Ride 2014

Guide to northern Colorado Bicycling culture & events

2014

Freedom

of the trail World-class

cycling city

Family biking

adventures

CSU riding spirit

Calendar

BIKE rides & clubs Bicycling guide to northern Colorado

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Bicycling guide to northern Colorado

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2014

Guide to northern Colorado Bicycling culture & events

From the editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Pure bliss—Cycling back to the future

18 Rolling toward diamond Fort Collins continues drive to be a world-class bicycle community

Contributor profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF FORT COLLINS

Meet the writers

Shifting gears and paradigms.... . . . . . . . . . . 8 How I learned to embrace bikes as a viable means of transportation

The family that rides together. . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Turn mundane errands into family adventures

Women on a roll. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Inspired and leading on two wheels

Building a healthy environment . . . . . . . . . . 14 City planners make it easier and safer to be active

Ram cycling spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Advisory committee supports strong biking culture on CSU campus

NoCo builds for bikes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Transportation organization connects the region

24

Freedom of the Trail

Life’s more fun when you get a little dirty

Building more bridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Program revised to recruit more volunteers

Check out these bikes...really . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Travel with ease using the Bike Share program

Proud to be made in NoCo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Industry alliance collaborates to promote bicycle-related products

Gear up and get involved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Find a group that fits you

A race to remember . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Northern Colorado communities rise to the challenge

Bike Calendar

Photo by Kenny Bearden

Cycling Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Regular rides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Races . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

28 Brew tour About the cover:

Pedal down to some local suds

40 in the Fort racer west of Fort Collins.

Photo by Rodger Thomson

Bicycling guide to northern Colorado

Ride | 3

FROM THE EDITOR Pure We’re gettingbliss personal Cycling back to the future

HAVING A BICYCLE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY is not about the miles

of trails the number of bikethe Foror nearly 200 years boxesbicycle a place has.

It’s about the has captured the imagination people.

It’s about the way people and hearts of men and women. From feel when they ride bikes.

Do its earliest form, thetheir walking machine they (much feel included?

Free?

A part like the pedal-less Strider® of something bigger?

Safe? balance bike used to teach children Whether your ride transports you to ride), to today’s highly engineered to work or to recreate on the weektwo-wheelers, the bike has proven ends,itself whether you have as an efficient way atofull-susget around. pension mountain bike or a fixie, By the late 1800s, bicycles en- you are part of our local cycling culture. joyed so much popularity that the And it is people like you who enjoy League of American Wheelmen was formed (now the League of American our exceptional infrastructure and Bicyclists), and its 100,000 members began advocating for improved riding demand more of it—more signal detection at intersections, more conditions (e.g., paved roads) and defending the rights of cyclists. Not long bike parking, and better connections throughout the bike network. after Karl Benz invented the first “modern” automobile in 1886, bicycles alYou are the people who will be our Bicycle Ambassadors. You are ready were being sold by the millions each year in the United States. the people who spread the good word on KRFC on the new Bikes And bikes weren’t just for men. Women insisted on enjoying the liberty and Beer show. And you are the people who commute to work, afforded by the bicycle, too. In 1896, Susan B. Anthony said bicycling had once a year or every day. You “done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.” make it fun and funny to ride a The bicycle continues to serve as a great emancipator more than a cenbike—think Tour de Fat! And 2012 of rolling along under your tury later. Not much compares to the freedom you generate vigor and culture own power with the breeze rushing past, gently kissing your cheeks as it goes when you bring your simple maby. (Okay, on the days we experience wind blasts capable of blowing large chines together. off Interstate 25, we that kiss feels more like a forceful smack, but you get Astrucks the year revolves, the point.)

Most days in are preparing to apply fornorthern the Colorado, bicyclists also enjoy sunshine on their shoulders and world-class League of American Bicyclists’views of the Rocky Mountains. Pure bliss.

This year’sCommunity issue of the Ride magazineBICYCLE captures all that’s great about Bicycle Friendly AMBASSADor biking. editorial staff intentionally expanded ProGrAMour coverage from primarily award onceThe again.

Currently, bicycle commuting with some racing thrown to include other popular SAFEin rouTES Fort Collins is a Gold-level To SChooL forms of cycling, such as mountain biking and bike LoCAL touring. We also heightcommunity; optimistically, our CYCLInG SCEnE ened our focus on women and bicycling, because in communities where more efforts in education, encourageBIKE Calendar women go by bike, there is a perceived higher level of safety. NoCo transporment, engineering, enforcement tation planners are taking this seriously as they design and implement ways and evaluation will be recogto improve riding conditions for all ages and abilities.

Hopefully one day nized in 2013 with a Platinum-level designation. sooner than later, bicycling will regain ground as a preferred method of travel You can help Fort Collins get there! Sign up to be a Bicycle Amby more people than not. bassador. Support your local bicycle retailers and manufacturers.

Whether novice wanting feel comfortable on a27. bike, a Participate in theyou’re 25th aannual Bike to to Work Day on June And “expert” (some call us crazy) who’ll ride in any condition or keep seasoned pedaling! someone in between, I believe you’ll find interesting, useful information Happy trails, on the pages that follow.

Molly

Ride

Guide to northern Colorado

biCyClinG Culture & eventS

Read and ride on!

Kim Sharpe

Ride guideguide to northern colorado 4 | Ride bicycling Bicycling to northern Colorado

Ride

2014 2012

to northern Colorado Bicycling Guide Guide to Northern Colorado biCyClinG Culture & eventS

PUBLISHER PUBLISHER Scott Titterington Scott Titterington scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com EDITOR EDITOR Kim Sharpe Molly North kim.kbccommunications@gmail.com mnorth@fcgov.com COPY EDITOR COPY EDITOR Kristin Titterington Kristin Titterington; kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emily Zaynard CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emily Zaynard emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Greg Hoffman ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com Greg Hoffman greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com COVER PHOTO ADVERTISING SALES Rodger Thomson Sara Hansen CONTRIBUTING WRITERS sara.rmpublishing@gmail.com Bevin Barber-Campbell, Eric Bracke COVER PHOTO Kelly Burwell, Maggie Flanagan, Aaron Fodge Darren Mahuron, Summit summitstyle.com Tessa Greegor, Aaron Studios, Iverson, Chris Johnson Amy Lewin, Suzette Mallette, Becky Moriarty CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Nancy Nichols, Kim Sharpe, Kory Swanson Bevin Barbara-Campbell, Jacob Castillo, Danielle Hastings, Robinson Noble, Nancy Nichols, Molly PUBLISHING North, KimROCKY Sharpe,MOUNTAIN Jordan Twiggs 825 Laporte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521 Voice 221-9210 ROCKY MOUNTAINFax PUBLISHING 221-8556 825 Laporteeditor@rockymountainpub.com Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521 Voice 221-9210 www.RMParent.com Fax 221-8556 www.rmparent.com

Ride 2014 is a special pubication of Rocky Mountain

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2012, isInc. a special publication of Rocky Publishing, Publication of this magazine does not Mountain Publishing, Inc. Publication of or this constitute an endorsement of the products services magazine does not constitute an endorsement of advertised. RMP reserves the right to refuse any the products or services advertised. The opinions advertisement for any reason. The opinions expressed expressed by contributors or writers do not by contributors or writers do not necessarily the necessarily reflect the opinions of Rocky reflect Mountain opinions of Rocky Mountain Publishing.

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Copyright 2012 Rocky Publishing, Mountain Inc. Publishing, 825 ©2014 Rocky Mountain All rights reserved.

Laporte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521, 970-221-9210.

Reproduction All rights reserved. Reproduction without written without express written permission is prohibited. permission is prohibited.

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS:

Bicycling guide to northern Colorado

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Ride contributors

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Bevin Barber-Campbell

Chris Johnson

I am a bicycle advocate, bike-to-school parent champion, safe-cycling instructor and mother who rides. Bicycling grounds me and takes me places, literally and figuratively.

I am an all-weather, all-season commuter, explorer and traveler. I bike for the free breakfast burritos twice a year and because I love parking my ride in my office.

Eric Bracke

Amy Lewin

As Greeley’s traffic engineer, a large part of my job involves making sure bikes are safely and efficiently integrated into the transportation system. I enjoy riding my bike to commute to work and on Colorado’s great trails for fun.

I am an avid bicycle commuter and recovering triathlete. For my day job, I am a transportation planner with the City’s FC Moves Department.

Kelly Burwell

Suzette Mallette

I love bicycling because it’s fun! It’s a wonderful way to get a fresh perspective of your city and stay connected to your neighborhood.

I am the regional transportation planning director for the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization. I enjoy both long rides and running errands around town. My “go to” bike is my Trek 520; it’s great for everything.

Maggie Flanagan

Becky Moriarty

I ride my bike because I love having conversations with fellow commuters at stoplights, the view from the Poudre Trail compared to Mulberry Street, and because I don’t own a hairdryer.

I am the FC Bikes Program specialist with the City of Fort Collins. I ride to be sustainable: Riding a bike is easy on my wallet, my waistline and most importantly, my world.

Aaron Fodge

Nancy Nichols

My wife and I have made a lifestyle choice to live close to where I work so I can ride my bike. It’s changed our lives!

I am the City of Fort Collins Safe Routes to School coordinator. Last fall I completed a self-supported bike tour, which took 59 days and covered 2,861 miles from San Diego, Calif., to St. Augustine, Fla.

Tessa Greegor

Kim Sharpe

I am the FC Bikes Program manager and an avid cyclist. Since moving from Seattle last year, I’m enjoying not having to wear galoshes every day while I bike commute to work.

My bike and I are a seamless, efficient machine.

Regardless of the weather, getting somewhere by bike is always better than being cooped up in a car.

Aaron Iverson

Kory Swanson

Building more roads for more cars is a thing of the past. Bicycling for me is part of a fun, healthier, more sustainable transportation future.

When I throw a leg over my bike and hit the trail, I become a kid again. If there is a fountain of youth, it has knobby tires and five inches of travel.

Bicycling guide to northern Colorado

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Ride | 7

Shifting gears and paradigms...

How I learned to embrace bikes as a viable means of transportation Becky Moriarty

Growing up in Houston, I believed the phrase: “Everything is bigger in Texas.” Bikes were viewed as toys for children or extreme athletes, and were definitely not welcomed on the road. Until I landed in Fort Collins, I thought of a bicycle as one with shiny streamers cascading from the handlebars or one covered in mud that had just hammered down a mountain trail. It wasn’t until I started school at CSU that I was encouraged to get back in the saddle and change my mindset relative to bicycles.

First shift: bicycles as vehicles After a few times trying to park my car on CSU’s campus or running late to class because I missed the bus, I realized why so many people chose to ride a bike to campus.

Bike lanes were prevalent and multi-use trails cut through areas where cars weren’t allowed.

Even better, bike parking conveniently was located outside the entrance of every building on campus. Plus, riding a bike to class was significantly faster and more convenient than walking, driving or riding the bus.

I appreciated that I could be a young adult and still ride a bike. It was perfectly acceptable, and even cool, to leave my car behind and ride my bicycle wherever I needed to go.

Second shift: cyclists’ rights and responsibilities I began to ride regularly and realized that getting around more quickly was just one of the many benefits of commuting by bicycle. It was more fun, saved money, benefited the environment and helped me stay healthy—mentally and physically.

What I didn’t realize was that I was still riding my bicycle like I had as a kid: running stop signs, riding the wrong way down the street and weaving through pedestrians on

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Bicycling guide to northern Colorado

the sidewalk. I learned the hard way after being issued a citation that I had been riding both unsafely and often illegally.

Upon reviewing the CSU Safe Cycling Bicycle Regulations booklet that came with payment of the ticket, I was surprised to read: “Cyclists have all of the rights and responsibilities on the road that motorists have.” The statement made me feel both ashamed and empowered. Ashamed because I had been unaware of my responsibilities as a bicycle commuter, as well as a motorist. Empowered because I was now educated about my responsibilities as a road user, and by practicing what I had learned, I could help create a safer environment for

sometimes viewed cyclists as a nuisance. After I started riding, I realized we are all people just trying to get somewhere by whatever mode of transportation we choose. And we need to respect one another’s choice.

It may not be required by law that we take a bicycle safety education class or learn the rules of the road before we hop on a bike, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have the responsibility to do so.

The City of Fort Collins FC Bikes Program (www.fcgov.com/fcbikes) sponsors a Traffic Skills 101 class the second Saturday of every other month to educate bicyclists—and motorists—how to ride and share roads safely in an urban environment.

everyone while on a bike or driving my car.

Desiring further education, I attended a “Traffic Skills 101” class where I learned how to ride comfortably and confidently on city streets. The class encouraged behaviors such as riding predictably, knowing the basic mechanics of my bicycle and proper attire for year-round bicycle commuting.

The Bicycle Ambassador Program (www. bicycleambassadorprogram.org) has volunteers available to give safe cycling presentations to anyone who is interested. The Safe Routes to Schools program (www.fcgov. com/saferoutes) and Bike Fort Collins (www.bikefortcollins.org) are available to educate children and give them the tools to be future bicycle commuters.

Bigger may be better in Texas, but riding in Colorado is the best because of educated citizens like you!

Final shift: lessons learned Before I became a bicycle commuter, I

Bicycling guide to northern Colorado

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The family that rides together...

Turn mundane errands into family adventures Nancy Nichols

Kids are strong, willing to try new things and curious about the world that surrounds them. Why not nurture that adventuresome spirit by incorporating more bicycle trips into your family routine?

A bicycle journey will prove far more interesting than sitting inside a car while the world whizzes by. In addition to spending quality time together as a family, cycling together can boost energy levels while injecting an ample dose of excitement into even the most mundane trips.

“Driving to the grocery store with the kids is more of a chore, but bicycling there can be an adventure,” says Erica Lighthiser, who lives in Fort Collins with her husband, Mark, and their three young children. “While meandering down a bike path, we watch a fox trot across a field or feel the cool air in a creek bottom. Even when we must hurry down a bike lane or a busy street, we sense more from our surroundings by bike.”

Children who bike have a chance to learn and practice safe cycling. Key lessons include: wearing a properly fitted helmet, riding on the right side of the road, using caution and looking both ways before crossing any street, stopping at all stop signs and red lights, and choosing a route that is better geared for bicycles (such as

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Bicycling guide to northern Colorado

multi-use trails and “quiet” streets with low traffic and wide bike lanes).

The City of Fort Collins Safe Routes to School program aims to get at least 50 percent of local schoolchildren biking or walking to school on a regular basis. Young children should always ride with an adult or older sibling. Starting in middle school, many students are mature enough to bike on their own, though it’s still safer to ride with a group.

If you’re unable to bike with your child, look for a “bike train” organized by other parents at your child’s school that your child can join. Biking to school as little as once a week gives children a new way to explore their surroundings while getting extra exercise before and after school.

When you’re ready for an even bigger adventure, consider taking a family bike ride to another part of town. Explore your community’s recreation trails that lead to fun destinations like parks, museums and open spaces.

Children of any age can travel with their parents by bike. If they’re too young to pedal on their own, simply hook up a trailer or tagalong, and away you go!

When you’re ready to strike out on a truly life-changing adventure, consider taking a weekend getaway or family vacation

by bicycle. Load up your family and gear for an overnight camping trip or venture to nearby towns on a multiday tour.

Remember, anywhere you can go by car, you also can go by bike—it just takes longer, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Bicycling is one of the best ways we’ve found to interact with the world,” Lighthiser says. “Going by bicycle, we see and experience far more. We travel fast enough to cover distance, but slowly enough to feed our senses along the way.”

In 2013, the five Lighthisers and their dog rolled off for a four-month tour through the Rocky Mountains.

“There is little in my life that has made me higher than summiting an 11,000-foot pass with my child helping propel us on her trailer bike,” Lighthiser reflects. “Through bike touring, we’ve learned about one another—and from each other—in ways that may otherwise never have been possible.”

To read about the Lighthisers and find inspiration for your own family adventure, visit www.thefamilyride.com.

Other great resources for traveling by bike include the Colorado Department of Transportation (www.coloradodot. info/programs/bikeped) and Adventure Cycling Association (www.adventure cycling.org).

ClimateWise, Business Smart It’s all about the bike at Intel.

In all three of its northern Colorado locations — Fort Colins, Boulder and Longmont — biking to work is a big part of its corporate culture. Intel holds informational series to help employees learn about appropriate clothing, gear and how to commute during colder months when biking to work might seem like a crazy option.

On top of that, Intel provides information regarding the best and safest routes, including bike/bus combinations, and offers incentives such as free breakfast on Bike to Work days. They’ve even installed showers, free towel service and lockers in all their facilities to overcome the “too sweaty for work” concern.

“We’ve added covered parking right near the building’s entrance for bike commuters,” said Mark Driskell, commercial property manager at the Fort Collins facility. Out of 400 employees in the Fort Collins plant, 73 bike to work regularly. “We’re proud of that number.

Intel has about 350 buildings all over the country and we get to compare what other sites are doing, and we’re consistently ranked at the top. It encourages more employees to bike to work.”

As a ClimateWise Platinum partner,

have been retrofitted with all new,

Intel has been working for seven years

low-flow toilets, urinals and sinks. The

to address many issues that impact its

company also uses raw water from an

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on-site pond in its irrigation systems

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eliminating the need for potable water.

air handling system. They replaced an environmentally unfriendly refrigerant

From energy reduction practices in

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percent of the facility. Annually, Intel

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cooling costs.

“We just kicked off a new recycling

Mark Driskell, Intel ClimateWise Platinum Partner Photo by Cambon Studios

program,” explained Driskell.

“We’ve installed recycling stations with different hubs throughout the office area that encourage more filtering of the waste streams, including wet waste bins for kitchen waste.”

Over the past three years, 90 percent of the Fort Collins facility’s restrooms

Join ClimateWise, a free, voluntary City of Fort Collins program dedicated to helping local businesses and the environment.

(970) 221-6700 · fcgov.com/climatewise Bicycling guide to northern Colorado

Ride | 11

What makes women want to ride?

Comfort: The most important determinant of bicycling for women is their comfort and the existence of “low-stress” infrastructure (e.g., bike lanes completely separated from motor-vehicle traffic).

Convenience: Increasing the convenience of bicycling through programs such as bike share addresses barriers around the complexity of travel patterns for women.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BELLE STARRS

Women on a roll Inspired and leading on two wheels Bevin Barber-Campbell

In the world of bicycling advocacy, there is a push to get more women involved. Nationally, women are underrepresented in ridership, policy, advocacy and leadership. But not in Fort Collins! When it comes to the involvement of women in bicycle riding, advocacy and leadership, this city is winning the race toward gender equity.

In Fort Collins, many women actively engage in bicycle advocacy and other aspects of bicycling, from teaching classes on bike safety or mechanics to promoting women’s pro-cycling races to running bicycle manufacturing businesses and touring companies.

Women constitute 50 percent or more of the City’s League of American Bicyclists (LAB) certified League Cycling Instructors, Bicycle Ambassadors, and Bicycle Advisory Council and Bicycle and Pedestrian Education Coalition (BPEC) members.

Indeed, women have been leaders in bicycle advocacy in Fort Collins since the first pen and pedal strokes were made for bicycle infrastructure in the 1970s. It was two women, Ruth Orr and Betty Sears (with support from her husband), who fought for and won, the first 4 1/2 miles of bike lanes.

Today we find many women leading the charge in Fort Collins. Last year we welcomed Tessa Greegor as the City’s new

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FC Bikes program manager while bidding farewell to the interim bicycle coordinator, Molly North, who guided Fort Collins to its Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly City status bestowed by the LAB. The BPEC, Bicycle Ambassador Program and City’s Safe Routes to School Program are led by women, as is the nonprofit advocacy organization, Bike Fort Collins. Women also have lead roles in the Fort Collins Cycling Club and Overland Mountain Bike Club.

And trail counts in Fort Collins show that as much as 35 percent of cyclists are women, putting us on par with cities like Boston, San Francisco and Philadelphia.

Many women recognize that the bicycle may be a simple solution to many social problems, such as community health, environmental protection and quality time with their children. They want to be involved in creating positive social norms, while making choices that are better for themselves, their children and their communities.

When polled, two-thirds of American women agree that their communities would be better places to live if biking were safer and more comfortable.

“Women are natural bicycling advocates in northern Colorado,” says Kim Sharpe, BPEC coordinator and the Bicycle

Confidence: Increasing confidence through classes and other means can increase the likelihood women will choose to ride a bike.

Consumer products: Women often report not feeling welcome in bike shops and feel the products available do not address their needs.

Community: Social connectivity is a top motivator for women choosing to bicycle.

Ambassador Program manager. “Because living in Colorado inclines us to lead active lifestyles, riding for transportation or for fun are just ways to stay fit and help protect our beautiful environment. And since we desire to have our families be healthy, it follows that we encourage our loved ones to ride and set an example by doing so ourselves.”

Yet women face more barriers in bicycle transportation. In addition to the challenges of making it to work on time and well groomed, women are more likely than men to have errands to run and be in charge of getting their children to child care or school.

And women tend to be more concerned about safety making us the “indicator species”—if the number of women who bike in a community increases, it is seen as a sign that perceived safety is improving.

A love of and belief in the bicycle creates a sense of commonality among bicycle advocates, male or female. Both genders ride for many of the same reasons, but women may offer unique perspectives on barriers and priorities. Keeping as many women as possible engaged, leading and participating in cycling will be a key component in reaching the next level of bicycle friendliness for Fort Collins.

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Bicycling guide to northern Colorado

Ride | 13

Building a healthy environment City planners make it easier and safer to be active Kelly Burwell

We all have different reasons for riding a bike. Some of us ride to get to work or school. Others ride to do errands.

But most people ride simply to have fun.

Whatever your reason is, one underlying benefit of riding a bike is that it’s healthy for you, and it is an easy way to get where you want to go and incorporate activity into your daily life.

City of Fort Collins planners are incorporating features to promote active transportation into corridor upgrades, as well as updating the City’s Bike Plan to include guidelines for safer and more convenient bicycling routes. And in partnership with many other organizations and community members, the City of Fort

document for land-use codes) and will be seeking public input.

Collins will host two “open streets” events in 2014 where selected city streets will be closed to motor vehicles for a few hours and people will be encouraged to ride, run, walk, dance and play in the streets.

Loveland’s City Council, as part of its 2014 budget, approved a one-time supplemental appropriation of approximately $200,000.00, specifically for the purpose of jump-starting a non-arterial sidewalk gap filling program, as outlined in the City’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan.

City staff also is updating Loveland’s Comprehensive Plan (the guiding

want more accessible bike lanes and sidewalks or safe bicycling for everyone, now is the time to have your voice heard.

While our cities are updating and making plans, look for open-house events and surveys that ask for your opinion.

Or join a community advocacy group that works to create a safe, healthy environment, such as the Bicycle Ambassador Program (www.bicycle ambassadorprogram.org) or the Built Environment Work Group (http://cando online.org/built-environment).

Be part of the solution. Be active!

Get involved Although NoCo’s built environment isn’t perfect, we’re fortunate to have many people who want to make the healthy choice the easy choice. If you

Benefits of biking According to the Center for Active Design, commuting that incorporates biking can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 11 to 31 percent and every $1 spent on biking generates almost $3 in savings in direct medical costs. Several studies show that people who actively commute to work have lower blood pressure rates, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

Even though riding a bike is a simple way to combat several health issues, it’s important to mention that our “built environment”—the physical components of where we work and play—impacts our decision about whether to actively commute. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the built environment influences a person’s level of physical activity where inaccessible or nonexistent sidewalks or paths can contribute to sedentary habits. Factors such as how connected neighborhoods are to where people work and shop, the percentage of land with green cover (open space), and where bike paths are located and how they’re designed can all affect individuals’ health.

NoCo builds healthy environments Fortunately, northern Colorado has many groups and organizations working to create healthy, active communities with the goal of improving our built environment.

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Bicycling guide to northern Colorado

Bicycle Ambassador Program promoting safe cycling in northern Colorado

We want northern Colorado to be the safest place to ride a bike, whether on the street or a trail. You can help by becoming a Bicycle Ambassador and sharing your knowledge about safe riding with others.

The Bicycle Ambassador Program has three tiers: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Everyone enters at the Bronze Level, which is easy to achieve, so become an ambassador today!

bicycleambassadorprogram.org

Bicycling guide to northern Colorado

Ride | 15

Ram CYCLING SPIRIT

Advisory committee supports strong biking culture on CSU campus Aaron Fodge

This past August, I had the privilege of being selected as CSU’s first-ever alternative transportation manager. Coming into this position, I knew full well the unique opportunity afforded me to support the transportation needs of a campus with such rich bicycling history.

CSU has almost 27,000 students enrolled on campus and is the largest employer in Fort Collins and northern Colorado. In terms of bicycle commuting participation, our campus is a frontrunner. We’ve invested in bike lanes, trails, an underpass and promenades, and our 13,000 bicycle rack spaces regularly are full throughout the academic year.

The League of American Bicyclists recognizes our embrace of the bicycle as it deemed us a Silver Bicycle Friendly University.

Yet our success has yielded a new reality of bicycle congestion and the significant challenge of maintaining a safe cycling environment. How we address this challenge likely will serve as a case study for other universities.

with a crossing guard program to facilitate bicycle, pedestrian and automobile movement at high-traffic campus intersections.

Campus Ambassadors—A team of student ambassadors will be hired to lead on-campus education and encouragement

Education and LAW enforcement

to include dismount/walk zone traversing, resident hall lessons, group rides to acclimate students to cycling in Fort Collins, tour support and targeted bicycle events.

Employee outreach—The University has received grant funding from Kaiser Permanente to encourage employees 50 years of age and older to get “back on the bike.” The grant will provide participants with Traffic Skills 101 classes, bike commuter training, participation tracking and bike safety “Lunch & Learn” sessions.

CSU is striving to build a culture that supports bicycle commuting as a healthy and safe lifestyle choice. Behavioral change takes patience and we cannot expect all behavioral changes to reflect a singular shift: one size does not fit all. We will be diverse in our attempt to create a mindful atmosphere of bicycle commuting. The University will explore: Ram Welcome—The campus will greet incoming freshman during move-in times with Bicycle Ambassadors dispersed across campus to encourage safe bicycling behavior, demonstrate proper bicycle locking procedures, hand out bike maps, install bike lights and direct students to register their bikes with the CSU Police Department.

RamGuards—CSU will experiment

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and Prospect Road), a demand-driven expansion of bike racks, and a policy for allowing indoor bicycle parking and repair facilities. The installation of permanent bicycle counters to collect daily and seasonal participation data also will support these

Source: Colorado State University Archives and Special Collections Department

A lone cyclist in this 1924 photo along College Avenue. CSU has always been out front, head high and proud to ride on two wheels.

Infrastructure CSU will update its Master Plan in 2014 and develop a capital improvement plan in coordination with the City of Fort Collins Bicycle Plan Update. Improvements could include additional and expanded bicycle trails, underpasses on bordering, high-volume roadways (e.g., Shields Street

investment decisions.

Additionally, 2014 will bring the opening of the new MAX Bus Rapid Transit system, and commuters and visitors will have the option of taking the Mason Trail through a signalized crossing at Prospect Road to campus. The University anticipates some commuters will use their bicycle to access a MAX station from their home, possibly carry their bike on the bus or unlock their bike from one of the campus MAX stations to ride the “last mile” to the workplace. The MAX University Station will be one of the largest in the system and thus equipped with significant bicycle parking.

While we can’t anticipate all the outcomes that will come with these changes, one thing’s for sure: CSU will continue its tradition of encouraging two-wheeled transportation to and from campus.

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Diamond

The year 2013 was one of innovation and progress toward advancing bicycling in cities across the nation. According to PeopleForBikes, the number of protected bike lanes (bike lanes with physical separation between cars and bikes) doubled between 2012 and 2013; bike sharing programs broke into mainstream culture by operating in 675 cities worldwide and adding 10,000 new bikes nationwide; and one in seven Americans now live in a community designated as “Bicycle Friendly” by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB). Reflecting these trends, census data confirms an increase in bicycle commuting in the United States of nearly 10 percent from 2011 to 2012, and a whopping 62 percent since 2000. In addition, women commuting by bike has grown nearly 60 percent since 2006.

In Colorado, bicycle commuting increased by 95 percent between 2000 and 2012, and the LAB ranked the state the second most bike-friendly in the nation.

Colorado also boasts 19 designated Bicycle Friendly Communities.

Closer to home, Fort Collins ranked 6th in the nation for highest percentage of bicycle commuters at 7.9 percent, and in 2013, Fort Collins received national recognition as one of four Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Communities in the nation.

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Fort Collins continues drive to be world-class bicycle community

The Platinum designation is a reflection of the strong leadership and thriving community partnerships, grassroots bicycle advocacy, a bicycle-minded business community and a growing Fort Collins population choosing to ride. The community has much to be proud of and the momentum that has transpired as a result of this recognition excites us.

Rolling toward Diamond Fort Collins has already established itself as a bicycling Mecca, so what separates us from a truly world-class bicycling city worthy of Diamond-level status? In 2013, the LAB provided Fort Collins with a Bicycle Friendly Community Feedback Report indicating Diamond is within reach.

Achieving a 15-percent share of bicycle commuters, reducing the City’s bicycle crash rate and increasing our bicycle facility network mileage are metrics associated with achieving Diamond.

In addition, the LAB provided specific recommendations for Fort Collins to improve cycling overall. They include integrating protected and buffered bike lanes into the City’s bikeway network, increasing the amount of high-quality bike parking and expanding bike share (the percentage of the population that com-

Tessa Greegor

mutes by bicycle not to be confused with the same term used for a bike rental or borrowing system).

Attaining Diamond in Fort Collins—a goal worthy of our pursuit—will require a level of commitment that makes bicycling truly accessible and safe for everyone. The City plans to re-apply as a Bicycle Friendly Community in 2017.

Fort Collins has untapped bicycling potential; an exciting future lies ahead as we launch new and innovative initiatives.

For example, in 2014, the City’s bike program (FC Bikes) will expand its education and outreach efforts while launching new programs that are collectively designed to meet and increase the demand for bicycling for all members of the Fort Collins community. Based on research and lessons from around the world, City staff has developed a few central themes for the City’s 2014 initiatives including a 2014 Bike Plan update, and our long-term goal of obtaining a more diversified and inclusive bicycling population.

Low-stress bicycling Cities in the U.S. are expanding bicycle networks and designing bikeways following concepts of comfort and low stress. Bike facilities, such as neighborhood greenways (bicycle boulevards), protected or buffered

PHOTO COURTESY OF: City of Fort Collins

Rolling toward

bike lanes, and dedicated bike signals at intersections all represent the evolution in bikeway design. Bikeway infrastructure design that emphasizes separation among modes (e.g., motorized and non-motorized traffic) holds significant potential for encouraging bicycling and improving safety for a wider range of users.

Low-stress bicycle facilities, such as protected bike lanes, are yielding significant benefits for users, as well as overwhelmingly positive economic and safety benefits in communities throughout the nation. With more than 100 protected bike lanes in place by 2012, the Green Lane Project, a PeopleForBikes program, projected this number to double by the end of 2013.

Fort Collins is pursuing opportunities to integrate more low-stress bicycle facilities into its existing bikeway network, and future plans and projects. On a citywide level, the 2014 Bike Plan will identify opportunities to develop lowstress bicycle networks, connecting people across the community to destinations on comfortable, state-of-the-art bicycle infrastructure. This information also will update the City’s revamped bike map, which will highlight key bike routes based on the level of comfort offered to the user.

Gender equity in cycling According to the 2012 American Community Survey, in Fort Collins, nearly 11 percent of adult males commute by bike, which is more than double the percentage of women. The percentage of women bicycling in a community often is used as an indicator of bike friendliness, as studies have shown that women are more affected by certain barriers to bicycling. Studies also have found that a majority of women want to bike more and that gender equity in cycling is possible. In the Netherlands, for example, women account for 55 percent of bike trips.

The gender gap in bicycling is changing in cities across the nation; more women are joining and becoming leaders in the bicycle movement, more communities are launching women-oriented bike

campaigns and more women are choosing to bicycle in their community. A 2013 LAB report, “Women on a Roll,” introduced the 5 Cs—Comfort, Convenience, Confidence, Consumer Products and Community—as a framework for increasing bicycling among women.

As Fort Collins strives for gender equity in our cycling population, May 2014 will mark the launch of our own “Women on a Roll” campaign informed by the LAB’s 5 C’s. The campaign will leverage strong partnerships with existing women bike organizations and initiatives in the community, such as Fort Follies, Belle Starrs and Team BOB, and will serve as one component of the larger efforts designed to increase bicycling for all members of the community.

Two-wheeled public transit Increasing the accessibility and convenience of bicycling and expanding the reach of traditional public transit systems, bike-share (i.e., lending) programs are transforming cities worldwide. Today 675 cities have a bike-share system allowing the public to check out bikes to use for short trips around town. A survey of Washington D.C.’s Capital Bikeshare users found 80 percent cycle more often than they did before joining the program, and 70 percent indicate the bike-share program was important in encouraging them to ride more often. In Denver, 43 percent of B-cycle bike-share members say they use the loaner bikes to replace car trips.

Building on the success of the existing Fort Collins Bike Library, which is staffed and offers face-to-face service, an automated self-checkout bike-share system holds great potential to transform bicycling and public transit, as we know it in Fort Collins. If all goes as planned, 2015 will bring a whole new meaning to bicycle accessibility as we set our sights on launching an automated bike-share system established at key locations throughout the community. (Refer to the story on page 30 for more information about the future of bike share in Fort Collins.)

Streets for people Designing streets to serve all users—typically through the addition of bike lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks and transit stops— has been the underlying principle of the “Complete Streets” movement. According to the Project for Public Spaces, these transformations are leading to impressive safety, mobility and community outcomes in cities large and small.

One way that communities are temporarily applying these concepts is through “Open Streets” initiatives. Also termed Ciclovia, Car-Free Streets or Sunday Parkways, over 90 documented Open Streets initiatives in North America temporarily close streets to automobile traffic, so people may use them for walking, bicycling, dancing, playing and socializing.

Although short term in nature (the events last a few hours), the benefits associated with these events are long term, giving people the opportunity to view public street space as a place to interact and engage in healthy activities.

With support from Kaiser Permanente and federal funding, Fort Collins will implement two Open Streets events in 2014 (one in July and one in September), and more in 2015 and 2016. City leaders are excited by the idea of opening the streets to people and realizing the benefits anticipated as a result of this initiative.

Bike to the future The themes discussed above represent a few of the City’s new programs and underlying goals for achieving greater diversity and an overall increase in bicycling community wide in 2014. Looking beyond this year, the update to the City’s Bike Plan will chart a five- to 10-year path for bicycling investments in Fort Collins. Together with the community, and reflecting research and best practices from cities like Copenhagen and others closer to home, we’ll set the course for achieving a worldclass, Diamond-level city for cycling.

To help plan for the future of bicycling in Fort Collins, get engaged in the 2014 Bike Plan update and other bicycle initiatives at www.fcgov.com/bicycling.

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Transportation o rganization

connects

the region Eric Bracke, Aaron Iverson, Suzette Mallette and Kim Sharpe Northern Colorado’s three largest communities—Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley—seem unstoppable when it comes to building infrastructure to accommodate a variety of ways for people to get around, especially by bicycles.

These communities and their smaller neighbors also work together with the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO) to acquire land and right-of-ways needed to build a seamless trail network throughout the region.

NFRMPO creates regional connectivity The NFRMPO is the regional transportation planning agency for northern Colorado—a collaboration of 15 member governments: Berthoud, Eaton, Fort Collins, Garden City, Greeley, Johnstown, LaSalle, Larimer County, Loveland, Milliken, Severance, Timnath, Weld County and Windsor. The organization officially adopted a regional bicycle plan in March 2013. This was the first comprehensive bicycle plan for northern Colorado since the mid-1990s and was in desperate need of an update.

There are 12 bicycle corridors identified in the new plan, including both on-road bike lanes and separated trails.

The plan breaks down each corridor into segments for ease of identifying what improvements have been completed, what are

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planned and what remain for the future.

The adoption of the plan sets the stage for the next step, which is building infrastructure.

Continuing coordination with the communities in northern Colorado remains strong. Greeley, Milliken and CSU all recently received grant funds through Kaiser Permanente’s Walk and Wheel Colorado grant program to support travel training, worksite wellness and local bicycle plans.

The Poudre River Trail received a five-million dollar grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) in the summer of 2012. Great Outdoors Colorado is a statewide trust funded by the Colorado State lottery. Proceeds fund the protection of Colorado’s wildlife, rivers and open space heritage, and construction of parks and trails. The Poudre River Corridor and Regional Trail Initiative grant was a joint application from Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Timnath and Larimer County.

The grant provides funding to help fill the approximately six-mile trail gap near Interstate 25, Timnath and Fort Collins.

Once complete, the Poudre River Trail will extend 40 miles from Island Grove Park in Greeley to the town of LaPorte, located northwest of Fort Collins.

The Poudre River Corridor and Regional Trail Initiative grant will not cover costs to construct the entire six-mile trail gap. Additional funding and trail easements

are needed, and if the stars align, the final six miles could be built in 2016 or 2017.

Another significant trail under construction is a portion of the Colorado Front Range Trail in Larimer County.

The Colorado Front Range Trail is a bold statewide initiative to construct a trail from New Mexico to Wyoming, along the Front Range of Colorado. The two-mile segment of the Front Range Trail from Carpenter Road to the recreation trail that winds through Boyd Lake State Park will connect more than 50 miles of paved trail in Fort Collins and Loveland. If funding is secured, the trail will be built in 2015.

“The Loveland and Fort Collins communities are the most active biking communities in Larimer County,” says Jeffrey Boring, Larimer County Natural Resources Department resource specialist.

“This section of the Colorado Front Range Trail will be the first detached bike path to connect them.”

For more information about regional bicycle infrastructure, visit www. nfrmpo.org or contact Suzette Mallette at smallette@nfrmpo.org or 970-416-2257.

Fort Collins forges on The City of Fort Collins strives to add pieces to the bicycle network in an ongoing and comprehensive way. Look for some great projects coming in 2014 to further improve your ride in Fort Collins.

PHOTO BY JOHN ROBSON

noco builds for bikes

One highly anticipated project is the Spring Creek Overpass Bridge, connecting the Mason Trail over the BNSF Railroad to the MAX Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station. Also, a new underpass is planned under College Avenue as part of the Foothills Mall redevelopment. The tunnel will be just south of Foothills Parkway connecting directly into the soon-to-be-new mall.

The transformation of N. College Avenue over the last few years has been amazing with reconstruction adding sidewalks and bike lanes. The last piece of N. College project (the missing gap from Conifer to Willox streets) is planned to begin in 2014, which of course includes on-street bike lanes.

Another big project in 2014 is the replacement of the Mulberry Bridge (for State Highway 14) over the Poudre River. This state project will result in on-street bike lanes on the bridge and the reuse of the existing pedestrian bridges for improvements to and extension of the Poudre River Trail.

City staff also are planning for a Green Street Demonstration Project along Remington Street (between Prospect Road and Mountain Avenue). Likely to be built in 2014 or 2015, the Remington Project will test out innovative design strategies along the corridor with the goal of improving the experience and level of comfort for people walking, bicycling, taking transit and driving a car.

Other parts of the City’s paved trail system will see improvements including a new trail connection and a new underpass from the Fossil Creek Trail near Lemay Avenue south under Trilby Road. To the west, along Shields Street, the Fossil Creek Trail will extend south to Trilby Road. An extension of the Fossil Creek Trail also is planned west from College Avenue to Shields Street under the BNSF Railroad, if funding falls into place.

A sometimes forgotten, but so very important bit of bicycle infrastructure is bicycle parking. Opening in 2014, the MAX BRT station construction includes significant new bicycle parking spaces. Each MAX station will have bicycle parking adjacent or nearby.

The South Transit Center and the Down-

town Transit Center include plans to add secure bicycle cages to accommodate bicyclists using the MAX system.

Greeley searches for gold Over the past four years, the City of Greeley has launched a bike program that continues to make strong inroads in promoting bicycling as a great method of transportation. In recognition of these efforts, in May of 2013, the League of American Bicyclists awarded the City of Greeley the “Bronze Level” for being a bicycle friendly community.

The City has nearly 93 miles of onstreet bike lanes, five miles of off-street paths and 24 miles of trails. The City continues an impressive effort in the arena of road diets (lane reductions or lane width reductions).

Over the past four years, nearly 10 miles of four-lane roadways have been converted into two-lane roads to add parking and bike lanes. In 2013, the city even tackled putting a State Highway on a road diet—18th Street (U.S. 34 Business) from 8th Avenue to the U.S. 85 Bypass. This road diet now provides a great bike connection from the east side of Greeley into the heart of the UNC campus.

Greeley’s trail system also is expanding. The Sheep Draw Trail extension will provide a north-south connection from the south side of the City to the Poudre River Trail on the north side. Construction of this project is expected to begin in early 2014.

Marketing and education have been key components of the bicycle program in Greeley. The City’s website devoted to bicycling (www.greeleybikes.com) continues to expand and the number of people who visit it each month is growing. The site now includes a monthly blog with interesting topics concerning bikes. The City continues to conduct various community rides throughout the year including several moonlight rides, Critical Mass (lunchtime) Bike Rides (in conjunction with Weld County Department of Health) and the popular Zombie Zoom during Halloween. Participation in these events continues to grow each month as the community embraces the bicycling culture. As a municipality, the City of Greeley has started a bike-share program

within the Department of Public Works and other departments are looking towards joining the effort.

The redesigned bike maps continue to be a popular item at bike shops, businesses and organizations throughout the community.

Five thousand printed copies were distributed over a few months due to high demand.

In 2013, the City formed the Bicycle Advocacy Group. It includes representation from the City of Greeley, Weld County, UNC, bicycle retailers, Northern Colorado Medical Center, law enforcement and bike advocates. The group’s sole purpose is to promote and coordinate bike activities within the City of Greeley.

The city of Greeley will continue to look for opportunities to create more road diets, more trail opportunities, and continue to expand the marketing and education efforts to make Greeley an even friendlier bike community.

Loveland rebuilds after flood City of Loveland staff are working to reopen about 1 1/2 miles of flood-damaged multi-use trail sections from Wilson Avenue to State Highway 287.

“We lost a major trail bridge at Wilson Avenue and the U.S. 287 underpass sustained severe damage,” says Janet Meisel-Burns, City of Loveland senior park planner. “We plan to rebuild both of these projects in 2014.”

Beyond rebuilding flood-damaged infrastructure, the City is working to install a new bridge and trail underpass where Madison Avenue crosses the Chubbuck Ditch south of the abandoned Great Western Sugar Factory (about 1/2 mile south of U.S. 34). With the help of two Federal-aid grants which will pay for about 50 percent of the cost, the City’s Public Works and Parks & Recreation Departments are teaming up to build the new structure in the winter of 2014-2015.

The new bridge will be wide enough for three lanes of traffic, plus bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides of the road.

Up-to-date information about Loveland trails can be found at www.city ofloveland.org/trails.

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Freedom of the trail Life’s more fun when you get a little dirty Kory Swanson

In 1993, $300 seemed like a lot of money for a bike. I willingly forked it over for a fully rigid aluminum hardtail, after driving an hour north of Chicago. I threw a leg over it and headed down a trail. The bike rattled around underneath my out-ofshape body, punishing me with its lack of suspension. After 11 miles, I returned to my car, covered in sweaty dust, exhausted yet elated. From that moment forward, I don’t think a day has gone by when I haven’t thought about riding on dirt.

who seeks fun, who wants a challenge, who wants to share an adventure with his friends. The kid who says “Whee!” as the bike quickly rolls along.

Most days, we get stuck in offices, in meetings and in honoring our grown-up commitments. An hour or two on dirt allows us to break free from all of that. We return with a smile and a sense of satisfaction. Our inner kid’s been allowed out to play. That little taste of freedom on a fat tire bike makes the world a better place.

Why mountain bike?

Riding in NoCo

Freedom. Mountain bikes offer it in abundance. Freedom to roam where cars and motorcycles can’t. Freedom to go farther in a day than you can on foot. Freedom to disappear under your own power up a mountain, through the trees, over rocks. You can pedal a mountain bike just about anywhere and take in some amazing scenery while you’re at it.

Riding a mountain bike also allows you to tap into your inner kid. The kid

In 2006, I thought I had died and gone to heaven—mountain bike heaven, that is. Trails in my new hometown were close and there were lots of them. I relished the awesome views. I climbed lung-searing singletrack. I flew down hills, twisting and bumping along with an ear-to-ear grin.

I learned names like Devil’s Backbone, Horsetooth Mountain, Young Gulch and Blue Sky Trail. I wanted to know them

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all. It seemed as though there were trails everywhere. I rode and rode. I familiarized myself with local trails as quickly as I could and soon realized how special NoCo is.

For the beginner I was an intermediate rider when I first arrived in Fort Collins and had plenty of trails from which to choose, but fret not if you’re a beginner. Northern Colorado has solid trails on which to learn and friendly folks who’ll show you the ropes. Ciclismo Youth Foundation (www.ciclismoyouth foundation.org) offers beginner races in the spring and summer where you can get a taste of the race scene. Overland Mountain Bike Club (www.overlandmtb.org) hosts free, weekly Singletrack Socials for riders of all abilities from May through September. These are “no drop” rides and everyone generally gathers afterwards for some mid-week socializing. For women looking to enter the sport without a heavy dose of testosterone, Team BOB (Babes on Bikes),

some beautiful climbs at nearby Horsetooth Mountain Park, which sits immediately to the south.

One of the newest, non-technical trail systems in the area can be found about 45 minutes north of Fort Collins at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. The area’s trails, built specifically for mountain biking, make great use of the rolling terrain. Lots of twists and turns and ups and downs will make you feel like you’re on your very own roller coaster. But the climbing grades are friendly and the trail obstacles are few. If you venture up to the Big Hole Open Space overlook, you’ll be rewarded with some spectacular panoramas. (Note: If you do head to Soapstone, bring plenty of water, as there is none at the trailhead.)

PHOTO BY Kory Swanson

For everybody else

a female-only club founded in 1992, hosts weekly rides (www.coteambob.com).

Local beginner-friendly trails include the Pineridge Natural Area, nestled on the west side of town between Hughes Stadium on the north end and Horsetooth Road on the south. The trails there allow you to choose from flat and easy to short climbs and quick downhills. When you build up some skills and fitness, give the Timber Trail a try; it throws in some technical challenges.

A mountain bike skills park, which allows you to practice in a more controlled environment, can be found just east of Pineridge in the adjacent Spring Canyon Park.

On the west side of Horsetooth Reservoir, but still close enough to town, lies Lory State Park with its beautiful views, as well as Arthur’s Rock, offering the East and West Valley Trails. Beginning riders will find plenty of forgiveness on these trails, and yet enough challenge to increase fitness and riding abilities. As your skills progress, more advanced trails wait via

Larimer County offers so many riding options for the intermediate to advanced riders it’s hard to keep track of them all.

You can get lost off of Old Flowers Road in the Roosevelt National Forest. Grab some incredible sandstone views at Devil’s Backbone. Slip and glide down the Blue Sky Trail. Tuck into the forested trails throughout Horsetooth Mountain Park.

Challenge yourself on the technical Ginny Trail at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. And if you need a little exotic flavoring, you can always drive the one hour plus north of Fort Collins and spend the day at Curt Gowdy State Park just west of Cheyenne. The riding in our region is plentiful and varied.

If I only had one place to choose in northern Colorado, however, I’d choose Horsetooth Mountain Park. Each spring, summer and fall, I spend hours riding its trails. They’re close enough to town yet far enough away that it seems like I’m on vacation. The views are beautiful, and the routes are always challenging and fun.

It’s not just about the big kids When we first moved to town, “Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day,” hosted by Overland Mountain Bike Club, was the only game in town for children and youth, and it happened only one day a year. Now? We also have Ciclismo Youth Foundation, an organization whose

goal is getting kids on bikes. The group hosts local, after-school races, free to kids, throughout the riding season, as well as a summer development program for younger youth.

About five years ago, Ciclismo helped bring high school mountain biking to northern Colorado. The first season, a cobbled-together group of kids from around the area created a conglomerate team. According to Andy Clark, head coach and Ciclismo board member, the team finished out the 2013 season with 29 team members and four teams.

But the big kids do play an important role Overland Mountain Bike Club and its service organization, Diamond Peaks Mountain Bike Patrol, have served our community for nearly 20 years. Started by a bunch of ski patrollers who didn’t know what to do once the snow melted, the club has grown from a patrol whose focus was to help people in need out on the trail into a full-service organization of over 200 members that works to promote mountain biking. From hosting social rides to planning trail days to patrolling trails and meeting with five different land agencies, this group of good-hearted volunteers spends hours geeking out about mountain biking and making sure fat-tire bikers have a voice.

In addition to “Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day,” some of Overland’s signature events are “40 in the Fort,” one of the toughest endurance mountain bike races in the region.

It packs nearly 8,000 feet of climbing into two, 20-mile laps. Friends of Lory Trail Day bring volunteers to Lory State Park to show the trails a little lov e. And the Tour de Fat, hosted by New Belgium Brewery, but supported

by Overland volunteers, is the club’s largest, annual fundraiser. Proceeds allow the club to support its mission and activities.

Get out and ride We’re lucky to have a passionate, dedicated and growing mountain bike scene here in northern Colorado, with trails for riders of all abilities. Whether you’re new to the sport or a seasoned mountain biker, get out, ride, tap into your inner kid and enjoy a slice of heaven.

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Northern Colorado

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Berthoud City Star Brewing 321 Mountain Ave. 970-532-7827 www.citystarbrewing.com Estes Park Estes Park Brewery 470 Prospect Village Dr. 970-586-5421 Fort Collins 1933 Brewing Company 4025 South Mason St. Unit C 970-377-4107 Anheuser Busch 2351 Busch Dr. 970-221-0922 Black Bottle Brewery 1611 S. College Ave. 970-493-2337

CooperSmiths Pub & Brewing 5 Old Town Square 970-498-0483 www.coopersmithspub.com

Cranknstein 215 N. College Ave. 970-818-7025 www.facebook.com/Cranknstein

Equinox Brewing Company 133 Remington St. 970-484-1368 Fort Collins Brewery 1020 E. Lincoln Ave. 970-472-1499 Funkwerks 1900 E. Lincoln Ave., Unit B 970-482-3865

www.blackbottlebrewery.com

Hops and Berries 125 Remington St. 970-493-2484

CB & Potts 1415 W. Elizabeth St. 970-221-1139

New Belgium Brewery 500 Linden St. 970-221-0524

Odell Brewing Company 800 E. Lincoln Ave. 970-498-9070

Rock Bottom Brewery 6025 Sky Pond Dr. 970-622-2077

www.odellbrewing.com

www.rockbottom.com

Pateros Creek Brewing Company 242 N. College Ave. 970-368-2739

Verboten Brewing 1550 Taurus Ct. 970-988-6333

www.pateroscreekbrewing.com

Longmont Left Hand Brewing 1265 Boston Ave. 303-772-0258

Road 34 1213 W. Elizabeth St. 970-491-9934

Oskar Blues 1800 Pike Rd. #B 303-776-1914

www.road34.com

Wilbur’s Total Beverage 2201 S. College Ave. 970-226-8662 www.wilburstotalbeverage.com

Loveland Big Beaver Brewing 2707 Eisenhower Blvd. Unit 9 970-818-6064 Crow Hop Brewing Co. 217 E. 3rd St. 970-633-0643 www.crowhopbrewing.com Grimm Brothers Brewhouse 547 N. Denver Ave. 970-624-6045 Loveland Ale Works 118 W. 4th St. 970-619-8726

Pumphouse Brewery 540 Main St. 303-702-0881 Greeley Crabtree Brewing 625 3rd St. #D 970-356-0516 Pitcher’s Brewery & Sport Shack 2501 11th Ave. 970-353-3393 Windsor High Hops at the Windsor Gardener 6461 State Highway 392 970-674-2841 www.highhops.net

always ride responsibly www.cbpotts.com

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Building more bridges Bicycle Ambassador Program revised to recruit more volunteers Kim Sharpe

Launched in spring 2012, the Bicycle Ambassador Program (BAP), which operates in Fort Collins and Loveland, has provided encouragement and education about safe cycling to hundreds of people. Two years later, there are about 30 trained Bicycle Ambassadors giving “Lunch & Learn” presentations, staffing informational booths at community events and serving as courtesy patrol ambassadors while out riding. And while the BAP is helping educate cyclists and motorists about rules of the road and how to share them safely, the program isn’t attracting as many volunteers as it could.

“The training we provide to Bicycle Ambassador volunteers, while thorough, may be causing a bottleneck and not getting as many people through the program as possible,” says Clay Young, Poudre Valley Hospital paramedic, EMS volunteer and special events coordinator, and a Bicycle Ambassador serving on a committee to revise BAP’s structure.

“Another challenge we’ve had is attracting volunteers of all ages, especially older teens and young adults.” So the program is being revised to address these issues.

IT just got easier Rather than having all Bicycle Ambassadors go through an interview process and receive a minimum of 12 hours of training as originally required, the revised program now has three tiers: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Everyone enters at the Bronze Level, which is easy to achieve. Volunteers can go to BAP’s new website (www.bicycle ambassadorprogram.org) and its “Be a Bike Ambassador” page where they’ll be instructed to complete an application and agree to a Code of Conduct (basically a statement that they’ll practice safe riding behavior), read the “Colorado Bicycling Manual: A Guide to Safe Cycling” (which they can do online) and then take a 20-question quiz over that material.

PHOTO COURTESY OF: Bicycle Ambassador PROGRAM

“At the very least, we’ll be educating many more people about safe cycling just by having them read and reflect on the Colorado Bicycling Manual,” explains Bruce Henderson, another Bicycle Ambassador and member of the BAP’s revision committee.

More extensive training (like successfully completing a Traffic Skills 101 course) and a commitment to volunteer at least 20 hours per year begins at the Silver level.

Gold level ambassadors must complete even more training, such as a League of American Bicyclists League Cycling Instructor course or Safe Routes to School instructor course.

With each level of training comes more responsibility and volunteer options.

Reaching out In an effort to expand BAP membership by recruiting teens, Bicycle Ambassadors will be conducting focus groups with high school students to find out what would make the program attractive to them.

“Our vision for this new High School Bicycle Ambassador program is that it will give teenagers attending Fort Collins high schools an opportunity to learn about

defensive cycling and then help us teach younger students how to bike and walk to school safely,” City of Fort Collins Safe Routes to School Coordinator and Bicycle Ambassador Nancy Nichols says.

High School Bicycle Ambassadors will be required to complete training similar to all other ambassadors. With the skills gained from the training, students will help Safe Routes instructors with in-school educational programs, as well as bike clubs and bike rodeos at elementary schools.

“As the program develops, we also hope to create an opportunity for interested students to earn a free local bike tour over the summer,” says Nichols.

Focus group participants will be asked to weigh in on these ideas and about additional incentives that would attract them to the program.

The BAP leaders also are working with CSU staff to promote the program on campus as a way to educate more college students about safe cycling.

To learn more about the BAP and how to become a Bicycle Ambassador, visit www.bicycleambassadorprogram.org.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF FORT COLLINS BIKE LIBRARY

Check out these bikes...really Travel with ease through the Bike Share program Amy Lewin

Picture this. You take the MAX to Old Town Fort Collins, step off the bus and check out a bike from a fleet right by your stop. You pedal to your favorite restaurant and return the two-wheeled ride at the bike station, a stone’s throw from the front door.

When you’re finished enjoying a meal, you check out another bike and head over to a brewery, returning it there.

It’s called “traveling with ease.” You have a bike when you need it and not when you don’t.

The basics “Bike share” is an innovative public transportation concept offering a network of bicycles for short-term use. Through automated, self-service bike checkout stations, bike share combines the flexibility and freedom of a bicycle with the accessibility of public transportation. Bike-share systems enhance mobility within a city, promote tourism and economic development, and offer a fun and healthy way of getting around town. Extending the reach of public transit, bike-share systems create connections—connecting people to where they live, work and play, and to other modes of transportation.

Bike-share systems typically consist of a network of automated bike checkout stations located around a city. At bikeshare stations, users can sign up for a

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variety of membership options, check out a bike, ride to their destination and return a bike to any station located in the network. Bike share is designed to encourage short trips. With a membership, users are able to ride “free” for trips under a certain time period (typically between 30 and 60 minutes). Bikes are designed to support most riders, and typically are outfitted with baskets, locks and lights.

Cities with bike share have touted its many benefits. It extends the reach of public transit to help people get to transit and/ or their final destination; it improves public health through exercise and improved air quality; it helps mitigate climate change through emissions reductions; it’s cheap for the user; and it increases a community’s mobility. Bike share also brings life to the streets and offers real data about traveler behavior that can help justify future investment in bicycling facilities.

Many bike-share members have their own bike; 92 percent of Boulder B-cycle users are bike owners, but they use Boulder’s B-cycles because it’s convenient.

My, how you’ve grown Worldwide over 675 cities now have a bike-share system. In 2013, 15 cities launched new systems putting 10,000 more bicycles into circulation. Meanwhile, about 30 new cities are preparing to

launch a bike-share system, including Fort Collins. City staff and partners are working on a Bike Share Business Plan and hope to make bike share in Fort Collins a reality in 2015. The City will join three other Colorado cities that already host bike-share systems: Denver, Boulder, and most recently ( June 2013), Aspen.

The goal of a bike-share program in Fort Collins is to make bikes more available throughout the community. Building on the success of and complementing the Fort Collins Bike Library, an automated bike-share system will provide Fort Collins’ residents and visitors access to a seamless network of affordable, convenient and high-quality transportation options, while offering community-wide environmental, health, social and economic benefits. By providing stations at various locations around town, everyone will have more flexibility and choices for getting around—whether they are headed to school, work, a movie or just out to play.

Look for public events and learn more at www.fcgov.com/bikeshare. You also can stay on top of the latest bikeshare-world news at www.bikeshare. com. And feel free to tell your friends and neighbors about how bike share is transforming communities and bicycling around the world, and hopefully soon, right here in Fort Collins.

PROVELO HAS MOVED!

COME SEE US IN OUR NEW LOCATION AT:

4612 S MASON ST FORT COLLINS

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED. 970-204-9935 WWW.PROVELOBIKES.COM

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Proud to be made in NoCo

Industry alliance collaborates to promote bicycle-related products INTRO BY Maggie Flannigan

Freedom. Adventure. Enterprise. That’s the tagline for the Fort Collins Bicycle Industry Alliance (FCBIA) and a mantra for member companies with a passion for creating, producing and selling products related to the bicycle industry. FCBIA aims to collaborate on marketing, sales, prototyping and manufacturing activities while building the brand association of Fort Collins and bicycles.

Collaboration began with sharing transportation and lodging costs at tradeshows, and has grown to a shared online social media presence and a City of Fort Collins-sponsored booth at InterBike, a major industry trade show held in Las Vegas each fall. Of course, company owners hope to increase profits through these activities, but they also hope to build a community of enthusiastic partners, employees, customers and even competitors that make life in Fort Collins more and more enjoyable.

Bar-Barianz 970-217-5681, www.Bar-Barianz.com Bar-Barianz bicycle lights are happy blinking monsters for your bike. Eight different monsters contain a dual-mode, super-bright LED light that will strobe or pulsate a rainbow of colors. Bar-Barianz will put a smile on your face and light up the night.

Big Shot Bikes 970-775-1233, www.bigshotbikes.com Big Shot Bikes specializes in made-toorder fixed gear and single-speed bikes.

Using an online customization tool, customers can design their very own bike, choosing everything from the color of the chain to the style of handlebars. With many color combinations from which to choose, customers can design a bike that is truly one of a kind.

Black Sheep 970-218-5952, www.blacksheepbikes.com

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Black Sheep Bikes was born out of a flock of high-quality, hand-crafted bicycles, here in this Titanium utopia we call Colorado. They stand out in this flock with their signature aesthetic and groundbreaking designs. Tuned race machines to all-terrain phat bikes, it is easy to see how Black Sheep can translate any wheel size and style of riding into a beautiful high-performance bicycle that will last a lifetime.

Boo Bicycles 515-554-9226, www.boobicycles.com Boo Bicycles handcrafts both highperformance, bamboo-carbon race bikes and more affordable bamboo-aluminum road and townie bikes. Bamboo is extremely lightweight and stiff, and the silky-smooth ride and telepathic handling are unmatched. They have been piloted by two of Fort Collins’ best young talents, Skyler Trujillo and Brannan Fix.

BRAAAP Nutrition, LLC 855-8-BRAAAP, www.braaapnutrition.com The Braaap Bar is a superior food that delivers energy-infused nutrients and protein to meet the demands of today’s toughest

athletes and adventurers. Influenced by riders, racers and outdoor enthusiasts on the tracks and trails of Colorado, the revolutionary Braaap formula is balanced with clean, high-quality natural foods.

Cantitoe Road 800-422-2104, 970-472-0125 www.cantitoeroad.com Cantitoe Road sells bicycle parts, tools and accessories.

Carver Surf Racks/ 287 Bikes 808-389-4372, www.carverracks.com A creative fabricator, Orlando Baker started dabbling into bikes in the early 1990s as a mode of transportation. This led Orlando into innovative ideas based on his personal needs. Inspired by an industrial town “the motor city,” he manufacturers bicycle surf racks and local fabrication of the next inspired idea.

Convertible Backpack

by Richard Jones 970-222-4190, www.convertiblebackpacks.us The Convertible Backpack by Richard

Jones is a full set of bicycle touring panniers that converts to a comfortable internal frame backpack. Go from biking to hiking and back again with their specialized dual-mode bags.

CycleTote Bicycle Trailers 800-747-2407, 970-482-2401, www.cycletote.com For the last 38 years, CycleTote has made safe, lightweight bike trailers. New for 2014, the CycleTote Razor is an adaptive trailer and stroller for adults with disabilities. CycleTote also has trailers for younger children and teens with disabilities. The CycleTote dog trailers transport four-legged friends of all sizes. Rugged cargo trailers help cyclists haul groceries or do heavy work, such as hauling 175 pounds of landscaping material.

Fu Dog, LLC 970-482-2401, www.on-the-wheel.com Fu Dog’s “On the Wheel” distinctive collection of masterfully hand-blown wine goblets and beer glasses feature images of original paintings of classic cruiser bicycles by award-winning Colorado Artist Amanda Acheson. Glasses are presented in sets of four in an artfully designed museumshop quality gift box that appeals to one’s appreciation for fine beverages and great times on two wheels.

Jett Mountain Bikes 866-630-7561, www.jettmtb.com Their mission: “We’re riders. We live to ride and ride to live. Every waking moment we dream of the last trail ridden or the perfect downhill yet to come.

We climb to descend and descend for speed. We’re driven by innovation and dedicated to developing rider-proven mountain bike gear.”

Meetsauce Cycles 970-581-6692, www.meetsaucecycles.com Taylor, at Meetsauce, has been hand-building bikes in Fort Collins for over 18 years and has some unique designs. He builds cr-mo road, track, commuter, 29ers, and custom fork and stems.

He also offers a patina finish with clear coat paint.

Niner Bikes 877-NINER92, www.ninerbikes.com Founded in Southern California and now

based in Fort Collins, Niner makes bikes for the passionate rider. Featuring CVA™ Suspension and the C5 Carbon warranty, Niner Bikes are globally recognized for ride quality and designed in your backyard.

Panda Bicycles 970-372-2123, www.pandabicycles.com Panda Bicycles specializes in handcrafted unique bamboo bike frames. Their level of craftsmanship, comfort and eco-chic style set them apart from other builders in the industry. The use of bamboo as the primary frame material yields a supple yet responsive frame that is a joy to ride whether leisurely on bike trails or on a challenging tour...and everything in between. Go far. Do good.

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Onda by Bommerang Enterprises 888-521-6512, www.ondaride.com Onda, a brand of Boomerang Enterprises, Inc., delivers creative urban\mobility solutions to consumers who demand more from their active lifestyle. Whether needing space for your workday gear or a lazy-day picnic, Onda is obsessed with creating the best trailers and trunks built for cyclists who want to maximize their capacity.

PUSH Industries, Inc. 970-278-1110, www.pushindustries.com Established in 2003 in Irvine, California, PUSH quickly established itself as the premiere suspension tuner for North America. In May 2005, PUSH moved to northern Colorado for expansion and a more centralized location for customers of its world-class suspension products and apparel. One hundred percent of all machined parts are made in house.

Ridekick International 877-974-4440, www.ridekick.com Ridekick International produces electric-powered trailers that attach to almost any bicycle to carry loads and provide a 19 mile-per-hour boost. At an affordable

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cost, the Ridekick power trailer helps you use your bike for short trips, taking you farther, getting there faster and fresher, and for a lot of fun. It is designed and manufactured in Fort Collins.

RunAbout Electric Cycles 970-305-0784, www.electric-cycle.com RunAbout Electric Cycles is creating electric-assist solutions for our local cycling community. With custom conversion kits available and mobile bicycle repair, RunAbout provides sales and service with a focus on vehicular cycling safety.

Swobo Bicycles and Apparel 970-219-3166, www.swobo.com Haberdashers of velocipede couture, purveyors of sensible bikes, avoiders of the bummer life. Swobo’s motto is simple: No-nonsense bikes and clothing for possibly complicated, but nononsense people.

TrunkLocks 970-391-2738, www.bicycletrunklocks.com TrunkLocks, loops made of the strongest material possible with an anchor knob

on the end, are used with trunk-mounted bicycle racks. They protrude from a closed trunk with the knob securely inside. Users then run a cable lock through their bike frames and the TrunkLocks cable strap securing their bikes and bike racks to their car.

YendraBuilt 970-430-6505, www.yendrabuilt.com At YendraBuilt, they dream, design and fabricate functional works of art. They take your needs and ideas and turn them into reality. From a trike designed for delivering kegs of craft brew to a custom-built jockey box for serving beer, YendraBuilt specializes in many unique commercial and residential products.

YiPsan Bicycles 970-672-0168, www.YiPsanbicycles.com YiPsan Bicycles was conceived by Renold Yip to continue the craft of frame building in a single-person workshop.

YiPsan’s goal is to integrate modern fitting concept, frame tubing and components with traditional building skills.

YiPsan bicycles are built by hand, one at a time; every bicycle is unique. YiPsan builds road, cross, track, touring and offroad bicycles, and specializes in steel.

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Gear up and get involved Find a group that fits you Cyclists of all ages, abilities and genres can find a NoCo group that supports their passion. From social clubs to competitive racing, there are groups aplenty from which to choose.

The Bicycle Advisory Committee is a subcommittee of the City of Fort Collins Transportation Board. With the goal of promoting safe and efficient bicycling in Fort Collins and the surrounding area, the BAC provides recommendations on bicycle capital improvements, bicycle policies and Bicycle Plan priorities to the Transportation Board. Regular meetings are held the fourth Monday of every month at 6pm in the Community Room at 215 N. Mason; they are open to the public. www.fcgov.com/bac The Bicycle Ambassador Program (BAP) is a partnership between the City of Fort Collins FC Bikes Program and Bicycle and Pedestrian Education Coalition (BPEC).

The BAP trains people to become ambassadors of safe cycling, increasing knowledge about how to ride and share roads and trails safely with a goal of reducing the number of motor vehicle/bicycle/pedestrian crashes in our community. www.bicycleambassadorprogram.org The Bicycle and Pedestrian Education Coalition (BPEC) is a group of movers and shakers in NoCo’s bicycling community. BPEC members meet once a month to learn

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PHOTO BY John Robson

Belle Starrs is an all-women bicycle club in Fort Collins that strives to inspire more women to get on their bikes and ride! No spandex or fancy equipment needed, just a passion for two wheels and the free spirit that accompanies it. The Starrs organize group rides, give back to the community through volunteering and provide a forum where women can make connections for biking. www.thebellestarrs.wordpress.com about bicycling-related matters, share information and plan ways to work together to meet the needs of our community.

Participants represent bicycle advocacy groups, nonprofit agencies, state and local governments, medical professionals, school districts, youth, parents and teachers. www.bpeclarimer.org Bike Fort Collins (BFC) is a local nonprofit bicycle advocacy group that encourages safe and enjoyable bicycling. Led by involved and dedicated cyclists, BFC’s goal is to encourage an enthusiastic bicycling community through FUNdamental programs that educate, engage and enable cyclists of all ages and abilities. www.bikefortcollins.org The Ciclismo Youth Foundation provides all coaching and operational support for four high school teams in Fort Collins: Fort Collins High, Poudre High, Rocky Mountain High and Fossil Ridge High. It also offers a summer junior cycling program for youth to develop bike maintenance, riding and racing skills. www.ciclismoyouthfoundation.org CSU Rams Cycling Team provides students and faculty with a high-caliber competitive

outlet in both road and mountain disciplines at the regional and national level.

The Team’s focus is racing, though it also organizes rides for cyclists of any level and hosts a variety of social events throughout the school year. www.ramscycling.com Epic BMX supports bicycle motocross (BMX) racing at the American Bicycle Association-sanctioned (ABA) track in south Fort Collins. The organization sponsors races on Thursday evening and Saturday mornings. They also conduct BMX skills clinics; ABA membership is required. www.epicbmxfc.com FC Bikes is the City of Fort Collins’ bicycle program. Through collaboration with northern Colorado communities, other city departments and local bicycle organizations, FC Bikes promotes safe bicycling and encourages it as a viable, healthy means of transportation for Fort Collins’ residents, employees and visitors of all ages and abilities. Through advocacy, programming, planning and infrastructure, FC Bikes seeks to increase bicycling while creating and maintaining a bicycle-friendly community. www.fcgov.com/bicycling

The Fort Collins Bicycle Co-op builds community through bicycling by helping people earn a bike who otherwise couldn’t afford one; educating people about all things bike-related including bike maintenance and safety; and refurbishing and donating bicycles for a wide variety of charity events and programs for those in need. www.fcbikecoop.org

town you travel in, bicycle safety and accessibility will be a priority. The NoCo Bike Ped Collaborative, a regional collaboration of agencies and organizations, encourages communities to share best bicycle planning practices with respect to infrastructure and facilities, and works to secure funding to complete the regional bikeway network. www.fcgov.com/bicycling

The Fort Collins Cycling Club is for beginning road cyclists, experienced riders and everyone in between. Join club members for a regularly scheduled ride on Tuesday evenings, special weekend rides and informal “Show & Go” rides that could take place any day of the week. The club also hosts the Ladies Only Bicycle Association (LOBA), which organizes its own rides— for women only! www.fccycleclub.org

Northern Colorado Cycling Events (NCCE) is a loose board of promoters, managers and other leaders in the local competitive cycling community. NCCE members are committed to the long-term, sustainable growth of competitive cycling in northern Colorado through resource and process sharing, community outreach, and coordination and integration of efforts. www.YourGroupRide.com

The Fort Collins Velo Park Association is a nonprofit organization formed in 2006 to bring a world-class community cycling venue to Fort Collins. This facility will provide multiple benefits to the community, such as: training and competition for all levels of cycling; a safe environment for all cyclists to gain confidence and skills; and a multi-use park for athletic activities and community events. www.fcvelo.org Fort Follies, established in 2012, empowers women in the Fort Collins area to be active and impactful members of the cycling community through riding, racing and philanthropy. The group is suited for women of all abilities and disciplines who want to ride for recreation, get in shape or race competitively. www.fortfollies.com

Overland Mountain Bike Club promotes mountain biking by providing education and assistance to all trail users, and by working to build and maintain quality, sustainable trails that enhance the mountain-biking experience. Overland hosts an array of fun events, group rides and volunteer events. www.overlandmtb.org P.E.D.A.L. (People’s Efforts to De-emphasize Autos in Loveland), established on Earth Day in 1970, educates

the public on bicycle-related issues and organizes group rides. The group’s diverse members represent every type of northern Colorado cyclist. www.pedalclub.org Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a nationwide effort to encourage students to walk or bike to school by addressing the safety risks associated with walking and riding a bike. The Fort Collins and Loveland SRTS programs bring bike-ped safety instruction into local schools and are building a cadre of PE teachers and volunteer trainers to provide SRTS instruction to Poudre School District and Thompson School District K-12 students. www.fcgov. com/saferoutes, www.cityofloveland.org Team B.O.B. (a.k.a, Babes on Bikes) has been promoting women mountain bikers since 1992. The group offers group rides for novice and experienced riders, as well as skills seminars. The team also performs trail maintenance and participates in cycling-related community events. www.coteambob.com Two Rivers Cycling Club, formed in 2009, brings together cyclists in the Greeley area. With group rides in Weld County and along the Front Range, both beginners and seasoned riders are welcome. www.tworiverscycling.org

Greeley Bikes is the City of Greeley’s initiative to encourage and educate more people to travel by bike. Designated a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists in 2013, Greeley is coming into its own as a great place to ride. www.greeleybikes.com The NoCo Bike Ped Collaborative strives to create a bicycle-friendly region, so that no matter what northern Colorado city or

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BELLE STARRS

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VOLUN TEER The educaTion program at the Larimer County Landfill is seeking active volunteers of all ages to help educate youth through seniors about reducing, reusing, and recycling!

VolunTeer opporTuniTies are aVailable for:

Training is proVided! If you have a few hours a week or a month, contact us, we’d love to visit with you!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

(970) 498-5772 • rwatson@larimer.org

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THE 2014 Bicycling

Calendar

Events

Bicycle Advisory Committee Meetings The BAC, a subcommittee of the City of Fort Collins Transportation Board, meets the fourth Monday of each month, 6-8pm. The BAC reviews and provides recommendations regarding bicycle capital improvements, bicycle policies and bicycle plan priorities with a goal of promoting safe, efficient bicycling.

970-416-2471, www.fcgov.com/bac Overland Mountain Bike Club (OMBC) Meetings First Thursday of each month at 6:30pm, except for July, which is on the second Thursday. Come see what is going on in the club and mountain biking community. Meeting location varies; check website. 970-430-5336, www.overlandmtb.org Overland Trail Days Help our land agencies build and maintain the trails. Check website for dates, times and locations.

970-430-5336, www.overlandmtb.org

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Women on a Roll April 13-May 11. In an effort to encourage more women to ride bicycles. FC Bikes will sponsor several free events focused on five Cs: comfort, convenience, consumer products, confidence and community.

970-416-2471, www.fcgov.com/fcbikes

National Bike Challenge Thursday, May 1-Tuesday, September 30.

A free way to challenge yourself, your colleagues and your community to ride more while competing on local, state and national levels. www.nationalbikechallenge.org Colorado Bike Month June 1-30. Help celebrate cycling in Fort Collins by attending one of many free events held throughout the month. 970224-6112, www.fcgov.com/bikemonth Bike Winter December 1-31. Help celebrate winter cycling in Fort Collins by attending free events. 970-224-6112, www.fcgov.com/bikewinter

Thursday, March 6 OMBC Season Kick-Off Meeting Get the mountain biking season started right at this annual kick-off meeting.

New Belgium Brewery, 500 Linden St., FC. 6:30pm. 970-430-5336, www.overlandmtb.org

Friday, April 4 Fort Collins Bike Library Season Opening A joint project of Bike Fort Collins and the City of Fort Collins FC Bikes, the Bike Library provides free bicycles to Fort Collins visitors and community members for up to three days; after that it’s just $10 per day.

970-419-1050, www.fcbikelibrary.org Saturday, April 19 Trek Factory Demo Test ride a new Trek bike! 10am-3pm, Lory State Park, FC. 970-482-6006, www.leescyclery.com

Sunday, May 4 Fort Collins Cycling Club Spring Warm-Up Ride Benefits the Health District of Northern Larimer County’s Tooth Fairy Fund.

12-, 42- and 62-mile routes for riders of all levels. 9am, begins and ends at Spring Canyon Park, FC. Registration fee discounted before April 15. www.fccycleclub.org Sunday, May 18 McKee Classic Bike Tour Enjoy 62-, 37-, 30- and 10-mile routes through northern Colorado. 970-2032519, www.mckeefoundation.com

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Saturday, June 7 Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day 9am (Tentative date. Check website to confirm.) Open to kids of all ages, with a limit of 50 participants. Includes guided rides with safety and trail etiquette instruction, a post-ride lunch and fun swag. Free. Maxwell Natural Area, FC. 970-430-5336, www.overlandmtb.org Wednesday, June 25 Bike to Work Day Ride your bike to work and receive a free breakfast at one of the breakfast stations located in Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland. www.fcgov.com/bikemonth, www.greeleybikes.com, www.cityofloveland.org Friday-Sunday, July 18-20 7th Annual Curt Gowdy Campout For OMBC members, families and friends to enjoy great riding, hiking and socializing. Camp Jack Group Campsite, Curt Gowdy State Park, Wyoming.

970-430-5336, www.overlandmtb.org Sunday, July 20 Open Streets Come play in the streets! Select Fort Collins streets will be closed to motorized traffic and opened up for walking, jogging, cycling, fun!

970-224-6112, www.fcgov.com/fcbikes Saturday, July 26 Laramie Enduro One of the nation’s premier, endurance mountain bike races. Ride it or volunteer. 7am, Interstate 80 and Happy Jack Road, Wyoming.

970-430-5336, www.laramieenduro.org, www.overlandmtb Saturday, August 30 Tour de Fat Bicycle parade and festival. Civic Center Park, FC. 7am. 970-221-0524, www.newbelgium.com

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Sunday, September 7 Community Garden Tour For all ages and abilities. Greeley. www.tworiverscycling.org, www.greeleybikes.com

Friday, October 31 Zombie Zoom Fun for everyone! Greeley. www.two riverscycling.org, www.greeleybikes.com

Saturday, September 13 Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day 9am (Tentative date. Check website.)

Open to kids of all ages, with a limit of 50 participants. Includes guided rides with safety and trail etiquette instruction, a post-ride lunch and fun swag. Free. Maxwell Natural Area, FC. 970-430-5336, www.overlandmtb.org Sunday, September 14 Open Streets (Tentative date.)

Come play in the streets! Select Fort Collins streets will be closed to motorized traffic and opened up for walking, jogging, cycling, fun!

970-224-6112, www.fcgov.com/fcbikes Sunday, September 21 5th Annual Ram Bicycle Classic Features 100-, 65-, 35- and 11-mile rides. Post-ride party. Benefits CSU sustainability education programs and initiatives. CSU Campus, FC. www.rambicycleclassic.org Saturday, September 27 Ride for Success For the whole family. Greeley. www.two riverscycling.org, www.greeleybikes.com Saturday, September 27 Oktoberfest Ride For riders of all ages and abilities.

Greeley. www.tworiverscycling.org, www.greeleybikes.com Thursday, October 30 OMBC Season Finale Awards Night and Celebration Costumes recommended. Bring a bike for the post-meeting costume crawl around Old Town. New Belgium Brewery, 6:30pm. 500 Linden St., FC. 970-430-5336, www.overlandmtb.org

Wednesday, December 10 8th Annual Winter Bike to Work Day Ride your bike to work and receive a free breakfast at breakfast stations around Fort Collins. 7-9:30am, 970-224-6112, www.fcgov.com/bikewinter

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Regular Rides Tuesdays

Head for the Hills Rides feature climbing, increasing in difficulty through early spring and summer. Start times, locations and mileages vary. LVLD. 970-667-6957, www.pedalclub.org Laid-Back Rides Easy rides of 10-25 miles. Meet at 6pm, Centennial Park, 977 W. 1st St. (near the inline hockey rink). LVLD. 970-218-8665, www.pedalclub.org

Greeley Family Rides May 6, 6pm—Meet at Island Grove Park/ Poudre River Trail. June 3, 6pm—Meet at Bittersweet Park. July 1, 6pm—Meet at Homestead Park. August 5, 6pm—Meet at Sanborn Park/Reservoir Road/UNC. September 2, 6pm—Meet at FunPlex/ Sheep Draw Trail/Poudre River Trail. www.tworiverscycling.org, www.greeleybikes.com

Wednesdays

Overland Singletrack Social Rides A fun ride and post-ride get together.

All skill levels welcome. April and September, meet at 5:45pm, Spring Canyon Park, FC. May-August, meet at 6pm, Blue Sky Trailhead, FC. 970-430-5336, www.overlandmtb.org

Pinewood Hill Climb A 20-mile, difficult hill climb. Start times vary. Meet at Namaqua Park, N. County Road 19E, LVLD. 970-593-2851, www.pedalclub.org Peloton MTB Ride June-August, 5:30pm, weather permitting. Rides leave from 3027 E. Harmony Road, FC. 970-449-5595, www.peloton-cycles.com

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Thursdays

Go the Distance on Thursday Fun social rides. Start times, locations and mileages vary, LVLD. 970-613-9012, www.pedalclub.org

Fridays

Full Moon Ride June 13, For the whole family. Greeley. www.tworiverscycling.org, www.greeleybikes.com Co-Pilot Rides April 25, 4:30pm; May 23, 4:30pm; June 27, 5pm; July 25, 5:30pm; August 22, 5pm; September 26, 4:30pm; October 24, 10am. Guided rides for low-vision and blind individuals. Volunteers and tandems needed. All ability levels welcome.

Free. Meet at New World Sports, 119 E. Mountain Ave., FC. 970-224-5857, www.newworldsportsllc.com/co-pilots

Saturdays

Moonlight Ride July 19. For all ages and abilities.

Greeley. www.tworiverscycling.org, www.greeleybikes.com Saturday Rides Rides of 30 miles or more. Moderate, with easy options. Start times and locations vary, LVLD. 970-218-8665, www.pedalclub.org

Sundays

Sunday Show ‘N Go Rides Moderate. Start times and mileage vary.

Meet at Centennial Park, 977 W. 1st St. (near the inline hockey rink), LVLD. 970-218-8665, www.pedalclub.orgs

Days vary

Critical Mass Rides June-July. Fun for riders of all ages and abilities. Greeley, www.tworiverscycling. org, www.greeleybikes.com

Peloton Road Rides Weekdays, June-August. Call for departure times. Rides leave from 3027 E. Harmony Road, FC. 970-449-5595, www.peloton-cycles.com

Races Tuesdays

Horsetooth Time Trial Series April 1-20, 5:30pm. Individual time trial open to all ages and abilities. North Taft Road and U.S. 287 (under the overpass), FC. www.yourgroupride.com New Belgium Brewery Short Track Series May 6-27, 4:30pm, Mountain bike races for all ages. New Belgium Brewery, 500 Linden St., FC. www.yourgroupride.com

Taft Hill Time Trial Series June 3-17, 5:30pm. Individual time trial open to all ages and abilities. N. Taft Road and U.S. 287 (under the overpass), FC. www.yourgroupride.com City Street Crits July 8-29, 5-7:30pm. Volunteers and citizen-racers welcome. City of Fort Collins Streets Department, Lemay Ave. and Vine Drive, FC. www.yourgroupride.com Lory State Park Mountain Bike Series August 5-26, 4:30pm. Mountain bike racing for all ages, Lory State Park, FC. www.yourgroupride.com Crazy Joe Cross Series September 9-23. Cyclocross training races. Open to all ages, abilities and types of bikes. Free. Bush Acres, 4520 Westridge Drive, FC. www.yourgroupride.com Fort Collins Cyclocross Race Series October 7-28, 4:30pm. Cyclocross races for all ages. New Belgium Brewery, 500 Linden St., FC. www.yourgroupride.com

P I R T E N O H T I W S N I G Join us this spring as IT BE we get more women and families

rolling on two wheels. Check out fcgov.com/bicycling for more info about the Women on a Roll initiative, upcoming women-oriented bicycle classes, events and rides!

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Thursdays

Damn Double Dam Time Trials August 7-28, 5:30pm. Individual time trial open to all ages and abilities.

Overland Trail and Stadium Hill, FC. www.yourgroupride.com

Sundays

7th Annual Omnium on the Oval June 1-29, 4-7pm. All ages and abilities.

Volunteers and citizen racers welcome.

CSU Oval, FC. 970-484-3297, www.fcvelo.org

SATURDAY, March 29 CSU Cycling Cobb Lake Circuit Race 8am-6pm. The CSU Cycling Team’s annual road race northeast of Fort Collins. $30. 970-414-322-0744, www.rmccc.org SUNDAY, March 30 CSU Oval Criterium 8am-6pm, CSU Cycling Team’s annual criterium on the Oval. $30.

970-414-322-0744, www.rmccc.org SATURDAY, May 10 Greeley Tri-athlon For the experienced rider and athlete. www.tworiverscycling.org, www.greeleybikes.com TUESDAY, June 24 Bee Farm Circuit Race 5:30pm, Road Circuit races. Bee Family Farm, 4320 E. County Road 58, FC. www.yourgroupride.com

SATURDAY, June 28 4th Annual “40 in the Fort” Mountain Bike Endurance Race 7am. Two laps, 40 miles and nearly 9,000 vertical feet of lung-busting, leg-searing climbs and grin-inducing descents. Individual and two-person teams. Soldier Canyon Group Area, Lory State Park, FC. 970-430-5336, www.overlandmtb.org

Traffic Skills 101 (TS101) Saturdays, May 10, July 12, September 13, November, 8:15am-4pm.

A course for beginner, returning and seasoned cyclists alike. Gain confidence to ride safely and legally in traffic or on trails. Learn how to conduct bicycle safety checks, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques. Free.

970-224-6112, www.fcgov.com/fcbikes

TUESDAY, July 1 Bee Farm Circuit Race 5:30pm. Road Circuit races. Bee Family Farm, 4320 E. County Road 58, FC. www.yourgroupride.com

Thursday, March 13 Women’s Wrenching Night 6:30-9pm. guided bike maintenance sessions for women cyclists of all ages and abilities. No prior experience required, bring your own bike or use one of ours to practice your new skills.

Free. Fort Collins Bike Co-Op, 331 N. College Ave., FC. 970-484-3804, www.fcbikecoop.org

SATurDAY, September 27 Stone Temple 8 Mountain Bike Endurance Race 7am. A fun, laid-back event. Race on some of the best trails in the region or volunteer.

Curt Gowdy State Park, Wyoming.

970-430-5336, www.laramieenduro.org/st8, www.overlandmtb.org

Classes

Lee’s Wrench Session: Comprehensive Tune Course March-September. Once each month; 10am-5pm. In-depth bicycle maintenance class. $149.99; includes a Park Tools maintenance book and Lee’s “Wrench Sessions” t-shirt.

970-482-6006, www.leescyclery.com Lee’s Wrench Session: Survival Skills March-September. Three times each month; days and times vary. Basic bicycle maintenance and repair class. $49.99 or free with bike purchase from Lee’s.

970-482-6006, www.leescyclery.com Peloton Maintenance Clinic First Wednesday of each month, 6-8pm.

Various levels. Free. Call to register 3027 E. Harmony Road, FC. 970-449-5595, www.peloton-cycles.com

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Tuesday, March 25 Bike Maintenance Basics 4-5:30pm. An introductory-level class.

Free.REI Fort Collins, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 970-223-0123, www.rei.com Beyond Bike Maintenance Basics— Brakes & Drive Train 6:30-8pm. The next step after learning the basics. Free. REI Fort Collins, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 970-223-0123, www.rei.com

Thursday, March 27 Women’s Wrenching Night 6:30-9pm. Guided bike maintenance sessions for women cyclists of all ages and abilities. No prior experience required, bring your own bike or use one of ours to practice your new skills.

Free. Fort Collins Bike Co-Op, 331 N. College Ave., FC. 970-484-3804, www.fcbikecoop.org

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Bicycling guide to northern Colorado

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Saturday, March 29 Hands-on Bike Maintenance— Fix a Flat 10-11:30am. An introductory-level class. $20/member; $40/non-member. REI Fort Collins, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 970-223-0123, www.rei.com Saturday, April 5 Hands-on Bike Maintenance—Rim Brake System 10am-1pm. Intensive, hands-on class.

Bring your own bike. $45/member, $65/ non-member. REI Fort Collins, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 970-223-0123, www.rei.com Thursday, April 10 Women’s Wrenching Night 6:30-9pm. Guided bike maintenance sessions for women cyclists of all ages and abilities. No prior experience required, bring your own bike or use one of ours to practice your new skills. Free.

Fort Collins Bike Co-Op, 331 N. College Ave., FC. 970-484-3804, www.fcbikecoop.org Friday-Sunday, April 11-13 League Cycling Instructor Seminar Participants will be certified by the League of American Bicyclists to teach bicycle safety. Space is limited to 16.

Registration deadline: March 12. $300 970-224-6112, www.fcgov.com/fcbikes Saturday, April 12 Hands-on Bike Maintenance—Disc Brake System 10am-1pm. Intensive, hands-on class.

Bring your own bike. $45/member, $65/non-member. REI Fort Collins, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 970-223-0123, www.rei.com

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Saturday, April 19 Hands-on Bike Maintenance— Wheel Truing 10am-1pm. Intensive, hands-on class.

Bring your own bike. $45/member, $65/ non-member. REI Fort Collins, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 970-223-0123, www.rei.com

Saturday, May 3 Hands-on Bike Maintenance—Trail/ Roadside Repair 10am-1pm. $45/members, $65/nonmembers. REI Fort Collins, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 970-223-0123, www.rei.com

Tuesday, April 22 Bike Maintenance Basics 4-5:30pm. An introductory-level class.

Free. REI Fort Collins, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 970-223-0123, www.rei.com

Sunday, May 4 Bike Maintenance Basics 1-2:30pm. An introductory-level class.

Free. REI Fort Collins, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 970-223-0123, www.rei.com

Beyond Bike Maintenance Basics— Brakes & Drive Train 6:30-8pm. The next step after learning the basics. Free. REI Fort Collins, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 970-223-0123, www.rei.com

Thursday, May 8 Women’s Wrenching Night 6:30-9pm. Guided bike maintenance sessions for women cyclists of all ages and abilities. Free. Fort Collins Bike Co-Op, 331 N. College Ave., FC. 970-484-3804, www.fcbikecoop.org

Thursday, April 24 Women’s Wrenching Night 6:30-9pm. Guided bike maintenance sessions for women cyclists of all ages and abilities. Free. Fort Collins Bike Co-Op, 331 N. College Ave., FC. 970-484-3804, www.fcbikecoop.org Saturday, April 26 Hands-on Bike Maintenance— Drive Train 10am-1pm. Learn about your bike’s drive train, including how to inspect, maintain and adjust front and rear derailleurs. $45/members, $65/non-members. REI Fort Collins, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 970-223-0123, www.rei.com

Sunday, May 11 Beyond Bike Maintenance Basics— Brakes & Drive Train 3:30-5pm. The next step after learning the basics. Free. REI Fort Collins, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 970-223-0123, www.rei.com Thursday, May 22 Women’s Wrenching Night 6:30-9pm. Guided bike maintenance sessions for women cyclists of all ages and abilities. Free. Fort Collins Bike Co-Op, 331 N. College Ave., FC. 970-484-3804, www.fcbikecoop.org For more information about bicycling events, rides and classes in Larimer County, visit: www. bicycleambassadorprogram.org/ calendar. Visit www.greeleybikes.com for cycling events in Greeley-Evans. Check www.yourgroupride.com for races in NoCo.

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A race to remember

Northern Colorado communities rise to the challenge Chris Johnson

When the USA Pro Challenge announced that its 2013 route would include Larimer County, those of us who’d worked for years developing the bid to bring the race to NoCo were both honored and anxious.

The team included veterans of large complex events representing local government, business and community leaders, EMS and law enforcement professionals, and cyclists. We were up for the challenge of safely getting the racers from the Loveland start, up to Estes Park and down to the finish in Old Town Fort Collins. But our ambitions were larger than just running a successful event. Our goal was to lay a foundation for an ongoing tradition that will continue to grow over the years.

As the local committee’s technical co-chair, my self-imposed mission was to make sure that, in every respect possible, the race was “done BY northern Colorado, not simply TO northern Colorado.”

The day after the route was made public, I began what would be a summerlong crusade of outreach to involve rural communities and residents, some of whom greeted the event with concern and skepticism. I mainly focused on U.S. 34 and County Road 43, connecting Loveland and Estes Park, as those would be the most disrupted by the race.

The local team was confident of the positive impact the race could have as a

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global “postcard” for the region, but we were nonetheless aware that not everyone would welcome it. So we committed to making sure there were no surprises on race day and that everyone involved was well informed.

My first communications effort was a bike tour of businesses, especially time sensitive ones such as churches and event centers that would need as much notice as possible to work around road closures.

Next I reached out to the canyons’ many bed and breakfasts. I knew some would be concerned about being blocked in by the race, but I hoped that advanced warning would give them a chance to market directly to cycling fans who might be looking for lodging in the area.

Finally, I turned to a multi-front approach to reach residents. With tens of thousands of people living in remote communities such as Storm Mountain, knocking on every door on the 120-mile route would have been impractical. Instead, the team worked with radio stations, newspapers, volunteer fire departments, local businesses, community associations, farmers’ markets and word of mouth to get out the message. In the final days leading up to the race, we even blanketed the route with road signs and electronic message boards.

On August 24, we enjoyed a wildly successful, largely uneventful race. Television coverage of Stage 6 of the 2013 USA

Pro Challenge (still available online) is now all the more poignant and breathtaking in light of the flooding that devastated the area mere weeks later.

I’m grateful for the time I spent meeting residents and business owners in the Big Thompson Canyon. Their strength and spirit in dealing with this catastrophe is even more inspiring to me because I now have faces and stories to go with lost and damaged buildings. I’m also honored to have worked so closely with the same Larimer County Sheriff ’s officers and State Troopers who would provide so much of the evacuation and recovery support after the flood.

Most of all, I am heartened by the strength of northern Colorado’s sense of community. Behind the sometimes overblown tensions between cyclists and motorists, between city dwellers and rural citizens, we’re all drawn to the same scenic roads, rivers and canyons that wind through our backyards. We marvel together at the same rocky mountain sunset every night. We stand together in adversity.

Out of respect for the recovery process, the local organizers and governments opted against pursuing a race stage in 2014, but we have every expectation that in 2015, the race will be back in some form, to celebrate and show the world the perseverance and spirit of a northern Colorado rebuilt stronger than ever before.

Ride where motorists can see you and Remember to ride WITH traffic

Call Traffic Operations for more information on the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program.

970.221.6630

626 LINDEN•FORT COLLINS

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