22ND ANNUAL · JUNE 19th-25th 2016
The 18th Annual 2012 ride takes the BTC into previously unexplored territory as well as some familiar places. We have again included the great ski town of Steamboat Springs but added the BTC's first venture into Wyoming, the Equality State. This 7 day trip will take you and your bicycle through high alpine tundra, pine forests, and past alpine lakes. Our world famous aid stations will be back with music, munchies, sports drink, and water of course.
You start out with some gradual uphill to get you in the swing of things. Take in the scenery, shake off your travel haze. The day finishes with a gentle downhill into Laramie.
The BTC's first day entirely out of Colorado! Of course Wyoming has plenty of great mountain scenery, and climbs. The grind up to Snowy Range Pass at 10,840' might take your breath away. Your hard work will be rewarded with some coasting down from the pass. The finish is a relatively flat roll into town.
Getting back to Colorado and the town of Craig involves an early climb to Battle Pass at 9,955'. Crossing the Continental Divide into the Pacific watershed will be today's highest point. Descend from the pass and keep pedaling until you get to Craig (it is okay to stop for food, water, pictures, and natural breaks). When you pedal into Craig be proud to have completed the 111 miles, one of the longest days in BTC history!
After Tuesday, today appears to be a simple jaunt to the Boat, but don't sleep in. With lots to do and see in Steamboat you'll want to get there early.
Day off in Steamboat Springs. Hike the ski area, rent a mountain bike for a few hours, ride the free bus into town, visit the hot springs, or just lie in the grass watching the birds and clouds float by.
After your day in Steamboat the morning warm up is a climb up to Rabbit Ears Pass at 9,426', crossing the Continental Divide, back to the Atlantic watershed. You'll get the hard work done early and then have a rolling descent into Walden.
The early morning roll out of Walden is a nearly imperceptible climb that gets gradually steeper until you top out at 10,276' Cameron Pass. From the pass just keep cranking on the long descent to Fort Collins. Then finish up your ride on the Gold Rated Bicycling streets back to where it all began. Collect your new friends phone and e-mail information before heading on to your next cycling adventure.
To find out more about each days ride including stats on the high mountain passes, check out the book by Michael Seeberg, Road Biking Colorado the Statewide Guide.
Traverse the Continental Divide. Pedal under the the clearest skies in the world. Relax in the hot springs pools. A vacation, an adventure, and a challenge all rolled into one. Sign up now to join your fellow cyclists at the Bicycle Tour of Colorado for the vacation of a lifetime.
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