Nature Valley Grand Prix

Watch out, trees! The Nature Valley Bicycle Festival is coming to Stillwater!

The Stillwater Criterium of the Nature Valley Grand Prix is a regular highlight of our summer. We live just off the race course and close to not one, but TWO bicycle-themed cafes, so it's a very exciting time to be a cycling enthusiast/coffee drinker.

Scenes from the Women's Pro/Elite Race. 

The leader change-offs in this one were heart-breaking. 

Watching the race with our neighbors and future cyclist baby James.

Scenes from the Men's Pro/Elite Race.

We volunteered to serve as housing hosts for the cyclists this year, and we were matched with an awesome organizer (and past pro cyclist) named Bart. Bart was responsible for the men's amateur Nature Valley team, so - like good hosts - we cheered on his team every time we saw another member fight his way up Chilkoot Hill. Fortunately, his team was easy to spot in their bright green Nature Valley gear, and easy to cheer for in their fierce determination to conquer that hill.

Bart, working hard.

A few of our Nature Valley guys, in bright green.

Sometimes you need a little help, from Santa, in June.

Here's why the Stillwater Criterium is such a bear:

That change in elevation is hard to cover just ONCE on two good foot. These cyclists tackle a 1.4 mile lap ending with Chilkoot Hill TWENTY TIMES in about an hour. 

Of course, if you're not racing, it's not terribly hard to climb the hill. Stillwater really brings out the characters on race day. I love this event.

And then it began to rain...

Our amateur riders (competing in the pro race) did an incredible job. It makes the race even more exciting to have someone to cheer on. We're already looking forward to next year, and if you haven't been to Stillwater to catch this event, please stop by next summer. It's really an amazing show of endurance and competition. (And check out those legs! These guys and gals have muscles I've never even seen before.) Well worth the trip, don't you think?!  ;-)

One professional racer, one cycling enthusiast, and one guy with a 20-year-old used
road bike and a passion for beer...in no particular order, of course.
Cycling does not judge!