Bike event aids parks

  Snow Report
  Weather
  Hiking
  Biking
  Fishing
  Golf
  Travel
  Calendar
  Dentry

E-Mail This | Print This

Bike event aids parks

By Ted Crawford
Special to the News

Bicycling events are a popular and effective way to raise money for various causes. Proceeds from the inaugural 2000 Park-to-Park Tour will not only raise cash, but will directly benefit bicyclists by funding state park projects and related trail efforts.

The Sept. 16 event commemorates "Year of the State Park" and is the first in a series of tours to celebrate all 40 of Colorado's beautiful state parks.

Aid stations, mechanical support, law enforcement officials and volunteers will be strategically located along the route to assist with any cycling needs, questions or directions.

A $50 pledge is requested but not required to participate. Registration is limited to the first 500 riders. For more information, e-mail d-events@ecentral.com

If you go

Bicycle: City bike, mountain bike or road bike with adequate tires for unpaved path or crushed granite

Location: South and central Denver area

Surface: Concrete and asphalt bike path, and crushed granite/dirt path

Distance: Loop is about 67 miles

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult

Ride Time: Five to seven hours

To reach Chatfield State Park: From C-470 west of Santa Fe Drive, take Wadsworth Boulevard south. Look for the park entrance signs to the left.

Map of the ride

Other rides

-Stage One Option: At the end of the first leg near Confluence Park, REI will host a free bike check and aid station. This is also a good opportunity to shorten the ride and return back down the South Platte Greenway, up and over the dam at Chatfield State Park and back to the start/finish area. This stage is about 40 miles total.

-Cherry Creek Reservoir Loop: At the end of the described Cherry Creek leg, riders can lengthen their route by continuing past Kennedy Golf Course to pick up a newly completed section of trail at the base of Cherry Creek Reservoir. Continue around the reservoir counterclockwise to complete the loop and connect back to the Highline Canal Trail. This will add 15 miles to the ride.

-Bear Creek Lake Park: From the South Platte River Greenway near Hampden Avenue, the paved Bear Creek Trail goes west for about 14 miles. It parallels Bear Creek and has several fun dirt single-track options along the way. Riding up and over the dam leads to Soda Lakes with restrooms and more off-road trail options or continue into the town of Morrison for refreshments.

E-mail Ted Crawford at tcrawford@dslbroadband.com. His column is also available online at RockyMountainNews.com.

August 11, 2000

Subscribe | E-mail alerts | Electronic edition | RSS