Author: Doug McNamee

During the summer and early fall months, several cycling events are held for event riders, cycling enthusiasts, serious amateurs, and pro-amateurs across the United States. There’s definitely no shortage of rides to choose from. But if you want to participate in an event that is truly unique instead of riding flat farm roads with the occasional hard climb, then the Tour of The Moon might be for you.

Background about Tour of The Moon

Sponsored by The Ride Collective, an organization that offers cycling events in Colorado and New Mexico, the Tour of the Moon is an organized cycling event that touches roads that cross through the Colorado National Monument, which is located in Grand Junction, Colorado.

The bicycle tour was called the Coors Classic in the 1980s, and the area is known for being the place where the cycling movie American Flyers was filmed. The Tour of the Moon is held annually in September and can have up to 2,200 participants. This year the ride date is September 14th. The event welcomes any level of cyclist and is not a race.

Cost for Entering the Tour of the Moon

The cost for the event is $155, which includes a jersey. Or you can pay $135 and receive a tee shirt. Registration is open the day of the ride which starts at 7:30 am. However, you should keep in mind that pricing increases to $185 with the jersey and and$165 for the tee shirt.

In addition to the jersey and the chance to do this ride, the Ride Collective offers these additional amenities:

1. Entry into the Colorado National Monument

2. Bike plate & bib

3. Amply stocked aid stations with healthy and energizing refreshments

4. Post-ride celebration to include lunch, beer garden, expo and entertainment

5. A chance to win valuable prizes

Course and Safety Precautions

This event has a 41 mile loop style ride and a 64 mile metric century ride. If you’re unfamiliar with a metric century, it is “used inside the United States and United Kingdom to indicate that 100 kilometers (62.13 miles) is being ridden.”

The ride passes through three tunnels, so riders need to have front-facing and rear-facing lights on their bikes or on their person. The Ride Collective staff will enforce this rule, so if you don’t have them you won’t be able to do the ride. Same goes for displaying your bib and official ride plate.

Lastly, the organizers point out that the Tour of The Moon is held on open roads. That means no roads will be closed for the event and, most likely, no police presence, so caution should be used while riding and on steep descents.

Last Thoughts

If you’re looking for an event outside the ordinary with scenic vistas that illicit that feeling of being in a distant landscape, then the Tour of the Moon could be for you. I know I’ve wanted to do this ride for a long time, maybe this will be the year. I hope to see you there!