Mountain - Plains - Colorado Peace Ride

Anybody doing this? I have never been to Durango in the summer so it has me intrigued.

http://www.thepeaceride.com/

The route looks great. I will be vacationing in SW Colorado the following week and may try that day 1 and back as part of our trip.

I think that route is the "San Juan Skyway" -- day 1 was day 1 on the Bike Tour of Colorado last year - very nice ride.

As long as you are in the area, cycling up into Mesa Verde National Monument is well worth doing. Last month I rode it from the A&A Mesa RV park on the highway (where I stayed - nice friendly RV park) to the Mesa Top Loop and back - 50 miles, 5000' climbing. Very nice. Bring a camera!

I think that route is the "San Juan Skyway" -- day 1 was day 1 on the Bike Tour of Colorado last year - very nice ride.

As long as you are in the area, cycling up into Mesa Verde National Monument is well worth doing. Last month I rode it from the A&A Mesa RV park on the highway (where I stayed - nice friendly RV park) to the Mesa Top Loop and back - 50 miles, 5000' climbing. Very nice. Bring a camera!

Funny. I stayed at that same campground (tent area) last year and we said next time we bring the bikes!

I'm waiting for the anarchy ride. Route the dang thing through Colorado Springs.
Seriously, that ride looks like a nice route.

I need to quit my job so I can ride more. That looks like a great trip.

The Peace Ride route is a beautiful loop. That loop is also ridden in one day somewhere close to the summer solstice (so one has plenty of daylight) and is known to Durango riders (of which I was one years ago) as 'the death ride'. The start is about 4:30a and one arrives back - hopefully - before sundown but don't count on it. I always had my lights handy. The one route difference between the death ride and the Peace ride is the death ride takes Rt 184 from Dolores to Mancos rather than going to Cortez thereby cutting off about 16 miles. One still gets approximately 220 miles and somewhere around 20,000' of elevation gain if I remember correctly.

The Day 1 route is my favorite ride in Colorado.

The route looks great. I will be vacationing in SW Colorado the following week and may try that day 1 and back as part of our trip.

Doing the Day 1 route (Durango - Ouray) out and back is a great though long one day ride - 144 miles and about 13800' in elevation. One can also make a turnaround at Silverton for about 96 miles and 8500' elevation gain or go beyond Silverton to the top of Red Mtn Pass before turning around. One gains about about 1700' of elevation and 10 miles from Silverton to the top of Red Mtn Pass.

I might consider leaving a bag at a hotel or B&B in Ouray and spending the night. That would mean two trips to Ouray by car, but might be worth it.

The Peace Ride route is a beautiful loop. That loop is also ridden in one day somewhere close to the summer solstice (so one has plenty of daylight) and is known to Durango riders (of which I was one years ago) as 'the death ride'. The start is about 4:30a and one arrives back - hopefully - before sundown but don't count on it. I always had my lights handy. The one route difference between the death ride and the Peace ride is the death ride takes Rt 184 from Dolores to Mancos rather than going to Cortez thereby cutting off about 16 miles. One still gets approximately 220 miles and somewhere around 20,000' of elevation gain if I remember correctly.



i'm planning on doing the Death Ride on the 4th of july (full moon), and if anybody is interested i'd love company.

i'm looking at doing it starting in Ouray and riding it CCW.