New time for the Starlight Spectacular bike ride this year
Event is Saturday, June 9
One of the region's most popular cycling events (especially among insomniacs and caffeine junkies) is starting a bit earlier this year.
In its 18th year, the Starlight Spectacular draws up to 1,500 people who take a nighttime ride through Garden of the Gods and the west side before enjoying a pancake snack. It benefits the Trails and Open Space Coalition.
To make it more user-friendly and reverse some drop-in rider numbers, the ride was moved forward 90 minutes, with a 10:30 p.m. start.
You can sign up anytime before the ride and join either the 14-mile or 21-mile ride. The ride starts and ends at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center.
Check back early Sunday for photos from the event!
Pre-ride festivities including live music, free pizza and prize giveaways, beginning at 8:30 p.m.
The free Whole Foods breakfast with pancakes and eggs begins at midnight.
Click here for more on the event.
From the Trails and Open Space Coalition:
Leaving from the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center, cyclists will have the option of riding 14 or 21 miles. Riders are encouraged to add a loop through Garden of the Gods to take in the giant, geological wonders like they aren’t normally seen, just one more element that makes the Starlight ride spectacular!
Riders will travel through the west side of Colorado Springs and Old Colorado City, with two rest stations along the way. Once again REI will host one rest station and Colorado Springs Cycling Club will host the other at Bancroft Park wearing costumes and offering tasty, nutritional snacks.
What’s new this year?
New time at 10:30. Our cyclists love the novelty of seeing some of Colorado Springs’ best attractions by moon and starlight but not all are night owls and the previous midnight start time made for some Sunday fatigue in the past. This year they’ll be able to ride, have breakfast and be in bed before 2 a.m.
Pancakes are back! While cyclists enjoyed last years’ breakfast burritos provided by Whole Foods, pancakes are popular among pedalers. So Whole Foods is expanding the menu and pancakes will be hot and ready for finishing cyclists.
