In 1986, The Denver Post created the premier Ride The Rockies (RTR) Colorado Bicycle Tour. Over 1,500 riders came from around the country to participate in the six day, cross-state tour. The Tour was an immediate success, and The Post has produced the ride every June since. Participants each year represent all fifty states and several foreign countries.

In 1987, the registration limit was raised to 2,000 cyclists, and in 1989 a lottery registration system was implemented to keep pace with the event’s ever increasing popularity.

In 2011, The Denver Post Community Foundation was established as a separate 501(c)(3) organization and serves to broaden the reach of the Posts’ philanthropic giving. At that time, Ride The Rockies became a Signature Event of The Denver Post Community Foundation and helps support nonprofit agencies that work to improve the lives of Coloradans in the towns hosting Ride The Rockies.

Because Ride The Rockies chooses different routes every year, the outreach and ability to support many nonprofits throughout Colorado is grand. To date, Tour routes have traveled through the following communities: Alamosa, Aspen, Avon, Boulder, Breckenridge, Buena Vista, Cañon City, Carbondale, Castle Rock, Chama, Colorado Springs, Copper Mountain, Cortez, Craig, Crested Butte, Delta, Denver, Durango, Edwards, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Frisco, Georgetown, Glenwood Springs, Grand Lake, Golden, Granby, Grand Junction, Greeley, Gunnison, Hotchkiss, Idaho Springs, Leadville, Manitou Springs, Montrose, Ouray, Pagosa Springs, Ridgway, Rifle, Salida, Silverton, Steamboat Springs, Telluride, Trinidad, Vail, Walsenburg, Westcliffe and Winter Park.

The Ride The Rockies, Denver Post Community Foundation Grant Program allows RTR to provide a $5,000 grant to a deserving nonprofit in each Ride The Rockies host community. The Grant Program funds nonprofit organizations that provide services for low-income children and youth through community programs that support recreation and/ or youth education.

Since the program began in 2001, over $585,000 has been granted to towns throughout the state. Today, The Denver Post and The Denver Post Community Foundation remain dedicated and continue to serve communities throughout Colorado with Signature Events such as Ride The Rockies and its sister bike tour, Pedal The Plains. By continuing its rich legacy of giving, and through the support of many, these programs are able to improve and enrich the lives of so many in need in our community.

Brand new this year to Ride The Rockies 2019, is the Two Wheels For Change Campaign brought to you by the Denver Post Community Foundation. The Two Wheels For Change Campaign will benefit the Denver Post Community Foundation and a diverse mix of charitable organizations (see below) that provide cycling stewardship to those in need. We believe at Ride The Rockies that it is our responsibility as fellow cyclists to do our part in making cycling accessible to everyone, no matter what their life circumstances are. Change someone’s life in need with the gift of cycling.

·         Adaptive Sports Center 

·         Bicycle Colorado

·         Davis Phinney Foundation

·         Denver Post Community Foundation

·         Wish For Wheels

·         World Bicycle Relief

Brand new this year to Ride The Rockies 2019, is the Two Wheels For Change Campaign brought to you by the Denver Post Community Foundation (DPCF). The Two Wheels For Change Campaign will benefit the DPCF and a diverse mix of charitable organizations (see below) that provide cycling stewardship to those in need. We believe at Ride The Rockies that it is our responsibility as fellow cyclists to do our part in making cycling accessible to everyone, no matter what their life circumstances are. Change someone’s life in need with the gift of cycling.

Moneys raised through this campaign will be distributed to the following non-profit agencies that benefit the cycling community through the Denver Post Community Foundation.

• Adaptive Sports Center: The mission of the Adaptive Sports Center (ASC) is to enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities through exceptional outdoor adventure activities. The successful programs the ASC provides are inclusive to families and friends, empower our participants in their daily lives, and have a positive enduring effect on self-efficacy, health, independence and overall well-being. The Adaptive Sports Center is a therapeutic based recreation program that operates year-round, with adaptive activities ranging from mountain biking and skiing to ice climbing and kayaking. Over 6,000 activities are provided annually to nearly 800 individuals who come to Crested Butte from all over the U.S. and overseas each year. With the support of Ride the Rockies and contributions from generous ASC donors, the Adaptive Sports Center has participated in Ride the Rockies each year since 2000.  Starting with a small group of riders 19 years ago, the ASC now provides support for about 15 cyclists with disabilities during each year’s tour.  

• Bicycle Colorado: Bicycle Colorado is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Denver. Our mission is to lead a passionate and growing movement that champions the interests of everyone who rides or wants to ride a bicycle in our state. For more than 25 years, we’ve used advocacy, education and passion to make Colorado one of the most bicycle-friendly states in the nation. We encourage and promote bicycling, increase safety, improve conditions and provide a voice for people who ride bicycles in Colorado. With the support of our members and numerous partnerships across the public and private sector, we’ve made significant strides in improving bicycling since 1992.

• Davis Phinney Foundation: As an Olympic Bronze medalist and Tour de France stage winner, Davis Phinney has celebrated the most victories of any cyclist in American history. From the late 1970′s until his retirement from professional cycling in 1993, Davis achieved more wins – 328 victories in all – than any other US Cyclist. In 2000, after years of feeling not quite right, and an almost endless round of tests, Davis was diagnosed with Young-onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD). Finally, the years of battling constant fatigue, the mental fogginess, and the muscle cramping of bouts of sudden numbing weakness had a name.  Realizing that there are ways to improve the quality of his day to day living, Davis started Davis Phinney Foundation as a way to promote and fund innovative research that demonstrates the effects and importance of exercise, speech, and other elements that are critical to quality of life. Davis continues to celebrate daily victories in his life and inspire others with his message of optimism and encouragement to help people with Parkinson’s live well today.\

• Denver Post Community Foundation: The Denver Post Community Foundation is responsible for organizing Pedal The Plains. Our organization works to improve and enrich the lives of those in our community through support of programs that benefit arts and culture, children and youth, education and literacy, the provision of basic human services, and now cycling stewardship! We are proud to serve hundreds of Metro Denver nonprofit organizations, programs, and events. Last year, we contributed over $6,000,000 in value – through grants, events, volunteer efforts, and in-kind advertising – to support the efforts of hundreds of outstanding charitable agencies in our community. 

•  Wish For Wheels: Wish for Wheels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that gives brand new bicycles and helmets to kids in low income communities. Founded in 2004, our first giveaway made it clear that the bikes bring health and happiness into these kids’ lives and for that reason; we are committed to making a difference. Our unique model bundles corporate philanthropy, team building, and employee engagements through bike builds, to deliver brand new bikes to kids in the community. We are successful thanks to the generosity of our corporate partners and volunteers in the community. Our mission, through the gift of a new bicycle, is to transform the lives of kids from low-income families, broadening their scope for personal growth and a healthy lifestyle.

• World Bicycle Relief: A global bicycle charity, World Bicycle Relief mobilizes people in developing countries with access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity. World Bicycle Relief (WBR) builds and distributes specially-designed, locally assembled, rugged bicycles. With the experience and expertise gained over the last 10 years designing and delivering more than 400,000 Buffalo Bicycles, WBR has developed an efficient, innovative and scalable model to successfully address the great need for reliable, affordable transportation in rural areas of developing countries.