It’s not too late for that New Year’s resolution. And there’s plenty of time between now and June 13-20 to train adequately.
Want to look before you leap? Be among the first to learn the 2015 route Saturday, Feb. 7 at Ride The Rockies’ “Route Premiere Party,” where this year’s seven-day route is unveiled in at the Denver Center for Performing Arts.
Tickets are $35; they jump to $40 after Friday. Tickets will be $50 at the door.
Ride The Rockies is an annual bicycle tour that takes 2,000 cyclists — assisted by more than 100 volunteers — on a 6-7 day ride through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains each June. The Ride The Rockies route is different each year; however, a few challenging mountain passes and, of course, Colorado’s scenery nonpareil are mainstays. Daily rides can be as short as 35 miles or as long as 100 miles, but generally average 60-70 miles.
“This year’s route party will be unlike any other announcement as we roll out the red carpet to highlight 30 years of Ride The Rockies and introduce the 2015 host communities,” said Ride The Rockies community relations manager Renee Wheelock. “We’ve had the opportunity to interview some great RTR personalities as we work on creating a film that will unveil the route and get everyone excited for this June.”
The mood was festive at the 2014 Ride The Rockies route announcement party at the EXDO Event Center in RiNo on Feb. 8. (Provided by Ride The Rockies)
With the price of admission to the premiere party:
- Hors d’oeuvres
- Beer and wine
The event will kick off with hors d’oeuvres from Maggiano’s, beer from Odell Brewing Company, a silent auction and a “guess the route” contest for a chance at a free RTR entry (a $500 value). The event is from 6-9 p.m., finishing in the last hour with a short film that first captures the history of Ride The Rockies before unveiling the 30th anniversary route and host communities.
This is the fourth premiere party. However, it’s a first for the Seawell Grand Ballroom. Befitting the ballroom atmosphere and the red-carpet feel to the event — the film is new to the route announcement — dress code is “cocktail attire.”
All proceeds from the event will benefit The Denver Post Community. The mission of the foundation is to improve and enrich the quality of life through support of programs that benefit children, the arts, literacy and education.
Registration for this year’s tour is by lottery after the route announcement. .
Bryan Boyle: @boyle or bboyle@denverpost.com
Filmmaker Chad Maurer, left, interviews 88-year-old Bill Easley, who has participated in 25 of the 29 Ride The Rockies tours. (Provided by Ride The Rockies)
