Mountain - Plains - Denver to Broomfield - Recommend a route

So, I hesitantly took a job up in Broomfield off of Interlocken Pkwy.

I live in the capitol hill area of Denver.

I probably won't commute all the way there by bicycle often, but on good weather days, I may like to.

Any recommended routes to go from Denver to Broomfield? I'm ignorant to the whole NW area of metro Denver.

Get a DBTC map if you don't already have one. If there's a way, it'll show it.

Should be available at every Denver-area bike shop.

DataJunkie DataJunkie DataJunkie!




(yes, that was my best Beetlejuice imitation)

Lowell north to 104th, west to Sheridan, north to 112th, west to old Wadsworth, then left to be able to ride over 36. Continue on, and you will hit the Wadsworth By-Pass, and should be able to figure it from there.

I second that route...but watch out for the killer little hill at Lowell & 80th! After crossing 36, I like to take Uptown all the way up to the airport, turn right, then go flying down Interlocken Blvd. Bonus: Uptown and Interlocken have on-street bike lanes.

Cool, I'll have to look at that route.

Right now, I'm just riding to downtown, catching the B to the 120th & Wads PnR, then riding the rest of the rest of the way.

Cool, I'll have to look at that route.

Right now, I'm just riding to downtown, catching the B to the 120th & Wads PnR, then riding the rest of the rest of the way.

I know I'm a little late to the party but Lowell isn't the best way...not all of it at least. Here's a better route (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3484086). Out of Capitol Hill, go along Cherry Creek to the Platte or whatever other route you like. Take the Highlands Bridge (old 16th St) over I-25 and then out 32nd Ave to Lowell. Take Lowell almost to 72nd but watch for Dry Creek path. Dry Creek will let you cut off that hill...and it's a bad one!...at 80th. Plus it lets you avoid some of the twist and turns in the hell that is Arvada.

Take Dry Creek all the way to Harlan, then north through Lake Arbor (be careful crossing 80th) than wind your way through the neighborhood north of Lake Arbor. My map has you going through on Lamar Dr. but Chase might be better. Less direct but it puts you out at a little better spot. (The northern Performance is about a block west of Chase Dr). Cut through the shopping center parking lot (near the Home Depot) and continue around until you get to Wadsworth. If you go all the way up to 92nd (past the Bicycle Village), you can get on Wadsworth and it's pretty smooth sailing from there. Wadsworth isn't as bad as you think. It has a nice wide shoulder.

If you want a longer route than just going to the Broomfield Park-n-Ride, take the bus to the park-n-ride at 90th and Sheridan. From there follow 92nd Ave to Wadsworth.

I know this route is a bit twisty but there isn't anything in Arvada that isn't...short of riding some rather nasty roads.

My team does a Golden to Interlocken ride quite a bit. The way we do it is really nice too, adequate shoulders, good roads, actually a pretty killer ride. It may not be ideal for a commute, but I do it from Downtown every other Saturday without too much trouble. I'd guess about 40 miles for you one way. It's a hike, but here goes.

From the downtown REI:
Go north on 16th over (bike bridge) I-25 to 32nd. Take 32nd toward Golden. Before Coors brewery, take a right on Mcyntire then:
Left: 58th
Right: Easley/193
Right: 172
Left: Quaker
Right: 82nd, turns into 80th
Left: Simms
Left: 82nd
Right: Alkire/19
Right:100th
Left:Simms
Right: Interlocken

It isn't as complicated as it seems, but I'd map it out first. You could also ride with our team this Saturday if you want to check it out. PM if interested.

My team does a Golden to Interlocken ride quite a bit. The way we do it is really nice too, adequate shoulders, good roads, actually a pretty killer ride. It may not be ideal for a commute, but I do it from Downtown every other Saturday without too much trouble. I'd guess about 40 miles for you one way. It's a hike, but here goes.

From the downtown REI:
Go north on 16th over (bike bridge) I-25 to 32nd. Take 32nd toward Golden. Before Coors brewery, take a right on Mcyntire then:
Left: 58th Turn at 54th or 50th. 58th doesn't go through
Right: Easley/193
Right: 172
Left: Quaker
Right: 82nd, turns into 80th
Left: Simms
Left: 82nd
Right: Alkire/19
Right:100th
Left:Simms
Right: Interlocken

It isn't as complicated as it seems, but I'd map it out first. You could also ride with our team this Saturday if you want to check it out. PM if interested.

While that is a good ride for pleasure, it's too long and out of the way for a commute. Here's the map (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3485121). Your route is 27 miles one way while the route I gave is 17. Mine is more complicated...try to ride through Arvada without complication:rolleyes:... and starts about 2 miles further east but for a commute an extra 10 miles (one-way) is a lot.

Here's a map of the Lowell route (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3485145). It's a little longer than my other route (from Capitol Hill to REI is 2.2 miles so the Arvada route is around 15 miles from REI). It is more direct but the hill between 78th and 84th is one of the worst you can find in town. It is Mean... like push you down and grind your face on the pavement mean:cry::cry: Doing it once in a while is good training. Doing it several times a week is just nasty;)