Greetings Cyclists!   The RTR staff just returned from what we call our “Cue Sheet” Trip. We rode the route, put the finishing touches on all the aid stations and were on the lookout for any road hazards. Check out our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for photos we captured along the way.

Wheat Ridge Cyclery Clinic   Join us to learn all the details of the 2016 Ride The Rockies route, what to pack and important nutrition information. FREE food and beverages provided! When: Thursday, May 19 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Where: Wheat Ridge Cyclery 7085 W. 38th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 Topics and Speakers include: RTR Preparation, Gear & Clothing; Ron Kiefel, Olympic Medalist and Owner of Wheat Ridge Cyclery Nutrition; Jessica Loring, Registered Dietician Route Review; Chandler Smith, Ride The Rockies Tour Director Beer provided by Odell Brewing Company. Please CLICK HERE to RSVP by Monday, May 13. While this event is free, we will need a headcount for food and beverages. Questions? Call Betsy Batts at 303-954-6707 or email bbatts@denverpost.com.

Ride with Nelly   On day 3 of the RTR Tour, the Copper Mountain Loop, Nelson Vails will host a VIP group ride starting at 7:30 a.m. This ride is focused on raising money for Colorado nonprofit organizations which The Denver Post Community Foundation supports. All participating cyclists will receive a Primal custom “Ride with Nelly” jersey. The day will begin with a group photo at the start line followed by free pancakes from Dan the Pancake Man & Flippin Flapjacks at the first aid station. Only 150 limited edition “Ride with Nelly” autographed jerseys will be produced. Sales will benefit The Denver Post Community Foundation. Sign up here and reserve your limited edition jersey!

Odell Brewing Co Special RTR Beer   Each year our beer sponsor, Odell Brewing CO. creates a hand crafted beer just for Ride The Rockies. This year, the beer is a dry hopped kolsch, light and delicious; however, it was nameless. We reached out to our Facebook fan base and asked them what they thought it should be called. After numerous followers submitted their very creative names such as Clipped-In Kolsch and Rocky Mountain National Perk Kolsch, followers voted for their favorite. We landed on Trail Ridge Ale submitted by Ed Tidik. Thank you to all of our followers for submitting their imaginative names. We look forward to having a beer or two with you during the Tour. Cheers!

Route Vendors   Throughout the course of the week, route vendors will be available at every aid station selling delicious food and helping you refuel. In addition to pretzels, animal crackers, fruit, KIND bars, water and Skratch Labs hydration mix that RTR will provide, you can expect to see the following vendors on the route: JKF Catering Flippin' Flapjacks Skratch Labs Smoothie Revolution Gold Camp Elementary JT's Grill Leaf Grill and Wok Kick Stand

Safety Letter   The safety of participants and event volunteers is Ride The Rockies’ number one priority. Be on the lookout for your safety letter and medical sticker in the mail shortly before the Tour. Please fill out the sticker and place it on the inside of your helmet; it could save your life!

Peak Pedalers   It’s time again to start hearing the stories of Peak Pedalers from around the country. Every year we look for a few enthusiastic riders who share our excitement for Ride The Rockies to join forces with us and become guest bloggers. These “Peak Pedalers” help us capture the spirit and tell the story of the summer’s ride. Peak Pedalers have the opportunity to tell their stories through photos and blog posts as they train during the weeks leading up to the event and while exploring Colorado during the ride itself. Contestants submitted a photo and writing sample, explaining why they'd make an ideal Peak Pedaler. After a week of voting on social media, where contestants rallied their friends and fans to vote on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, finalists with the most votes were handed over to the ride organizers, who decided on the finalists based on the unique perspective they'd bring to the RTR blog. This year’s winners are Scott the “Flatlander Dad” coming from Richardson, TX, Diane who will be “Riding with a Purpose” from Albuquerque, NM, Jessica the “Feminist” from Littleton, CO and “Back in the Saddle Again” is Paul from Olathe, CO. Learn more about our winners here.

How to Ride in a Paceline   When organized correctly, pacelines are a very effective for group rides. 30% of your energy can be conserved as the 3rd rider in the line. Because a paceline allows you to save energy, you will be able to extend your ride and increase your speed. Consider these tips to make your next paceline ride safer and efficient. Only ride in a paceline with those you are familiar riding with If you are not experienced with drafting, it should be avoided The front rider should maintain the 1st position for as long as he or she feels comfortable and then rotate to the back Follow roughly 1-2 feet directly behind the rider in front of you If there is a head wind, follow 1-2 feet off to the side of the rider in front of you Communicate The rider in the front of the paceline is usually the main communicator Use hand signals to indicate turns, stopping and slowing Use verbal warnings Announce ALL passes of other bicyclists, “on your left” or “group passing” Another paceline member announces the NUMBER of riders passing, “four of us passing” ‘Car Up’ – to warn of approaching vehicles ‘Car Back’ – to warn of passing vehicles Be predictable & be prepared to YIELD to other traffic for safety, legality and courtesy Always obey the rules of the road

Traveling Silent Auction   The Denver Post Community Foundation Traveling Silent Auction returns for a seventh consecutive year, helping to raise money for deserving nonprofits all over Colorado. Generous cyclists, community patrons and volunteers alike help us reach this goal each year. Exciting items this year will include: Overnight lodging at the Historic Stanley Hotel complimented with dinner for two and two ghost tour tickets Volagi Viaje XL Bicycle Frame Two all-day soaks to the beautiful new Iron Mountain Hot Springs Fencing Summer Camp package at Denver Fencing Center Three day, three night ski vacation at Purgatory for two people Items also include weekend getaways to each host community, high end bikes and bike components, massages, entertainment tickets and much more! Be sure to visit the Silent Auction tent located at the headquarter site each day. Bid high, bid often!

Primal Hospitality Tent   After a long day of climbing the Rockies, take a load off in the Hospitality Tent hosted by Primal. Grab some snacks and drinks to refuel for the evening’s festivities. While you’re there, check out Primal’s latest gear.

Demo Fleet   Are you in the market for a new bike? Or maybe looking for a new wheel set or components? The RTR Demo Fleet is happy to help you start the search! You’ll have the opportunity to test ride some of the best bikes and bike components in the industry. Look for our demo partners at the headquarter site in each host community. 2016 Demo Fleet: Bolle; helmets and eye wear Boo Bicycles Cannondale DT Swiss Wheels Parlee Volagi

Green Jersey Program   Back again in 2016 are the ZeroHero Green Jerseys, in partnership with CO2 Forestry and Suncor Energy! Each day limited edition green jerseys will be awarded to cyclists who embrace and support Ride The Rockies’ Tread Lightly initiatives. Be on the lookout for the RTR Green Rider throughout the course of the day. You could be the winner of the next Green Jersey!

CO2 Forestry   Want to be green? Here’s how. While we are committed to treading lightly, it’s not always easy being green. As we travel from one Colorado town to the next, ride support vehicles, luggage trucks and staff vehicles will likely emit more than 50 tons of carbon into the atmosphere. To offset these emissions, we’ve partnered with CO2 Forestry, a Colorado-based company that specializes in high-quality, forestry carbon offsets. It provides a simple and effective way for us to reduce our carbon footprint through forestry. To help us be green, we encourage you to offset your carbon footprint from travel to and from the ride. It’s simple! Go to the Green Rider page to learn how you can purchase carbon credits to offset your travel. Thank you for helping us be green!

Human Interest Story   Do you have a unique, compelling, or life-changing story that includes your past or upcoming experience with Ride The Rockies? Is your story one that will inspire others? If so, tell us about it. Your story may be distributed to The Denver Post, 5280, RTR Bloggers, RTR Media Pass Participants, or the RTR Facebook page. Those interested should email their story to rtr@denverpost.com with the subject line Human Interest Story.

Collaboration Corner

In addition to new partnerships, we also have a number of exciting collaborations to announce for the 2016 Tour. Ride The Rockies is proud to work hand in hand with the following organizations in an effort to increase awareness, funds and volunteers for their services both locally and internationally: Good Samaritan House/Catholic Charities, The Davis Phinney Foundation, Bicycles for Humanity, Trips for Kids, Project ReCycle, Wish for Wheels, The Christopher T. Keller Foundation, Adaptive Sports and World Bicycle Relief. Each newsletter will highlight two or three of these organizations as we near this year’s event.     Wish for Wheels gives the gift of a brand new bicycle and helmet to low income children (grades k-2). For most, this is their very first time even riding a bike. Their mission, to transform the lives of kids from low-income families, broadening their scope for personal growth and a healthy lifestyle through the gift of a new bicycle, is accomplished thanks to the generous partnerships they form with local businesses and corporations to host customized team building experiences. Partners build the bicycles and have the honor of leading the give directly.

Catholic Charities and Community Services of the Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Charities serves thousands of people each year in three interlocking areas: Women’s Services, Family and Child Care Services, and Housing and Shelter Services. They are also a first responder in disaster relief services, such as the 2013 floods in northern Colorado. Catholic Charities is open to, and serves, all people. Hundreds of volunteers donate their time and talent to Catholic Charities. They collaborate with Catholic parishes and local businesses. They preserve and protect the dignity and well-being of the poor and vulnerable by helping seniors live independently and protecting them from isolation, by providing assistance to victims of crime, legal assistance and advocacy to immigrants, mental health services, early childhood education, and intensive case management to foster self-sufficiency. Catholic Charities also provides safety and permanency for children by preventing neglect and abuse and by supporting families that open their home to children in need of safety. Through pregnancy counseling, birth parent counseling, adoptions, foster care, and kinship care, they promote the sanctity of life and the general welfare of the unborn and young people among us, as well as the guardians who care for them.     Project Recycle Project Recycle is a Colorado, Douglas county based 501(c)3 nonprofit. Project ReCycle was founded in 2010 to provide smiles to children all over Colorado via a bicycle. That has not changed today. Their first run at this venture led to create a program that would not only guarantee smiles, but would also influence children’s academic behavior in a positive manner. As part of the Project ReCycle Dream Bike Program, children, during their academic year, are encouraged to earn a bike by improving in 3 areas; Respect, Attendance and Academic Growth. Project ReCycle works with multiple agencies to provide stability for children. The gifted bicycle becomes a constant in a life of change. Project ReCycle collects bicycles from participating locations on a weekly basis. Bikes are brought back to the repair shop and inspected. If a bike cannot be fixed for reuse, it is dismantled. Each reusable part is salvage for future use. All remaining bike parts are then recycled.

Recognizing Our Partners   Ride The Rockies would not be possible without the support and contributions of our sponsors, bike technicians and demo partners. Along with our returning partners, we are excited to announce new relationships with Peak Resources, KIND Bars, Ride with GPS, Race IT and Volagi.   Click here to view all of our partners.

2nd Cancelation Deadline   Cancellation requests must be submitted through email at rtr@denverpost.com by May 15, 5:00 p.m. MST. No refunds will be issued after this date, regardless of circumstances. Refunds will not be issued for the $5 application fee and/or any voluntary donations made to The Denver Post Community Foundation.

The Primal Colorado Bike Expo   The Colorado Bike Expo, presented by Primal, is going on this weekend, Saturday, May 14th from 9am to 5pm at Sports Authority Field. The show will highlight 100 exhibitors, demos, test rides, live music, a beer garden and family fun. Visit the Ride The Rockies and Pedal The Plains booth and pick up a 10% coupon code good for any PTP ride offerings for this Septembers Tour. Find more details about the Expo at coloradobikeexpo.com. Hope to see you this weekend!

Ride The Rockies | 101 W. Colfax Ave. | Phone 303.954.6700

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