The Pole

The bad news: it’s not snowing. The good news: it’s great biking weather. So why not take advantage of the optimal off-season conditions and hit the road? To give you even more incentive to get off the couch, registration for the 47th annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic open with a “locals-only” party this Fri., Dec. 1, from 12 noon – 8 p.m. at Mountain Bike Specialists, 949 Main Ave. If you can’t make the party, online registration opens to the masses at 8 a.m. Sat., Dec. 2.

Speaking of skiing, two local skinny ski legends, twin sister biathlon Olympians Lanny and Tracy Barnes, are going down in the history books. On Sat., Dec. 2, at the Durango Winter Sports Foundation’s annual gala, the two will be inducted into the DWSF Hall of Fame. Every year, the Gala unofficially kicks off the winter sports season in Durango and honors those who have advanced the DWSF mission of ethical, respectful and disciplined competition.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Durango. No, not the holidays – Snow-down. And with the big 40-year “Black Tie Affair” just nine weeks away, it’s time to drop the turkey and pie and mail in for your shot at Follies tickets. The Follies lottery drawing will be held at 9 a.m., Sat., Dec. 2, which means, given the mysterious ways of the local mail service, you better get your forms in the mail no later than Tues., Nov. 28

Looking to crush it at the next 10k? Well, Nike, in conjunction with researchers at the University of Colorado have your secret weapon: the Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%. Also known as the 4%s, the shoes were shown in studies to reduce the energetic output of runners by 4 percent. Sure, that may not seem like a lot, but researchers say it could mean the holy grail of a sub two-hour maratho

Dozens of mourners turned out for a vigil Tuesday night in remembrance of Durangoan Tricia Leigh Shadell.

When it comes to supporting firefighters, local residents are all on board. Tuesday night, residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of a tax increase for the Durango Fire Protection District, with 73 percent of city voters and 70 percent of county voters saying yes.

And speaking of smoke, actress Whoopi Gold-berg is the latest star to hop on the potrepreneur bus. This week, Whoopi and edibles-maker Maya Elisabeth launched their “Whoopi & Maya” line of cannabis products in Colorado. The “female-centric” line includes rubs, chocolate edibles, tinctures and bath salts that are designed for personal wellness and, ahem, that time of the month.

Whoopi isn’t the only green news in Denver. Seems the city’s “Green Roof Initiative” was poised to pass with a slim margin as of press time. The initiative, which would require rooftop gardens on new buildings (and some existing ones) over 25,000 square feet, had garnered 52.17 percent of votes, according to the Denver Post.