Crested Butte – Twenty-five years after the original Fat Tire Bike Week in Crested Butte, the knee socks and sideburns are a little shorter. The bikes are a little lighter. The crowds are a little bigger.
OK, so they are a lot shorter. Tube socks and mutton chops are few and far between these days. For that matter, the bikes weigh several pounds less, and crowds swelled into the thousands at the annual event that concluded Sunday. But the attitude at what many consider the birthplace of mountain biking is exactly the same.
“This town is one of a kind,” said professional mountain-bike racer Nick Gould of Durango. “The people here are just diehards for cycling. Durango is pretty crazy, too, but this town is even smaller, so the community is even tighter.”
Local lore holds that Fat Tire Bike Week began more as a vendetta than a festival, when a small group of rowdy locals rode their paper-boy clunkers over Pearl Pass to answer a motorcycle assault from a group of Aspen high rollers who had taken over the town saloon after crossing the 12,705-foot pass in 1976. It took two days by pedal power, but a tradition was born.
By the early 1980s, the tour evolved into a week of activities, and Fat Tire Bike Week was born. The Pearl Pass Tour, as it is now called, still takes place every September.
“This is the oldest Fat Tire Bike Week in the world,” said Sally Palmer of the Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce. “Mountain biking started here about 30 years ago with a guy named Neil Murdoch, who came here and rode his Schwinn through the cow pastures. That caught on, and people started riding. Now there’s all sorts of stuff we do just to celebrate mountain biking in general, and especially here in Crested Butte.”
The celebration of the sport in Crested Butte during Fat Tire Bike Week ranges from the traditional to the outlandish, including the Wildflower Rush NORBA Mountain States Cup race competition, which coincided with a 24-hour clunker race through town. Riders can take guided tours of beginner, intermediate and expert trails, or they can compete in the “chainless downhill,” a gravity-powered race from the top of one of the nearby mountain passes. And, of course, there are the parties.
“We’re here for the free beer,” joked Tim Peterson of Riverside, Calif. “I had a great time. It’s an amazing place, and the people here are really great.”
“It’s just really nice when a community welcomes you like they have here,” added Jay Rarden of Las Vegas. “They really laid out the red carpet for us.”
Joined by their new friend, John Feris of Salt Lake City, Peterson and Rarden were attending Fat Tire Bike Week for the first time last week. All three men vowed to return.
Similarly, several participants in the Wildflower Rush race have made Crested Butte a regular stop since the event first arrived in town five years ago.
“It’s really cool because they keep it kind of old school,” said Gould, who won the pro division of the men’s cross country race by 17 seconds Saturday. “This is how racing used to be with free food and just a really cool atmosphere.”
“It was an awesome event,” added second-place finisher Roan Exelby of South Africa. “I went to the Mountain Biking Hall of Fame yesterday and read up on the legends and how it’s all unfolded. It was something real interesting for me.”
Mountain biking in Crested Butte is, of course, not relegated to Fat Tire Bike Week. Just about any day between now and October, cycling enthusiasts from throughout the world can be found riding the myriad trails that spawned a revolutionary sport back in the day.
“It’s a lot of fun here,” said former Olympic cyclist Alison Dunlap of Colorado Springs, who finished second to Susan Haywood of Davis, Calif., in the women’s cross country Saturday. “It’s got great history and a great reputation. When you are a mountain biker in Colorado, Crested Butte is one of the best places to go. People just love to ride bikes here.”
Wildflower Rush NORBA Mountain States Cup
Riders listed with name, team name if applicable, hometown and time
CROSS COUNTRY
Saturday
MEN
Pro
1. Nick Gould, Santa Cruz, Durango, 2 hours, 18 minutes, 34.98 seconds
2. Roan Exelby, Durango, 2:18:51.25
3. Ariel Lindsley, Maverick, Boulder, 2:20:37.16
Semi-pro
1. Ien Zanni, Ajax Factory Team, Carbondale, 2:28:07.99
2. Ryan Artale, Maverick Ciber, Boulder, 2:29:17.81
3. Stephen Iles, CoMotion Sports, Boulder, 2:29:47.57
Single speed
1. Jeff Irwin, Rock & Roll Sports, Gunnison, 2:30:37.67
2. Ken Bloomer, Independent Fab, Gunnison, 2:40:07.89
3. John Steveris, Ardvac/MoonThere Cyc, Avon, 2:47:29.89
JuniorX
1. Ben Kraushaar, Durango Wheel Club, Durango, 1:43:33.17
2. Marc Swart, Alan Factory Team, Durango, 1:45:00.89
3. Joe Schneider, Durango Cyclery, Durango, 1:46:04.48
Expert 19-24
1. Marko Ross-Bryant, CoMotion Sports, Steamboat Springs, 2:35:29.71
2. Patrick McNeely, MSO, N/A, 2:35:39.08
3. Nathan Winkelmann, Bike Lane, Huntsville, 2:41:50.85
Expert 25-29
1. Anthony Iannacito, Rocky Mountain Hammergel, Westminster, 2:39:15.68
2. Peter Kenyon, Paragon Sports, Telluride, 2:40:59.81
3. Andrew Feeney, Colorado Bicycling A, Boulder, 2:42:28.93
Expert 30-34
1. Jason Lapointe, Ajax Factory Team, Aspen, 2:34:08.38
2. Mike Doody, Rocky Mountain Hammergel, Westminster, 2:44:33.42
3. Elliott Larson, Ajax/RA Nelson, Aspen, 2:45:23.86
Expert 35-39
1. Ashley Goodwin, Woodland Park, 2:45:32.82
2. Dean Miller, Rocky Mountain Hammergel, Littleton, 2:45:41.52
3. Benjamin Wagenman, Carbondale, 2:46:37.65
Expert 40-49
1. Craig Hofer, Team Evergreen, Kittredge, 2:35:22.28
2. Johnny Biggers, Crested Butte Builder, Crested Butte, 2:43:50.68
3. Chris De Frates, Dean, Crested Butte, 2:45:50.10
Expert 50+
1. Russell Aslesonl, Pro Cycling, Colo Springs, 2:49:46.69
2. Scott Summers, N/A, 3:09:48.46
3. Gary Peterson, CoMotion Sports, Golden, 3:40:48.46
Sport 19-24
1. Ian Grooms, Redland Cycling, Lake City, 2:00:11.96
2. Ian Fontenot, Gunnison, 2:01:59.14
3. Ryan Marle, Aurora, 2:03:06.49
Sport 30-34
1. Brian Costello, CoMotion Sports, Littleton, 1:51:35.97
2. Nathan McCrary, Team Nokia 5140, Colorado Springs, 1:52:20.72
3. Robert Batey, Boulder, 1:54:46.35
Sport 35-39
1. Geoff Warner, Team Evergreen, Wheat Ridge, 1:54:38.22
2. Lewis Kirkegaard, Montrose, 1:57:24.33
3. Loren Dumont, Mountain Pedaler, Edwards, 1:57:45.44
Sport 40-49
1. Todd Reisinger, Team Evergreen/Canyon, Littleton, 1:55:36.32
2. Gil Moreno De Mora Rodrigo, Peloton Cycles, Loveland, 1:56:04.50
3. Jeff Rhodes, Team Dean, Lone Tree, 1:56:08.95
Sport 50+
1. Stefan Handschin, Mountain Pedaler, Vail, 2:03:00.40
2. Mark Soderberg, Team Evergreen, Evergreen, 2:03:00.98
3. Brad Roy, Durango Wheel Club, Bayfield, 2:26:32.73
WOMEN
Pro
1. Susan Haywood, Trek/VW, Davis, Calif., 1:44:38.22
2. Alison Dunlap, Luna’s Mountain Bike Team, Colorado Springs, 1:47:32.43
3. Gretchen Reeves, Rocky Mountain Business, Boulder, 1:48:32.71
Single speed
1. Kelly Mattingly, Stage West 4×4, Basalt, 1:59:26.81
Expert 19-29
1. Veronica Jarolimek, Crested Butte, 2:04:49.74
2. Amy Drumm, Grand Junction, 2:11:34.15
3. Sonya Bugbee, Lakewood, 2:12:57.27
Expert 30-39
1. Christy Kopasz, Paragon Ski & Sport, Rico, 1:59:06.41
2. Megan Castle, CoMotion/Yeti, Denver, 2:06:23.28
3. Erin Hagerty, Superior, 2:09:15.16
Expert 40+
1. Paula Maresh, CoMotion/Yeti, Conifer, 2:18:03.42
2. Kathy Judson, Golden Bear/IronClad, Boulder, 2:20:08.13
3. Robin Hoff, Team Bulldog, Golden, 2:33:31.47
Junior sport 18 & under
1. Alicia Rose Pastore, Durango Cyclery, Durango, 1:09:36.18
2. Meghan Kane, Summit Junior Cycling, Dillon, 1:09:46.73
3. Jill Behlen, Y Riders, Boulder, 1:15:43.15
Sport 19-29
1. Amy Scherm, Gunnison, 1:06:37.60
2. Natalie Ryan, Ritchie Center at DU, Englewood, 1:07:54.16
3. Elizabeth Eberly, Full Tilt Cyclery, Centennial, 1:08:56.09
Sport 30-39
1. Carrie Weinberg, Crested Butte, 1:02:50.50
2. Caroline Souders, Albuquerque, 1:06:17.49
3. Pam Seidler, Aspen, 1:06:58.47
Sport 40+
1. Rebecca Kane, Dillon, 1:13:08.59
2. Alma Juels, Golden, 1:14:10.62
3. Mary Wehe, CoMotion/Yeti, Durango, 1:23:36.47
DOWNHILL
Sunday
MEN
Pro
1. Luke Strom, Full Tilt, New Castle, 4:35.52
2. Kain Leonard, Astrix/TLD, Gunnison, 4:38.72
3. Curtis Keene, WTB/Fox Shox, Fremont, 4:39.14
Semipro
1. Cody Wilderman, RPM/YETI, Fraser, 4:51.18
2. Jeff Brines, Snow Owl, Littleton, 4:52.21
3. Tim Sharp, RPM/Yeti, Arvada, 4:55.90
JuniorX
1. Billy Delacroix, Big Crank, Boulder, 4:59.83
2. Travis Bond, Morewood Bikes, Chattanooga, Tenn., 5:00.94
3. TJ Fisker, Gravitee.com, Silverthorne, 5:14.48
Expert 19-24
1. Adam Chiszar, Boulder, 5:06.27
2. Matt Russell, Gunnison, 5:10.54
3. Brandon Trurman, Maxxis/Fox/Mrp, GJ, 5:13.65
Expert 25-29
1. Nevada Thomason, Tanner Bikes, Tyler, 4:57.61
2. Leland Turner, Avalanche Sports, Breckenridge, 5:11.53
3. Dustin Sysko, Boulder, 5:13.69
Expert 30-39
1. Dwayne Weddle, velojunction.com, Grand Junction, 4:59.96
2. Joe Hanrahan, Salt Lake City, 5:01.95
3. David Shultz, Mojo Wheels, Boulder, 5:02.32
Expert 40-49
1. Bryan Dvorshak, Colorado Springs, 5:36.47
2. Scott Summers, Rolling Thunder Racing, Empire, 5:37.92
3. Erik Balle, Balle Racing, Colorado Springs, 5:40.20
Junior sport 18 & under
1. Ross Stoner, Y-Riders, Boulder, 5:23.16
2. Tim Woods, Crested Butte Academy, Aspen, 5:24.24
3. Chris Myer, Krazy Kow Production, Colorado Springs, 5:28.04
Sport 19-24
1. Jeffrey Whall-Bordeaux, Boulder, 5:21.70
2. Joey Defosset, Scratchy Rat Racing, Colorado Springs, 5:25.06
3. Zak Wilson, maxxis/hayes/e13/TLD, Lafayette, 5:26.12
Sport 25-29
1. Dave Badger, Roch Pounder Racing, Boulder, 5:10.32
2. John Groom, Glenwood Springs, 5:24.59
3. Ryan Knipe, RPR, Westminster, 5:29.24
Sport 30-39
1. Grant Shoemaker, Mojo Wheels, Denver, 5:13.86
2. Troy Cooperman, Arvada, 5:23.12
3. Fred Orndorff, Crested Butte, 5:24.17
Sport 40-49
1. Mike Eubank, Boulder, 5:41.02
2. Mark Hunnicutt, Idlewild Woodworks L, Winter Park, 5:49.71
3. Bud Harper, Full Tilt, Highlands Ranch, 6:22.60
WOMEN
Pro
1. Michelle Dumaresq, Santa Cruz, Vancouver, British Columbia, 5:18.46
2. Lisa Myklak, Moorewood Factory, Boulder, 5:28.41
3. Jennifer Whalen, WTB/Dandelion, Idaho Springs, 5:40.47
Expert
1. Carolyn Yeaton, Gunnison, 6:06.91
2. Amy Drumm, Grand Junction, 6:11.65
3. Stephanie Hatalsky, Gunny Goat, Gunnison, 6:12.63
Junior sport 18 & under
1. Amelia Beyitagh, Morewood Bikes, Asherville, 9:12.30
Sport
1. Krista Pattridge, N/A, 6:07.69
2. Joy Sather, Salt Lake City, 6:22.48
3. Nora Pincus, Salt Lake City, 6:44.38
