Moonlight Classic

I don’t consider cycling a religion, but it does carry with it its own holidays – New Year’s resolution, Spring training, Elephant Rock…  One of the more fun and unique “holidays” is the Moonlight Classic.  The MC is held each year around mid July or August and starts around 10:30 pm.  I think the first one I ever rode was in 1997.  For this year’s edition, they managed to arrange for a closed course – not auto traffic.

The route is pretty short, ten miles starting and ending in front of the state capitol.  This year, we let Jessica ride it on her own.   A choice I was questioning when we were lined up at the start with several thousand other cyclist.  I needn’t have worried, she did fine.  Becca got to ride on a trail-a-bike hitched to Marcie’s bike.

The beginning of the route turns up 17th st., past a number of bars.  I imagine it is kind of like the Tour de France - alcoholically uninhibited people on both sides of the road cheering you on.  Except of course in the Tour the riders in the peleton don’t generally head for the side walk to join the crowd for a drink.

After 17th st., we turned south up a gradual incline.  Jessica struggled some, but made it to the top by the botanic gardens without stopping.  She got lots of encouragement.  There were actually quite a few people along the way, people on the side of the road, and other riders encouraging her along. 

We peddled into the first rest stop at Cherry Creek and had the usual rest stop fare – power bars, oranges, water – they even had Oreos.

After the rest stop, we headed up Speer.   We were near where the course crossed Lincoln.  A car is coming down Lincoln.  He has the green light, but there is a cop in the intersection stopping traffic to let riders through.  This guy is so intent on these cyclists “in his way” all he can do is honk.  He wasn’t even trying to slow down.  He had to slam on his brakes and skid to a stop when the cop walked out in front of him.  He almost hit the cop.  The cop really didn’t do anything.  I was kind of surprised.

We turned off Speer, and then turned down 17th Street through the heart of downtown.  We had to circle the park in front of the capitol to go under the ‘Finish’ banner.   I saw a smile come over her face as she crossed the line.  I couldn’t tell if that was a smile of accomplishment, or a smile of relief that the ordeal was over.

We had breakfast, a so so breakfast burrito and headed back to the van.  1:30 am.  The girls were asleep soon afterward.