funrover 

So I had this thought of group rides, I ride 2 times a week with a group. Is there enough of us in CO to o a weekly gathering or maybe a 1 - 4 times a summer type thing. Just curious if anyone else is interested.

I do primarly off road but I still enjoy on road.

Blindrage

If I thought for a moment I could keep up with a group over any distance I would be all for this. Maybe after a few months to get in some shape that is not round and huffing like a wind tunnel.

funrover 

No worries man, You would be fine!

Pinyon

I like the idea too. It would be nice to not be the only dude over 175 lbs on a group ride. It really would.

funrover 

175 Holy Crap... I think that was 7th or 8th grade for me.



So what is better on/off road?

Where is a good spot to meet?

So far you are nortch and I am central I am hoping for more to see this post

Zin

I'm in too if I can fit into my schedule.

grueling

I would be in providing scheduling works out

front range? mountains?

MMPC

Hey there - I'm interested too! I think a road ride would be great - but I'm open to off-road as well (just nothing technical or you'll see my fat butt hitting the ground hard!). The past group rides I've done have met at the REI/Confluence Park area. It has a decent amount of parking, is fairly centrally located and is easy for everyone to find. Let me know when/where and I'll do my best to make it!

TrumpetMurph

I'm down, but I'm only equipped to do road rides.

ban guzzi

As long as my schedule allows it, sure! Road mostly. My MTB has been road-fredded...or fried if you wan to call it that. I have no rack for me car but I can figure something out I'm sure.

Not fast but happy...

cooleric1234

I'm interested too, also if my schedule allows. I don't have a mountain bike, just a commuter (modified hybrid) and a road bike. So far I've only done solo rides, mostly I'm just not sure I'm experienced enough to handle group dynamics. Perhaps us clydes are enough of outcasts that I'll be accepted :-) When I lived in Ohio I could average around 17 mph on the flats on my road bike (for one or two hours), but I mean really flat! The REI downtown sounds like a good central location.

funrover 

So road bike ride it is. Where is confluence park?

I have a book of CO road rides I can look through. I am not a strong climber and don't know really any road rides up north of me.

Lets set this up, Easy Place to meet
nice ride (out of city PLEASE)
Good for all levels

Any thoughts?

funrover 

Due to distance some may travel what day is best?

TrumpetMurph

Why not shoot for a once a month type of thing? Same day of the month or same time (i.e. the first Thursday of each month) Various rides in various parts of the state? Plains rides, mountains rides, city rides. . . Thoughts?

funrover 

I like that. Get some variety and have spots closer to each person around CO... Nice thought. What should the distance traveled be?

I am thinking 20 miles or so???

cooleric1234

I imagine it depends on when we do it. On a weeknight I would say no more than 20 miles. Perhaps the option of longer if it's on a Saturday?

TrumpetMurph

Yeah, with my work schedule weekends don't work, I'm off Tues thru Thurs. . . but if anybody is in the NW CO area or is planning to head up that way, I'd love to ride! Otherwise I'd have to look y'all up when I'm visiting the front range/other parts of the state.

Pinyon

It would have to be a weekend, or later in the afternoon for me to make it. I really only know of rides around the Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park areas as well. Well...there are a lot of Boulder routes online that I've seen, and I ride the Buffalo Bicycle Classic every year down there too. Nice riding just north of Boulder.

Have you guys ever ridden up to Estes Park? It is not as hard as it sounds. The Big Thompson Canyon is only steep through a couple of sections, and there are plenty of places to stop along the way and wait for the riders that are not used to climing. The big pay-off is the view when you come into Estes Park, and there are great places to stop and eat lunch before we head back down (whoooooosh!).

The last time that I drove up there for work, 2-3 weeks ago, there were elk and big horn sheep down along the roadside. Can't beat that!

Oh, and do you guys use the Velocal website to set up rides in your area? It lists logs of organized rides in Colorado and other states, and we could set it up on there such that it sends email reminders to everyone that signs up for the ride, etc. They use it for a few local rides around here.

funrover 

Currently I am off Tues and sat/sun. Once a month sounds great to me.

Trumpet - I am in Winter Park a lot if you can mee there sometime.
Pinyon - I have wanted to do rides around that area but don't know any. maybe that could be ride #1.

So for weekends Sat or Sun?
For weekdays which day?

funrover 

How does first sunday of the month sound?

June 1 be the first meet?

20 - 30 miles?

TrumpetMurph

Well, it sounds great! I won't be able to make it, but weekends seem to work pretty well for most everyone else!

Funrover-- we'll have to get together for a Tuesday ride sometime since we share that day off! WP and the 'boat are close enough together!

20-30 miles is perfect, too, should be manageable for all skill levels.

Pinyon-- that Estes Park ride sounds great! Do you start from Loveland, or what? I'll hit you up if I'm headed that way!

---TM

MMPC

Weekends are also best for me. Just one suggestion - since it will be our inaugural group ride and (for most of us) the first time we've met each other, etc. - maybe the first one should be in more of a central metro-area location? The Cherry Creek Bike Path in downtown Denver is great - and coincides with my REI meeting place suggestion. That would give everyone a chance to see how fast the pace will be, get to know each other, etc. without a huge commute (for most of us). Just a thought...

FYI, June 1 = Elephant Rock so it's not a good date for me. But if that's what is chosen, I'll try to make the next one.

Otherwise, I think the ride length of 20-30 is great and I'm looking forward to riding with everyone!

funrover 

nothing is set in stone, I am just getting ideas of what will work. I have a very busy summer coming up so I can only make 1 ir 2 during the summer. I am commuting up anyway and don't know any paths, if you know paths/where to meet etc I will go with it. I just try to escape the cities all the time..LOL

funrover 

Give me an Address for the REI so I can mapquest it. June 1 is the only weekend in June I have available and July 27 I have open. I would really like to meet others and do a ride. Lets get this going!

MMPC

The REI "flagship" store downtown is located at:

1416 Platte St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 756-3100



The store sits just west of Confluence Park - and the beginning of the Cherry Creek Trail. It also serves as a midpoint on the Platte River Trail which runs all the way from Littleton to Thornton. There are numerous out-and-back or loop road rides that can be launched from there.

funrover - where are you located? I know you mentioned Winter Park - do you live up there?

As for ride dates, I'll have to miss June 1st - but July 27th should work.