Colorado Last Chance 2001 1200km Randonnee

The Route – The route is an out-and-back from Boulder, Colorado, at the foot of the Colorado Front Range, across the Colorado eastern plains and into the western part of Kansas. There should be in the neighborhood of 30,000 feet of climbing in cumulative throughout this course, coming in 50 and 100 foot hills throughout the course. This makes the course more akin to PBP (but without the trees) than to BMB. The many short hills – in lieu of extended climbs – plus the fact that wind is always a factor in this terrain – encourage riding together and the camaraderie this brings.

Support, Logistics, and Checkpoints – We are able to offer limited support, which should include a roving event vehicle, to provide assistance where needed. The route offers two bag drops (giving you four drop-points, two outbound and two on the return leg – both of these are sited at hotels, as places you might spend the night). Personal support vehicles are permitted, and (because there are very few roads in this region), these may follow the event route. However, they are permitted to meet and help riders only at the official checkpoints, except in case of emergency. Checkpoints will be establishments (stores, hotels) along the route, not staffed by event officials. Meals are not inclusive, but will be available for purchase at the establishments in the checkpoint towns.

Start Times – The main start time will be 4am on Friday, September 7th. [A secondary start option at 10am or 10pm is being considered.]

Fees – A fee of approximately $75-$85 is currently planned. Our goal to keep this inaugural event affordable, while providing limited support at the same time. This fee includes your bag-drop and other services described above, and a medal from the Randonneurs Mondiaux or Audax Club Parisien.

Weather – September traditionally offers tranquil weather in Colorado with mild temperatures. Danger of tornadoes, thunderstorms, lightning, hail, snow, and high (chinook) winds are low. Mean daily temperature range for the Front Range at this time are 48°F to 77°F.

Terrain – The route is rolling to strongly rolling, characterized by wide expanses and areas with few trees. Agriculture, grazing land, and cactus-populated sandhills predominate in eastern Colorado, dryland crops in Kansas. The route offers a vista of the Rocky Mountain Front Range. Maximum altitude is 5600 ft., comparable to the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Mt. Mitchell road – hence, no altitude impediment for riders coming from lower elevations.

Traffic – Traffic on most of the course is moderate to very low. This country is sparsely populated, I-70 and I-76 drawing away the bulk of through traffic, leaving our route relatively quiet. Highways near the more populated region near Boulder have full, rideable shoulders.

Qualifying – To qualify, riders may complete, in 2001, a full brevet series, or a 1000km brevet, or a 1200km randonnée (Boston-Montréal-Boston or the Gold Rush Randonnée), or submit a résumé to the Event Director for consideration. Colorado Brevets

Contacts – The Event Director is Robert Fourney, at TrailMaster@mindspring.com. You may also contact the RUSA Regional Brevet Administrator for Colorado, John Lee Ellis, at JEllisX7@juno.com.