The New Colo 2024

The New Colo is a self-supported, mixed surface, bikepacking adventure, starting and ending in Durango Colorado, traversing a diverse and rugged ecosystem, along the border of Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. A grand departure date is slated for August 31st 2024 @ 6am MST. A final GPX and RidewithGPS.com route will be published and shared in early 2024.

The mission of the New Colo is to bring riders from across the bikepacking community together in a timed event as the route highlights the diverse ecosystems, rugged landscapes and small rural communities of Southwestern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. The event travels through a mixed media route with the goal of around 1,000 miles on a wide variety of surfaces (mainly off-road), aiming for minimal vehicle traffic, and favoring singletrack trail. At times the route follows segments of the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Boggy Draw, Phils World, Pinion Mesa, Alien Run and the GDMBR, in addition to a variety of other pre-established routes. The event is to follow the ethos of self-supported bikepacking events like the Tour Divide, CTR, ATR ect. Live tracking for the New Colo will be supported by trackleaders.com- and SPOT trackers will be available for rental.

The route surfaces will include paved highways, smooth gravel, mild chunk, moderate chunk, boulder gardens, high alpine single track, desert single track, sand pits and everything in between. Some of the dirt roads will be passable by passenger vehicle, some roads will only be passable by highly modified 4WD vehicles. There will be hike-a-bike sections which will vary for each rider depending on your “true grit” There will also be extended segments with no service and the need to filter water in the backcountry. Suggested water carrying capacities a minimum of 4-6 liters.

NEW FOR 2024

INTRODUCING THE NEW COLO LITE

This a 450+ mile abbreviated version of The New Colo experience. The New Colo Lite, starts at the same time and follows the same route until mile 392, where the full route continues east and the ” lite route” stays north on hwy 151 to quickly rejoin the final 60 miles of the full route back to the finish in Durango CO.

Riders can start in either category, and are free to switch sides mid-event.

If you signed up for the full route but the first few hundred miles beat you down, you can still complete the New Colo lite with your head held high!

If you signed up for the “lite”, but in Arboles CO, you find yourself feeling strong and hungry for more, you can boldly push east to attempt the full route.

The goal is to grow the starting field of riders for The New Colo and to offer a flexible pathway for riders curious about the New Colo experience, without the commitment of the full New Colo route.