Cyclists from the Crested Butte Adaptive Sports Association are taking part in the Ride the Rockies and made their way Monday from Pagosa Springs to Durango along County Road 240 during the second day of the seven-day event. After a night of rest, more than 2,000 cyclists completed Day 3 of the event with a 19-mile loop ride to Hesperus and back to Durango. Wednesday, riders will depart Durango High School between 6 and 9 a.m. for perhaps the most-grueling stage of the ride – 83 miles from Durango to Ridgway on U.S. Highway 550 over Coal Bank, Molas and Red Mountain passes. It features 7,792 feet of elevation gain.
Jose Rios, founder of mobilebikeman.com of Boulder, worked on bikes along with mechanic Gary Aubel on Tuesday. The business is the official café of the ride, serving about 15 gallons of fresh ground “Pablo’s Coffee” from their truck in the morning and fixing about 20 bikes in the afternoon. Ride the Rockies is largely self-supported with mechanics, 25 masseuses and everything else cyclists riding 447 miles across southwest Colorado from Alamosa to Salida will need.
Geoff Green, left, and Mike Shapiro, of New York, compare their bikes with a demo bike during the Ride the Rockies layover on Tuesday at Durango High School.
Riders from the Crested Butte Adaptive Sports Association taking part in the Ride the Rockies made their way toward Durango from Pagosa Spring as they rode along Florida Road (County Road 240) during the second day of the event. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Ride the Rockies cyclists had the option to sleep in the Durango High School gym or outside in tents Monday and Tuesday nights. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
About 2,200 Ride the Rockies cyclists spent two days at Durango High School sleeping in the gym or outside in tents. The group will leave Durango on Wednesday morning on the way to Ridgway in the next leg of the tour. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
About 2,200 Ride the Rockies cyclists bikes are neatly stored on the tennis courts at Durango High School on Monday after their second day of riding from Pagosa Springs to Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
About 2,200 Ride the Rockies cyclists bikes are neatly stored on the tennis courts at Durango High School on Monday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Pete Dempsey, left, owner of Backroads Battery of Boulder, tells a joke while hanging out with friends at his booth Tuesday during the Ride the Rockies layover at Durango High School. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Tim Dea, left, a cyclist with Team Samaritan House, makes a smoothie toast with Pat Downey, who is an entertainer, DJ, and what ever makes people smile, 24 year-veteran of the Ride the Rockies. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Izzie Coffin, a massage therapist from Boulder, works on a cyclist Tuesday during the Ride the Rockies layover at Durango High School. The ride has 25 massage therapists traveling with the event. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jose Rios, founder of mobilebikeman.com of Boulder, works on a bike as mechanic Gary Aubel looks on on Tuesday during the Ride the Rockies layover at Durango High School. The business is the official cafe of the ride, serving about 15 gallons of fresh ground “Pablo’s Coffee” from their truck in the morning and fixing about 20 bikes in the afternoon. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
boo Bicycles co-owner Drew Haugen, shows what the inside of their bamboo carbon fiber bikes look like Tuesday during the Ride the Rockies layover at Durango High School. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Geoff Green, left, and Mike Shapiro, of New York, compare their bikes with a demo bike during the Ride the Rockies layover Tuesday at Durango High School. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mobile shower facilities are brought along for cyclists during the Ride the Rockies. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
A couple thousand bikes are under lock and key during the Ride the Rockies layover in Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Ashleigh Siefken of Boulder takes apart signs that had been placed at the Ride the Rockies headquarters Tuesday at Durango High School so that they can be put up at the next stop in Ridgway on Wednesday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
