I want to ride my fixed gear from Denver to Greeley. It's about 50 miles and it is all flat (mostly). I mapped a route and I just want to see if this looks like a bike friendly/safe route for those who live in CO.

4. Turn left at Monaco Pkwy
1.3 mi
5. Turn right at E 32nd Ave/Airport Way E/Martin Luther King Blvd
0.5 mi
6. Turn left at CO-35/Quebec St
Continue to follow Quebec St

2.7 mi
7. Continue on Quebec Pkwy
3.1 mi
8. Turn right at CO-2
4.1 mi
9. Turn left at E 104th Ave
1.8 mi
10. Turn right at US-85
37.9 mi
11. Continue on 85
1.4 mi
12. Turn left at 20th St
0.2 mi


It looks easy and direct to me, but just want to be totally safe. US-85 has a huge shoulder, so i should be good.

Also, how long do you think it would take to ride that distance? Keeping in mind it's fixed gear but I'm in very good shape and usually have an average of about 17mph.

Thanks!

I'm not that fond of Quebec but the route looks fine. US 85 reminds me of riding Morrison road so no worries there. Have fun!

edit: I would plan on about 3 hours to account for flats and to not push too hard. Even a coffee stop would be nice in that time!

I don't know anything about your route as I live in Maine (my sister and mom live in Parker, CO, though). Here is a post from my local bike commuting discussion board about a guy that went 120 miles on a single-speed to visit his family in Massachusetts for Thanksgiving. It was icy at the time. I am very impressed. Portland Maine to Lowell Mass ride.

Go for it!

I ride to Greeley for work from Windsor. Even though the area where I go in Greeley is almost exactly the same elevation as my house, there are still a couple of pretty substantial uphill grades, which, even with the leveling out at some point is still very taxing. I also couldn't imagine doing those sections without lower gearing. The good news is Denver is higher than Greeley by a few hundred feet so you should have mostly downhill sections when it isn't flat.

One thing about US 85, it does have a wide shoulder but there are also some things to think about safety wise:

- People go FAST. Many treat it just like I-25. The speed limit is 65 through most of it, but it is not uncommon for some to go 75 or more.

- Despite the wide shoulder, there is one place I'm thinking it does narrow.....at the bridge for the South Platte. That section is pretty long too.....I would be very careful there.

- The cross traffic. Weld County is reknowned for its accidents because of the unusual angles of the intersecting roads, train tracks, parallel running frontage roads, and weather related issues. People shoot across the highway (85) impatiently where there are no traffic lights. Make sure you anticipate that kind of behavior.

Not trying to deter you.....just don't think because much of it is relatively rural that it's just a leisurely joy ride.