I get the economics of it - but nearly $300 for a 56 mile “ride” and nearly $350 for a circuit race? Just feels like a tipping point for me and maybe a point where others ask what are you getting for that price. I guess I’d rather sign up for Kowtown Gravel for $100 a few towns over and still enjoy a weekend with my family staying in Steamboat / northern Colorado.
For comparison, how much do the other big gravel races like Unbound cost?
With fees I would expect Unbound to be eclipsing $300 soon. We’ll find out this week. At least the aid stations at SBT are stocked for you???
$245 (plus fees) for a 36 mile route at SBT is crazy. Almost $100 per hour 
For comparison, at RAD (Life Time event in Colorado): $100 for 70 mi, $175 for 100 mi. And for that price you get practically closed roads (officers controlling bigger intersections out of town, volunteers closing street crossings in town). Both courses are awesome.
Of course, it ain’t so hyped about as SBT, duh.
I did SBT in 2022 and really enjoyed it but nothing about the new format, price or (justified or not) feeling of not being welcome by the community makes me want to go back any time soon
KowTown is great! I’ve done it the last two years and will continue to race that one so long as it doesn’t get too close to Firecracker 50 in Breck.
I deferred my entry from 2024 to the 2025 race. From 2021-2023, I did the black course twice and the Blue course once. It was a great event, and may still be a great event, but I don’t like the publicity around how the Routt County community (mostly rural residents/farmers) feel about the race. It gives a negative vibe. So, I’ll likely not re-register with my deferred entry this year…no loss to them as they have plenty of others to fill my spot. Maybe this is the year for me to try The Rad or Big Sugar. Give some love to some of the other gravel races.
Did The Rad this year. Honestly the course was a blast and the race was super well run. Curious whether it no longer being a Lifetime race next year will affect things?
I’ve never visited that part of Colorado but it looks like an interesting area. Glad to see you enjoyed the event
It’s a vocal minority that unfortunately has gotten a lot of attention. I’ve never had a bad experience riding on the gravel roads around Steamboat and Routt county.
I’ve never had a bad experience either but it just gives off bad vibes knowing I am riding in an area with that much hostility towards the ride (and riders)