The Rocky Mountain Cycling Club is proud to offer eleven timed rides for people wanting a special challenge. You can do one, some, or all.

All rides listed are in the traditional French format (brevet style), with a mass start, checkpoints, time cards, and check-in at finish.

Ten "kilometer" rides (three 120K’s, two 200K’s, three 300K’s, a 400K and a 600K) are club events and have no charges, but membership is required for participation. These are self-supporting rides (randonneur style), meaning that most checkpoints are at convenience stores where water and nourishment are available.  Contact John Lee Ellis for more information on any "K" ride.

The Grand Loop (203 miles) is also a club event requiring membership.  The club will provide vehicle support and require a cost-recovery fee.

The Joe Lookingbill Denver-Aspen Classic will be 300 kilometer brevet this year. The Denver-Aspen Brevet is open to the public and requires no registration fee, but it does require RMCC membership.  Check-in is 3:00 am for a 4:00 am start. Lights are required. Support is up to the participants, and no aid stations or SAG vehicles will be provided by RMCC. Personal support may only be done from the checkpoints. People who have never done a mountainous double-century are encouraged to accomplish this ride before trying the Grand Loop.

To register for the Challenge Series 2003, print the application form, fill it out, and send it to the address indicated on the form.  

Ride Descriptions

120K (75 miles) Sunday, April 6.  Check-in: 8:30 am. Start: RTD lot at 120th and Huron.  
Course: Fort Lupton, Keenesburg, Brighton loop.

120K (75 miles) Sunday, April 13.  Check-in: 8:30 am. Start: Lot at the Northwest corner of Exit 255 on I-25.  Course: Masonville, Horsetooth, Laporte, Windsor.  

120K (75 miles) Saturday, April 26.  Check-in: 8:30 am. Start: RTD lot at the Southwest corner of 4th Avenue and Broadway Street in Lyons.  Course: Lefthand Canyon, Estes Park, Big Thompson Canyon.

120K (75 miles) Saturday, September 13.  Check-in: 8:30 am. Start: Service Station at Copper Mountain-Frisco Trailhead.  Course: Vail Pass, Vail, Minturn, Tennessee Pass, Leadville, Fremont Pass.

200K (128 miles, 4000 vertical feet) Sunday, May 4.  Check-in: 7:00 am. Start: RTD park-and-Ride at the Southwest corner of Exit 243 (I-25 and Highway 66).  Course: Windsor, Wellington, Rawhide power plant, Laporte, Horsetooth, Masonville (or, depending on weather, Horsetooth, Stove Prairie and beyond).  Course is flat to gently-rolling except for the Horsetooth (and Stove Prairie) climbs.

200K (128 miles, 4000 vertical feet) Saturday, Sept 20.  Check-in: 7:00 am. Start: Same as the May 4th ride.  Course: Reverse of the May 4th ride.

300K (187 miles, 9000 vertical feet) Saturday, May 17.  Check-in: 3:00 am.  Lights required.  Start: RTD lot at Mineral and Santa Fe in Littleton.  Course: Littleton, Castle Rock, Kiowa, Elbert, Black Forest, Monument, Castle Rock, Littleton.  This is a challenging course with constant rollers and short hills, including the Black Forest and Wolfensberger hill from both sides.

300K (187 miles, 11,000 vertical feet)  Saturday, July 12.  Check-in: 3:00 am.  Lights required. Start: RTD lot at Mineral and Santa Fe in Littleton.  Course: Littleton, Chatfield Park, Deer Creek, Conifer, Pine Junction, Woodland Park, Manitou Springs, Monument, Littleton.  This a very challenging course with much early climbing.  

300K  (187 miles, 13,500 vertical) Saturday, August 2 - Joe Lookingbill Denver-Aspen 300km Brevet.  Check-in: 3:00 am. 4:00 am start. Start: RTD lot at Mineral and Santa Fe in Littleton. Course: Littleton, Fairplay, Buena Vista, Independence Pass, Aspen. Lights are required. Qualifiers are required.  Click here for details or contact Charlie Henderson. You may register using the Challenge Series 2003 application form.

Grand Loop (203 miles, 15,000 vertical feet)  Saturday, June 28. Check-in: 2:30 am.  Lights are required.  Qualifiers are required.  Contact Charlie Henderson.  There will be a cost recovery charge for the support vehicle.  Start: 10th and Jackson in Golden.  Course: Boulder, Lyons, Estes Park, Trail Ridge Road, Granby, Berthoud Pass, Idaho Springs, Golden.  The Grand Loop is the most difficult ride per mile that the RMCC offers. Click here for the Grand Loop results.

400K (251 miles, 10,000 vertical feet)  Saturday, May 31  Check-in: 3:00 am.  Lights are required.  Start: Superior RTD lot.  Course: Superior, Platteville, Ward, Carter Lake, Horsetooth, Laporte, Wellington, Windsor, Johnstown, Superior.

600K (370 miles, 13,500 vertical feet) Saturday and Sunday, June 14 - 15.  Check-in: 3:00 am.  Lights are required.  Qualifiers are required.  Contact John Lee Ellis.  Start: Superior RTD lot.  Course: Superior, Fort Lupton, Lyons, Estes Park, Horsetooth, Laporte, Wellington, Windsor, Superior, Evans, Kersey, Fort Lupton, Superior.

For more information on the RMCC or its events, check out the club website, www.rmccrides.com, or contact Charlie Henderson.

Note:  If you choose a ride that requires qualifiers and/or cost recovery charges, you will be contacted by the event director.  All rides require membership.