I need help, with a route Denver people

[snowy]

Okay, my friend and I want to do our own century ride. We decided not to do the Elephant Rock (which I'm kinda glad) So I need a good route that includes some good climbs.

I know there are some people here that know alot about routes so if you could be soo kind to help me that would be great!! :)

Thanks
Snowy

[hockeyczar]

Snowy:
go to http://cyclepass.com/index_p.html

this is a great place to research terrain and routes if you want to do some mtn rides

[snowy]

Thanks hockeyczar. :)

[DataJunkie]

Only one reply? What the heck?
Have you poked around on routeslip.com or bikely.com?
Cyclocommute has a route on routeslip.com that takes you from Golden to summit county. You wouldn't need to travel the entire way for a century. However, that would have horrific amounts of climbing. I think routeslip says something like 7000ft+ in climbing.
http://www.routeslip.com/discover/USA/CO/Golden

There are a few 50 mile routes in the metro area but that would be unexciting. That is unless you like avoiding cars or falling asleep on a MUP. :p

[snowy]

Thank Data. :)

[cyccommute]

Only one reply? What the heck?
Have you poked around on routeslip.com or bikely.com?
Cyclocommute has a route on routeslip.com that takes you from Golden to summit county. You wouldn't need to travel the entire way for a century. However, that would have horrific amounts of climbing. I think routeslip says something like 7000ft+ in climbing.
http://www.routeslip.com/discover/USA/CO/Golden

There are a few 50 mile routes in the metro area but that would be unexciting. That is unless you like avoiding cars or falling asleep on a MUP. :p

You rang? Here (http://www.routeslip.com/routes/40108)'s a killer mountain century (almost, start in Dillon for the whole 100 miles;) ) The "easy" way is to do it clockwise. The hard way would be counter clockwise since the climbs are longer in that direction.

And just for Snowy, I have the Snowy's Knee Replacement Almost Century (http://www.routeslip.com/routes/40113). It's not a century but with over 10,000 feet of climbing, who cares?!:eek: If you really need a century, do a lap around South Table Mountain:D

Words of caution on this route:

1. You need to cross over US6 under I-70 at Kermit's to access the bikeway. You could also just ride the shoulder on I-70 up to the Hidden Valley exit.

2. I believe we are allowed on the Central City Parkway now. Be careful going through Central City. Lot's of traffic and drunk old people.

3. Going north out of Golden Gate State Park you come to Gap Road. It used to be dirt but the pavement was creeping upward. Check with the Park to see if it's paved. If not, it's only about 4 miles of dirt.

4. Use caution in Coal Creek Canyon. Those people are nuts!

5. Ditto on CO93.

6. McCaslin is an old Arapahoe word meaning "Big f**king hills":D

7. Take care on CO72 when you get back down to it off Indianna. It's narrow with lots of traffic but you won't be on it for long.

8. I haven't ridden this route. I haven't driven parts of it in 15 years. I've never driven it all in one day. I can't vouch for road conditions.

9. Make an appointment with an orthopedist before you go. You'll need it when you get back:eek:

[valygrl]

The RMCC ride last Saturday was a century, starting in Boulder, south (Cherryvale - McCaslin - Indiana) to coal creek, north on the peak to peak to Lyons, back down through Hygiene. I have to admit I cheated and returned from Lyons on Rt 36, so I only got 97 miles. 7500 feet of climbing. I could hook you up with a .kmz for google earth if you are interested.

[superdex]

You could also do the Copper Triangle, but start in Frisco instead of Copper -- head west out of Frisco towards Copper Mtn on the path, then when you get to Copper take a left and head up to Leadville on the Triangle route. When you get back down Vail pass to Copper, stay on the path back to Frisco. Ninety miles, 7600+ ft of climbing...

http://www.routeslip.com/routes/40204

[superdex]

You rang? Here (http://www.routeslip.com/routes/40108)'s a killer mountain century (almost, start in Dillon for the whole 100 miles;) ) The "easy" way is to do it clockwise. The hard way would be counter clockwise since the climbs are longer in that direction.


Okay, that's funny. I didn't even look at that route and thought of the Triangle from Frisco. Too funny! :roflmao:

[cyccommute]

Okay, that's funny. I didn't even look at that route and thought of the Triangle from Frisco. Too funny! :roflmao:

What I want to know is how our routes can be identical...or nearly...but there really aren't a lot of choices are there?...and be 600 feet of elevation change different. Is there a hill out there I don't know about?;)

[superdex]

What I want to know is how our routes can be identical...or nearly...but there really aren't a lot of choices are there?...and be 600 feet of elevation change different. Is there a hill out there I don't know about?;)

I didn't follow I70 as closely as you did?

[snowy]

Do you guys think these routes are ridable now??

[cyccommute]

Do you guys think these routes are ridable now??

The "Snowy's Knee Replacement Almost Century" is. I'm not sure about the Copper Triangle. Looking at the CDOT cameras for Vail Pass, it looks mostly clear. You might have some issues in shady areas. Fremont Pass is likely to be very wet too. The approach to the summit usually has lots of melt water running on it now. As my mother would say if she were English, you might want to take your rubbers.

[Pwnt]

Mother knows best.

Sorry to hear your not doing Elephant Rock Snowy, I was hoping to see you out there with us. Oh well, there's always next year right?

[snowy]

Yeah I've done it for the last three years and I'm just not feeling it Pwnt. :)

[SirScott]

IMO there's a ton of great front range climbs that are often overlooked. Why drive somewhere when you can just ride from home and hit up High Drive (drive, not grade...), Conifer Mtn, Shadow Mtn, Squaw Pass, Kerr Gulch, Gennesse Mtn, etc. You can do a combo of these that will get you easily to 100 miles with an absolute ton of climbing thrown in.

I did one last year: Deer Creek to High Drive to Squaw Pass into Idaho Springs then up the Frontage Road back cutting across back into Evergreen and down through Bear Creek Canyon, up and over Meyers Gulch up S. Turkey Creek and back home to Deer Creek. Beautiful ride, no traffic, and no other cyclists once you got past Deer Creek.

[snowy]

Thanks SirScott. :) That actually sounds like a good ride. :)

So are you racing??

[SirScott]

You're welcome -- but be warned, it's a real doozy. Fortunately there's plenty of stores along the way if you need to stop and get more food.

Yup, not well, but I am.

[snowy]

You're welcome -- but be warned, it's a real doozy. Fortunately there's plenty of stores along the way if you need to stop and get more food.

Yup, not well, but I am.

Well there is something to be said about you trying right?? :)

[SirScott]

Indeed. Trying landed me my first win and a subsequent upgrade. Followed that up with a disastrous Lookout time, so now I'm resetting my goals for Iron Horse. It's all good fun though!

Let me know if you need a detailed route, or a suggestion leaving from your area.

[snowy]

Indeed. Trying landed me my first win and a subsequent upgrade. Followed that up with a disastrous Lookout time, so now I'm resetting my goals for Iron Horse. It's all good fun though!

Let me know if you need a detailed route, or a suggestion leaving from your area.

Yep if your not having fun then its not worth it :D

I know you'll do better :) Well from what I remember ;)

I may pm you for more details :)

[lala]

thanks for the links!

[cyccommute]

Thanks SirScott. :) That actually sounds like a good ride. :)

So are you racing??

It probably looks something like this (http://www.routeslip.com/routes/40482). SirScott is right about just about any route along the Front Range. The other one I mapped is one that you could start from your front door and get a full 100 miles. A bit more remote than this one however.

Another 'difficult' century is Mount Evans from the State Capitol. Here's (http://www.routeslip.com/routes/40484) the route. Pretty simple really. It is 114 miles but the last 55 are downhill;)

[SirScott]

That's not quite the route I had in mind as that goes up High Grade, not High Drive. No matter, High Grade is a good one. However, going down 73 into Evergreen can suck. If you're going to head that direction, take a left onto Shadow Mtn (turns into Black Mtn & Brook Forest) and that'll eventually intersect 73 right before you reach Evergreen. This way unfortunately adds a little more climbing (and distance I think) but is secluded, very pretty, and has an extremely fast descent.

Evans from the capitol is a great idea. Getting back sure would be fun!

[cyccommute]

That's not quite the route I had in mind as that goes up High Grade, not High Drive. No matter, High Grade is a good one. However, going down 73 into Evergreen can suck. If you're going to head that direction, take a left onto Shadow Mtn (turns into Black Mtn & Brook Forest) and that'll eventually intersect 73 right before you reach Evergreen. This way unfortunately adds a little more climbing (and distance I think) but is secluded, very pretty, and has an extremely fast descent.

Evans from the capitol is a great idea. Getting back sure would be fun!

Yea, I saw High Drive only after I had the route mapped all the way back to S. Turkey Creek. Routeslip is kinda a pain to edit so I left it.

[SirScott]

That it is. Toporoute is nice with the feature to follow the road, but I couldn't save any routes due to size limitations. So kudos to you for having the patience to painstakingly map out the routes with routeslip! Makes you wish we lived out east doesn't it? Too many turns!!

[SirScott]

Here's the ride I did today: http://www.toporoute.com/cgi-bin/getSavedRoute.cgi?routeKey=JVWMXDOQEAHYMWO Just look at all the options out there!

[colorider]

SS - Looks like we were chewing some of the same pavement this weekend. What's the mileage on that route?

[snowy]

SirScott,
I rode DeerCreek on Sunday to Conifer and then back to DeerCreek. Definitely some good climbing. :)

So can you help me out. Is there a route from lets say DeerCreek to Evergreen??

[bvfrompc]

Here's the ride I did today: http://www.toporoute.com/cgi-bin/getSavedRoute.cgi?routeKey=JVWMXDOQEAHYMWO Just look at all the options out there!

my god, I am lame. Kind of makes my ride up Golden Gate Canyon Saturday look like the kids route.

I found that if you really pull back on the zoom, it doesn't look like that big of a ride ;) wow.

[SirScott]

SS - Looks like we were chewing some of the same pavement this weekend. What's the mileage on that route?

~ 52 or so. Feels like a lot more, hah!

So can you help me out. Is there a route from lets say DeerCreek to Evergreen??

http://www.toporoute.com/cgi-bin/getSavedRoute.cgi?routeKey=HHKDGDMOOEEBYQN

[SirScott]

my god, I am lame. Kind of makes my ride up Golden Gate Canyon Saturday look like the kids route.

I found that if you really pull back on the zoom, it doesn't look like that big of a ride ;) wow.


I've never gone up Golden Gate, but looking at the map it seems like there's a few options... Got a suggestion for me? I'm not sure I like the idea of going down through Black Hawk...

[snowy]

Thanks SirScott. :)

My friend suggested we do this ride.