National 24-hour bike race coming to Palmer Park
- Details
- Created on Thursday, 14 July 2011 17:14
- Written by R. Scott Rappold
(A cyclist negotiates a downhill stretch of trail in Palmer Park during a 2010 Sand Creek Sports race. Christian Murdock, The Gazette)
By R. SCOTT RAPPOLD
The Gazette
Palmer Park is set to host a national mountain bike race, a test of endurance and sleep deprivation known as 24 Hours of Colorado Springs.
The event will draw up to 1,000 cyclists to the park Oct. 1 and 2 to race as individuals or on teams from noon Saturday until noon Sunday. The event was planned for the Falcon Trail at the Air Force Academy, but heightened security after the death of Osama bin Laden compelled organizers to find a new site.
The Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation Advisory Board gave unanimous support Thursday to the organizer’s idea to move the race to Palmer Park. City officials, who must issue a permit, said they support the race as a way to add to the city’s growing reputation as a mountain-biking hub.
“It’s really exciting, the opportunity to create a new event for our community, that’s sponsored by USA Cycling,” said city parks director Kurt Schroeder.
Learn more about the race, including how to register and how to sign up to volunteer, at 24hrsofcos.com.
The inaugural race last year attracted about 100 racers to the academy, said organizer Tim Scott. It has been selected as a national competition this year, so he expects about 500 riders, though he is preparing to handle as many as 1,000.
Organizers chose Palmer Park for its extensive trail network and variety of terrain, and have charted a 13.5-mile course. The park would be closed to the public, except for spectators.
“Even if you mark it and even if you sign it and even if you’ve gone above and beyond in a safety corridor for the racers, somebody somewhere is going to decide they want to go in there anyway,” said Scott, a Palmer High School science teacher who has organized other races through this company, Tier One Productions.
The event will have a “race village,” a place for participants and their teams and families to park and camp in the meadows near Maizeland Road and Academy Boulevard. No campfires or alcohol will be allowed, Scott said.
While other city parks have been closed to the public for special events, this would be a first time for Palmer Park, Schroeder said.
“Tim has done this before. He’s been involved in big events. It’s a very professional setup,” Schroeder told the board.
Neighbors were notified about the plans and invited to voice concerns, but none did. Parks board member Mary Mashburn lives nearby, and she praised the event.
“We want more things like this to happen in Colorado Springs. And if we don’t approve yours there will never be any hope of getting it done, so hallelujah,” she said.
Board members unanimously agreed to draft a letter of support to city staff. City Council does not need to approve the race.
“This will be a long night in October,” Scott said. Last year’s winner rode 200 miles in 24 hours.
Plans call for the park to reopen to the public Oct. 2 within a few hours of the race’s end.
Schroeder expects the city to issue a permit for the event soon. Proceeds from the race benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.
It is not the first mountain-bike race in the park. Sand Creek Sports has hosted three smaller events since 2008 and plans to hold a 50-mile race, limited to 125 riders, Sept. 18, followed by a post-race pig roast.
The park will not be shut down for that race. Organizer Andy Bohlmann last month was forced to cancel a road cycling race at the academy because of the heightened security.
Learn more about that race and how to register at sandcreeksports.com.
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