Mountain - Plains - Fraser, CO 3/2-3/10 Trip

Hey Colorado dudes,

My girlfriend and I are taking a vacation there soon. She loves snowboarding and is going to Winter Park for a couple days there. I on the other hand am wanting to ride. Anyone have any ideas on where I could go that it would be around 30 or higher? I know Fraser is at about 8500'. It is looking to be the best idea is to drive to Denver in the morning or something. I have all the cold weather gear, but I am just worried about snow, etc.

Any thoughts?

Dude, forget the bike, take a snowboard lesson, find a hot spring to soak in, go snow shoeing. You'll be in winter wonderland, enjoy it.

Well I wrecked back in may, had surgery on my shoulder, and my Doctor today just cleared me to Ski today. We are bringing snow shoes too. Should be fun. I am bringing the bike though because we are making a stop in colorado springs. I would like to ride through garden of the gods.

Well it's not ideal timing, but it's possible if you drive down to Denver-level. I doubt you'll be able to ride up near Fraser, there's a flat road in the valley (hwy 40) but chances are the conditions will be really bad - shoulder covered in snow & sand, way too cold.

Front range weather has been hit and miss - I've been able to get out and ride about 4 days a week, mostly in sunny 30-38 degree conditions. ANything could be happening on any particular day in a couple of weeks though.

You won't be able to do much in the way of climbing, due to ice and sand on the canyon roads and how cold the descending is, but you can go out on the plains. I ride farm roads north of Boulder, between Boulder and Loveland mostly. If you decide you want to bother with it let me know and tell me what kind of distance you are looking for in flat/mostly-flat riding, and I can send you a google map with some ideas.

March in the rockies is not my idea of great biking. Go to Boulder or any of the front range cities for some decent options.

I've never biked in the Winter Park area but I've driven around there a bit and I don't recall anything that looked particularly inviting. Was over there a few weeks ago and while not a ton of snow, there was enough on the sides to make biking less than ideal plus the sand and salt and idiot drivers. If you are willing to drive, you might head over to the Frisco area. Of course, you are still in the mountains so not sure what biking will be like, but they have a number of good bike paths and while I don't know for sure, I'd be willing to bet they keep some of them clear of snow.