Bike HOT

I was at the Colorado Department of Transport (CDOT) office last year discussing our bike course and noticed several photos of cyclists on local roads. On closer inspection it was apparent that these were before and after shots. Before being “before we put in the bike lane.” Small brass plaques noted the national awards for safety and improvement, not surprising given the county leads the nation in bike lanes and bike paths per capita.

Despite the abundance of smooth, wide shoulders and bike lanes adorning the roads around our race site, CDOT and the police departments were not overjoyed at the idea of having cyclists racing around their roads at night. Especially a Saturday night, and I couldn't disagree.

After decades of adventure racing, where we typically go for a week or more with only a few hours sleep, I am well aware that it is motorists pose the greatest danger to cyclists. As one officer put it, a flashing light is like a magnet to a drunk driver. Despite a 12 ft shoulder on highway 119, flashing digital displays, bright orange announcement signs, cones every 100 yards of the bike course, and police with patrol cars at every intersection there was still a collective holding of breath.

One of the concessions we made was to use north 55^th St and Monarch Road, both dirt, and away from most of the traffic. This course also minimized intersections and turns, reducing police and traffic staffing (still a $20,000 cost on my event budget) and making a much safer course.

The challenge of having dirt sections (34% of the bike course distance) was to make sure it was rideable on at least a road bike. For local cyclists this is no problem, in fact handling (and better still enjoying) the local dirt roads at speed on a standard road racing bike is regarded as standard. The Boulder Roubaix is a must-do on the bike racing calendar, and 80% of the course is on dirt, replete with steeps and tight turns. Imagine the fun with categories sporting packs of over a hundred riders. Yippee.

24 Hours of Triathlon is no Roubaix, and I was determined to cater to all comers, including out of towners who may not be familiar with local dirt conditions. To this end CDOT graded the course the weekend before the race, and I rented a roller to drive along the shoulder pre and during the race. The net result was a surface that some competitors rode on their TT bikes, although I would have chosen a road or cross bike.

Some of the athletes were smart enough to bring several bike choices and used a combination or road, TT and mountain set ups. Our “retro bike” competition brought out all sorts of beautiful classic machines (you had to ride the bike for at least one leg), and we saw everything from beach cruisers to 1970's "10 speeds" with coaster brakes and even a vintage 1950s European racing bike.

This year's bike course will be on smooth bike lanes in Cherry Creek State Park, no through traffic and virtually vehicle free at night. This is assuming our permit comes through, oherwise we'll back in Boulder, just as picturesque, and a little more challenging to boot.