…the Monument Ride Center opens Saturday, May 1st.  It is 15 miles upstream via the Santa Fe Trail through the USAFA.  If you are continuing on to Palmer Lake, that is 18.1 miles total, and there are an additional 8.5 miles available across the county line in the Douglas County Open Space.

Stop in at Criterium to sign up for our early-season ride incentive before you head north.  During May we will have prizes for riders who complete the 15-mile ride to Monument for the first time this season.  There will also be incentives for completing the road loop from Monument going north via 105, through Larkspur, and back on Spruce Mtn Road–about 30 miles.

The Ride Center has a separate rental fleet, same-day minor repairs, and little stuff that you forgot to bring along, as well as a schedule of on-bike riding classes:  www.monumentbicycles.com

Beaches and boardwalks, summer afternoons with picnic baskets, 1950’s sandlot America: whatever images come to mind, cruisers are back on the bicycle scene in a big way. With the resurgence of cycling as a lifestyle, cruisers are currently one of the most popular forms of relaxed urban transportation. Most feature coaster brakes, balloon tires and cushy seats, wide handlebars, and of course, snazzy accessories.

The culture of the cruiser is communal. Cruisers mean meeting up with friends, noticing and being noticed, then ringing the bell and heading down the path in search of summer adventure, but always within earshot of mom’s call to dinner. On a cruiser, the only race is to the corner and back, and the greatest prize is a best friend’s high-five.

So this year we put the the Cruiser back into Criterium with Phat Cycles.

Descending the South Canyon Trail in Palmer Park

These April days have been shaping up right nicely for some primo riding conditions. The expanding daylight hours with fall like evening temperatures are providing excellent after work riding opportunities. Even after that seemingly major snow last week, by the mid afternoon the ground was dry and ready to go! If you were in doubt, the season is upon us so LET’S RIDE !!!