Ride the Rockies finishes up in Breckenridge

Crowds lined the streets of Breckenridge on Saturday to cheer on almost 2,000 cyclists as they crossed the finish line at this year’s Ride the Rockies bike tour.

Noted by most riders as “one of the most scenic routes in years,” this year’s tour concluded at the newly remodeled Riverwalk Center, where live music, food, and drinks helped to create a party-like atmosphere for those who made it to the end.

“It’s nice to finish at home,” rider Don Hansen of Silverthorne said. “This year’s ride was really great. The weather was nice, and the route was so beautiful.”

For many, the end of the ride marked a major milestone. After seven days and 435 miles, weary cyclists were able to reflect on the journey under the warmth of sunny summer skies.

“My body is feeling pretty good, actually,” said Susan Crawford of Tucson, Ariz. “So good, in fact, that I am actually going back to Durango to start the Bicycle Tour of Colorado (another week-long tour that starts on Saturday). The weather is fantastic so I’m not stopping with this.”

For California resident Gina Sulprizio, crossing the finish line signified more than just the end of the ride, but rather a beginning of a new chapter.

“I used to be a swimmer but was forced to switch to biking after shoulder surgery,” Sulprizio said. “I went through a year of rehab, thinking of this ride the whole time, and I’m so happy I could finish. Who knows? Maybe I will be back next year.”

Bodies and bikes were strewn across the grass as the closing ceremonies sent music pumping out onto the Riverwalk Center lawn.

After a week on a bike seat, many riders couldn’t help but smile as they plopped down on the grass to remove their bike shoes.

“To be honest, my butt is a little sore,” Sulprizio said with a bashful laugh. “But being able to lay in the grass and stare up at the mountains makes it all feel worth it.”

This year, 64 cyclists from Summit County completed the journey from Durango to Breckenridge, and ending at home was cited at a major motivation for a few local riders.

“Knowing that we were ending a few steps from home was really good,” said Silverthorne resident Mary Schwartz. “After seeing the ride come through Frisco a couple years ago, my husband and I decided to do it and thought it was a great way to spend the first week of summer.”

Schwartz and her husband have been biking together for the past 25 years and cited the combined energy of all the riders as one of the most enjoyable aspects of large-scale rides.

“Ride the Rockies is great because the route changes every year, and it makes you want to come out and do it again,” Schwartz said.

The finish line embodied a true biker’s paradise, as riders coasted through an alley of tune-up stations and smoothie stands.

After dismounting from their bikes, many riders wandered over to the Rip Stoke mountain-bike show, where stunt cyclists twirled and jumped much to the delight of the crowd.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun. That’s why it is a ride and not a race,” Schwartz said. “If you can cross the finish line and still walk, then you will most likely have a smile on your face.”

<i>Ashley Dickson can be reached at (970) 668-4629, or at adickson@summitdaily.com.</i>