Royal Gorge Groove
Sunday, April 21, 2024
36 Mile | 18 Mile | 12 Mile
36 Mile Duo
Mountain Bike Races
Royal Gorge Ranch & Resort
Cañon City, CO

2024 Live Results

Come join us at Royal Gorge Park in Cañon City and play on the rolling climbs and descents through the park as you take in the views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Arkansas River! These trails offer plenty of rocks to play on mixed with flowy single track to make it a speedy day taking on either one or two loops. Grab a friend and make it a relay!

All rides will start and finish at the Royal Gorge Ranch & Resort.

2024 LIVE RESULTS
2023 PHOTOS

RACE SUMMARY

Location
Royal Gorge Ranch & Resort
1 Buckskin Joe, Parkway, Cañon City, CO 81212

Start Times
8:00 AM - 36 Mile Solo & 36 Mile Duo Start
9:00 AM - 18 Mile Start
9:15 AM - 12 Mile Start

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REGISTRATION

Entry Fees*

Adult (18+) Until 2/22 Until 3/22 Until 4/16 Race Week
36 Mile Solo $70 $80 $90 $105
18 Mile Solo $55 $65 $75 $90
12 Mile Solo $50 $60 $70 $85
36 Mile Duo $100 $120 $140 $170

Registration Options
Online via BikeReg

Entrant Limit
400 Riders Total

Friday/Saturday Bib Pickup
Friday, April 19, 2024
4:00-7:00 PM
Whitewater Bar & Grill
45045 US-50, Cañon City, CO 81212

Saturday, April 20, 2024
6:00-9:30 AM
Gunslingers @ Royal Gorge Ranch & Resort

Race Morning Bib Pickup
Sunday, April 21
7:00- 9:15 AM
Gunslingers @ Royal Gorge Ranch & Resort

Online registration closes on 4/15 at 11:59pm MT. Registration will be available after online registration closes at all packet pickup locations and race day as long as we have not reached our capacity.   To receive race day swag, you must be registered by 3/20.    

COURSE INFO

Course Summary

Prepare for some fun in Cañon City! Enjoy scenic views along the rim of the Royal Gorge, 900 feet above the Arkansas River.

The looped course will follow an 18 mile loop with 2400 feet of climbing per loop. This is the fast-paced spring race you’re looking for to get back into racing mode for your summer schedule. With some technical sections, this course is perfect for the intermediate and advanced rider looking to push themselves and cover some distance with speed. The Royal Gorge trails are perfect for pushing the pace riding through the techy spots and rocky climbs before hitting some great flowy downhill.

We've also added a 12 mile category with the same start and epic finish across Point Alta Vista.

18 Course Map
A 18 mile loop through Royal Gorge Park. 36 mile riders ride 2 loops; 18 mile riders ride 1 loop. All loops are ridden in a clockwise direction on the course.

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12 Course Map
A 12 mile loop through Royal Gorge Park. Loop is ridden in a clockwise direction on the course.

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Aid Station Chart

We will have water & food stops along the way at the following distances:

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AWARDS

Finisher Medal
All participants will receive a custom wood race medal featuring the Royal Gorge Groove logo.

Podium Awards
The top three male & female riders in each race event will receive a custom podium award. Top 3 relay teams will receive podium medals. Awards for each race will take place approximately 15 minutes after the race final cutoff.

Age Group Awards
As our races grow we hope to offer more age group awards, but for now we only offer podium awards.

RACE VILLAGE

Feed Tent
We are proud to offer a fully stocked drink and feed tent directly on course at our start/finish race village that is easily accessible each lap of the course. We'll be ready to serve you water, ice, electrolyte drinks, soda, salty and sweet snacks, fruit, pb&j, bean rollups and more.

Event Partners
We will feature activation areas for event partners and sponsors on site. Our partners will be an integral part of our race village at the start/finish line for the duration of the evening. If you are interested in becoming a partner for an event or the entire series, please contact us.

Medical

We will have EMTs based at the start/finish headquarters. This team is here to assist with basic and advanced first aid right on site. We reserve the right to pull you from the race if medical officials deem it necessary. Please understand that these decisions are made for your safety. Continuing on in a state where you cannot safely navigate is a recipe for disaster and we are here to prevent that.

Should something happen while you are out on the course, we will provide a phone number to call for immediate assistance.

DETAILED INFORMATION

Volunteer Sign-Up!

Race Day Schedule
Please arrive early to park, check in and spin out prior to your ride. Restroom facilities are located at the start/finish area.

Approximate start times*: 
7:00 AM – Bib pickup / race day registration begin
8:00 AM - 36 Mile Start; 36 Mile Relay Start
9:00 AM - 18 Mile Start
9:15 AM - 12 Mile Start

*start times will vary based on categories & race entrants- final start times will be emailed in pre-race briefing

Location
Royal Gorge Ranch & Resort
1 Buckskin Joe, Parkway, Cañon City, CO 81212

Parking
Please arrive early to ensure a smooth parking process. We will provide parking in the campground day use area.

Weather
Expect unpredictable weather for this April event. It might be a touch cool at the start, but will likely warm up as the sun continues to rises. Snow is sometimes possible in the spring. If weather is not suitable, this race will be postponed to later in the summer.

Categories
Should the entrant list be big enough we will divide start times by category. Awards will still be given by overall distance category, but we will utilize wave starts based on your self selection. Please designate your desired category during the registration process.

Timing
All races will be professionally chip timed with a disposable timing chip attached to you bike bib. Please attach to the front of your handlebars. Live results will be available during the event at Aravaipa Live

Course Marking
The race courses will be well marked with orange plastic ribbons with black polka dots and reflective medallions. Trail junctions and turns will be well marked with reflective laminated signs. In addition, blue & white checkerboard plastic flagging and RED reflective WRONG WAY signs will be hung to designate non-race or “WRONG WAY” trails. All riders are responsible for understanding the layout of the course. Please familiarize yourself with the course maps on our website prior to race day and/or print a map to bring along with you.

Aid Stations
In addition to a fully stocked drink and feed station at the start/finish line at the Main Staging Area, there will be some on course water and electrolytes at Canyon Rim Aid located at approximately mile 6.8. Our main aid station will be stocked with water, ice, electrolyte drinks, salty and sweet snacks, fruit, pb&j, bean rollups and more.

If you have any dietary concerns, please email our aid station manager Pati at pati@aravaiparunning.com.

Cutoffs
All 36 Mile Solo & Duo teams must start their 2nd lap by 11:30am.

Relay Teams
Relay teams are comprised of two riders on a single team who complete laps one at a time for their team. Switching between riders may be done only in the designated transition zone.

Drop Bags
We will have an area specified for your personal drop bag at the start/finish area that will allow for easy and quick access. Feel free to setup your own coolers and chairs in designated areas.

Lodging
Lodging options for Royal Gorge Groove Runs and Rides are now available on a first come first serve basis through Royal Gorge Vacation Rentals.

Royal Gorge Vacation Rentals, located just up the road from the Start Finish line has Yurt and Airstream rentals, right on the Arkansas River, that are specifically reserved for Royal Gorge Groove Runners and Riders. The rate for the yurts will be $199 a night for participants, while the rate for the airstreams will be $299 a night and the vintage airstream will be $249 a night.

To secure one of thee lodging options, call the Royal Gorge Vacation Rental's office (719-275-7238) and check on availability. There are currently all closed off on the Royal Gorge Vacation Rentals website, so they will show unavailable online.

Camping

Camping options will also available at Royal Gorge Park (where our finish line was last year) a six minute drive towards the course from our new staging area. Reservations open online April 1st on a first come first serve basis for the East Ridge Campground. Camping fees are $20.00 per night here: East Ridge Campgound

These campgrounds will not be reserved specifically for the race this year, so if you plan on camping, make sure to set yourself a reminder to secure one on April 1st when the sites open for reservations.

Mountain Biking and Trash
Please respect the trails and the beauty of the desert by disposing of any trash at one of our aid stations. We do recycle and participate in the Terracycle program where we recycle used nutrition packets and gel wrappers. Please deposit them in the specified container at the feed station.

Trail Etiquette
Remember to always remain on designed trails, no short cutting.
Helmets required.
No headphones allowed.
No ebikes allowed.

This course includes some legit single track. If you are fast and attempting to pass, please alert the rider in front of you before flying past them. Likewise, if you hear a rider approaching you from behind, attempt to find a spot to allow the pass.

As a general rule, when passing a rider, announce, “on your left.” Remain in control and respect the other participants.
Everyone is after the same goal here so let’s be respectful of each other’s races and have fun.

Pets
For the safety of all riders, no pets are allowed on-course at the race. Any pets at the race must be on a leash at all times, respect park rules, and be supervised.

Volunteers
If you would like to join our volunteer team, we are looking for help with event setup, aid station, and event breakdown. Volunteer perks include a piece of Aravaipa merchandise or race goody and Aravaipa Race Credits. Volunteer Credits must be used via Ultra Signup, BikeReg or mail-in registration and are not able to be credited for any registrations done at packet pick-up or race-day. For using credits via BikeReg please contact the race director directly.

Signup to Volunteer here!

Royal Gorge Groove Weekend

Enjoy trail running  just as much as mountain biking or looking to try something new? Join us for the Royal Gorge Groove Trail Runs the day before your ride. 50K, 30K, 20K, 12.5K & 5K options! Experience the trails before zipping by at a faster pace the next day!

Participate in both the ride and run in the same weekend and earn a unique award, Plus a 15% discount on both events! Email noah@aravaiparunning.com for a discount code.

Check out the Aravaipa Running website for more information about these events and our registration links.

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RESULTS

Results
2023 Live Results
2022

PHOTOGRAPHY

Event Photos
2022