Iron Horse Bicycle Classic board welcomes community ideas, discussion

Durango, CO – Iron Horse Bicycle Classic (IHBC) staff and board members are soliciting input from race participants, local officials, and residents and business owners in the Durango and Silverton communities in order to maximize the enjoyment and participation in the 42-year-old Memorial Day weekend event.

Recently, a community working group tasked with envisioning IHBC’s future established a series of goals to improve the race experience for spectators and participants alike; improve business and commerce in participating communities; and reduces the event’s impact on local infrastructure.

The goals include expanding and re-inventing events held on Sunday and Monday as well as looking for ways to expand and improve the popular Saturday race from Durango to Silverton.

“Although we routinely sell out our flagship (Saturday) race in a matter of days, there is always room for improvement, and revisiting our vision and mission from time to time keeps us looking forward,” said IHBC board chairman Ed Zink. “We’re not just limiting our vision to the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic – we’re looking for ways to work with other organizations within the cycling community to ensure Southwest Colorado’s reputation for world-class cycling remains intact,” he said.

Members of the IHBC working group believe now is a perfect time to examine the event and plan for the future because the organization is currently searching for a new director and support staff for next year’s activities.

“The administrative team of Gaige Sippy and Anne Cheeney has raised the standard of excellence for this event in recent years, and they will be sorely missed. In looking forward, we felt that this was the perfect time to revisit our goals while we search for a new director. We anticipate that person will have a lot of influence on how future events are created and managed,” said IHBC board vice chairman Chris Vivolo.

The three-day event, to be held May 24-26, 2014, will mark the 43th anniversary of Colorado’s largest, oldest and most renowned cycling event. Nationwide, the IHBC is the third oldest and continually run road race.

Last year 4000 cyclists from 44 states, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and Germany traveled to Durango for the festivities. This year the road race and tour to Silverton (which has a cap of 2500 riders) sold out in just a few days with some race categories selling out within hours. Registration will open on December 1st, 2013.

The working group’s goals and objectives can be viewed at:
www.ironhorsebicycleclassic.com.

Readers are encouraged to send comments and suggestions to: 
[email protected].

A job description for the position of Director is posted on the IHBC website as well; resumes may be sent to
[email protected].