Going Green 100 is a supported recreational ride from Alpine Park in Salida to the top of spectacular Cottonwood Pass and back. Come enjoy the low traffic, beautiful Collegiate peaks and friendly people of Salida and Buena Vista.
The route features 6 aid stations and all riders get an organic cotton shoping bag, water bottle and a delicious lunch made from local produce.
In conjunction with the ride BBI international is hosting a free Sustainable Living Forum with guest speaker: The Honorable Andrew Romanoff, Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives. Friday evening at the Salida Steam Plant. Click here for details and directions
Rider Registration
| Century 100 miles | $50 |
|---|---|
| Metric Century 62 miles | $50 |
| Fun Ride 25 miles | $40 |
Online at Bikereg.com
closes Midnight, Friday August 8
Or mail a registration form to:
Going Green 100
PO Box 1556
Salida, CO 81201
must be postmarked by Monday August 4
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Location
All rides start and finish at Alpine Park in Downtown Salida 4th and F Streets (This is different than last year).
The Going Green 100 will held at Alpine Park in Historic downtown Salida. The Park is at the intersection of 4th and F Streets (This is 4 blocks south of Riverside Park, where we started in years past)
Directions
From Denver take HWY 24/285 south to HWY 291 and continue into Salida. HWY 291 turns into 1st Street once within the City limits. At the Stoplight turn right on F Street and drive three blocks to Alpine Park. The drive to Salida is about 2 hours 45 minutes from C470. From Colorado Springs take Hwy 115 south to Hwy 50, through Canon City to Salida. Once in Salida, take a right on F street, before you reach the historic downtown, Alpine Park is on your right, at the corner of 4th and F streets. The drive to Salida is about 2 hours from I-25. Parking Parking is available on all city streets downtown and there is a large city lot accessible from 2nd Street between G and I Street, between Safeway and the bike path.
Schedule
Saturday, August 9th
Rider Check In
6:00 a.m.
Official Ride Start (Century, Metric century and 25 mile rides):
At Alpine Park.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT START LOCATION THAN LAST YEAR!!
Official ride start is 7:00am but riders may leave at any time. We begin marking the course at 6am, so if you leave before that, take a map!
Aid Stations
Following are the hours of each aid station, please take note, so you don’t arrive too early or too late.
- Centerville Stop - 1 7:30am-11:00am.
- Downtown Buena Vista - Stop 2 8:30am-noon
- Denny Creek - Stop 3 and 5 9:30am-2:00pm.
- Cottonwood Pass - Stop 4 10:30am-1:30pm.
- Mt. Princeton Hot Springs - Stop 6 11:30am-3:30pm.
- Centerville - Stop 711:30am-4:30pm.
What to bring
Aid Stations will be stocked with food and drink so you can do your ride. We will have pretzels, cookies, fruit, a few other surprise treats and of course lots of water. We have chosen only the finest foods, many of the snacks will be organic. There will also be energy bars and an electrolyte drink.
Mornings are cool and afternoons are often hot and most likely it will be cold descending from the top of Cottonwood Pass. Please be prepared and carry the clothes you will need to stay warm.
There will be support vehicles on course and mechanics at some of the Aid Stations. But, please carry what you need especially a pump and tube for flats otherwise you may have to wait for the help to arrive. Even if you do not have the knowledge to change a tire yourself, another rider can always be convinced to help.
Also don’t forget sunscreen, a little money just in case and a camera.
Numbers All riders must have their number visible and ride with personal identification. Colorado State Patrol has the authority to remove anyone from the course without a bib number.
Sag A sag vehicle will run the course at the end of the day to pick up any worn out riders and their bikes. Spectators/support/friends can meet their riders at Alpine Park.
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Course
The Going Green 100 will begin and end at Alpine Park in downtown Salida. The official ride start time is 7am, however you may leave at any time. Riders will leave town on CR140, it’s a gradual climb out to the highway with one short steep section near the airport. Once on HWY 285 riders have a fast downhill then more gradual climbing to the first aid station, mile 12. Hwy 285 has a wide 6 foot shoulder, the pavement is in good shape and first thing in the morning traffic should be light. From Aid Station 1 riders will continue north to Buena Vista the road looks flat with a few small downhill sections. However, the total elevation gain from Salida to Buena Vista is about 1000 feet. Once in Buena Vista riders can fuel up at Aid Station 2, mile 28. Riders will continue north a few miles past downtown and at CR 384 make a left turn and start heading towards Cottonwood Pass. Get ready, it is over 4000 feet of climbing to the top!
The climbing starts out gradual with a few steeper sections in the first part of the canyon. It mellows out once and a while and there is even an occasional downhill. At aid Station 3, mile 44, riders can fuel up one more time before making the final push to the top of the pass. Beware, the hardest climbing is right after Aid Station 3, the road heads straight up the Denny Creek Wall. After conquering the wall, the views become more and more spectacular as you head towards tree line. The last few miles are a series of switch backs and finally you will see Cottonwood Pass. At 12,128 feet it is one of the highest alpine passes in the Country and the views are spectacular. Aid Station 4 is at the top of the pass, have a snack, put on a layer and hang on for an amazing descent. Be careful of other riders coming up the road and watch your speed. If you skip Aid Station 5 just beware that there is more climbing before Aid Station 6.
Once back in Buena Vista, the climbing starts again. It’s gradual at first with a few steep sections, and less than 1000 feet, but for sure it will feel like a lot more. After Aid Station 6 most of the climbing is behind you. There’s a few more short climbs, but 1500 feet of downhill on county roads back to Salida. At Aid Station 7, you should be home free. It’s a cruise back to Alpine Park and depending on the weather you may even have a tailwind.
Safety
Ride safely and take your time. You have all day to finish the Going Green 100 and you can always pick up your pace on the way to the finish. The Going Green 100 is one of the most challenging century rides in Colorado, so make sure you eat well and get a good night sleep the night before your event.
Have your bike in good mechanical condition, especially the tires and brakes. A touring or road bike is going to be the easiest to ride and is the most common type found on the Going Green 100. If you choose to ride a mountain bike, slick tires offer less rolling resistance. This will save you energy which you will appreciate the last few miles back to Salida.
Safety involves several items. The first is your brain. Stay alert and use your head. You must be constantly thinking and aware of what’s going on around you. Especially towards the end of the event; you and everyone around you will be tired and won’t be as aware. The second thing is your helmet. DON’T GET ON A BIKE WITHOUT A HELMET. Safety equipment also includes gloves. If you fall they protect the palms of your hands. If you have a mirror on your helmet or your bike, use it. Also consider wearing bright clothing to be noticed by other riders and motorist on the road.
The greatest threat to your well-being on the route is not cars or trucks but other cyclists. Many riders may be riding for the first time surrounded by hundreds of other cyclists. And, while this circumstance is exciting, it also is more dangerous. Most accidents involve cyclists running into each other and falling down or from riders not letting others know their intentions.
Before you stop, make sure no bicycles or motor vehicles are immediately behind you. Stop at the right edge of the roadway and immediately move off the roadway. Stay clear of the roadway. Stopping is especially dangerous at the crest of a hill or on a curve.
You should ride as far to the right as safely possible. Be predictable and don’t weave. Ride in a straight line to make it easier for those riding behind you. Communicate with the riders around you. If you hear a cyclist sound off, “ON YOUR LEFT”, this means they are attempting to pass you on your left. Do not turn your head to the left to look as you could collide with the approaching cyclist, but rather acknowledge them with a simple “THANK YOU” and let them pass. Be courteous and let faster riders pass safely on your left. Do not force them to pass on the right or cross the yellow line into on coming traffic.
Always stay in your lane of traffic and for no reason enter the lane of oncoming traffic; even to pass. If you intend to pass a cyclist or group of cyclists, please be courteous and sound off, “ON YOUR LEFT”. This lets them know you are approaching and intend to pass them. If you rapidly pass them without communicating your intentions, another cyclists could be startled and steer into you causing a collision. Make sure you signal enough in advance that you do not startle them with your signal. Remember, you have all day to ride the Going Green 100, so you can always slow down for the cyclist in front and wait for them to move right before going around.
Use these commands to alert fellow cyclists that a vehicle is approaching from up ahead “CAR UP!!!!”or from behind “CAR BACK!!!”. When being passed by a car, cyclists should ride with caution and attempt to ride as far to the right and single file as the vehicles pass. Always be courteous to the motorists on the road!
Don’t draft. Drafting in a crowd is dangerous to yourself and others around you. Drafting vehicles is also dangerous and will not be tolerated on the Going Green 100.
Obey the rules of the road. This is a supported ride, but the roads are still open to traffic. As a cyclist in Colorado, you are responsible to follow the same traffic regulations as other vehicles. Yes, bicycles are vehicles! This means stopping at red lights and stop signs, not crossing solid yellow lines, signaling your turns and obeying all traffic laws.
Keep your head up and your ears open. Do not wear radio headphones while riding!
Give the right-of-way to emergency vehicles. Pull to the right and stop if you hear a siren.
Beware of loose gravel and watch for debris on the pavement. Trucks carrying sand, gravel and rock often spill some at intersections. It is sometimes necessary for the Going Green 100 to take unpaved stretches of road in order to avoid busy highways. Take extra care on unpaved roads, watching for loose gravel, rocks, soft spots, holes and ruts.
Avoid wide cracks in the pavement. Narrow bicycle tires can easily get caught in wide cracks. Be especially careful on roadways paved with concrete. Center cracks on concrete roads are especially dangerous.
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Nutrition and Performance
It’s key to start an endurance event with as many calories on board as you can. So you need to eat a good breakfast. However eating to close too the start of your event and your body will be busy digesting food and you won’t have the same energy to ride. Eat your breakfast first thing when you wake up and consider waking up early to give your stomach plenty of time to digest. Your breakfast should consist of mainly carbohydrates; approximately 1-1.5 grams per pound of bodyweight. That means if you weigh 160 pounds, you should try to eat between 160-240 grams of carbohydrate, about 800 calories. You can have a little protein and fat in your breakfast if that’s something you like, but keep it to a minimum.
For endurance events always “eat early and often”. In any endurance event lasting more than an hour, your goal should be to take in approximately 30-60 grams of carbohydrate each hour. Practice before the Going Green 100 to see what your stomach can handle and what tastes good. Avoid the dreaded BONK!
You are better to eat smaller amounts of food throughout the ride rather than chowing down at the aid stations. You’ll save time by not having to stop for long, you’ll make it easier for your stomach to digest your food, and you’ll ensure that your fuel stores stay topped off. If you have a hard time remembering to eat, set a timer for 15 minutes and every time it beeps, eat a bite of food. Always drink water a little water when you eat as well. How you ride the first hour of your event will effect the last hour, so make sure you eat.
During an Endurance Event drink 16-32 ounces of fluid per hour. This should be enough to replace 80-100% of the fluids you lose through sweat. If it’s hot out you will need to drink more 36-40+ ounces per hour. At least half of the fluids you consume should contain carbohydrates and electrolytes, so make sure you drink water and an energy drink.