funrover
03-05-07, 12:17 PM
Anyone done it? I really want to and was wondering what others thought of the ride!
View Full Version : Trail Ridge road
cyccommute
03-05-07, 12:39 PM
Anyone done it? I really want to and was wondering what others thought of the ride!
Yea, a bunch of times. Including a solo fully loaded unsupported tour over it...only time I've been all the way over;) It's a cool ride...both in terms of temperature and 'coolness'. Not a lot of air up there. And don't let some fat Texan in an RV tell you that Rainbow Curve is almost the top:mad: . You ain't even getting started at that point.
It's worth doing...at least once.
Yea, a bunch of times. Including a solo fully loaded unsupported tour over it...only time I've been all the way over;) It's a cool ride...both in terms of temperature and 'coolness'. Not a lot of air up there. And don't let some fat Texan in an RV tell you that Rainbow Curve is almost the top:mad: . You ain't even getting started at that point.
It's worth doing...at least once.
jorpe
05-30-07, 02:15 AM
Yea, a bunch of times. Including a solo fully loaded unsupported tour over it...only time I've been all the way over;) It's a cool ride...both in terms of temperature and 'coolness'. Not a lot of air up there. And don't let some fat Texan in an RV tell you that Rainbow Curve is almost the top:mad: . You ain't even getting started at that point.
It's worth doing...at least once.
I will do this ride. I drove it for the first time last weekend and couldnt wait to be in good enough shape to ride it!:D
It's worth doing...at least once.
I will do this ride. I drove it for the first time last weekend and couldnt wait to be in good enough shape to ride it!:D
DataJunkie
05-30-07, 07:21 AM
I want to do this one as well. Too many rides. Too little time.
Someday I need to repaint my porch and a few other home repair projects. No time with all the rides.
Someday I need to repaint my porch and a few other home repair projects. No time with all the rides.
badhat
05-30-07, 07:25 AM
ive done it from both sides.
from granby is pretty easy, fror estes is pretty strenuous. neither way will kill ya though. its high up but pretty steady, no serious grades, just lots of tight turns towards the top.
from granby is pretty easy, fror estes is pretty strenuous. neither way will kill ya though. its high up but pretty steady, no serious grades, just lots of tight turns towards the top.
bmclaughlin807
05-30-07, 08:33 AM
A group I ride with is planning to do this ride towards the end of July. If you're interested in joining let me know.
DataJunkie
05-30-07, 10:08 AM
Count me in! Nothing obliterates my ego quite like riding with BM. :)
bmclaughlin807
05-30-07, 12:34 PM
It's gonna be a weekday ride. Here's the info I have so far:
Location: Loveland, Colorado
Max Distance: 110.0 mi
Cost: $.00
Routes: (add new route | add exisiting route*)
none specified
This ride will be held on either Tuesday the 24th or Wednesday the 25th depending on the weather forecast. Stay tuned to bikejournal that week so you know which day we are actually going to ride.
This epic should only be undertaken by those in excellent physical and mental health. There is over 10,000 feet of climbing and we go up to elevations over 12,000. The route starts in Loveland, goes thru Thompson Canyon, up the dreaded Devil's Gulch and then drops into Estes Park where the real torture, er, um, fun begins!
Location: Loveland, Colorado
Max Distance: 110.0 mi
Cost: $.00
Routes: (add new route | add exisiting route*)
none specified
This ride will be held on either Tuesday the 24th or Wednesday the 25th depending on the weather forecast. Stay tuned to bikejournal that week so you know which day we are actually going to ride.
This epic should only be undertaken by those in excellent physical and mental health. There is over 10,000 feet of climbing and we go up to elevations over 12,000. The route starts in Loveland, goes thru Thompson Canyon, up the dreaded Devil's Gulch and then drops into Estes Park where the real torture, er, um, fun begins!
DataJunkie
05-30-07, 12:43 PM
Weekday rides are impossible for me to make unless my wife has the day off. Plus, with that amount of climbing y'all will drop me like a hot potato. However, we will see. Stranger things have happened.
colorado dale
05-30-07, 05:51 PM
fyi there is going to be construction on trail ridge road this summer
> http://www.9news.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=69325 (javascript:ol('http://www.9news.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=69325');)
>
> http://www.byways.org/press/news/2007/305 (javascript:ol('http://www.byways.org/press/news/2007/305');)
> http://www.9news.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=69325 (javascript:ol('http://www.9news.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=69325');)
>
> http://www.byways.org/press/news/2007/305 (javascript:ol('http://www.byways.org/press/news/2007/305');)
jorpe
05-30-07, 07:14 PM
Weekday rides are impossible for me to make unless my wife has the day off. Plus, with that amount of climbing y'all will drop me like a hot potato. However, we will see. Stranger things have happened.
I believe that would happen to me also.
I believe that would happen to me also.
ken cummings
05-30-07, 08:13 PM
Up it once in mid summer. Back down in a T-storm with 1-3 inches of hail on the road. Had to stay in the car tracks. Be redy for rain after 2:30 PM.
bmclaughlin807
05-30-07, 10:37 PM
fyi there is going to be construction on trail ridge road this summer
I read about that... shouldn't seriously affect the ride (Well, other than the possibility of some pretty rough pavement)
I read about that... shouldn't seriously affect the ride (Well, other than the possibility of some pretty rough pavement)
velo2000
05-31-07, 12:40 PM
How about Old Fall River Road? Has anyone ridden that? I'd like to ride that on my touring bike someday.
ken cummings
05-31-07, 01:24 PM
How about Old Fall River Road? Has anyone ridden that? I'd like to ride that on my touring bike someday.
When I loved in the area it was unpaved and one way only for cars. Ask the Park Service for detaiuls.
When I loved in the area it was unpaved and one way only for cars. Ask the Park Service for detaiuls.
cyccommute
05-31-07, 03:22 PM
When I loved in the area it was unpaved and one way only for cars. Ask the Park Service for detaiuls.
A ladies man, eh? It's still unpaved and one way up. Not just for cars however.
A ladies man, eh? It's still unpaved and one way up. Not just for cars however.
superdex
05-31-07, 03:29 PM
read about my trek up Trail Ridge Rd last Labor day here: http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=225625
redtires
05-31-07, 04:52 PM
If you really want to make it a super bad-***** ride...start from Boulder (or get a ride up to Estes), over Trailridge Rd. (make sure you get some obligitory pics at the top...sorry, none of mine are digital) then down into Granby...over to Frasier/Winterpark then up and over (what is that...Loveland Pass, right?) then down to Idaho Springs where you get picked up...but not before destroying a huge pizza. I did this ride three or four times (the last being in 1994 however) with none other than Lennard Zinn (and a few other guys, and yeah...he is a hella climber!), each time on his birthday. It's a killer ride!!!
valygrl
05-31-07, 05:06 PM
(what is that...Loveland Pass, right?) then
Berthoud. Good idea.
Berthoud. Good idea.
bmclaughlin807
05-31-07, 07:13 PM
We're starting from Loveland, and I was actually thinking about just riding all the way around and back to Golden. It's not really that far (Well, after the rides I have planned for June it really won't seem very far!)
:)
Anyone wanna come with?
:)
Anyone wanna come with?
redtires
05-31-07, 07:29 PM
Berthoud. Good idea.
Ahh.....yes! Thank you!!!! :)
Ahh.....yes! Thank you!!!! :)
Fonk
06-03-07, 08:19 PM
I went over Trail Ridge Road (starting from Estes) as part of an unsupported 4-day tour up there once. Awesome ride! It'd probably be even better when not towing an extra 30 pounds behind me... :-)
cyccommute
06-05-07, 09:02 PM
I just got back for a driving trip over Trail Ridge today. There's good news and bad. The sorta bad news is that there is repaving of the road from top to bottom. The good news is that they are nearly done with paving from the bottom to Rainbow Curve and the pavement is very nice!
The bad news is that it looks like they are going to start rotomilling from Rainbow Curve on up. The milling machine was parked at Rainbow Curve. Also, there is a section of road right at the top at Lava Cliffs that isn't paved. It's only about 300 yards long and isn't that bad. Be careful coming back down from the Alpine Center because you are on a downhill run right there. Also, there isn't any water at the Alpine Center because their piping is still frozen. You might be able to get bottled water over at the souvenir shop, however. I didn't go in so I'm not sure.
Otherwise the road is in great shape. There's lot of snow along the road but none on it.
The bad news is that it looks like they are going to start rotomilling from Rainbow Curve on up. The milling machine was parked at Rainbow Curve. Also, there is a section of road right at the top at Lava Cliffs that isn't paved. It's only about 300 yards long and isn't that bad. Be careful coming back down from the Alpine Center because you are on a downhill run right there. Also, there isn't any water at the Alpine Center because their piping is still frozen. You might be able to get bottled water over at the souvenir shop, however. I didn't go in so I'm not sure.
Otherwise the road is in great shape. There's lot of snow along the road but none on it.
rangerryan
06-27-07, 03:23 PM
Any news on conditions as of June 26th? Both paving and snow would be helpful. Thanks.
MichaelinTN
07-03-07, 06:09 PM
How many miles is it from Estes park to the top?
badhat
07-15-07, 12:09 AM
its 20ish from estes park to the high point.
i rode yesterday friday) from fort collins and the top of the pass is pretty wrecked right now. from the high point to the alpine center is torn out and one way, so expect to wait a while there. other than that it was a beautiful and the newly paved sections are really smooth.
i was going up from 10:15 am till about 12:3o, and i dont think it got any colder than maybe 65 degrees and it was mostly sunny for the whole way up. got a bit of hail on the granby side in the park, but other than that, it was the most fun i've had up there so far.
i rode yesterday friday) from fort collins and the top of the pass is pretty wrecked right now. from the high point to the alpine center is torn out and one way, so expect to wait a while there. other than that it was a beautiful and the newly paved sections are really smooth.
i was going up from 10:15 am till about 12:3o, and i dont think it got any colder than maybe 65 degrees and it was mostly sunny for the whole way up. got a bit of hail on the granby side in the park, but other than that, it was the most fun i've had up there so far.
badhat
07-15-07, 12:18 AM
If you really want to make it a super bad-***** ride...start from Boulder (or get a ride up to Estes), over Trailridge Rd. (make sure you get some obligitory pics at the top...sorry, none of mine are digital) then down into Granby...over to Frasier/Winterpark then up and over (what is that...Loveland Pass, right?) then down to Idaho Springs where you get picked up...but not before destroying a huge pizza. I did this ride three or four times (the last being in 1994 however) with none other than Lennard Zinn (and a few other guys, and yeah...he is a hella climber!), each time on his birthday. It's a killer ride!!!
i did this route but started in fort collins and ended in empire. for 150 total.
really good ride. berthoud pass isnt nearly as hard from the north as i was afraid it would be.
http://www.fabsoundandmusic.com/pics/berthoud_pass.jpg
i did this route but started in fort collins and ended in empire. for 150 total.
really good ride. berthoud pass isnt nearly as hard from the north as i was afraid it would be.
http://www.fabsoundandmusic.com/pics/berthoud_pass.jpg
rangerryan
07-16-07, 01:31 PM
I believe it is around 24-25 miles each direction. This webpage has a rating of it as well.
http://www.rmccrides.com/ClimbDB/climb_frame.html
http://www.rmccrides.com/ClimbDB/climb_frame.html
climbing_ian
07-16-07, 10:39 PM
I wanna do this ride, but I only get weekends off. :(
cyccommute
07-17-07, 07:04 AM
I wanna do this ride, but I only get weekends off. :(
Take a sick day;) Honestly, I've only ever done it on a weekend. It's not a high speed highway and, while traffic can be heavy, people aren't in a rush to get through. On the way back down, you are usually moving faster than the cars are.
Go ride it on a weekend. It's still fun.
Take a sick day;) Honestly, I've only ever done it on a weekend. It's not a high speed highway and, while traffic can be heavy, people aren't in a rush to get through. On the way back down, you are usually moving faster than the cars are.
Go ride it on a weekend. It's still fun.
badhat
07-17-07, 09:19 AM
the neat thing is that once you start getting close to the summit, people cheer and holler and clap and give you thumbs up as they pass you.
its a really nice feeling.
its a really nice feeling.
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