Ride the Rockies is coming to Edwards on Monday, June 13 (and leaving on Tuesday morning). It’s not quite Paul Revere riding through New England to warn that the British are coming, but please know this group of 2,500 cyclists are visiting our fair valley for the first time in 10 years. Let’s be sure to show them good old-fashioned Vail Valley hospitality in hopes they return for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in August or for a weekend trip sometime this summer.
What is Ride the Rockies? Sponsored by the Denver Post, Ride The Rockies is an annual bicycle tour that takes over 2,000 cyclists on a 6-7 day ride on paved roads through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains each June. While the tour route changes each year, the benefits and responsibilities of each host community remain the same. Benefits include publicity, positive economic impact, fund-raising opportunities and a grant provided to an eligible non-profit agency in each host town by Denver Post Community. Cyclists in 2010 spent an average of $250,000 in a 24-hour period in each town and many cyclists will return as tourists at a later date. Ride the Rockies has chosen The Youth Foundation as the Vail Valley’s non-profit and they have been awarded a $5,000 grant.
Vail Valley locals are encouraged to spend the afternoon and evening at Freedom Park to welcome the Ride the Rockies cyclists to the Vail Valley and to enjoy an afternoon of music, entertainment and food. Consider it a warm-up for the Hot Summer Nights concert series and get out there…it’s open to the public and we encourage everyone to come by for an hour or the entire evening.
Ride the Rockies Entertainment Schedule:
Noon-1:30 Kevin Heinz: kHz Music is an acoustic/electric blend of improved loops and layered live instruments. A “one-man jam band” touching styles of blues, rock, a cappella, folk and funk.
2:00-3:30/4pm – Michael Woodard “Juke Box Heroes”: Acoustic Rock Cover tunes, requests
4:30-6pm – Stache: Stache is a power trio rock band, playing funky, cosmic hard rock. The band is: Ben Koelker (lead guitar, lead vocals), Jimmy Vonesh (bass guitar, vocals) and Pete Haugh (drums, vocals, hype man) Stache does originals and covers including but not limited to: Jimi Hendrix, Black Keys, Boombox, Queens of the Stone Age, Ween, Grateful Dead and more.
6:30 – 8pm – Stereo Assassins: Stereo Assassins is a conglomerate formed from members of three different bands: Frogs Gone Fishin, Laughing Bones and Hustle. They play a style of music that has come to be called “Aerobic Funk”, as in you’ll get a nice aerobic workout due to all the dancing you’ll be doing… The band is: Andrew Portwood (guitar, lead vocals), Ben Koelker (guitar, vocals), Trevor Jones (keyboards, vocals), Dave Donahue (bass guitar, vocals) and Pete Haugh (drums, vocals). The Assassins do originals from the 3 bands we come from, along with covers including but not limited to: James Brown, The Funky Meters, Grateful Dead, Phish, Black Keys and Stevie Wonder
In between sets a variety of NRC Broadcasting’s radio stations will provide entertainment.
In addition to the entertainment & music, the Beer and Wine Garden will feature O’Dells beer and wine from Colorado Winery Garrett Estates.
Food Vendors confirmed for the Ride the Rockies event include:
1. Andy’s Best Burgers and hot dogs
2. Salad Salads – fresh made to order salads
3. Ice Cream Lady / New York Style hot dogs
4. Nickies Quickies Greek Gyros
5. Marko’s Pizza
6. Dusty Boot BBQ
7. Rudy – Altone Tacos
8. Occasionally Keegan
9. Cupcake lady
10. Flying Pig
We hope to see everyone on Monday afternoon at Freedom Park in Edwards for this community event!
Special thanks to Eagle County, WECMRD, Eagle County School District, NRC Broadcasting and Eagle Valley Events for helping make this event a great success.
As always, I encourage all member businesses to get engaged with the Partnership and to contact us with any suggestions you may have to help us better serve you. Call us at (970) 476-1000 or stop by our offices in Avon at Traer Creek Plaza to share your feedback.