Home

Steamboat Springs — Indiana residents Mary Lipe and David Farnum needed a break.

"Mostly from the corn and soy," Lipe said. "And the humidity."

So along with more than 2,000 other riders representing 47 states and four countries, Lipe and Farnum prepared for the 2007 Bicycle Tour of Colorado.

The Tour left Steamboat Sunday morning and made its way over Rabbit Ears Pass, 57 miles to Walden and then over Willow Creek Pass and into Granby.

Riders also make stops in Winter Park, Copper Mountain, Leadville and Kremmling before returning to Steamboat on June 30.

In all, the Tour will climb eight Colorado mountain passes and cover more than 400 miles.

For Lipe and Farnum, the Tour offers them a chance to get away and do some riding that doesn't involve the flatlands.

"We like the scenery and all the climbing," said Farnum, who along with Lipe has done several other bike tours in Colorado including Ride the Rockies and Pedal the Peaks. "This tour's a great experience."

Along with the seven-day trip, riders will have a rest day in Copper Mountain where they will be able to take part in the "Sports Expo 2007."

On their rest day, however, Lipe and Farnum plan to do something else.

"We're especially excited to climb a 14,000-foot peak," Farnum said.

Although most riders left the high school before 8 a.m. Sunday, Lipe, Farnum and a handful of other riders were still preparing to make the trip.

Farnum said bike tours aren't a race, so she treats the ride as something more enjoyable.

"This is our vacation," said Farnum, who trains by doing 100-mile day rides back in Indiana. "We're the last ones out of camp because basically, this is our summer vacation.

"We love the scenery, the mountains, the air and the people. We love being in these mountain towns."

Local riders participating in the Tour include Chris Diamond, Steve Southworth, Carol Milligan, George Krawzoff, Jack Dysart, Bob Weiss and Bill Stuart.

- To reach Luke Graham, call 871-4229

or e-mail lgraham@steamboatpilot.com