Touring - Colorado / Front Range Shout-out

Seems like there are a few Coloradans and even some Front Range Freaks on this forum... who are ya, and when are we touring together???

I'm doing a 2-week-ish loop from Boulder next week, does anyone wants to go? Plans very flexible, as long as it's mountainous.

Give a shoutout even if you aren't interested in planning tours... just wanna meet my neighbors.

:)
Anna

Still up in scenic Buffalo -
Crazy Woman Canyon -
Mistymoon Lake -
Cloud Peak.

Really, Buffalo and Sheridan are like what the Front Range was 100 years ago.
Clean air, streams rushing out of the mountains, endless vistas.
You are welcome any time.

Where are you going on your tour? I'm out of town for 2 weeks starting tomorrow, but I'm curious as to where you've picked out to go.

Still up in scenic Buffalo -
Crazy Woman Canyon -
Mistymoon Lake -
Cloud Peak.

Really, Buffalo and Sheridan are like what the Front Range was 100 years ago.
Clean air, streams rushing out of the mountains, endless vistas.
You are welcome any time.

Hmmm...I lived in Sheridan for several years before moving to CO in 2002. Spent a summer (2000) backpacking in "the Cloud Peak" and have fond memories of the Mistymoon Lake area....Mirror/Lost Twin Lakes, Seven Brothers Lakes, Lake Geneva...

I'm over here in Grand Junction. Anna, give a shout if you are ever over here on the western slope.

You are always welcome to pitch your tent at my place, I'm between Oak Creek and Steamboat. Leaves are already staring to turn!

Thanks mikethebike & eofelis... I might just.

Oh god, it's autumn already??? Sigh. I've been postponing this trip repeatedly, and it's getting down to the wire. At least the aspens should be gorgeous if they are turning.

I think I'm going to do something like this link to a google map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=40.037341,-105.243874&daddr=N+Foothills+Hwy+%4040.204220,+-105.249060+to:CO-7+%4040.233420,+-105.530850+to:granby+to:E+Park+Ave%2FUS-40+%4040.058890,+-106.390000+to:US-40+%4040.427110,+-106.812310+to:US-6+%4039.702430,+-106.687550+to:I-70+E+%4039.627630,+-106.069160+to:CO-9+%4040.032520,+-106.374760+to:US-40+%4040.109450,+-105.984300+to:CO-125%2FCO-14+%4040.726170,+-106.291940+to:CO-14+%4040.682220,+-105.404140+to:CR-52E%2FRist+Canyon+Rd+%4040.629580,+-105.171460+to:W+Eisenhower+Blvd%2FUS-34+%4040.407270,+-105.106990+to:CO-66+W%2FUte+Hwy+%4040.203390,+-105.178010+to:CO-157+S%2FFoothills+Pkwy+%4040.038340,+-105.244880&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=12&mra=dme&sll=40.022356,-105.25795&sspn=0.107006,0.251312&ie=UTF8&ll=40.132691,-105.79834&spn=1.709255,4.020996&z=8&om=1)

Boulder-Estes-Granby-Kremmling-Steamboat-Edwards-Silverthorne-Kremmling-Granby-Walden-Loveland-Boulder.

I think it's about 12 days of riding, and there's kind of a reason for the route I planned - 2 years ago (wow, about 2 years and 2 days ago!) I was trying to ride all 17 of the paved Continental Divide passes in Colorado, and got hit by a car, ending my trip. I was sort-of-OK-ish, bike was totaled. SO I'm trying to catch the last 3 passes I didn't do, plus do a couple of my favorites again - Trail Ridge & Cameron. I don't have to do this one right now, but it seems kinda cool to do it from my front door this time, and I'll cover a bunch of places I haven't been before.

SO... Seeing as I'm delayed and all... Maybe leaving around 8/20.

Anyone? Bueller???

Instead of following CO 9 from Silverthorne to Kremmling, I'd suggest turning off CO 9 onto Ute Pass Rd, crossing Ute Pass, and following Grand County Rd 3 north, joining US 40 around Parshall. Much prettier and probably safer than CO 9, which has gotten awfully busy in the last few years. Most of GCR 3 is paved, the unpaved part is very well graded. I'm not sure if it would be faster or slower than following CO 9 into Kremmling, it's fewer miles but more climbing. I've seen some USFS campgrounds along GCR 3 that look very pleasant.

If you've got really low gears and you're feeling really strong and adventurous, why not try Old Fall River Road in RMNP? It's well graded dirt, but pretty steep in spots (10% + as I recall). It joins Trail Ridge Road east of the high point of that road, so you could continue across RMNP on Trail Ridge Rd. I went up Fall River Road and back down Trail Ridge Road earlier this summer, it was a really pretty ride. It would be a real challenge with camping gear, though.

Hi Markf thanks for the suggestions.

How long is the unpaved part of 3? What's the surface like? DO I need Knobby tires (damn, i just took mine off!) And how steep?

10% dirt is not going to be very enjoyable for me, I have to say, either up or down hill. Nice idea, though, for someone who is less gravel-a-phobic or more go-light than me.

Hi Markf thanks for the suggestions.

How long is the unpaved part of 3? What's the surface like? DO I need Knobby tires (damn, i just took mine off!) And how steep?

10% dirt is not going to be very enjoyable for me, I have to say, either up or down hill. Nice idea, though, for someone who is less gravel-a-phobic or more go-light than me.

The unpaved part of GCR 3 is smoother than a lot of paved roads, and posted at 50 mph. People around here do it on 700x23 tires. I honestly don't remember how long the unpaved part is, they've been paving a little more every summer. I think Ute Pass is a 5% max climb from CO 9, it's not an exceptionally difficult climb.

sold. looking forward to it!

Hello Valygrl,

A fellow Boulderite tourer here. I just completed a 10 day tour through central and northern Colorado covering some of the same area that you'll be traversing in the coming weeks. My route was Boulder-Copper-The Copper Triangle-Kremmling-Steamboat-Walden-Ft Collins-Boulder. If you are crossing Gore Pass there is a very nice, though primitive, USFS campground about 1 mile west of the Gore Pass summit.

The grade on Ute Pass averages about 5% with no steep sections. It's basically a continuous moderate climb of about 5.3 miles with an elevation gain of almost 1400'. There are a few cattle guards to cross on the paved section. When I rode Ute Pass last year I turned around when the pavement turned to dirt so I can't comment on that section.

You can camp for free in the Walden city park. There is a small grocery store about 1.5 miles north of 'downtown' Walden.

I ride most days. We should get out for a cruise sometime.

Hi SRS, nice to meet you!

Thanks for the info.

I'll PM...