Two femme-focused, high-spirited bike rides promise participants a triple threat of soul-renewing goodness: good ride, good times and supporting good causes from education to local arts.
Venus de Miles – August 29, 2015
Starting in Longmont’s urban-styled Prospect New Town and traveling through beautiful Boulder County, the Venus de Miles is an all-woman road ride.
The ride offers a choice of three levels of varying difficulty to suit your style. Novice or seasoned bicyclists pick their course levels at registration, choosing among:
- a rolling 30-mile ride with a 1,050-foot elevation gain
- a 62-mile metric century with a 1,974-foot elevation gain
- a 100-mile century with a,2917-foot elevation gain
Proceeds benefit a good education cause, Greenhouse Scholars, an organization dedicated to helping high- performing, under-resourced students reach their full potential.
courtesy Venus de Miles
To date, over 1,200 riders have registered. Nearly 150 individual riders pledged fundraising dollars, with top fundraisers hitting upwards of $1,500.
Founded in 2008 by Teresa Robbins – who also founded Tour la Fête, the hot new local women’s race described below– the Venus de Miles has raised over $534,000. This year the event proceeds total nearly $37,500 so far.
It’s not too late to register or pledge your support.
Registration Fee
$95 through 8/28
$115 day of the event
Tour la Fête—September 13, 2015
Hold onto your lungs – this femme-posium is breathtaking in concept and scenic beauty. Tour la Fête is billed as a “seminal event for women, celebrating all that they are, all that they love, and all that they can accomplish.”
courtesy Tour la Fete
At its heart is an 18.7-mile course that starts and ends at the lovely River Bend in Lyons, and traverses to Hygiene through the picturesque landscapes of Lyons and St. Vrain Valley.
Choose Your Passion
Co-founders Teresa Robbins, Lance Panigutti and Tony Panigutti concocted a cornucopia that’s more than an awesome, no-drop road ride. It’s a first-class combination of athletic endeavor, party and intimate community gathering that includes four-course epicurean fare, spirit tastings, live music and films.
The event’s good cause is the Boulder County Arts Alliance, which will benefit from fees for spirits.
Event Venue: River Bend
Nestled on the banks of the St. Vrain River, next to towering, dramatic redstone cliffs, River Bend provides a rustic natural setting. Formerly the River Bend Trailer Park, the area was devastated in the September 2013 flood. Thirty-two mobile home sites could not be reclaimed, forcing River Bend owners, Betsy and Mike — also owners of The Lyons Farmette — to reinvent the property, and this magical venue was born.
Delicious Local Food
Chefs Dale Lamb of Dale Lamb Catering and Chef Katie Baum of Eat are teaming up to prepare a custom menu featuring local and organic foods. Event styling is by Summer Trembley. Spirits include specialty beers from New Belgium Brewing Company along with handcrafted cocktails featuring Suerte Tequila, and cider.
Music and Film
Vocalists Stephanie Dodd and Justin Badger of The Fremont will fuse storytelling and song. And, participants will see”Knee Deep,” a short documentary exploring individual tipping points of taking action through grassroots volunteerism following the 2013 flood, in addition to other select films.
Registration Fee
Option 1: $175 – Fully supported no-drop ride. Limited to 100 riders.
Option 2: $125 – Gentle Yoga class. Limited to 75 participants.
Option 3: $100 – This option is for those that only want to dine and watch the films. Limited to 50 participants.
Participation is limited to 220 women, so register soon.
Get Involved with Women Road Cycling
Whether you are new to cycling, trying to get in better shape or just want a group of great women to ride with, the Venus de Miles Bike Club offers plenty of opportunities to meet up and roll. A recreational riding group organized by Full Cycle in Boulder, this club has more than 200 members and multiple weekly rides.
Great post.