Durango, Colorado, is considered by many people to be a mecca for bicyclists.
After all, there are more than 2,000 miles of bike trails and hundreds of miles of road for biking in Durango and La Plata County, according to Durango. Of that, there are 40 mountain biking trails, totaling nearly 300 miles, winding through the high desert and above the tree line in the mountains.
Then again, Durango is also home to the three-day cycling festival known as the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. The main event is a 50-year-old race in which thousands of participants from around the world bike 47 miles — including climbing two 10,000-foot mountain passes — from Durango to Silverton, Colorado.
What makes the race even more interesting is that the cyclists attempt to make the trek faster than a train also traveling from Durango to Silverton.
Now, to celebrate “Durango’s tight-knit and passionate cycling community, highlighting the decades of dedication and sweat equity its residents have committed to make Durango one of the top cycling destinations in the nation.” Visit Durango, a nonprofit organization that promotes Durango and La Plata County, has announced an event called Spoketober Durango will take place throughout Durango and La Plata County for the entire month of October 2022. This is the inaugural year for the event.
“Spoketober aims to bring together all aspects of Durango’s multi-faceted cycling community,” Rachel Brown, executive director of Visit Durango, said in a statement. “We hope to create a fun month of programming for locals and visitors alike, all amid a time when Durango and La Plata County is flourishing with incredible fall colors.”
To do that, Spoketober will feature a variety of inclusive cycling-centric events oriented for all cycling skill levels as well as disciplines. The events are organized by local organizations, cycling teams, and retailers.
Spoketober Durango Events
Spoketober events will begin on Monday, October 3, at 5 p.m. and end on Monday, October 31. In between, there will be all types of rides, events, sweepstakes, and giveaways.
Here’s a look at key events:
- Durango Cycling Legends Meet And Greet: October 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- “Share The Love Cycle” Bicycle Recycle And Upcycle Event Benefiting The Navajo Nation: October 7, 8, and 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Group Ride From Fort Lewis College To Buckley Park: October 9. Meet up at noon and depart at 1 p.m.
- Durango En Masse: Cycle Commuting Empowerment Group Ride: October 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Durango Devo Kid’s Halloween Parade: October 27 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Bicycle Karaoke At 8th Ave. Tavern: October 28 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
- Homegrown Adventures Film Fest: October 31 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
You can find the full schedule of events and more details here.
Durango Spoketober Sweepstakes
Whether you can attend Spoketober or not, Visit Durango also wants you to know about the Spoketober Sweepstakes, which runs through October 30. The winner will receive a Durango cycling adventure vacation package with an estimated value of $7,000. It includes a 3-night hotel stay, a 3-day guided tour of Durango’s world-class singletrack, and, of course, a bike-shopping trip.
You can find all the details including how to enter the sweepstakes here.
