Last night I participated in my first ever Denver Cruisers ride. I would have definitely done one of these earlier, but I have been busy with hockey most Wednesday nights, as well as other travels recently. The Denver Cruisers is a group of 500+ people who ride their bike through downtown each Wednesday throughout the summer. They always start at the Gin Mill and leave in one large group around 8pm.

Starting the ride last night.

There is a new theme for the ride each week, and last night was Pirates, Vikings, and Sea Men. This gave me my second opportunity of the summer to wear my new sailor suit. Last night our first stop was in an old empty parking garage for the “Garage of Death.”  This was a pun on their weekly “Circle of Death” where large numbers of people ride around in a circle, while a few others go the opposite way.  Obviously you aren’t trying to run into anyone, but collisions do happen, which I guess is part of reason for the fun.  With the many bikers, this becomes quite a spectacle.

“Garage of Death”

Cardboard viking ship built around this guy’s bike.

High wheeler bike.

After the garage we made our way through the streets of downtown and to Theorie, which inhabits the former home of the Denver “Real World” cast. I don’t know if it’s planned to keep the bars empty before the cruisers arrive, but when we did the costumed partiers packed the bar. I expected high priced drinks, but bottled beers were only two or three dollars a piece. After an hour or so at the bar, everyone hopped on their bikes again and we made our way to Civic Center Park for the “Circle of Death.” The circle here was smaller than the garage from before, so it was much crazier inside the mayhem.

“Circle of Death”

At this point it was already approaching 11, much past my standard bedtime. I decided to leave from park and head home, despite there still being another bar on the itinerary. My first ride with the cruisers was a success and I hope to join one of the last rides in the next couple of weeks.