Steamboat Pilot & Today

'Bike to Work Breakfast'

Steamboat Springs — The collared shirt and bike helmet duo has never been as prevalent as it was during Bike to Work Week in Routt County, held in coordination with Colorado's Bike to Work Day on Wednesday.

To reward Steamboat for its efforts to ride to work each day, Routt County Riders cycling club, with KBCR and the city of Steamboat Springs, sponsored a breakfast for participants Wednesday morning in front of the courthouse.

From 7 to 9 a.m., Steamboat's bike enthusiasts stopped for bagels, fruit and plenty of coffee on their way to work. As of Wednesday, Routt County Riders was satisfied with Steamboat's participation in Bike to Work Week.

"It helps that the weather has been absolutely gorgeous," event coordinator and Routt County Riders member Lisa Shafer said. "Who wouldn't want to spend a little more time outdoors?"

Looking around the breakfast crowd at seven in the morning, Shafer was impressed with the turnout.

"I see a lot of unfamiliar faces, outside of the RCR," Shafer said.

Nationally, Bike to Work Month is in May, but due to Colorado's infamous mud season, lawmakers changed the date statewide to June in 2003. Promoting cycling to work is one of the Routt County Riders' efforts to make Steamboat a more cycling-friendly community.

"It's the notion of saving gas and helping the environment," Shafer said, "but also about doing something active everyday that we love."

Throughout the week, Routt County Riders sponsored group road and mountain biking events, as well as participating in the Town Challenge race Wednesday evening. Ending Bike to Work Week is the Cruiser Rally tomorrow at 9 a.m.

"It's our first year doing this, so we're not sure what to expect," Shafer said.

Judging from the line of cruiser, road and mountain bikes lining Lincoln Wednesday morning, the week was a hit.

- Erin Gleason