Two years ago, the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic moved its starting line for the historic Durango-to-Silverton ride from downtown Durango to 33rd Street and East Second Avenue, about 2½ miles north.

It also stopped holding events on Sunday in downtown Durango, including a mountain bike race that passed through Steamworks Brewing Co. and a Cruiser Crit, in which participants dressed up in costume.

While some may think such a move from the downtown could impact businesses during the Memorial Day weekend – the unofficial launch of tourism season – business owners and business leaders say they aren’t concerned about the change.

“I do not believe that has decreased the impact at all,” said Tim Walsworth, executive director of the Business Improvement District. “In fact, it keeps downtown a little more open and flowing.”

2023 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic schedule

May 26

1-7 p.m. Local packet pickup at Chapman Hill

5 p.m. Women’s Short Track race at Chapman Hill

5:30 p.m. Men’s Short Track race at Chapman Hill

May 27

7:30 a.m. Durango Coca-Cola Road Race start, 33rd Street and East Second Avenue

8 a.m. McDonald’s Citizen Tour start, 33rd Street and East Second Avenue

3-7 p.m. Bike pickup at Durango Transit Center

May 28

8:30 a.m. La Strada La Plata Gravel Race start at Chapman Hill

9 a.m. Mountain Bike wave 1 start at Chapman Hill

11:30 a.m. Mountain Bike wave 2 start at Chapman Hill

2 p.m. Mountain Bike wave 3 start at Chapman Hill

As of Wednesday, 1,906 cyclists were registered to ride from Durango to Silverton. Events for the whole weekend had a total of 2,388 registered participants.

Peak Food & Beverage CEO Kris Oyler said he expects business at the company’s restaurants – Steamworks, El Moro and Homeslice – will be on par with typical Memorial Day weekends.

Memorial Day weekend brings bike riders, but it also brings an influx of other visitors, he said.

“Generally, we see about 50% more people across the board during this weekend,” Oyler said.

Oyler said Steamworks has been serving about 900 customers per day in recent weeks. He expects that number to increase to 1,500 per day this weekend.

Even at Homeslice, which tends to have less tourism appeal, will see a slight bump in traffic because of the IHBC event, he said.

Peak Brewing restaurants don’t open until 11 a.m., Oyler said. So they never experienced a bump in business from having the start line in downtown Durango on Saturday mornings.

In fact, moving events from the downtown has helped his employees get to work and avoid traffic delays related to the race, he said.

Walsworth said congestion in front of storefronts can make it difficult for restaurants and retailers.

“Any time you have an event like this, you have to close roads,” he said. “Road closures downtown can have their good points and they can have their bad points for business.”

Primi Pasta & Wine Bar owner Jarrod Regan said the Iron Horse helps business, as do the Durango High School and the Big Picture High School graduations.

“We’ve noticed that the last couple of years they’ve fallen on the same weekend and that’s huge because two big dining-out events (are) happening at the same time,” he said.

Regan has noticed that since opening the Italian restaurant in 2020, IHBC participants often dine with him the night before the ride to “carbo-load.”

“We’re pretty darn busy year-round,” he said. “So, having maybe a few less tourists isn’t going to really impact our Friday and Saturday business.”

For business owners in Silverton, the Iron Horse event is one of the biggest weekends of the year, said San Juan County spokeswoman DeAnne Gallegos.

The IHBC brings in thousands of participants and spectators to the municipality of around 651 people.

“Memorial Day weekend generally is very busy. Not only with the Iron Horse, but we start to see more motorcycle traffic and car traffic off Highway 550,” Gallegos said. “And with it being a three-day holiday weekend, we start to see high traffic of all types.”

In addition to the Iron Horse, this is the earliest the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad will be running a second train to Silverton, she said.

“I’ve already had some restaurants say they’re beating their days from last year,” she said.

tbrown@durangoherald.com