Just like to post a news story about a great place to live and bike...

Greenways, bike paths impress visitors - Boulder Daily Camera Article (http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/get_out/article/0,1713,BDC_8836_3019765,00.html)

and I don't think the article does it justice.

Sound like it's a cyclists Shangrila. Maybe we will tow our camper out there for a vacation one of these days. We love combining camping trips with great bike trails.

I have no clue about biking in Boulder, except what I hear about. All I know is that I used to take summer vacations there as a kid about 35 years ago (before bike lanes.) My grandmother lived there since 1920 and one of my cousins still live there.

If there were ever a more beautiful place on earth for me, Boulder was one of them, bikes or no.

When I visited Boulder some years ago for a conference at NIST, I was immediately bummed to have not had my bike with me. The area looked really bike friendly and there seemed to be plenty of nice places to ride. I guess the only downside was that it was very hot while I was there...

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/images/Boulder_CO-1Aug2002/Boulder%20OAT.jpg

I did like this roadsign over by the Seagate office park though...

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/images/Boulder_CO-1Aug2002/Disc%20Dr.jpg

Ah, but it's a "dry heat," though, Khuon.

;)

(what's really wild is driving up into the mountains and seeing snow in the summer...)

Ah, but it's a "dry heat," though, Khuon.

;)

That's actually a more significant comment than you think. I remember cycling in arm-warmers on a day that was supposedly 37 degrees C a few years back.

Just like to post a news story about a great place to live and bike...

Greenways, bike paths impress visitors - Boulder Daily Camera Article (http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/get_out/article/0,1713,BDC_8836_3019765,00.html)

and I don't think the article does it justice.

Any problems with winds? I grew up in Denver a long time ago ('50's and '60's) and the winds whistling out of the Rockies made many activities in Boulder difficult. I remember roofs being ripped off houses quite a few times.

Ah, but it's a "dry heat," though, Khuon.

;)

(what's really wild is driving up into the mountains and seeing snow in the summer...)


That is very, very true and more true when applied to the cold. It is colder at sea level at 40 degrees than it is in Denver at 10 degrees, all due to humidity.

As to the second comment, many times during the summer, it would be 85F in Denver, but driving up to the Continental Divide, there would be snow on the ground and it would be in the low to mid 40's. They used to say if you don't like the weather in Colorado wait a minute or drive a mile.

Any problems with winds? I grew up in Denver a long time ago ('50's and '60's) and the winds whistling out of the Rockies made many activities in Boulder difficult. I remember roofs being ripped off houses quite a few times.

Yep, some substantial west winds seem to pop up late in the afternoon occasionally, just in time for my commute home (headwinds of course :). Every rose has a thorn, but in general I think the weather here is great. You can still get a good bit of riding in during the winter, just bundle up a bit. The local cliche'/lore is that the dedicated bike paths here are snow-plowed before the streets.

HMMMMMM spending my 8 weeks in Europe trying to decide a job offer in Boulder and one in Healdsburg, Ca

I lived in Boulder for 8 years before moving to Summit County. Boulder is teaming with lots of cycling enthusiasts.

If I were to limit myself to Colorado, I would say that Durango is the most cycle energized locale in the state.

I lived in Boulder for 8 years before moving to Summit County. Boulder is teaming with lots of cycling enthusiasts.

If I were to limit myself to Colorado, I would say that Durango is the most cycle energized locale in the state.
Great.

(Hey, would I be laughed off the forums for saying that Colorado is a perfect place to see by car?)

:eek:

HMMMMMM spending my 8 weeks in Europe trying to decide a job offer in Boulder and one in Healdsburg, Ca
Healdsburg's nice, too. At least y'all got a good choice! :)

brag about this:

:D

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=57407

I lived in Boulder for a summer a few years ago and had a lot of fun riding around that town. On the flip side, I got really tired of all the yuppies and the rich kids trying to be hippies (trustafarians) very quickly, and was glad to get back home after the summer. I did enjoy the weather, though, and the close proximity to so many beautiful areas.

Hmmm.... reading the cruzer thread I'd think the biggest problem in Boulder would the be police??

Sverre

brag about this:

:D

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=57407

Yep, I think it was a bit of "ironic" (someone call Alanis Morrisette) timing on my original post and the cruzer incident.

Too much of a good thing can always get out of hand. It sounds like from this point on all concerned are attempting to work it out.

Regardless, my commutes are still filled with considerate drivers, the weather is still beautiful, the infrastructure supporting cycling (paths, public transit, etc) is still great.

yea, i've been here since '82 and have seen changes, but, despite the growth and other minor things, i really like to live and ride here. there'll always be motorists, cyclists, and cops with bad attitudes, but over all it's a great place. :D


Yep, I think it was a bit of "ironic" (someone call Alanis Morrisette) timing on my original post and the cruzer incident.

Too much of a good thing can always get out of hand. It sounds like from this point on all concerned are attempting to work it out.

Regardless, my commutes are still filled with considerate drivers, the weather is still beautiful, the infrastructure supporting cycling (paths, public transit, etc) is still great.

I have to laugh every time I see someone refer to the heat in the SW part of the USA as 'dry heat'. Sit on a hot stove and see what 'dry heat' is really all about!!!!

I have to laugh every time I see someone refer to the heat in the SW part of the USA as 'dry heat'. Sit on a hot stove and see what 'dry heat' is really all about!!!!

Been there, done that. Ridden in temps of 37 degrees C/100F with arm-warmers! It's not that bad. Try the humid conditions where the nights are just as hot as the days.

Healdsburg, Ca is also a very excellent area for cycling.

Just like to post a news story about a great place to live and bike...

Greenways, bike paths impress visitors - Boulder Daily Camera Article (http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/get_out/article/0,1713,BDC_8836_3019765,00.html)

and I don't think the article does it justice.


I'd have to see the place to make a judgement, but I will believe it's a great place. As a "roadie", anytime I see the word "path", I tend to take it as a negative. I've had too many bad incidents happen on paths to like them. I avoid them anytime I can. We have a club member right now up at Lake Tahoe, Ca with a broken bone due to an 8 year old on a bike path. I've ridden the American River Trail near Sacramento, Ca, and a path would have to be laid out like that, and the rules followed, before I'd feel comfortable riding on it.

Its not enough for the paths to be scenic, they have to lead where people want to go. There are hundreds of km of paths in Montreal but many end up in the middle of nowhere, or worse, at a 5 way road intersection.

I grew up in Boulder - now live down the road in Littleton - and it was (is) a great place to ride. The bike paths do begin and end in logical places and feed hundreds of other road-based bike routes (with lanes) as well. I would guess the majority of students at CU have a bike and it's a great way to get around the relatively small city.

Like anywhere else, however, Boulder has problems as well. Most of them centered around the gestapo-like local government and police while we lived there. There was even talk at one time of limiting people's driving days based on the last digit in your license plate. If your number didn't match, you were pulled over and ticketed. Not a bad idea in a place now suffering from traffic congestion, but not a terribly "freedom loving" attitude either.

That Boulder is known locally as "40 square miles surrounded by reality," the "People's Republic of Boulder," and "Granolaville" might tell you something. ;) I also love the line about "trustafarians!" LOL. So true!

Overall, however, it IS a beautiful city with a great attitude about conservation and encouragement of an outdoor lifestyle. Don't know that I'd want to live there now, but it's fun to visit - and go for a ride...

I'd have to see the place to make a judgement, but I will believe it's a great place. As a "roadie", anytime I see the word "path", I tend to take it as a negative. I've had too many bad incidents happen on paths to like them. I avoid them anytime I can. We have a club member right now up at Lake Tahoe, Ca with a broken bone due to an 8 year old on a bike path. I've ridden the American River Trail near Sacramento, Ca, and a path would have to be laid out like that, and the rules followed, before I'd feel comfortable riding on it.

Seems like a good idea to adjust one's style of riding to where she/he rides.... on the road you adjust your riding to the auto traffic, on the single-track you adjust to the difficulty of the terrain... so on a bike path you adjust accordingly as well. I don't like taking a road bike (clipped in) on the bike paths where it is necessary to accomodate other rightful users (typically they are called "multi-use" paths around here). It's the price one pays to be segregated from automobile traffic.

It makes a great rationalization for getting another bike more tailored to a calm, relaxed get-about-town, like a cruiser or a townie. And in Boulder, it's still likely to get you there faster than driving/parking.