News Tidbits and a Return to Blogging
It’s been quiet around here lately. Unfortunately when things get busy in my professional or personal lives blogging is the first thing to give way, but expect the postings to start back up around here. A lot happened in the past couple of weeks and a lot is coming up in the next few weeks.
- The Single Speed World Championships happened in Durango on Saturday, September 19th. Parties and other events took place both before and after. I was around for some of it, but missed the race. From everything I’ve heard it was a blast for everyone involved. This Durango Herald blog post mention’s woman’s winner Heather Irmiger riding a fixed gear, but I can’t imagine that’s right, anyone know for sure? Read about it at The Durango Herald, Denver Post, Mountain Flyer, or Cycling News.
- Ska Brewing Co. released not one but two new beers in the last week. Euphoria Pale Ale (now in cans!) came out last Friday the 18th with a party at Ska in collaboration with Silverton’s Venture Snowboards (check out picture’s on Venture’s blog) and this past Tuesday the 22nd, Ska released Hoperation Ivy, their wet/fresh hopped beer.
- Race Across the Sky, a documentary about the Leadville 100 will premiere in Durango on October 20th at the FLC Comunity Concert Hall. In attendance will be Ken Chlouber, founder and president of the Leadville 100 as well as some of the stars of the documentary/racers, Dave Wiens, Travis Brown (Durango local and former Olympian), Matt Shriver (Durango local and FLC Cycling coach) and Lance Armstrong, because of that last guest the premiere sold out in thirteen minutes according to The Durango Herald. The premiere is a fundraiser for Trails 2000 and FLC Cycling.
- Pagosa Brewing Co. today taps their wet/fresh hopped beer, Hop n’ Fresh. Like Ska Brewing’s Hoperation Ivy it was brewed with fresh hops from the San Juan Hop Farm near Montrose, CO.
- Carver Brewing Co. brewed up two new seasonal brews for the fall, Main Ave. Mild an easy drinking ESB is on tap now, I got to sample it last week and it’s good, won’t knock your socks off in alcohol content or over the top flavor, but it’s a nice beer when you want to have a few. They’ve also brewed up Harvest Festbier, their traditional Oktoberfest-style amber lager in preparation for this weekend’s Oktoberfest (more on that below), it wasn’t on tap when I stopped by Carver’s last week, so I expect it’ll be unveiled this weekend.
- The Durango Fall Blaze bike tour is happening this Saturday, September 26th. 37, 60 and 100 mile options are available. The tour is a fundraiser for FLC Cycling.
- Also happening this weekend is the Sixth Annual San Juan Citizens Alliance Oktoberfest. It will be on Second Ave between 7th and 9th Streets during the day on Saturday and Sunday with a pub crawl Saturday night. There’s a ton of music, beer and food with the daytime events free to get into (you still gotta pay for beer and food, but it’s for a good cause) and the pub crawl is $10, which gets you into Carver’s Steamworks, The Summit and the Abbey for great live music. There will be beer from all four Durango breweries on tap at the event.
- The 7th Annual Ned Overend & Bouré Bike Fweest is coming up next week, September 27th – October 3rd, 2009. Click the link above to see the full schedule. They’ve got some sweet rides lined up. I’m not sure if there is a fee to participate or if one can just show up and ride, if anyone knows leave a comment below.
- Word on the street is there’s a new bike shop in town. I haven’t been there personally but I’ve been told Papa Wheelies is open at 1077 Main Ave in Durango. They have both new and vintage bikes for sale, including fixed gears (yes the fixed gear trend has come to Durango, to paraphrase Russell on Cycle Squawk last week: they’re the guys on single speeds with skinny tires and girl jeans — full disclosure, I sometimes ride a fixed gear while wearing girl jeans) There’s also a new weekly ride in town, Loops, which starts in front of the shop, Tuesdays at 6pm.
