Team Evergreen has long been known for their legendary Triple Bypass and Mount Evans Hill Climb. The Triple Bypass, Team Evergreen’s best known ride, provides bicyclists with several distance options (including a single 40-mile and a double 75-mile Bypass) to ride through mountain passes between Evergreen and Avon. And back for 2020 only is the Double Triple, for riders who want the ultimate challenge. They’ll ride from Evergreen to Avon and back again in two days. This ride is not for the faint of heart—it adds up to 240 miles and 20,000 feet of climbing!

For the first time this year, the Triple Bypass, along with the Bob Cook Memorial Mount Evans Hill Climb, is also part of the Gran Fondo National Series. The Mount Evans Hill Climb is exactly what it sounds like: a race to the summit of Mount Evans named after six-time winner Bob Cook, who won the race in record-breaking time before his early death in 1981 from cancer.

The Triple Bypass and Bob Cook Hill Climb are bucket-list events for dedicated cyclists. However, Team Evergreen does a lot more than produce exceptional events. They know that, historically, competitive or physically challenging rides have been unwelcoming to women and new riders. At the very least, inexperienced bicyclists would not find rides like these to be a great fit for them. And, while the bicycling world has certainly gotten much more inclusive in recent years, many female bicyclists worry about being subject to insulting or discriminatory comments or actions while on their bikes. This fear makes it daunting for a lot of women and others from marginalized communities to ride their bicycles and to find supportive organized rides and races.

Team Evergreen works hard to make their events inclusive of people of all genders, so that everyone can feel celebrated and included. They’re going even further by adding the Yeti Beti Bike Bash to their list of events starting this year. The Yeti Beti Bike Bash is the largest women’s mountain bike event in the world. A women’s-only event can be an amazing environment for riders to try something new or to challenge themselves even further without feeling like they are being compared to their male counterparts. For many women, it’s a chance to be vulnerable and ride with others like them with similar experiences in bicycling.

This event features categories for all riders. The “Never Ever” category is for bicyclists who would “never ever” participate in an organized mountain bike race⁠—at least, not until now! This category specifically welcomes new bicyclists to try out something new in the supportive environment of the Beti Bike Bash. Similarly, the “New Moms” category welcomes people who are getting back on their bicycles after welcoming a new child and want to participate in a race without pushing their bodies too far. And, of course, children of all ages can participate in this race, too.

Alongside expanding bicycling experiences through their rides, Team Evergreen is also a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving back to the bicycling community through its events and through grants and donations. Proceeds from their rides go toward local and national nonprofit organizations like Bicycle Colorado and other advocacy groups, community programs and community-building organizations. They also help fund trail projects and children’s bicycling programs, including our Learn to Ride lessons. With their support, we’re able to teach more Learn to Ride classes this year.

Image credit: Jonathan Crays

Team Evergreen knows that the bicycling community isn’t just about competition, training, races and endurance. It’s about encouraging people to use their bikes for whatever they want or need to use them for and however they want to use them, and to feel welcome, safe and empowered to do it. If you plan to participate in a Team Evergreen event this year, know that your registration fee goes towards improving the trails and roads you ride on and the safety and enjoyment of you and your fellow bike riders of all backgrounds and identities.

Team Evergreen is a Champion Event Member of Bicycle Colorado.

We’re grateful for their support!

Want to become an Event Member or an Individual Member and support our work, too? Visit our Membership page!