West Elk Bicycle Classic

Join Western State Colorado University’s Director of Mountain Sports, Dave Wiens, Labor Day weekend for this 134-mile timed road tour with 9,300 ft. of climbing. The ride starts on Western’s campus in Gunnison and finishes in downtown Crested Butte, just 28 miles to the north via Highway 135.

However, the West Elk Bicycle Classic never touches 135, but chooses instead the scenic route: It plies the shores of Blue Mesa Reservoir; brushes the Black Canyon of the Gunnison; and visits off-the-beaten-path communities like Crawford, Paonia and Somerset, before finally depositing riders on dirt and gravel for the biggest climb of the ride over Kebler Pass, the backdoor entrance into Crested Butte. All proceeds from the West Elk Bicycle Classic benefit the Mountain Sports program at Western, as well as the communities we visit along this amazing route.

Two ride options:

1) 135 mi, 128mi tarmac, 27 packed dirt. 9300' climbing ($100); (Pre- and post-ride shuttles between finish and start can be booked.)

or

2) Raghorn Loop 52 mi, 36mi tarmac, 16 packed dirt. 3300' climbing  ($100)

The Raghorn Loop is another classic Gunnison Country route. Riders will leave the Start/Finish area at the Crested Butte town park between 9-10am. If you don’t have 135 mi in you but you want to challenge yourself to a beautiful track with a great hard gravel climb, smooth pavement and incredible views this is for you.

Bike Choice

For the first 100 miles, you will want a road bike. For the last 30 plus miles, you would rather be on a more robust bike, like a cross bike with beefier tires or even a 29er hardtail. Most people ride road bikes. Many choose to use slightly fatter and beefier tires due to the dirt and gravel surface of Kebler Pass.

The West Elk Bicycle Classic takes place some of the prettiest and quietest roads around. It is also a very difficult, remote and technically demanding route.  We recommend experienced, fit, and technically proficient cyclists participate only. Large sections of the course are without cell phone service or any other sources of communication so help can be a longish wait away. The twisty roads that make this such a great road ride also make travel by vehicle slow if we need to get to you.

The West Elk Bicycle Classic route turns to a dirt and gravel road at the 100 mile mark. It remains this way for much of the remaining 30 miles as it climbs over 3,000 vertical feet. It then descends 1,000 feet on mainly tarmac for 7 miles to the finish line in Crested Butte. Riding any bike, but especially a road bike, on an unpaved road requires experience, skill and technical ability.

While the Gunnison country in early fall is typically very nice with little rain, heavy rain could happen. The dirt sections of Kebler are composed of gravel that has been coated with magnesium chloride and in most conditions, it improves the conditions of the road for cycling by providing a smooth surface. In the event of heavy precipitation, the road surface has the potential to become a chemical-laden, muddy, sloppy nightmare.

Magnesium chloride and mud may not good for any bicycle, whether a Huffy or a $15,000 dream bike that has all of the latest technology available on this planet. It can coat the bicycle and drive train; penetrate every bearing, nook and cranny and is difficult to remove.

Choose a bike for the West Elk Bicycle Classic carefully and at your own risk.