I’m traveling down to Denver to visit with family (in laws) in a few weeks and I’ve negotiated with my wife an option to bring my bike! Can anyone from the area chime in on their favourite / must do routes. I’m looking for rides of 60-100 miles. I should have access to a car so I can drive out of the city to start my ride (thinking Boulder ….).
Thanks
Mike
The riding in the Denver area are wonderful. From where I live 25 miles south of the city you can ride thru Cherry Creek - to downtown all on 12 feet wide bike paths. In Boulder you must do the ride from Boulder Res up Stagecoach. 18% grade then continue up Route 36 and back. Lots more routes so email back channel for more. Good luck
Graham
I live in the SE part of the city and can get you places as well. email me and I can get you hooked up. You can ride 100 miles and stay pretty much on good trails the whole way. Nice place to ride.
one of my favorite rides is starting at left hand canyon(a bit northwest of boulder) up to and through ward to the peak to peak highway, then over towards estes park, back down through lyons then onto 36(the road that gets you to lefthand canyon) and back to left hand again. nice ride. great scenery. tons of climbing.
as was mentioned, old stage is ‘fun’. not super long, but steep. part of the boulder peak bike course. also, you can take lee hill(which is the left just at the base of old stage) for a longer climb. really, there are so many options.
Thanks all for your replys. Looks like I’ve got lots of options. I’ll have to get out the map. Has anyone done the Elephant Rock Ride (I think it’s this weekend). I won’t be there for the ride but the route looks like a nice 100 miler. I might try it mid week.
Are there any places (besides highways) that are notoiously bad for riding?
Mike
Elaphant Rock is a fun ride, hilly but nothing long and/or steep. If you don’t do it during the organized day you will have to stop every five minutes to check your map, not a good idea…
I double the earlier post on lefthand canyon… a must do in the area!
Second must do is Mt. Evans, which you can combine with as many miles on Peak to Peak HWY as you wish…
lets see… What routes to ride? from downtown denver, pick up the Platte trail at the REI Flagship store and head south-ride 17m or so to Chatfield State park, ride the “dam hill”, (I do some hill repeats here) - ride out of Chatfield the way you came to E470 trail, about 1.5 to 2 miles. Head east on this trail to just beyond University Ave. - stop at this trail intersection with University Ave., dismount, carry your bike over the grassy island seperating the trail from the strip mall parking lot and visit Bike Source, (nice tri store inside). Get back on 470 East Trail all the way to Jordan road. Head north through the “Tech center”, ya gotta get on the road for this section - to Cherry Creek State Park. Enjoy the ride through the park and pick up the Cherry Creek Trail west to downtown Denver. When you come to the golf course, take a break and stop by Bicycle Village Flagship store on Havana and Yale, (about 4 or 5 blocks off the trail), ask to talk to Scott, (manager, and a great triathlete). Get back on the Cherry Creek Trail and head downtown. Get off the trail at the Broadway trail sign - go north on Lincoln, (you will actually exit on Lincoln, 1 block east of Broadway), and visit the folks at Turin Bicycles. The owner is from Chicago and a great guy. Excellent mechanics. Get back on the Cherry Creek Trail and cruize the next mile or so to the REI Flagship store, where you started. Get yourself a nice treat with a big fat cup 'o joe from Starbucks, (attached to REI), chill out on the deck next to the river and reflect upon you 60M / 3+ hour / flat, rolling ride
have fun
rock
here’s some routes, Denver and beyond:
http://www.coloradobicyclerides.com/rides/bikeRides.html
I like to ride from my house, out on the 470 trail to Chatfield, around the lake, up the Pleasant Park climb (all listed on the website above) and back again. It’s a fine climb, the only trafficy bit is the 3-4miles up Deer Creek Canyon.