To those who race bikes, Six Day Races are exactly what they sound like: races that last six days on a bike without a break.
And, yet, a group of riders and racing promoters in Fort Collins have taken that title and given it a new twist: Six Days of racing on six Sundays in a row, through May and into June, on the .4 of a mile CSU Oval in the middle of campus.
And what racing it is!
Slideshow: Photos of June 2's races
There are numerous categories, involving every possible age group, bicycle type, skill level and gender.
There are races for licensed, adult riders on track bikes and road bikes, as you might imagine.
But, then, there are races for kids, ages 7-12 and 13-17 on bikes that range from cut down road bikes to BMX bikes, pink pastel first bikes to tricked out speedsters.
Or, anyone, of any age, on a cruiser bike gets their own category and races as well. One guy, in fact, raced a classic Stingray style bike with a banana seat. He took a magnificent face plant in the last ride of the day. He was okay.
The race styles change as well, from one lap Chariot races, to multi lap points races (with $$ prizes) to 3 lap "Win and Out" races. The packs of racers are big, the sprints are very fast, and the entire program moves very quickly. And that's because the program is so well planned and laid out. There is never a break in the action. The crowds on hand, and they were considerable, were never at a loss for something to watch. (Including a track stand competition, where riders balanced on their bikes, without pedaling, for two minutes and 45 seconds, first with two hands on the handlebars, then one, then none. Winner carried off a Chipotle burrito. I fear I would have carried off a broken arm.)
It was a great way to spend a beautiful Sunday afternoon. And I can't wait to go back again.
There are two more Sundays of racing left this season, June 8 and June 15 (Rain Date: June 22). Admission to watch is free. There is a $10 entry fee to race.
For more information on watching, racing, check out the website for the Fort Collins Velodrome Association: fcvelodrome.org
(My thanks to Christy Barry for his marvelous pictures of the day in Ft. Collins. See the complete cbs4denver.com slideshow.)
