Ride 2022 start! (photo Karin Teague)
Weller Curve (photo Kaya Williams/Aspen Times)
Winner Markus DeWire with a time of 40:47 (photo Dina Belmonte)
Heading up Weller Curve (photo Kaya Williams, Aspen Times)
Lissa Ballinger, Dina Belmonte (Ride Coordinator), and Gretchen Bleiler at the top (photo Jamie Hunt)
And they’re off! (photo Karin Teague)
After-Ride raffle & barbecue enjoyed by all (photo Karin Teague)
A snowy Mt. Shimer in the background (photo Kaya Williams/Aspen Times)
Ride Sponsors
Alpine sponsors:
Cooper street capital
Fidel Duke
subalpine sponsors:
Alpine bank
Jacolyn & John Bucksbaum
Lynda & Stewart Resnick
Ute mountaineer
Montane sponsors:
ASpen Times
Busy beavers gardening
Chris Klug Properties
KDNK Community radio
Timberline bank
Forest sponsors:
Alpine valley services
Anonymous
Basalt bike & ski
Best Sign Systems
Chinook charitable foundation
Christie’s international real estate aspen/snowmass
Earth-wise horticultural
Boots ferguson & Carolyn Miller
The Gant
holy cross energy
David Hyman & Barbara Reid
KSPN
LT3 Real estate group/aspen snowmass sotheby’s
obermeyer wood investment counsel
James & hensley peterson
Reese Henry & Co.
Ryan Investments
SGM
Valley Lumber
meadow sponsors:
Aspen skiing company
Aspen Square hotel
David J. Borchers, M.d., Achieve health and Performance
cunningham companies
Debra & Steve Falender
Bill & Joyce gruenberg
gail & phil holstein
Charlie hopton
Carol Ann kopf
renewal by andersen
The Rockwood Charitable Trust
Skratch labs
Sopris sun
Sun Dog Athletics
t-Lazy-7 ranch
ABOUT THE 2022 RIDE FOR THE PASS:
The Ride has two finish lines: The first at Weller Lake turnout, just over two miles from the starting line for families and recreational riders, and the second at the Independence ghost town ten miles from the start. All riders doing the ten mile Independence route are timed and included in the competitive category for their respective age groups; all Weller riders are untimed.
In addition, E-bikes—category 1, pedal assist ONLY—are welcome to ride. They will be in their own, untimed category, starting 15 minutes after the timed riders, and will NOT be eligible for prizes associated with placing.
Winning times to Independence are usually around 40 minutes, with most riders finishing in less than two hours.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR WITH QUESTIONS — PLEASE CONTACT RIDE COORDINATOR, DINA BELMONTE, AT 970-379-1222, OR DINAB@SOPRIS.NET
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
When does the Ride start? 10:00am for the timed ride to the ghost town of Independence; 10:10am for the recreational ride to Weller and e-bikes.
Where is parking available? We encourage riders to start in town (Aspen) on their bikes. Closer to the start, there is parking at the large pullout across from Difficult Campground, parking along Highway 82 pullouts, and very limited parking at the winter closure gate.
What is the Ride route? The start is at the Winter Gate 5 miles east of Aspen on Highway 82. If you enter Aspen from the west and stay on Highway 82, you can’t miss it. There will be two finish lines: The first at Weller Lake turnout, just over two miles from the starting line for families and recreational riders, and the second at the traditional Independence ghost town site ten miles from the start (climbing 2,300 feet and topping out at 10,800’ in elevation).
How do I register and when does registration close? Registration will be on-line, on this website, ONLY. Registration will close at 5pm on Saturday, May 21. There will be no day-of or in-person registration.
Where do I pick up my number plate (with my participant number)? At the Ute Mountaineer on Friday, May 20, between 2pm-5pm, or at the start line on Sunday morning.
When does the race end? The course sweep will start at 12:30 p.m. – we try to have everyone off the course by 1:00 p.m.
Do I have to be timed? The 2-mile ride to Weller is a non-timed event. The 10-mile ride to Independence is a timed event. All e-bikers will be untimed.
Can I ride to the summit? You are welcome to go where you please, although all IPF’s support ends at the finish line at Independence ghost town and when the course is swept at 12:30 p.m.
What do I do with my warm clothes? Please bring your own labeled bag and bring to the appropriate truck uphill of the start line – look for the signs that correspond to your destination (Weller or Independence) – clothes must be delivered by 9:45 a.m. because trucks need to leave for the aid stations by then. Any bags left at the finish will be brought down to the start by 1pm.
Where is the after-Ride party? There will be a barbecue and raffle prize distribution immediately after the Ride at the winter closure gate (the start area), weather-depending. Because participants will be descending and arriving at the winter gate area for the barbecue at different times, there will be no awards ceremony. If we are NOT able to hold the barbecue/raffle distribution for any reason, raffle prize winners will be notified and their prizes will be available at the Ute Mountaineer for pickup.
How much does registration cost? $25 for adults and $10 for kids under 12.
Do Aspen Cycling Club dues pay for Ride registration? No, the two are separate.
Is there an Aspen Cycling Club sign-up spot? Please go to https://aspencyclingclub.org for information on becoming a club member and details on how to have the Ride for the Pass count towards your season points.
Where are the aid stations? There will be aid stations at Weller and the finish. EMTs and a motorcycle will be riding along – watch for orange bibs with STAFF label on riders – and ambulance support will be at Lincoln Creek. There are porto johns at the start and both finishes (Weller and Independence).
When will results be available? Preliminary results will be available within several hours of the Ride finish. Official results will be available within 24 hours, and will be e-mailed to participants and will appear on IPF’s website. Local newspapers should also publish results within five days.
What is the cancellation policy? If the change of date of the event precludes you from participating, we will be happy to offer you a refund or a credit towards a future Ride.
In the event of inclement weather or icy/snowy conditions on Highway 82 on Ride day—Sunday, the 22nd—the Independence Pass Foundation will use its best judgment to determine whether the Ride will be reasonably safe for participants. IPF will will alert participants of cancellation by email, website, and Facebook postings by 5pm the day prior, if at all possible. However, due to the unpredictable nature of our weather and conditions, it may be necessary to cancel the Ride the morning of Ride day. Because IPF is a non-profit organization that assumes almost all Ride-related costs well prior to Ride day, there will be no refunds in the event of a last-minute weather-related cancellation.
RULES OF THE ROAD:
— Wear a helmet.
— Watch for water, ice and other hazards –some but not all rough spots and water are marked by signs or cones
— Number plates must be visible on the front of your bike.
— If you have any problems, please pull off the road.
— Stay in line at the finish line if you want to be timed.
— Obey the yellow line – watch out for two-way traffic as some riders will be descending as others are still ascending.
— Watch out for the motorcycle rider who will be sweeping the course from time to time.
— Pass on the left – pull over to the right for faster traffic.
— Watch out for uphill traffic and pedestrians during your descent – control your speed.
