Road Cycling - Bicycle Tour of Colorado

If you're interested in an inexpensive, challenging, and beautiful bike tour, check out the Bicycle Tour of Colorado ( http://www.bicycletourcolo.com ). I've ridden this tour for the last 3 years (the route changes each year), and plan to return again this year.

They get about 1500 cyclists each year, with most choosing to camp out (hotel option also available). The organizers provide very good rest stops and support, and the scenery can't be beat.

For pictures of this year's tour, check out http://www.shastasoftware.com/BTC2003/BTC0017.htm

I didn't see you there in 2002 when I rode. What color was your bike?

Just kidding, of course.

The BTC was great fun. Well supported and a bunch of friendly, crazy fellow bikers of all sorts. From the hammers to a couple of kids on BMX bikes. However, I could have done with a bit better food on some of the lunch stops. Breakfast and dinner was generally pretty decent, but the lunches should have been better. All else was well done.

I second the above as an inexpensive ride in wonderful county. And as much of a grind as going up the passes (Skumguillion, Wolf Creek, Coal Bank Hill and Red Mtn) was (for me), flying down the other side for 20 miles at speeds up to 50 mph simply cannot be beat. Especially if you have a wonderfully stable ride like my Paramount (when it had the Record group). Great fun!!

Looks like a very cool tour! I'm in the process over the next few months of figuring out with a few friends what rides we'd like to do next summer. We'll certainly look into this one a bit more.

Thanks for posting it!

I didn't see you there in 2002 when I rode. What color was your bike?

Just kidding, of course.

The BTC was great fun. Well supported and a bunch of friendly, crazy fellow bikers of all sorts. From the hammers to a couple of kids on BMX bikes. However, I could have done with a bit better food on some of the lunch stops. Breakfast and dinner was generally pretty decent, but the lunches should have been better. All else was well done.

I second the above as an inexpensive ride in wonderful county. And as much of a grind as going up the passes (Skumguillion, Wolf Creek, Coal Bank Hill and Red Mtn) was (for me), flying down the other side for 20 miles at speeds up to 50 mph simply cannot be beat. Especially if you have a wonderfully stable ride like my Paramount (when it had the Record group). Great fun!!

I've tried to forget Slumgullion...that one really put the hurt on me. Partly my fault, though. I live at 700 feet, and rarely train over 3,000. Besides being the longest day of the '02 tour, and the first day, I was also trying to keep up with some friends of mine who live in Crested Butte...between the quad cramps, and lack of O2 near the top, I thought I was gonna die. But, at least I didn't sag, and Creede was sure a fun town.

Did you get stuck in the mud slide coming off of Red Mtn. Pass? I was about 15 minutes ahead of it, and did that descent in driving rain and intermittent hail, with only arm warmers and a semi-waterproof windbreaker (no tights, long fingered gloves, etc.). Thank god for the hot springs in Ouray.

The downhills really are sweet. I hit 55.4 mph on this year's tour on the first day, and passed a semi on a left-hand switchback coming off of Loveland Pass a couple of days later...too much fun!

We didn't beat the mud-slide. It was quite amazing. Looked like someone had emptied the world's largest cement truck across the highway. But, the highway dept. seemed well prepared and had a large frontend loader there to push it out of the way in short order. But that was certainly a cold and wet day.

Actually, I found Slumguillion to be the easiest of the passes. Fresh legs and most gradual climb. But I thought the best one was the backside of Wolf Creek once we got past the road construction. The drop at that first big switchback after the pass was awesome. But it was all great fun.

We rented a jeep out of Silverton on our day off in Durango and drove the old mining roads. I'll never again think badly of what a four-wheel drive vehicle can go up and down. Places I would have had a difficult time climbing on foot. And some of those roads top out above 13,000 feet.

But the riding was great and the eating in those caves in Creede was something else. Did you stop for the home-made pie and ice cream at that roadside shop on the last day? I ate so much I didn't think I was going to be able to haul myself over the last rise before the almost dry lake outside of Gunnison. However, I understand it is full of water again.

I plan to do again in a few years. But, we are riding in the Loire Valley this year before watching the end of the TdF and LA's sixth in a row (I hope).

We didn't beat the mud-slide. It was quite amazing. Looked like someone had emptied the world's largest cement truck across the highway. But, the highway dept. seemed well prepared and had a large frontend loader there to push it out of the way in short order. But that was certainly a cold and wet day.

Actually, I found Slumguillion to be the easiest of the passes. Fresh legs and most gradual climb. But I thought the best one was the backside of Wolf Creek once we got past the road construction. The drop at that first big switchback after the pass was awesome. But it was all great fun.

We rented a jeep out of Silverton on our day off in Durango and drove the old mining roads. I'll never again think badly of what a four-wheel drive vehicle can go up and down. Places I would have had a difficult time climbing on foot. And some of those roads top out above 13,000 feet.

But the riding was great and the eating in those caves in Creede was something else. Did you stop for the home-made pie and ice cream at that roadside shop on the last day? I ate so much I didn't think I was going to be able to haul myself over the last rise before the almost dry lake outside of Gunnison. However, I understand it is full of water again.

I plan to do again in a few years. But, we are riding in the Loire Valley this year before watching the end of the TdF and LA's sixth in a row (I hope).

Wolf Creek Pass...Yes!!! That was an incredible descent. Fast, smooth, beautiful.

On my day off in Durango, I hooked up with my cousin who lives there. He's a glider pilot instructor, and took me up over the Animas Valley in his glider. Among other things, we did some 3.5G wingovers...nearly lost my lunch, but it was an awesome ride.

I'm signed up for this year's TDF too, with Graham Baxter Sporting Tours (their Alps to Paris Premium tour). I've never been, and really look forward to seeing Lance kick butt on l'Alpe, and doing that climb myself (a whole lost slower than Mr. Armstrong...).

You will have a great time in France. Wonderful food, wine and people. We go most every year. And watching the TdF with LA and the challenges he will face this year is a big bonus. You'll have a great time!

Just signed up for the BTC. A riding buddy who lives in Longmont talked me into it since starts and ends in Ft. Collins. His wife is going to be our personal SAG and we will stay in his pop-up trailer. Some of the climbs are steeper this year, but the downhills are longer. Should be great fun!!