Members of the Durango Wheel Club have been cycling Durango since 1895. The entire history of cycling in Durango dates to the late 1800s, with the DWC supporting the sport from the start. Originally a cycling advocacy group, it later became the social and racing club it is today. We run group rides, clinics, club races, and advocate for cycling in Durango—road, mountain, and gravel. We’re committed to being super inclusive and building community: all disciplines, all levels, everyone welcome.
Roots: The Feller Brothers & Before Marin County
Cycling in Durango runs deep—and some of its pioneers are still under the radar. In the 1950s, Danny Feller and his brother Bob of Durango were two early bicycling innovators whose contributions have largely gone unnoticed. They were primarily farmers who also operated a small mine located some 2,000 feet above Hermosa in the Animas Valley north of Durango. Beginning in the 1950s, the brothers used bicycles as tools, tinkering and improving them to suit their purposes. Danny, more involved in the mining operation, modified old balloon-tire bicycles to haul tools and heavy loads up and down steep, single-track trails. Those nearly daily excursions led to his discovery of the joys of backcountry biking as far back as the early 1960s. He and Iron Horse legend Tom Mayer were riding Hermosa Creek trail at least a decade before mountain biking was supposedly invented elsewhere. Bob was more likely to be seen on his customized three-speed up and down the Animas Valley, running errands and scouting for discarded bike parts in the back alleys of Durango. This was utilitarian and exploratory—not a trend. The Feller Brothers were pushing the limits of what a clunker cruiser could do well before the “godfathers of mountain biking” in Marin County.
The Iron Horse: Tom vs. the Train (1971)
The legend of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic starts in 1971, when Tom Mayer, a cyclist, challenged his brother Jim Mayer, a railroad worker on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, to see who could get to Silverton faster. Tom pedaled the distance faster than the steam engine—and the race was born. Jim later reflected: “In the ’60s, there wasn’t a movement like this. When you fast-forward and see what’s happened in areas like Durango and Moab and other places where all the bicyclists continue to race and ride, it’s incredible. I never would’ve thought [Tom’s] challenge to me would result in something this big. It’s an incredible legend.” For five decades, cyclists from all over the world have ridden the car-free miles from Durango to Silverton in celebration of the challenge and the community that supports it. Key figures in that history include Ed Zink (Durango native, local rancher, owner of Mountain Bike Specialists, and one of the founders of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic; he passed away in 2019) and Gaige Sippy, longtime director of the Iron Horse, who stepped back after the 50th anniversary with Ian Burnett now in that role.
The Club Reborn (1986)
The creation of the Durango Wheel Club in 1986 was a turning point. This grassroots organization united local riders, fostered camaraderie, and organized races and events that drew national attention. The club helped shape Durango into the vibrant cycling hub it is today. That spirit is what we’re bringing back.
1990 Worlds, Yeti & the Trail Builders
In 1990, Durango hosted the first-ever unified and sanctioned UCI Mountain Bike World Championships at Purgatory. Ned Overend won in front of a home crowd and remains a Durango cycling icon. The mountain bike brand Yeti opened its doors in Durango in 1991. The late 1980s and early 1990s also brought major trail development—Horse Gulch, Animas Mountain, and more—and the development of Trails 2000 (now Durango Trails). Initiatives like Durango Trails 2020 have kept trail access and sustainability at the forefront. Durango has continued to host collegiate and world mountain bike championships and to produce the next generation of stars.
Legends & the World Stage
Durango’s roster of legends runs long: John Tomac, Greg Herbold, Missy Giove, Ned Overend, Elke Brutsaert, Howard Grotts, and many more. The 2024 U.S. mountain bike squad at the Paris Games included three Durango athletes: Christopher Blevins, Riley Amos, and Savilia Blunk. Sepp Kuss won the 2023 Vuelta a España and has won stages at the Tour de France and Vuelta. The exhibit “Looking Back, Racing Ahead: 50 Years of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic and Durango Cycling Culture” at the Center for Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College (curated with artist and cyclist Jon Bailey and museum curator Elizabeth Quinn MacMillan) brought many of these stories together—and helped surface lesser-known ones like the Feller Brothers.
Looking Ahead: Durango Mesa Park & 2030 Worlds
Durango Mesa Park’s demonstration trails and future development—including a planned bike park, BMX facility, and expanded trail network—point to an even bigger future. With the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships returning to Durango in 2030, the Durango Wheel Club is reviving to help lead the community into that next chapter.
We’re more than a club; we’re part of what makes Durango a symbol of community, perseverance, and a deep passion for biking. Join us.