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Southwestern Colorado hosting Labor Day bike rallies

Published August 13, 2007 at midnight

DURANGO - Not one, but two motorcycle rallies will be held Labor Day weekend in southwestern Colorado.

The first, and likely the biggest, is Ignacio Bike Week.

Organizers are promising everything that makes a rally a rally: vendors, beer gardens, rock concerts, competitions, a parade in Ignacio and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle giveaway.

The Saturday night concert will feature REO Speedwagon and Smash Mouth. Other live acts include Formula 151, Midnight Backhand and Ralph Dinosaur.

But the real attraction: "It's a free rally," said Emily Meisner, an organizer and president of the Ignacio Chamber of Commerce. "There's no main-gate entry fee."

This year, organizers expect 20,000 bikers to rumble into Ignacio. But predicting attendance numbers is difficult because wrist bands aren't being sold, said Ann Mooney, spokeswoman for Ignacio Bike Week.

The second rally is the Sugar Pine Ranch Rally about three miles northwest of Mancos in Montezuma County.

It also will feature vendors, beer sales, concerts, competitions, camping and a bike giveaway.

Rally organizers expect about 2,000 motorcyclists to show up, but the rally has a special-use permit that allows as many as 5,000 bikers, said Lora Hover, a ranch owner.

Bands include Ralph Dinosaur and the Fabulous Volcanoes, Lost Canyon Band, Fryed Brothers Band and Beautiful Losers.

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