Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Fifty Plus (50+)
Reload this Page >

Instead of a century, a bike adventure

Notices
Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

Instead of a century, a bike adventure

Old 01-29-07, 06:35 PM
  #1  
Hwy 40 Blue
Thread Starter
 
Hwy 40 Blue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Golden, Colorado
Posts: 208

Bikes: A Bike Friday Pocket Crusoe and a Trek hybrid

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Instead of a century, a bike adventure

My old thread on doing a century got resurrected, and it got me to thinking. What I want to do this year is go on a Big Bike Adventure. Not a century, not a tour, but... here's my idea.

I board the westbound Amtrak train in the morning in downtown Denver with my folding bike in my luggage. It's a few scenic, pleasant hours to Granby, a town up in the mountains. In Granby I get off the train and ride 13 miles to the town of Grand Lake, where I get a motel room, sightsee, hang out and rest, because I have to conserve myself to ride ...

Up and over Trail Ridge Road the next day, the roof of the world, through Rocky Mountain National Park. twenty-five miles of up. Then twenty-five miles of down, to the town of Estes Park, where I can stay with a cousin.

Next day, ride down to Boulder, then on to home in Golden. Neat, huh?
Hwy 40 Blue is offline  
Old 01-29-07, 06:39 PM
  #2  
In Memory of One Cool Cat
 
Blackberry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Posts: 2,722

Bikes: Lemond Victoire, Cannondale.Mountain Bike, two 1980s lugged steel Treks, ancient 1980-something Giant mountain bike converted into a slick tired commuter with mustache handlebars, 1960-something Raleigh Sports

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Hop on your Friday and ride! I think you'll love it. Do you have the rolling suitcase/trailer system?
__________________
Dead last finish is better than did not finish and infinitely better than did not start.
Blackberry is offline  
Old 01-29-07, 06:39 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,259
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
"Neat" doesn't even begin to describe it!

For the mathmatically challenged, how many miles is that? (Although I know the total mileage isn't the point at all!)
Big Paulie is offline  
Old 01-29-07, 06:41 PM
  #4  
Senior Member ??
 
Beverly's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Englewood,Ohio
Posts: 5,098

Bikes: 2007 Trek Madone 5.0 WSD - 2007 Trek 4300 WSD - 2008 Trek 520 - 2014 Catrike Trail

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
That sounds like a great trip! I'm sure it would be more fun than another century.

I also did my first century last summer and I just can't get too excited about doing another. Aren't they all alike
__________________
=============================================================

Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
-- Antonio Smith
Beverly is offline  
Old 01-29-07, 07:04 PM
  #5  
just keep riding
 
BluesDawg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Milledgeville, Georgia
Posts: 13,560

Bikes: 2018 Black Mountain Cycles MCD,2017 Advocate Cycles Seldom Seen Drop Bar, 2017 Niner Jet 9 Alloy, 2015 Zukas custom road, 2003 KHS Milano Tandem, 1986 Nishiki Cadence rigid MTB, 1980ish Fuji S-12S

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 173 Post(s)
Liked 33 Times in 22 Posts
Sounds like a lot of fun.

And no, they aren't all alike.
BluesDawg is offline  
Old 01-29-07, 07:18 PM
  #6  
Approaching Nirvana
 
megaman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Tomah, WI
Posts: 1,223

Bikes: Catrike Expedition

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I was through that area a few years back. Great scenery. Maybe you're used to it, but that elevation would do me in. I had a hard time catching my breath just walking to the visitor center. Plus it was real cold on top even in July. But I think that would be one awesome ride.
__________________
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits."
-- Albert Einstein
megaman is offline  
Old 01-29-07, 08:05 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Terex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: 7600' Northern New Mexico
Posts: 3,680

Bikes: Specialized 6Fattie, Parlee Z5, Scott Addict

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 36 Post(s)
Liked 34 Times in 24 Posts
Sounds great. The train from Denver is so cool. I was in Vail, and rode mtn bike from base of Vail, up to the top, and back down. When I got to Vail village, they were just happening to be having Octoberfest - score!!! Regarding oxygen...I've always told people that the reason I acclimate so well to high altitudes is that I live in Jersey, and the amount of available oxygen there is about the same as the available oxygen at 10K feet.
Terex is offline  
Old 01-29-07, 08:33 PM
  #8  
Banned.
 
DnvrFox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 10 Posts
Go BLUE!

I once rode from what is now Sol Vista (I was there on a retreat) to Grand Lake and back. 40 miles of very nice riding, including the flat.

Here is a picture of the top of Trail Ridge during the June Ride the Rockies in 1998.

DnvrFox is offline  
Old 01-29-07, 08:38 PM
  #9  
Hwy 40 Blue
Thread Starter
 
Hwy 40 Blue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Golden, Colorado
Posts: 208

Bikes: A Bike Friday Pocket Crusoe and a Trek hybrid

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
OK, here's the mileage: Granby to Grand Lake, 13 miles. Grand Lake to Estes Park, 49 miles (half up, half down). Estes Park to Boulder, depends on route, but say 35-40 mostly downhill miles. Boulder to Golden, 18 miles.
Hwy 40 Blue is offline  
Old 01-29-07, 08:41 PM
  #10  
Hwy 40 Blue
Thread Starter
 
Hwy 40 Blue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Golden, Colorado
Posts: 208

Bikes: A Bike Friday Pocket Crusoe and a Trek hybrid

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks for the pic, DnvrFox!
Hwy 40 Blue is offline  
Old 01-29-07, 08:42 PM
  #11  
Banned.
 
DnvrFox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 10 Posts
Originally Posted by Hwy 40 Blue
OK, here's the mileage: Granby to Grand Lake, 13 miles. Grand Lake to Estes Park, 49 miles (half up, half down). Estes Park to Boulder, depends on route, but say 35-40 mostly downhill miles. Boulder to Golden, 18 miles.
You've got to go through Ward and Left Hand Canyon to Boulder.
DnvrFox is offline  
Old 01-29-07, 09:27 PM
  #12  
His Brain is Gone!
 
Tom Bombadil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Paoli, Wisconsin
Posts: 9,979

Bikes: RANS Stratus, Bridgestone CB-1, Trek 7600, Sun EZ-Rider AX, Fuji Absolute 1.0, Cayne Rambler 3

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
If you can do it, at elevations of 12K+, then that would be an accomplishment.

I got a little weak in the knees driving over that road, with the steep dropoffs and narrow birms.

I do love the area. I've been there (RMNP & Estes Park) three times in the past two years.
Tom Bombadil is offline  
Old 01-29-07, 09:29 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,259
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Hwy 40 Blue
OK, here's the mileage: Granby to Grand Lake, 13 miles. Grand Lake to Estes Park, 49 miles (half up, half down). Estes Park to Boulder, depends on route, but say 35-40 mostly downhill miles. Boulder to Golden, 18 miles.
This is really cool HFB...I for one would love to be there, and I know most of the people in here would agree.

And, I notice you haven't totalled the mileage, also very cool...
Big Paulie is offline  
Old 01-29-07, 09:31 PM
  #14  
Let's do a Century
 
jppe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,316

Bikes: Cervelo R3 Disc, Pinarello Prince/Campy SR; Cervelo R3/Sram Red; Trek 5900/Duraace, Lynskey GR260 Ultegra

Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 651 Post(s)
Liked 879 Times in 408 Posts
If you can take a golf club or two with you maybe you could get in a few holes at your destinations and make it an extreme adventure!!

Seriously your idea sounds like a really great trip.
jppe is offline  
Old 01-29-07, 10:11 PM
  #15  
Hwy 40 Blue
Thread Starter
 
Hwy 40 Blue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Golden, Colorado
Posts: 208

Bikes: A Bike Friday Pocket Crusoe and a Trek hybrid

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Well, jppe, now that you mention it .... Grand Lake is indeed supposed to have a very nice course I hope to play one day, and if this trip somehow included spouse + car I'd make that happen. But not this time! BWT, I'll be in Palm Springs next week with the sticks (and spouse!)
Hwy 40 Blue is offline  
Old 01-30-07, 08:37 AM
  #16  
Let's do a Century
 
jppe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,316

Bikes: Cervelo R3 Disc, Pinarello Prince/Campy SR; Cervelo R3/Sram Red; Trek 5900/Duraace, Lynskey GR260 Ultegra

Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 651 Post(s)
Liked 879 Times in 408 Posts
Originally Posted by Hwy 40 Blue
Well, jppe, now that you mention it .... Grand Lake is indeed supposed to have a very nice course I hope to play one day, and if this trip somehow included spouse + car I'd make that happen. But not this time! BWT, I'll be in Palm Springs next week with the sticks (and spouse!)
Wow! Palm Springs should be a great trip!! Great to see you still getting in the cross training on the course and road! I'm trying to swear off golf to spend more time on the road but it's hard to break 40+ years of habits!! I hope you have a wonderful trip.
jppe is offline  
Old 01-30-07, 09:36 AM
  #17  
Senior Member ??
 
Beverly's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Englewood,Ohio
Posts: 5,098

Bikes: 2007 Trek Madone 5.0 WSD - 2007 Trek 4300 WSD - 2008 Trek 520 - 2014 Catrike Trail

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by BluesDawg
Sounds like a lot of fun.

And no, they aren't all alike.
The "all alike" was in reference to 100 miles
__________________
=============================================================

Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
-- Antonio Smith
Beverly is offline  
Old 01-30-07, 09:49 AM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
Speedo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Boston Area
Posts: 1,998

Bikes: Univega Gran Turismo, Guerciotti, Bridgestone MB2, Bike Friday New World Tourist, Serotta Ti

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Hwy 40 Blue
What I want to do this year is go on a Big Bike Adventure. Not a century, not a tour.
A "Blitz Tour"!

I've been having similar thoughts about one or two day light weight trips to local destinations. My wife and I have done Cape Cod before. Maybe up to Concord, NH, or out to western Mass...
Speedo is offline  
Old 01-30-07, 11:19 AM
  #19  
Time for a change.
 
stapfam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Posts: 19,913

Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Sounds great so when do you do it? I am too far away but feel certain some of the others here might like to join you. Especially if the cousin is Female and unattached, and can put up with some older riders parking overnight in the garage.
__________________
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.


Spike Milligan
stapfam is offline  
Old 01-30-07, 12:09 PM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Maupin, OR
Posts: 532

Bikes: Used Marin MTB, New 6/06 Scott Contessa Speedster

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
That's a great sounding trip!
LynnH is offline  
Old 01-30-07, 12:14 PM
  #21  
Third World Layabout
 
crtreedude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Costa Rica
Posts: 3,136

Bikes: Cannondale F900 and Tandem

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 397 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 32 Times in 22 Posts
Sounds like a nice trip. Sometime in the spring, I am packing my wife off to visit her relatives. Instead of just sitting around doing nothing I am going to stay home and do a bike tour of my own. I am hoping about a 4 to 5 days. No schedule, no destination, just get on the bike and ride. I am thinking of heading to Panama...
crtreedude is offline  
Old 01-30-07, 01:18 PM
  #22  
Hwy 40 Blue
Thread Starter
 
Hwy 40 Blue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Golden, Colorado
Posts: 208

Bikes: A Bike Friday Pocket Crusoe and a Trek hybrid

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'd be happy to have company. This trip has to be done when TRR (Trail Ridge Road) is open and clear, which pretty much restricts it to May-September. But that's a pretty wide window. I also want to do the up-and-over on a Thursday or Friday, to keep RV and other traffic somewhat at bay. There's going to be tourist traffic no matter what, but I can try to mitigate it.

I have not picked a date, but I'm thinking possibly June or July for optimum weather. I am not ready to pin down anything, just thinking at this point.

The cousin is older and male and single, but I also have a female friend with a cabin up there.
Hwy 40 Blue is offline  
Old 02-01-07, 12:37 PM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: North Carolina Piedmont
Posts: 766

Bikes: 1984 Peugeot P8; 2006 Trek 5200

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
That sounds like a terrific trip!! I was up that way about 3 years ago in Estes Park & Boulder. Don't know if I am ready for THOSE hills!!
p8rider is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.