Most adventurers headed westbound on I-70 through Colorado’s mountains know Gypsum as the last chance to fill up before Glenwood Canyon. Jake and Linda Wells want folks to get to know Gypsum — the often-overlooked mountain town itself, as well as the trails and terrain that surround it. The annual Bighorn Gravel race, and the new Bighorn Road ride, are just the opportunity to do so.
Now in its fifth year, Bighorn Gravel has established itself as one of the most distinctive — and toughest — gravel events in the state. With an 85, 50 and 20-mile option, the ride offers something for everyone, including those just testing the waters of adventure cycling on e-bikes.
Photos courtesy of Jake Wells
“It’s considered a gravel race, but ‘gravel’ is definitely in air-quotes,” explains Jake Wells, Bighorn Events co-founder and U.S cyclocross national champion. “Our roads are definitely more steep and rugged than other gravel rides. Some people will be more comfortable on a mountain bike.”
Wells co-founded the event with fellow cyclist Mike Brumbaugh, “to showcase our backyard and some of the amazing riding we have here.” It also serves as a supported opportunity for participants to adventure where they might not otherwise and push themselves out of their comfort zone.
Bighorn Gravel
JUNE 20
Ramshorn Escape: 85 miles, 10K vertical
Little Bighorn: 50 miles, 5.7K vertical
Gravel Curious (e-bike friendly): 20 miles, 2K vertical
Bighorn Road
SEPTEMBER 12
Stone Sheep: 80 miles, 5K vertical
Dall Sheep (e-bike friendly): 31 miles, 1.6K vertical
Unlike Bighorn Gravel, which (the 20-mile option, aside) is a race, Bighorn Road, new last year, is an organized ride (with some timed segments included for those who crave competition) designed to resurrect the iconic route that was formerly part of the 100-mile Colorado-Eagle River Ride.
The two events offer local and visiting cyclists a chance to discover new trails and terrain with safety and medical support along the way, contribute to the Gypsum economy and find moments of personal transformation.
“The stories that have come out of these events are so impressive,” Wells says, recounting one participant who completed his first Gravel Curious ride on an e-bike — the beginning of a metamorphosis that would see him lose more than 100 pounds. “We just wanted to put together a cool event that showcased where we live. I never said ‘We’re going to put together an event that changes people’s lives,’ but that’s the beauty of endurance sports.”
