Bicycle Tour of Colorado (BTC) to travel eastbound I-70 for approximately 17 miles, from the U.S. 6/Loveland Pass* interchange, just east of the EJMT, to Lawson, just east of the U.S. 40/Empire Interchange. CDOT is recommending that all drivers and bicyclists “Share the Road” and use extra caution along this segment of I-70.

The BCT is using I-70 due to another, previously scheduled event that is using the path on Saturday during the same time-frame from the bottom of Loveland Pass to Bakerville and the frontage road east from Bakerville.

“It’s a unique situation this year,” says CDOT Traffic Engineer Bernie Guevara. “Due to safety concerns and possible conflicts between bicyclists and runners participating in the other event, the decision was made to allow bicyclists to travel on the shoulder this one time only, especially since the BCT is taking proper traffic control measures.”

The Colorado State Patrol will be patrolling I-70 while the event taking place, monitoring traffic and making sure the shoulders and lanes are being used correctly while bicyclists and motor vehicles are simultaneously traveling the highway.

*To maintain safety for bicyclist and truckers, vehicles carrying hazardous materials will be restricted from traveling eastbound Loveland Pass from 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday. Hazmats will be convoyed through the tunnel at 6 a.m. and 7 a.m."

Also from the Post Independent:

Tour cyclists arrive in Glenwood Springs today despite canyon trail closure

UGASkiDawg

Very simple answer...because these 2 weeks are the longest daylight hour weeks of the year and significant percentage of the people doing these types of "anybody can sag anytime they feel like it" tours need as many hours of daylight as they can get to just barely finish the day...maybe...