The Silver Rush 50! Oh, where to start; the Rush is a hard-charging endurance mountain bike race at the altitudes of Leadville Colorado which is part of the Leadville Race Series and organized by Life Time Events.
In the Rush, you will “Take on 50 miles that will test your skills and endurance. Technical climbs and descents are met with the glorious mountain views of Leadville. 8,000 feet of elevation gain over these 50 miles presents an excellent test.” Good fitness is a must in this race, and we highly recommend if you are coming from sea level, plan to arrive there at least 3-4 days in advance to let your red blood cells accumulate otherwise, more suffering is a guarantee.
The 50-mile out-and-back course takes racers through the historic mining district on the east side of Leadville. Primarily on dirt roads, first set by miners and their burros, it will begin at the Cloud City Ski Hut (located just below Colorado Mountain College on Hwy 24 on the South end of Leadville). None of the roads used will be closed to vehicle traffic, so please use caution. The route will take runners by and between many grand and historic gold and silver mines. The highest point of the course is a whopping 12,000′ feet.
The Silver Rush 50 is part of the Leadville race series, which holds some of the top endurance mountain bike races in the country including:
- Wilmington Whiteface
- Lutsen 99er
- Silver Rush 50 MTB
- Leadville Stage Race
- Barn Burner
- Austin Rattler
- Leadville 100
- Tahoe Trail
The Rush 50 is a Leadville 100 qualifier. If you are unaware of the Leadville 100, it is a world-famous endurance mountain bike event you must qualify for. Every event in the Leadville Race Series is a qualifying event (only in the 100-mile/longest length categories in each respective race). If you finish the race in a certain time, you have earned your right to race in Leadville.
The Silver Rush 50 Mountainbike race and the Leadville Race series are owned and operated by Life Time Events. Life Time is a top operator in the United States and is known for having good logistics, aid stations, and overall top-level organization, so you can expect your race to be in good hands. Life Time owns and operates some of the country’s top events, including the Silver Rush 50 Trail Run (happening the same weekend), Unbound Gravel (formerly Dirty Kanza), Crusher in the Tushar, Sea Otter Classic, and many more.
