August is BIG in Bikenridge!
The trails are dry (at least today), the days are warm and the wildflowers are STILL popping! It’s a special time in Breckenridge! The town looks amazing and the scenery is breathtaking. You cannot take a bad photo! Seriously!
Are you a road rider or a mountain biker? Or do you just like to cruise around town … there is so much BIKING to do this time of year in Breckenridge.
An August favorite, the BRECKCREATE summer outdoor concert and the ride-in movies on Friday nights at the Breckenridge Art District. On August 7th, Scott Staten is the featured local talent at 6 p.m., and the movie, The Incredibles, at 10 p.m.
AWESOME Wildflower Rides:
The Upper Flume Trail – The Upper Flume Trail is most easily accessible from the Lower Flume Trailhead located on SCR 450 (Huron Rd.) just past the former recycling center site and approximately ¼ mile east of 7-Eleven. (No parking at Trailhead)
Barney Ford Trail – From Town, climb the Carter Park switchbacks to the Moonstone Trail, cross Moonstone Road and to the Barney Ford Trailhead. (No parking at Trailhead)
Burro Trail – Near the Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center is the Burro Trail, which connects with trails near the Spruce Creek drainage and the Wheeler Trail, which leads into the saddle between Peaks 8 and 9 before dropping towards Copper Mountain.
What’s happening in August!
The Summit Mountain Challenge series continues with:
- The Soda Creek Scramble, Andy Proctor Memorial on August 5th in Keystone,
- The Peaks Trail Time Trail and Breck Nordic Center Kids Race on August 19th, and
- The Funkadelic Pond Crossing during the USA Pro Challenge!
There’s still time to register!
The Breck Epic, kicks off a 6-day Mountain Bike Race on August 9th to 14th. The Epic is composed of 6 BIG backcountry loops (3 loops for the 3-day Epic-curious events), each between 35 and 50 miles long. Local riders love the Breck Epic, including our spotlight riders Marlee Dixon and Matt Powers! Good Luck ! The races begin and end in Breckenridge, so riders can stay in one location.
Which leads us into the biggest CYCLING EXTRAVAGANZA of the season!
Start an exciting week of cycling with Circle the Summit, and roll right into the 2015 USA Pro Challenge.
It’s a big day of road riding with your best group of friends! Sunday, August 16th, Circle the Summit – a memorial ride that supports local rec paths. With a new GRAN FONDO SECTION to Arapahoe Basin (where the USA Pro Challenge finishes on August 18), participants will get a split they can compare to the pros. There is also a Poker Ride element, a raffle to win VIP passes to all of the Summit County USA PRO CHALLENGE venues!
Why not? It would be perfect timing to check out the Pro Challenge Stage 2 Finish at Arapahoe Basin on August 18th or the Stage 3 Start at Copper Mountain on August 19th and/or the GRAND FINALE:
The 2015 USA PRO CHALLENGE – Breckenridge Stage
The Stage 4 Finish, Thursday, August 20th – the excitement of a FINISH mixed in with the craziness of Moonstone, and I don’t mean the Category 3 climb!
The Stage 5 Time Trial, Friday, August 21st – The Breckenridge Time Trial course will be the same for both men’s and women’s races. The course has been described as technical and difficult. It will be an “on the edge” sort of day as we watch the amateurs, men, and women race. Yes, you heard right, the inaugural USA PRO Challenge Women’s race, starts in Breckenridge!
Want to be part of the Amateur Time Trial? Check out the Breck Pro Cycling Facebook Page for more information!
The Women of Cycling
The women of cycling have made some incredible strides in recent years, and when speaking about the USA Pro Challenge Women’s Race, Mara Abbott, of Colorado and Pro Rider for the Team Wiggle Honda said it best, “I’m so honored that they are showing how much they care about women’s cycling and giving us this opportunity. August can’t come soon enough.”
Locally, the women riders are just as impressive. Bikenridge was honored to catch up with Marlee Dixon, Pro Mountain Biker, Ultra-endurance Racer and super cool chick! She placed 3rd in Pro/Open Female at the famed Firecracker 50 and will be racing the Breck Epic on August 9th.
Read about what motivates Marlee and why she changed her focus to the ultra-endurance racing in the Bike Blog, Marlee Dixon – Choose Your Own Adventure.
As always, thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read the Bikenridge Useletter! We want to hear from you! Any feedback or suggestions are welcome and appreciated.
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Enjoy the Climb!
Courtney
— Everything Biking in Breckenridge 🙂