Kip Biese: MTB Coach and Local Legend

How many people do you know who got married in their cycling kit? Probably no one, right? Well now you do. Meet Kip Biese. He’s a former pro rider who has coached thousands of others in the art of riding a bicycle. 

With Clarissa at the top of Mt. Elbert, the highest point one can ride a bike in the U.S. And you know Kip had to ride to the top on his wedding day!

Kip is originally from the Milwaukee area and his dad introduced him to mountain biking at age 10. Growing up, he rode whatever trails he could find around Wisconsin. But for college, he attended Colorado State and was part of the mountain bike race team. 

After graduating, he moved to COS to work in a bike shop. In 2001, he started racing - all different disciplines. After a year, he secured a contract to ride for Giant and then later for Cannondale. 

After racing professionally for a number of years, he has been coaching both with Kids on Bikes and Front Rangers for almost a decade. Many of the kids he coached are now coaches themselves. And they all love to know he has ridden everyday for the last 10 years (The last time he didn’t ride was Sept. 14, 2013!)

Kip!!!

Also, Kip does personal coaching for both youth and adults. He provides training plans and also will ride together with his clients. Kip is still a beast! On top of all his riding and coaching experience, Kip has dual Masters degrees from UT-Austin in both exercise physiology and kinesiology. 

Kip is a regular at Trailblazers and is always reppin’ the Trails End Race Team. In Colorado, he loves to ride Cheyenne Canon here in the Springs and Breckenridge for the high country riding. And in North America, he digs Whistler in Canada for all the high end tech. We enjoy when Kip stops into Routes to get his Revel Ranger occasionally serviced or just to have a beer. He is an endless well of stories and knowledge! 

Racing Aravaipa's MTB Summer Series in COS

Trailblazers is a group of mountain bikers, runners, and hikers that congregate at Trails End Tap Room every Wednesday night to hit the trails at Red Rocks Canyon Open Space. Also, Trails End has a mountain bike race team that races throughout Colorado. 

Curt Mulick is both a Trailblazers’ regular and a Trails End Race Team member. Originally from NY State, Curt started riding at age 25. His friend lent him an extra bike, a Trek 8200 hard tail with a big cushioned seat, and he started riding that bad boy all the time. He moved to Colorado in 2016 to study mechanical engineering at UCCS and since then has been riding all over the state (albeit with a new bike).

His first race was in 2018 - the WMBA Purple Pursuit on The Air Force Academy’s Falcon Trail. Four years later In 2022, he dove in and absolutely loved riding in the Moonrise Summer MTB Series - a local Friday night race series hosted by Aravaipa. 

He participated in the first one, Lunar Liftoff, at Cheyenne Mountain State Park in June. The race was split up into the ‘Never Evers” for first time riders, Juniors ages 9-17, Intermediates, and Experts. The race had 70-80 riders and Curt finished the 7 mile, fairly technical route in 42 minutes and change. He enjoyed Aravaipa’s beer garden and quesadillas afterward and appreciated having the full weekend to recover.

In July, Curt participated in the 2nd race of the series, The Gravity Grinder at Ute Valley. It was a beautiful 3 lap, 2.7 mile course. And he finished the season off with The Quarter Crusher - the final race in the series at the techy Palmer Park.

Ladies getting ready for The Lunar Liftoff

Curt also volunteers with Aravaipa pre and post race, which gives him $10/hour in credits for future races.

You can find Aravaipa on Instagram, often tabling at Trailblazers on Wednesday nights, or at other group rides around town. Aravaipa also hosts trail running races and a Monday night run at Fossil Craft Beer Co.