PEDAL DANCER GUIDE PAGES

20 December 2010

Triple Bypass 2011

Much more information about the Triple Bypass, please read the Triple Bypass Page

Note to visitors to the website/blog today
The Triple Bypass drawing pre-registration (lottery) closed on January 11, 2011. Lottery results were emailed January 24/25th.  Final registration was on Active.com January 25-27th. Registration is closed, the ride is full for 2011.

Previous Post
 
Registration for the Triple Bypass is less than 3 weeks away 
There are some big changes coming in 2011. The Triple Bypass is a classic bike ride event every July in Colorado. For 23 years this event has been growing in popularity. Getting into the ride has become the real race. After the event sold out in 45 minutes last year, the event organizers at Team Evergreen have devised a new registration plan for next year. For 2011, entrance into the Triple Bypass is a two step process: pre-registration/drawing and then registration (if your name is drawn).
Triple Bypass drawing pre-registration January 7th-11th at 8am at www.triplebypass.org
How registration will work: January 7-11 / January 25 / January 25-27  [remember all three dates]
*the dates have changed in the past week
  • Beginning January 7th at 8:00am, go to www.triplebypass.org, you will have 4 days between January 7, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. and January 11, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. to register. (the deadline is 8:00am on the 11th!)
  • By pre-registering, your name is entered into a drawing. 
  • There are three possible routes this year, you must designate your first and second choice of route (you might have an option for more depending on your selection) at the time of pre-registration. You will hopefully receive entry into your first available choice. If it is full, they will go to your second choice. The day and time you register makes no difference in the lottery results.
  • No group entries. Every rider must enter the lottery.
  • You must register with a valid email. 
  • You will be charged a non-refundable $10.00 registration fee for entering the lottery, which is non-refundable, but will be applied toward your final registration fee on Active.com. The fee is non-returnable if you do not get into the event. 
  • You will receive an online confirmation (not an email confirmation).
  • On January 25th, you will be notified by email if your name was drawn, or you will receive a negative response (you will be placed on a waitlist for 2011). They plan to send an email to everyone regardless of selection outcome.
  • If you receive an affirmative email, beginning January 25, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. through January 27, 2011 at 7:00 a.m. you will need to register on Active.com. You must complete this second step at Active.com to complete your registration online for the Triple Bypass ride.  
  • Final registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable. 
Triple Bypass route choices for 2011
Beginning in the left column, tick the button of your first route choice, then make your second choice using the drop down box in the right column of the button selected (you are given a few options under the drop down boxes so read carefully). Good luck!
Cost
Triple (one-way/either way): $150
Double Triple (two-way): $275

The good news
Last year 3,500 riders rode the Triple Bypass in one day. This year the event organizers will be managing 6,000 riders cycling the route over two days, so your chances of getting into the event are much greater. Also you have three route options for 2011.
  • The Triple Bypass West (Original route) Saturday July 9th, 2011, Bergen Park to Avon (accepting 3,000 riders).
  • The Triple Bypass East (Reverse route) Sunday July 10th, 2011, Avon to Bergen Park (accepting 2,000 riders).
  • The Double Triple Bypass (Both routes) Saturday and Sunday, July 9th-10th, 2011, Bergen Park to Avon (Saturday) / Avon to Bergen Park (Sunday) (accepting 500 riders total).
Maps of the Triple Bypass
click images to enlarge
what:    Triple Bypass
where:  Bergen Park (Evergreen) to Avon, Colorado (or reverse)
when:   July 9 and 10, 2010. There is no mass start time. Start time is 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
who:     there will be 3,500 riders on the course on Saturday (traveling east to west) and 2,500 on Sunday (traveling west to east).
why:     a chance to ride three huge Colorado Rocky Mountain passes (Squaw, 11,140'; Loveland, 11,990'; Vail, 10,560') on one 122-mile "lung-busting day"with over 10,600 feet of climbing. This is a ride event, not a race (there are no times given).

how:     the event does have checkpoints (where you are unable to pass) where riders must show wristbands and helmet numbers to proceed.

I personally really liked this event, I rode it in 2009. The route is great, the volunteers just right, and it is low-key. Also it attracts good riders. It is not that difficult, I found that I finished with the same group of riders I started with. I think when you are speaking about 122 miles at high altitude, everyone who rides this ride knows to take it steady. I have to admit that at about mile 82 it occurred to me this is a long time to be out on a bike. It is totally doable and not as hard as I had expected, but I have a clear memory of thinking on the drive back home that was good, but I don't think I need to do that again. Well I might just do it again. Be aware however that the weather can be wicked in Colorado, even in July. Rain, cold, and sleet have at times tortured riders in the past.

If you are looking for a ride worth traveling to Colorado for with your friends - the Triple Bypass is your ride. It is epic. Just remember to bring an extra friend to drive you back to the start area 1.5 hours away by car (or you'll have to pay for the bus). Or make your hotel reservation in Avon and ride back to your car the next day - that would be called the new Double Triple.

For more information on the Triple Bypass 2011 please read the PedalDancer.com Triple Bypass Page (more information coming soon).