valygrl

That is the route. The direction is weather dependent. There are pros and cons to each direction, but i usually decide based on weather. If the forecast is for strong afternoon west wind, ride clockwise and have a tailwind for the last 30 mile climb from Minturn to Copper. If the forecast is for afternoon thunderstorms, decide based on whether the storm forecast is worse on Vail pass or Fremont Pass (between Leadville and Copper) and when the storms are supposed to hit. Usually I try to start riding at about 7:30, even though it is too cold, because the storms in the afternoon really need to be avoided.

Short answer: make a last minute call on the direction, and both ways are great.

valygrl

LAJ. Really? REALLY???? Dude.

Heathpack 

Ok, I have the routes in both directions as Ride with GPS files.

I am fine with an early start time, nothing is really too early for me. I'm not sure how weather plays out, I have not yet looked into weather patterns. But I'm sure I could arrange some kind of SAG if we need to drop off jackets/cold weather stuff when it warms up.


@LAJ and @rapwithtom, what time works for you for the start?

happybday29475

That's the way I've done it, reason being a) Copper is the closest point to Boulder; b) the hardest part is Vail back to Copper, and the horse-to-the-barn effect is in full play, and fully needed, to get my arse over that hill.

Copper also has vast parking lots that will be completely empty except for us, so it's an easy place to meet up. FYI, if possible, I suggest starting the ride from the parking lot, ie with no need to fuel-up or get coffee or water...Copper is pretty much boarded up right then, except for a gas station or two. (Notably different from Breck or Vail, where there's lots of tourism going on).

happybday29475

In the interests of clarity, I suggest meeting here.
https://goo.gl/maps/UTfgGJG1zxT2


As for time, I vote for a 9am start time. It's a reasonable compromise between VG's reasonable desire to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, and my reasonable desire to not have to set my alarm clock for an unreasonable hour.

happybday29475

lol typical preparedness.

If I can simplify:
- If going clockwise, turn right at every chance, until your starting point magically re-appears.
- If going counterclockwise...

These directions exclude possible turns onto surface roads and/or into taverns, as well as highway-looking-ish driveways into $25M estates.

Heathpack 

Haha, I guess it will depend on who's driving. I'll let ya'll duke the start time out.

LAJ

I know, right? I hear we also have a mint here. Some day I'll have to go inside.

I guess I have always been of the mind that I can hit any epic hill I want from my front door. Peak to Peak is just over Golden Gate or Coal Creek, Boulder's over yonder, and even High Grade and Evergreen are within riding distance. I'm not allowed to just go slog anymore, so driving to rides makes a little more sense now.

beatlebee 

Last year, I went up even though the road was closed to cars as they were repairing the road. It was very cold, windy, and snowing. I was not happy but I did it.

Thanks, but I will be out of CO by the end of June. I wouldn't stand a chance on that HC and Tommy's record is ridiculous, alien even.

beatlebee 

I'd prefer an earlier start as well. I have always ridden this route clockwise starting from the gas station at Copper Mtn., which is open early. (7am at least??)

How about 8 am as a compromise?

beatlebee 

As well, I rode up Independence Pass this morning from Aspen. I have read that the roads are scary, be careful, etc. Way overblown IMHO. It was a very nice ride, with a few narrow areas. It reminds me of the conditions of the road in Glacier: Road to the Sun.

valygrl

8:00 is ok for me (roll out time, right?). 9:00 sounds really late. It only takes 1:15-1:30 to drive there in the morning. coming home in Sunday afternoon mountain rush-hour is another story, and another reason to be done earlier.

I always start at the gas station too - bathroom & coffee shop at the start/finish location is convenient.

beatlebee 

@valygrl: Yes, I was thinking roll out at 8 am. It is a 2.5 hour drive for me, so I am preferring 8 am over a 7 am.

Heathpack 

What is allegedly scary about the roads? The drivers, lack of shoulders, road conditions? Just wondering because this one is on my "maybe" list for the second half of the week.

beatlebee 

The road has a spot or two where it narrows to one lane, there are some rough spots in the tarmac that might jar you on a fast decent, and most dangerous are the few (early morning at least) tourists that rip up the road at high speed. Really there is nothing scary at all. I think riding on the PCH in CA is much much more dangerous.

beatlebee 

The ride over the Grand Mesa and back is excellent. I did it today. 88 miles from Molina with just under 10K elevation gain. Lots of excellent vistas and a great little cafe on the east side of the road when entering Cedaredge. $3.75 for a massive pancake and bottomless coffee. Making it epic was one of my front spokes exploding on the decent into Cederedge. I limped the rest of the way down and back over to home.

Highly Recommend.

valygrl

^^Beats sitting at a desk at work all day.... Are you a teacher?

Heathpack 

I am not devoting enough days of my life to this Colorado trip, I think. Too many rides, too little time.

beatlebee 

True, just giving you some ideas for next time.

valygrl

Guess I'll just have to ask you IRL on the CT.

Heathpack 

I'll bet @robabeatle is a spy. Or possibly a celebrity, maybe one of the Beatles. Or possibly he really is a beatle, a la the protagonist in Kafka's Metamorphosis and we're all gonna freak out when we meet him IRL.

beatlebee 

Dalai

CO is a great place to ride...
Surprised you don't like Mt Evans LAJ!? Good gradient, beautiful scenery and boast worthy elevation (coming from a country where the highest point is 2228m which is 66m lower than the climbs start in Idaho Springs)! Road surface could be better, but due to flooding overnight I had the road to myself from Echo lake as they had locked the lower gate and therefore could take all the road.
Both sides of Independence pass is great (Aspen side is best) enjoying it immensely and had no issues with traffic.
Grand Mesa really nice as robabeatle has said. Missed that coffee shop when I rode it unfortunately...
Pikes Peak is brutal and a must do. Hardest climb I did by far on my 3 week peak bagging trip in 2013. Has to be on every climbers list.
Trail Ridge Rd felt like it would be spectacular, but I rode it the morning of the floods when it was the only way out of Estes Park and saw nothing other than clouds and lots of water.
Least preferred CO ride was the Copper triangle. Prefer loops but this one spends too much near the Interstate for my liking.
Really surprised how underrated the US climbs are even by US citizens. Just as good as anything I've ridden in Europe... Only downside is the distance between rides. Unlike towns like Bourg d'Oisans where you have a week plus of HC rides from your door, for my 3 week US trip I drove close to 6000km!!

Heathpack 

So is it worth driving to Grand Mesa later in the week? I was thinking of going for Independence Pass but that's a drive too, Grand Mesa would only be another 1.5 hours I think. (With the disclaimer that there might be no second long ride, depending on how I feel later in the week.) (Although I can recover from my vacation once I get home.)

Is there anything for the menfolk to do around there? I know Mr H would have zero comfort level with me going off and doing it alone and having the only vehicle so he couldn't even come get me if something happened.

Dalai

I would recommend Independence pass over Grand Mesa for Mr H and for you. As more for him to do in Aspen than the hamlet of Mesa... Independence Pass is a true col where Grand Mesa has an elevation sign past the high point with no summit views. Beautiful scenery on both mind you and worthwhile doing both if you had the time...