Cripple Creek - Pine Junction 300k - the Inside Story!

The inaugural Cripple Creek - Pine Junction 300k is slated for Saturday, May 7.  Route designer and ride leader Vernon Smith has produced a route profile which highlights:

• 15,600 ft. of climbing (twice the climbing guideline for a 300k; by comparison, the Black Forest 300k has 9,000 ft.)
• 10,200 ft. maximum elevation (at Cripple Creek).

Vernon advises riders: "You will be at 76 miles after completing the Cripple Creek loop (max elevation 10,200) and are back in Woodland Park. At this point, consider the weather, your fitness, and how you are feeling before starting off to Pine Junction. At 76 miles you have had less than half of the elevation gain for the day, although you will now generally stay below 8,300 feet. It is here in Woodland Park that you have an option to simply ride down Ute Pass back to the start in Colorado Springs.

"Lights for the morning that will still be working into the night are a must.

"Plan on a long hard ride."

So there you have it.  As you may have gathered, this is a course replete with climbing followed by, well, more climbing, and much of the course is on winding mountain roads with limited shoulders in some areas. 

Thanks, Vernon, for designing and leading this new challenge!  See added details below ...

-jle

RIDE START DETAILS

Marriott Towne Place Suites (as on the route sheet, etc.)

4760 Centennial Blvd.

Colorado Springs CO 80919

• All rooms have a full kitchen.
• The single studio is $79
• The two bedroom unit is $99
• Reservations at 719-594-4447

STORES NORTH OF WOODLAND PARK

• Pine Junction store closes at 9pm
• Deckers store closes at 5pm

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