Now You See It. Now You Don't. The 2010 Triple is Closed.

Today for just a brief moment you might have been fortunate enough to glimpse a rare and fleeting thing: open Triple Bypass registration. Hopefully you didn’t blink, the registration remained open for only 30 minutes before the 3,500 rider cap was hit and it closed again for yet another year. For those of you who might have missed it, or who don’t know what the Triple Bypass is, the Triple is a large group ride here in Colorado sponsored by Team Evergreen. The supported 3,500 member group ride traverses a winding 120 mile route over three passes including 10,310 total feet of climbing from Evergreen to Eagle, Colorado. Its not a race, but despite the lack of a competitive element (which surely one can add themselves), the Triple commands a large degree of respect for the sheer amount of climbing undertaken while on the ride.

I’ve never done this ride. Typically the ride is only open for registration for a handful of days. Last year my race season took priority and I didn’t even consider entering. The year before I tried but was too late. This year I decided to make the commitment and thanks to a reminder from my friend Aaron, I logged in and signed up right at noon when registration opened. Good thing too: it closed 33 minutes later. This year the Triple falls on July 10th, which should offer a warm, but pleasant day for riding in the high mountains of Colorado. It also lands 2 weeks before the Bob Cook Memorial, Mt. Evans hill climb, which is one of my higher priority races for this year. I came in 9th last year in my first CAT 3 race: this year I’m determined to do better. The climbing provided by the Triple should go a long way to helping me prepare for this event.

Although July is a long way off, I’m already excited for this ride: 3 passes, 120 miles, 10,300 feet of climbing, equal likelihood of snow or scorching hot sun (or both), a commemorative jersey and what I’ve been told is a killer BBQ and party afterward--all of these are good things. Plus I’m now registered for my first event of the 2010 season. The calendar was looking a little lonely and sad with no dates marked off for training, racing, or riding. But now July 10th is booked solid. So is May 9th for Kate’s first marathon effort (its running but we don’t discriminate here…too much.) I also started scouting out some dates for other events (not posted or open yet) but they’re lurking out there on the horizon: Deer Trail, Bob Cook, Dead Dog, Hugo...its going to be a great season.

--Images and info courtesy of Active.com and the Team Evergreen Bicycle Club.