Mountain - Plains - Best place to live on the Front Range (CO) for a cyclist?

:eek:What....being close to those places is not a good thing...why would you ever want to go to either:eek:

Amen. Went to Park Meadows once and was scared away for good.

I worked down in Greenwood village for over 8 years. I went to park meadows once. Whoever designed that god awful place should be shot.

I worked down in Greenwood village for over 8 years. I went to park meadows once. Whoever designed that god awful place should be shot.

Just a typical mall.
I lived in Schaumburg IL for 3 years just a mile away from the Woodfield Mall.
In 3 years I went inside it about 3 times.

Flatirons is easy to get around. Provided you park immediately. However, I tend to want to head west and ride up McCaslin.
I used to work with a group from Experian who were head quartered in Schaumburg until Experian laid them off.

Just keep in mind the driver rule of the front range. Denver drivers are smart but aggressive. Colorado Springs drivers are aggressive but stupid. Pueblo drivers are just plain stupid.

Just rented a place in Highlands (near 37th & Irving.) We're moving out there in a week. Curious about access to good road riding from there. Can anyone give me a a general idea? Do I need to drive?

Thanks!

Just rented a place in Highlands (near 37th & Irving.) We're moving out there in a week. Curious about access to good road riding from there. Can anyone give me a a general idea? Do I need to drive?

Thanks!

Excellent choice.

These start in Highlands.

Great way to get to 9,300':
http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=83284
^this is actually a 60 mile route, since it's an out and back^

Most popular:
http://www.mapmyride.com/edit_route?r=462670522

Those look great. Thanks!

32nd and Lowell is a great LBS. Urbanistic Tea and Bike Shop. Works well, as the wife likes tea, and I like bikes.

The wife and I will both be needing to get "around-town" bikes that we'll be okay locking up. I'll come check out your shop soon, I'm sure. Thanks!

Those look great. Thanks!

Thanks, but I screwed-up the links (posted the same ride twice). It's fixed now!

Just rented a place in Highlands (near 37th & Irving.) We're moving out there in a week. Curious about access to good road riding from there. Can anyone give me a a general idea? Do I need to drive?

Thanks!

The rides from your area (I'm within spittin' distance of you:thumb:) are just about endless. One know to remember is that Denver has lots of steep climbs and downhills going north to south because you are cutting from one drainage to the next over the top of a hill. From west to east, the climbs are more gradual. For most routes in Denver, you can also pick a street that isn't too busy that parallels the major roads. For example, 38th Ave is nasty. You can do it but it ain't pretty. Go over to 35 and you can follow a nice quiet street from Tejon to Pierce (about 7 miles). 32nd Ave isn't too bad but it is busier.

Denver also has lots of MUP that have low traffic counts, especially outside of the 15th St/Platte St/REI area. Starting from your house, you can go north on Lowell to around 60th Ave, catch the Clear Creek path and head down river to the Platte. On the Platte head south to REI and climb out of the valley on 16 St (Highland Bridge) and back to 35th. About 25 miles, of which 20 miles is free of stop signs and car traffic.

For a more road oriented ride, head west on 35 Ave to Pierce, south to 32nd, then west to Golden (be careful on the north side of South Table Mountain). Climb Lookout if you like but there are other possibilities for good rides other than Lookout (it gets boring after a while:rolleyes:). When I have some more time, I'll map some routes out for you.

Do yourself a favor and go to REI or some other local bikeshop and buy a DBTC Bike Metro map. One of the best bike maps in the country.

Here's (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3211714) a nice 35 mile ride out to Golden and Arvada. All road. It includes a ride on 32nd Ave which can be pleasant if there's little traffic. It also include Easley road which I consider one of the prettier bike roads around.

Here's (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3211745) a nice ride on roads and bikeways out to Cherry Creek Res and back. Make sure you stop at Little Man for ice cream before finishing the climb out of the valley:thumb:

Here's (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3211786) a 45 mile ride (I quit at McKay and the Platte River Trail because I'm too lazy to do the whole map:rolleyes:) to Brighton on another pretty road (great fall colors). It also includes one of the ugliest road (Brighton Road).

Not technically from your house but this is a good road ride (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3211810)that includes Cherryvale and Valmont Roads which great country roads. This ride is only 40 miles but it's easy to add to this ride by going north, west and east to get any mileage you want. If you go towards Ft Collins, you can easily make it a century or more:thumb:

thanks so much. We've moving this weekend. Can't wait to check out the rides. Looks like it's getting to be arms/leg warmer season already...

thanks so much. We've moving this weekend. Can't wait to check out the rides. Looks like it's getting to be arms/leg warmer season already...

Today, you might want a bit more than warmers!!

Today, you might want a bit more than warmers!!

Ummm.... yeah.... today was I'm not riding under any circumstances weather.....40 degrees and raining......no way.

Ummm.... yeah.... today was I'm not riding under any circumstances weather.....40 degrees and raining......no way.

I had to:notamused: Ick!

I am recovering from a cold. This weather is perfect timing. :p
I will ride today... I hope.

Looks like it should be beautiful by the time we arrive on Sunday night

It's been rain-jacket weather this week. We just had a little unseasonable cold snap / storm, but it looks like next week will be nice! Take advantage of it while you can to get up in the hills.

Coming from Tucscon, you're going to have a leaning curve on clothing selection around here. Don't forget to check temperatures for the top elevations of your rides as well as the general area, and consider bringing clothes that will keep you warm enough if you have to do your descending in cold rain.

Welcome to the front range!

Thanks. Got here Sunday. Been too busy moving in and unpacking to get a ride in yet, but Saturday looks like a good candidate...