I’m planning on doing a pretty large ride tomorrow. I just got some new gravel wheels/tires for my CAADX (40mm from 32mm) so it could be a great excuse to find some gravel I’ve never seen.
I’m planning on riding in Boulder and I came across this route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33149411
Anyone care to share some experience or insight into these roads? I’ve been on Lefthand, Flag, Peak to Peak, etc. I’ve done all those main road climbs tons of times, but I’ve never been on the Switzerland Trail or any of the gravel roads around that area. Is there anything I should know? I intend to fuel up in Nederland and maybe Ward.
That’s a big and fun route. Be prepared for not a lot of options to stop at until you get up high. Switzerland trail is bumpy, very rideable. By bumps I mean rocks. It’s a good ride though.
In the case you want a good ride, a good group of us will be riding over Rollinsville Pass to Winter Park and back tomorrow. The roads will be much like Switzerland Trail on the way up and on the way back to Rollinsville. It’ll be a fun group. Not as big of a day in terms of mileage and climbing but still a huge day and a really amazing route.
https://www.grvldnkys.com/grvl-adventures
jake
That looks fun - and hard!
This was mapped last summer when lower boulder canyon was closed to bikes, so to get to Chapman you had to go over Poorman (miles 7.5-14). Now the canyon trail is open and goes all the way to Chapman, which is a nice warmup, so I would personally skip that part of the route (it’s nothing that special) just to get going on the rest of it sooner.
Also, my personal preference is that when it comes to elevation, “Once you’ve got it up, keep it up!” (American Flyers anyone?), so I would probably not descend Sugar Loaf to Logan Mill at mile 62, even though it is a fun descent, because I would probably bail on climbing back to Gold Hill (steep and hot at this point). Instead, you could take Switzerland Trail down and then back up to Gold Hill road (this is rocky but fun), and then descend Gold Hill Road to Gold Hill for your cookie. Then pick up the route down Lefthand either by taking Lickskillet or Sunshine to 83 to Rowena Trail.
If you know TJ, the guy that creates these routes/ creator of Grvl Dnkys , the up, down, up, down, up, down is on purpose. So many route options.
jake
I appreciate the offer! But I’ll probably do my route (coach wants 14k-ish feet of climbing lol).
Do y’all ride every week? I’d love to get more into gravel riding.
Yikes, you’re coach goes big! You could ride up from Boulder and that would help you get to 14k
Haha
We do! Thursdays are fast gravel from the Eagle Trailhead near the res. Roll at 530. This is a very fast ride with regroups along the way. Friday is a much less spicy ride from Specialized Boulder. That’s the Thank Gravel it’s Friday group. Both rad rides!
Otherwise we ride big on the weekends but that’s pretty organic. Also there are the Dusty Donkey stages once a month with two more for the summer.
Check out @GrvlDnkys and @Thankgravelitsfriday. Both great groups and lots of cool people.
Jake
Just be prepared to be out there longer than you expect. Some of those trails have rocks the size of baby heads and I’ve ripped sidewalls before on them.
I don’t know why the route has you going down Sawmill, then heading down Left hand Canyon.
You should be going up towards Ward at that point, stopping to at least get more water. Then once you’re on Peak to Peak, take a right and go down to the dirt road, Overland Rd, that leads through Jamestown. Then once you get to to Left Hand Canyon again, head up and take Rowena. Then you take the Escape route that exits on top of Miners Rd/Deer trail and leads to the top of Lee hill where you’d head back.
One other change I’d make or at least keep as an option would be to take Sugarloaf all the way starting from Peak to Peak rather than the Switzerland trail. Gravel roads beat you up and that trail is not fun on a gravel bike and going such a long distance. Sugarloaf will still be a bunch of gravel and a good bit of climbing but it’ll be paved when the climbing gets tough. Taking time saving options like this will let you do the other options I suggested and you’d get more elevation.
I wish I could ride it with you but I need some advanced notice for a ride like that. I’ve already got 21k feet of elevation for this week so far.
That route will be fine as you are only on Switz from P2P to Sugarloaf. This is a very slight grade with relatively few rocks. The biggest obstacles will be the giant depressions from people driving through when it’s wet.
The singletrack from Sugarloaf to Logan mill is a hidden gem.
Regarding Sugarloaf Proper the Section from Sunset south to Sugarloaf is generally in good condition and can be ridden fast on a gravel bike in both directions.
The section from Sunset north to Gold Hill is littered with baby-heads. I’ve dented many a rim on my gravel bike. Totally rideable, but will rattle your teeth. Climbing is in some regard better because you’re not hitting things at speed, but still a rattling ride. Beautiful regardless.
That was epic. Thanks for the advice, everyone! I will definitely be keeping that route in my regular basket.
I will admit though: from Gross Reservoir to Nederland is a bit scary at times. Having not done those roads at all before, it felt like I was so far in the wilderness if something bad happened.
That’s a big and fun route. Be prepared for not a lot of options to stop at until you get up high. Switzerland trail is bumpy, very rideable. By bumps I mean rocks. It’s a good ride though.
In the case you want a good ride, a good group of us will be riding over Rollinsville Pass to Winter Park and back tomorrow. The roads will be much like Switzerland Trail on the way up and on the way back to Rollinsville. It’ll be a fun group. Not as big of a day in terms of mileage and climbing but still a huge day and a really amazing route.
https://www.grvldnkys.com/grvl-adventures
jake
Did you enjoy Rollinsville Pass? I rode it yesterday as well and thought it was way too bumpy for a gravel bike, but maybe I’m just not gangster enough. Would love to do it again on a mountain bike. My hands are shot.
To everyone asking why on the route Cloy rode, the routes that TJ from Grvl Dnky’s puts together are adventure rides. Like, bring a pack and lots of snacks and water rides. The routes are not planned off of stops available. It’s more to get out and be challenged. That route in particular is one of the bigger routes, but throwing Swiss Trail in there is to add to the challenge. The route is big, the terrain is mixed, but mostly dirt. As noted, there are many options to tie together a big route. I highly recommend his routes if you want a big challenge.
That’s a big and fun route. Be prepared for not a lot of options to stop at until you get up high. Switzerland trail is bumpy, very rideable. By bumps I mean rocks. It’s a good ride though.
In the case you want a good ride, a good group of us will be riding over Rollinsville Pass to Winter Park and back tomorrow. The roads will be much like Switzerland Trail on the way up and on the way back to Rollinsville. It’ll be a fun group. Not as big of a day in terms of mileage and climbing but still a huge day and a really amazing route.
https://www.grvldnkys.com/grvl-adventures
jake
Did you enjoy Rollinsville Pass? I rode it yesterday as well and thought it was way too bumpy for a gravel bike, but maybe I’m just not gangster enough. Would love to do it again on a mountain bike. My hands are shot.
I really enjoyed Rollins. We rode up and over to Winter Park and back. One of the most epic rides I’ve ever done in terms of the scenery. The way down to Winter Park was less bumpy, but still not smooth. We were in no hurry and took our time coming back. The descent to the tunnels is torcherous for sure. My hands, wrists, and balls of my feet were quite tired by the bottom. For me, the ride was made by the people, the views, the adventure.
We did have a friend crash and need an ambulance coming down the Winter Park side, but other than that, no mechanicals or flats. I think 3 of the 8 of us were on gravel bikes running 42’s or smaller. Everyone else on full squish bikes and even they said the way down to the tunnels was overly bumpy.
I would so do it again though and highly recommend. Just be prepared for a long and hard day. Such an incredible day! Also, I hear Jorts and a hot dog in WP make it easier.
To everyone asking why on the route Cloy rode, the routes that TJ from Grvl Dnky’s puts together are adventure rides. Like, bring a pack and lots of snacks and water rides. The routes are not planned off of stops available. It’s more to get out and be challenged. That route in particular is one of the bigger routes, but throwing Swiss Trail in there is to add to the challenge. The route is big, the terrain is mixed, but mostly dirt. As noted, there are many options to tie together a big route. I highly recommend his routes if you want a big challenge.
jake
That’s 100% accurate. I had 2 750ml bottles as well as a 2L hydropack and I was dry getting to Nederland. There is one convenient store in between Gross Res and Nederland, but that section took much longer than anticipated.
I will definitely be doing the route again. It was a blast. I will likely try switzerland trial next time, but coming down Sunshine instead was certainly appreciated for the sake of getting it done faster.
Second question: did you get lit up by big ass flies? I was getting mauled by those suckers.
Second question: did you get lit up by big ass flies? I was getting mauled by those suckers.
Yes, one of our friends went down pretty hard on the way down into WP and we were not moving for almost an hour. The flies were really bad. Just had to keep moving to keep them away I guess.
jake