Monumental Rides of 2008
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Are you searching for an epic ride for 2008? Are looking for a ride that could be called monumental, a bicycle ride that you are just excited to complete? A ride that you need to train for?
Here are some great rides of 2008. Some are mountain bike and some are road rides.
- La Ruta de Los Conquistadores (MTB) Arguably the hardest cross country mountain bike race in the world.
- Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb (Road) This is one of the toughest climbs in the world and is the only time of the year that bikes are allowed to go up the 7.6 mile stretch road.
- Leadville Trail 100 (MTB) This is one of the most popular mountain bike endurance races in the country. Floyd Landis rode it in 2007 and Chris Carmichael is training to complete the race in less than 9 hours but you don’t have to be a pro to get in.
- Race Across America (Road) This is billed as the toughest ultra marathon race in the country. The race goes from California to Maryland.
- Ride the Rockies (Road) This is a 6-7 day bike tour through the Rocky Mountains. This may not be the most challenging ride for some but for others it could be there Tour de France.
- Flint Hills Death Ride (MTB) Don’t let the name scare you too much. This is a “70ish” mile cross country double-track/farm path ride through Southern Kansas. (several of the guys I ride with did it last year and we are all making the trip again this year, myself included)
I know this is not at all the most definitive list of great and challenging rides happening in 2008 so if you know about one share it in the comments so we can all check it out.
My name is Bradly Fletchall. I am the guy behind most of what you see here. I am a bicycle enthusiest and advocate. I'm a founding member of a local bicycle club. I also compete in road and moutain bike races. You can learn more about this blog and me on the 
January 7th, 2008 at 3:49 am
That “Ride the Rockies” looks fun!
On the either side of the ocean, I will be doing the Route des Grandes Alpes with some friends this summer (and I know a couple of other friends planning the same tour).
This challenging route from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean covers many of the famous Tour de France Alps climbs and we’re adding a detour to Alpe d’Huez.
Link to the official site (English in top right)
http://www.routedesgrandesalpes.com/pages/home/index.php
January 7th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Will-
I will someday make it over there to do a ride like the Route des Grandes Alpes. It would be great to test myself on some of those climbs that I only get to read about and watch the pros go up on TV.
January 7th, 2008 at 9:30 am
I’ve finished Leadville 4 times. I may go for it again this year. I got some good pics last year since I wasn’t racing. I made it through the first 2000 miles of RAAM.
In Colorado we also have the Durango 100 and Breckenridge 100 that are both have better courses and are tougher than Leadville. Montezuma’s Revenge is a 24 hour race that makes other 24 hour races seem like a walk in the park. You end up hike a biking over a 14,000 foot peak during the night. I’ve done it twice and want to do it again. Last year it was canceled but it’s supposed to be back this year.
January 7th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
UltraRob-
There are a few of us considering making the trip out to Leadville this year as well. If we get out there and you see some BicycleFrenzy.com gear you’ll have to say hello.
January 7th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I need to do the Mt Washington climb soon. I did Mt Greylock a few years ago and then missed one last year…
ps. the post is showing the La Ruta link for the mt washington race (http://www.tinmtn.org/mwarbh/page.cfm/About-This-Race)
January 7th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Levi -
Hey thanks for the heads up on the incorrect link. It should be fixed now.
I’ll have to check out that Mt. Greylock ride.
I couldn’t find an official site but if you search for it in Google you can find lots of info about it for others that may be interested.
January 7th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Yeah Mt Greylock was put on by the Williams college cycling team and I don’t think their was much of a website for it, maybe just a page somewhere.
For someone looking for a big challenge that’s not as selective as Mt Washington, try Mt Equinox in Vermont.
January 7th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Bradly, if you do come out for Leadville let me know. Even if I don’t race, I’ll probably be there. In the last 7 years I’ve raced 4 times, crewed twice and last year I volunteered and spectated.
This year RAAM is going to have a 1,000 mile option which is good for someone not sure they can do the whole thing. Most of the qualifiers are around 500 miles but there’s not much between them and the whole thing.
January 7th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I hear great comments about the Flint Hills Death Ride!
It has been very interesting to have a Google Alert for Blogs on “Kansas Flint Hills!”
Yours came up today!
We have a 22 county Flint Hills Tourism Coalition, Inc. promoting visits to the Kansas Flint Hills – this is the website: http://www.kansasflinthills.travel/
Our web site is to promote the Kansas Flint Hills; and we were so happy to be in the 22 page color photo spread in National Geographic’s April Issue on the Kansas Flint Hills, as a distinctive landscape. We are now working to get the Kansas Flint Hills designated as a National Heritage Area.
We would appreciate a link from your site, to ours, if you are willing to do so. THANKS!
Best wishes!
Bill
Personal Blog: http://flinthillsofkansas.blogspot.com/
January 8th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Levi - Thanks again for the Mt. Equinox ride tip.
Here’s a link for it: Gear Up For Lyme Mt. Equinox Uphill Bike Climb
UltraRob - If we make it out to Leadville I will let you know for sure.
Thanks for the tip on the 1000 mile RAAM
January 8th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Quick correction: There are actually only 2 dates you can ride up the Mt. Washington Auto Road. The second is a new race, Newton’s Revenge, which will be held on 7/12/08. Registration for this race opens after the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb is full. Last year, it filled in 32 minutes!
January 11th, 2008 at 10:44 am
2 other east coast events put on by Shenandoah Mountain Touring -
1. Wilderness 101 (End of July 2008) in State College, PA.
2. Shenandoah Mountain 100, August 31, 2008 near Harrisonburg, VA
http://www.mtntouring.com
Did the W101 in 2006. Tried the SM100 last year coming off being sick, but only made it 75 miles on my singlespeed. Will be back for revenge at the SM100 in ‘08.