Iron Horse Bicycle Classic
Dates: May 24th - 26th 2024
One day in 1971, Tom challenged his older brother to a race to Silverton. Steam engine versus bicycle. They wagered a candy bar on the results.
When Jim pulled into the Silverton station, there was Tom, waiting for him. He'd beaten the train, despite having a longer road and having to climb two mountain passes. He won his candy bar, alright, and he had no idea that he had just started a famous race that would draw thousands of riders to southwest Colorado.
Tom decided the best way to get others to try his favorite ride was to start a race. So in 1972, a group of 36 riders celebrated the train's first run of the spring by accepting his challenge. Five of them managed to beat the train to Silverton, and it's been all uphill since then.
For the last half-century, the Iron Horse has become one of the premier bicycle events in the West. Durango is centrally located between Denver, Albuquerque, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City.
Now, riders travel to the Iron Horse from every state and several foreign countries. Each year, thousands of riders experience the thrill of descending into Silverton with hopes of beating the train. Whatever the results, simply finishing this classic ride is an accomplishment that keeps people coming back year after year to one of the best rides around.
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