Velorama Rhythm Rumble

Velorama Rhythm Rumble Adds Speed and Style to the Festival

New high-speed, head-to-head rhythm race also awards big tricksRegistration now open for pro riders, men, women, teens and groms.

DENVER — Velorama is ready to rumble. The festival that celebrates the bike is once again re-imagining professional cycling events with the addition of the Velorama Rhythm Rumble — a unique, head-to-head rhythm race designed to determine the riders with the most speed and best style.

Held Aug. 18-19 in conjunction with the Velorama Festival and Colorado Classic pro cycling races in Denver's RiNo Art District, the Velorama Rhythm Rumble is essentially the love child of dual slalom and dirt jumping all grown up and moved to the city. The new event features timed duels between two riders on a built-from-scratch 300-foot straight rhythm course, with a time bonus awarded to the riders who throw the best tricks on the final booter. With racing on pavement and wood rhythm features, the action is sure to be fast and furious.

Early-Bird registration for a max field of 100 racers in the Velorama Rhythm Rumble is now open and organizers expect it to fill quickly. Pending availability, registration prices increase on race day.

"I am stoked to bring this new style of event to Downtown Denver," said Chris Olivier of PlusSizeBMX, the mastermind behind the progressive new race. "The Velorama Rhythm Rumble is the combination of dual slalom and dirt jumping, which are the two most exciting bike disciplines for spectators and riders alike. With high-speed, head-to-head racing plus big tricks thrown in every run, the riders are sure to put on an epic battle for all of the fans at Velorama. This new event won't disappoint." 

Known for pioneering events like Outlaws of Dirt, UCI World Cup of BMX Freestyle, and Red Bull Berm Burners, Olivier envisions the Velorama Rhythm Rumble as a way to combine the racing and trick-riding communities and open the door to a variety of competitors. Racers can compete on any bike with wheel sizes 20 inches or larger, and choosing between BMX or mountain bikes will play a major role in race strategy.

The course is designed for Intermediate to Pro riders, with a $4,000 prize purse shared equally between the Pro men and women divisions and piles of prizes for the Amateur, Teen and Groms classes. When the pros and riders aren't racing, festival-goers will be able to try the course on demo bikes. There also will be clinics with professional instructors working with individual riders on everything from basic handling skills to tactics on how to race the course. The course will be open to registered racers for practice runs after 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, and at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Qualifying racing begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday with the finals on Sunday starting at 3 p.m.  

Velorama Rhythm Rumble Schedule

Friday, Aug. 17:    
5 p.m., Registered rider practice runs.

Saturday, Aug. 18:    
9 a.m., Open to festival goers.
11 a.m., Clinic with pro riders.
3 p.m., Qualifying racing begins.

Sunday, Aug. 19:    
9 a.m., Open to festival goers.
11 a.m., Clinic with pro riders.
3 p.m., Final racing begins.

While "speed and style" events have been on the rise recently, the Velorama Rhythm Rumble will be the first straight rhythm race on a street course with wood features rather than dirt. It's just one of the attractions at Velorama, which also includes a 3-day music festival, interactive Bike Expo, dozens of food trucks, craft beverages from Drink RiNo and other inventive ways to "celebrate the bike." Velorama's festival grounds at 27th and Blake Street also serve as the start/finish line for the final two stages of the Colorado Classic pro road cycling race on Aug. 18-19.