2026 RIDE GUIDE
We are thrilled you'll be joining us for Tour of the Moon on September 12th. In addition to delivering a fantastic time both on and off the bike, this year's event once again delivers financial support to two of our favorites charities in Bicycle Colorado and One Riverfront.
Please read the details below to ensure a smooth and enjoyable weekend and don't forget to bring front and rear lights! They are required for riding in the Colorado National Monument.
This Ride Guide has what you need to know, including:
directions and parking information
route map
course etiquette
packet pick-up information
on-course nutrition and tech support details
packing suggestions
complete weekend schedule
Parking Once There
Downtown Grand Junction has ample parking. Click here for more information on the location of parking lots, which are marked with the letter P. Please note that West Main Street will be closed for our event.
Registration / Packet Pick-Up
Grand Junction Convention Center in Downtown Grand Junction
(just south of the start / finish)
159 Main St, Grand Junction, CO 81501
Friday, September 11
from 4 – 8 p.m.
Saturday, September 12
from 6:15 – 7:45 a.m.
You must be on the road by 8am at the absolute latest!
2026 Event Raffle
We are coming in hot with this year’s event raffle! We have thousands of dollars of items up for grabs. There are 12 different incredible prizes. All the items are hosted on our event raffle platform here!
The event raffle is NOW LIVE and that means you can look through all the prize giveaways now and decide which ones you want to participate in. None of the winners will be announced until Saturday afternoon after the ride, so don’t worry, you have until then to buy your digital tickets. All the tickets and purchasing will be done online, so instead of writing your name and number on every ticket, you can buy as many tickets as you want in a matter of a couple clicks and pay via credit card, Apple Pay, etc.
There will still be a dedicated TRC raffle tent that will have all the items on display for you to peruse. You will still be able to participate and buy tickets on-site. We won’t be announcing the raffle winners until Saturday afternoon and it will remain open until then. You must be on-site to claim your prize if you win!
A huge thank you to our sponsors for providing all these amazing prizes!
How to Participate:
Click on our event raffle page below (this will show you all the available raffle prizes)
Click on the item or items that you are interested in submitting tickets for.
Choose how many tickets you would like to purchase.
Finalize your payment and then you’re all set! The tickets will be placed for that item, it’s that easy.
We will announce the winners on site throughout Saturday afternoon. We will make announcements over the speaker system and also contact you via text. You must be on-site to claim your prize if you win!
When we ride together, we ride better. At EF Adventures, community is at the heart of every adventure—whether that’s ascending Mallorca’s most famous climbs, pushing each other over the line on a real Tour de France stage, or rolling from grape to plate in Tuscany’s culinary heartland. Join like-minded adventurers on over 50+ active tour destinations. Share in the best regional cuisine at hand-selected restaurants, make stops for cultural detours and world-class wine, kickback at 4- & 5-star boutique hotels, and uncover new perspectives through our expert Tour Directors and local guides. To learn more, visit our booth to speak with a Tour Consultant or visit efadventures.com.
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Primal is proud to be the official cycling apparel partner of the Ride Collective and the Copper Triangle. They are committed to supporting organizations and events that make our state and the world a better place, two wheels at a time. Visit them at their tent or online.
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Come to the Zinn Cycles retail store near downtown Louisville for a full bike fitting and consultation, where we can design and build you your dream bike or even help improve the fit on an exisitng bike. We also offer stock bikes for those who don’t need custom. We have bikes and components to fit the widest size range of people, from 4’8” to 7’5” and everyone in between.
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Whether you can pedal up mountains or you’re just starting your wellness journey, get tuned up by joining the Ready. Set. CO challenge. Get the UCHealth app now and set a personalized goal in the wellness program or sign up to compete for rewards to keep you motivated.
Route Details / GPX Files
41-MILE (Classic Loop)
64-MILE (Metric Century)
You can ride either the 41- or the 64-mile course; and you may decide which one on ride day when you exit the Colorado National Monument.
Download the course map from our website.
LIGHTS ARE REQUIRED
The Colorado National Monument requires all cyclists (regardless of whether they are in an organized event or on their own) to have a white light that is visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and a red light that is visible from at least 200 feet to the rear. The Monument has three tunnels, bored through solid rock, that are not lit, thus the reason for the safety requirement. All cyclists and support vehicles are required to use the lights in the three tunnels. You may turn them off once you’ve exited, but for your safety we advise that you leave them on for the duration of the ride.
Be careful, especially on the way down.
The Colorado National Monument has some steep descents and some substantial cliffs. Bighorn sheep also frequent the area and will sometimes be on the road. Please ride with caution. When taking in the views, pull safely off to the side of the road so not to impede traffic.
Ride Start
This event is not a race, but we’re excited to introduce a carefully planned police-escorted two-wave start system to ensure smooth rider flow and safe vehicle management through the park’s winding roads.
7:15 AM – Both Routes / More Experienced Riders
7:45 AM – Both Routes / More Relaxed Riders
👉 You can select your preferred wave during the registration process.
⚠️ All riders must be on course by 8 AM—don't miss the start!
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SAGs will rove the course with additional water and supplies, while providing roadside assistance to those experiencing mechanical problems or those who become too fatigued to finish. Please be prepared however to handle your own flats and minor repairs. Volunteer course marshals, Colorado State Patrol and Medical Personnel will be on hand to help make your ride safe and enjoyable.
PRIVATE SAGS
For the safety of all riders, private sag vehicles are NOT permitted on the course.
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There will be one water stop and four aid stations on the course. Each aid station will be stocked with hydration drink, water, fresh fruit, and snacks of both the salty and sweet variety. Enjoy!
Water Stop – Cold Shivers Overlook (Mile 8)
Aid Station #1 – Saddlehorn Parking Lot (Mile 23)
Aid Station #2 & #3 – James M. Robb State Park (Miles 30 & 48)
Aid Station #4 – Wingate Elementary School (Mile 59) -
Bring a number of layers for all weather including rain, then decide in the morning what to wear and carry. Cool mornings usually become warm afternoons with a chance of showers.
Tailwind Nutrition: Fueling Your Ride, Every Mile
We’re proud to partner with Tailwind Nutrition as our Official Hydration Sponsor, bringing you the same trusted fuel that endurance athletes rely on. Made by athletes for athletes, Tailwind’s all-in-one nutrition and hydration will be on course to keep you energized, hydrated, and cramp-free—so you can focus on the ride, not your fueling.
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Andrew has been practicing law for 17 years and has a passion for cycling. His legal practice is focused on representing cyclists who have been injured by others while riding their bikes.
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We're proud to help keep riders comfortable from the first pedal stroke to the finish. Chamois Butt'r helps prevent chafing, soothes irritated skin, and reduces friction where it matters most. Trusted by cyclists for over 30 years, it's the best way to help protect your skin and enjoy every mile in the saddle.
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Independent since 1989. Proudly Colorado. Brewed for the moments you make your own.
Open roads - ride safe!
Tour of the Moon is held on open roads with vehicular traffic and marked and unmarked hazards. Though we go to great lengths to make the event as safe as possible, you are only as safe as you ride. Please ride carefully when descending. There are steep descents, tight curves and the road conditions vary from good to poor. Use caution and control your speed.
Click here to watch our safety video and read up on other safety tips.
Please also be mindful of the environment and wildlife. If you encounter any wildlife on course, please keep your distance. For more info on wildlife encounters click here.
LIGHT CHECK
Staff will be at the East entrance of the Monument to check if you have a bike plate and lights; both are required to enter per our permit agreement with the National Park Service. Please make them visible to staff and park employees and know that this checkpoint is not an aid station and we will not have refreshments or port-a-lets. The entrance needs to remain free of congestion so as not to inconvenience the Monument’s daily visitors.
Credentials
Your rider credentials include a wristband, bike plate, and lunch + drink ticket. Affix your bike plate to your handlebars with the zip ties. Use your wrist band to gain access to the aid stations and the post-ride lunch. Please note, the wristband is your meal ticket so don’t lose it.
Important Reminders
1. Lunch ticket (Wristband) - you must present this to get your post-ride lunch
2. On your bike plate is a ticket for a free beer (if of age). Keep the ticket in a safe spot and redeem after your ride at the outside bar.
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We're proud to be a product partner of The Ride Collective, supporting their events with our high-quality Squirt Cycling bike care products. Less time maintaining bikes means more time to ride.
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Built for Wherever Two Wheels Take You
Send It is a Colorado-born brand creating purpose-built gear for riders and outdoor enthusiasts who believe the best adventures require dependable gear. -
Proudly Made in the USA. Enter here for a chance to win a Quik Rack Mach2
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Endurance starts before the ride does. What YOU take in beforehand shapes how well YOUR body holds hydration through the miles and how quickly it bounces back after. Electrolyze™ delivers plant-based liquid minerals that help replenish what YOU lose in sweat to support hydration, sustained energy, and recovery. Get 20% off with code TRC2026.
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At Green Guru Gear, we're a team of dedicated outdoor enthusiasts who work to create change in the outdoor and cycling sports industries. We know that most outdoor gear designed for outdoor activities can cause environmental harm. Instead of stopping to play outside, we've decided to manufacture our own products in a more eco-responsible way.
Fun Stuff All Weekend
A post-ride lunch is included with your registration. Enjoy music and the downtown surroundings, while eating, perusing the bike expo and partaking in tasty libations.
Recovery Lounge
Need a break from the saddle? We will be hosting a recovery lounge Friday and Saturday at the Grand Junction Convention Center. We will have a wood-fired sauna, cold plunge, normatec leg massages, and stretch sessions from InMotion Wellness Studio. Bring a towel and change of clothes!
$10 - 1 hour
$20 - unlimited weekend use
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Tour of the Moon will start and finish at the Grand Junction Convention Center
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
3 - 4 p.m. - Shakeout Ride lead by Zinn Cycles
The ride will start / end at the Grand Junction Convention Center on Main Street. The group will follow the first mile of the Tour of the Moon course and then follow the One Riverfront Trail for an out and back route. It will last about 1 hour is about 12 miles total.
4 – 8 p.m. – Grand Junction Convention Center
Packet Pick-Up
Walk-On Registration
Merchandise
Expo
Raffle Items - check out here!
5 - 10 p.m. - Fall Fest - The Official Tour of the Moon Kickoff - hosted by Friends of Youth and Nature
Located at Roots Gastropub - Beer, Food, Music, Gear Garage Sale, and more!
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Pre-Ride Activities; 6:15 – 7:45 a.m. – Grand Junction Convention Center
Day of Registration & Packet Pick-Up
Bike Tech Support
Coffee & Hydration Station
Wheels Down; 7:15 & 7:45 a.m.
Start Waves - Check your registration for your specific wave
Must have lights on bike (front and rear) when riding in the Monument
Post-Ride Activities; 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Grand Junction Convention Center
Lunch
Beer Garden
Live Music by Lost Junction Band
Expo
Merchandise
Recovery Lounge
Prize Drawings
Course Close; 3:30 p.m.
Too Big? Too Snug?
Every rider receives a jersey or a Tech Tee with their registration. If it doesn't fit, swap it out at registration or at our merchandise booth (size changes subject to availability). Before the ride, you may also purchase arm-warmers, vests, hoodies, jackets and more.
IMPORTANT: We will not ship out any merchandise after the event, so please do any needed exchanges or purchases on site!
Smile! You're On Camera
Get your personal event photos with Flashframe! Flashframe is the official participant photographer at Tour of the Moon. Your personal photos will be available online after the event. Make sure your bike plate is facing front at all times and don't forget to smile!
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