Old Man Winter Rally
Colorado's frost-hardened season opener near Lyons pits 100k and 50k gravel riders against frozen dirt roads before spring softens the ground.
The vibe
Frosty gravel season opener
While most of Colorado’s cyclists are still logging trainer hours, the Old Man Winter Rally sends a smaller, tougher crowd out onto frost-hardened dirt roads outside Lyons. It’s the unofficial start of gravel season — a chance to test winter legs and equipment choices before the calendar fills up with bigger races.
Riders pick between 100k and 50k, and both distances trade in the same variable: February conditions. Some years the roads are frozen solid and fast; other years they’re a mud-caked mess. Dress in layers you can shed, run wider tires than you think you need, and expect your equipment choices to matter more here than your fitness.
There’s no big post-race scene — this is a small, no-frills field of riders who’d rather be outside than on Zwift. Lyons itself is worth lingering in afterward, with a couple of low-key spots to warm up before the drive back to Denver or Boulder.