Colorado: Where to take a beginer?
 

I do primarly dirt/off road. I know a few road rides but not many. My fiance wants to ride more with me but not on busy roads.... And she likes to road ride... Any ideas where to go? I don't mind driveing to a location if needed..

I am in Colorado Springs

Well. come N on 83 to just north of Franktown, S of Parker, park in the Pinery parking (dwon a little road) lot on the West side of 83 at the Country Club - where the great big bubble is. There is a porta potty and lunch area at the trailhead. Go north on the Cherry Creek Trail as far as you want. You will eventually hit E470, take the trail to the left and you can go for more miles (up to 50-100 miles on the E47/C470 Trail as it connects with the Platte River Trail..

From the Trailhead to the E470 branch is about 10 miles, (you can also go up and down Sulphur Gulch Trail on the way and add anaother 8 miles). You will hit just 3 street crossings on Sulphur Gulch, none on the Cherry Creek Trail. You will hit about 6 on the E47-C470 trail.

Here is a map. Wave as you go by my house.
http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/denverbikemap1.jpg

LOL.... I worked up there all summer... I often looked at that path..... i was part of the construction crew building the new waste water plant.... I bet I saw you at least once! So it's pretty good?

Depends on what you like and on what day you might come.

Weekdays, I might see 5-10 bicyclers and 5-10 walkers on a 20 mile ride. They are well trained and move to the side of the trail upon hearing my bell. Weekends, you will also get the varied assortment of little kids on training wheels, etc. Especially with temps in the 60's+. There are very few peds on the 470 trail at any time - but you do hear the cars on the freeway.

Anyway, I love it, and during better riding weather (anythong 45F or more) I do a 20-30 mile ride daily.

(Oops hit the post button)

It's about a 10mi round trip, uphill (slight) out and downhill back, and about 97% asphalt/concrete. North of Woodman it turns to gravel and the hills get much steeper.

We do that one now.... So far it is her favorite!! But that was the only beginer trail I really knew of!

Tempelton Gap is a nice ride from the same starting point but there was a huge muddy section last time I rode it and the climb up to and on the other side of nevada is a bear.

Another semi-easy one is Park at the playground at Palmer Park, take the trail along Academy south to Constitution and take Rock Island Trail west to Templeton Gap then turn around and go all the way to Powers, turn around again and head back to Palmer Park.

It's uphill from Templeton Gap to Powers, there are some big dips between Murray and Powers, and the some of the road crossings are not real good; which makes it more difficult than the Greenway but still in the easy range. Round trip is about 13 miles.

Cool...thanks!

From downtown you can ride south on Tejon, turn right on Cheyenne Blvd, ride up to the entrance to Cheyenne Canyon Park and go to the visitor's center. Across the street from the visitor center parking lot is a house with these wind mills made by Starr Kemph. Take the street beside the Kemph house, Pine Grove up to the Broadmoor Hotel, then find your way down to Cheyenne Road and back to downtown. VERY nice ride on a quiet Sunday morning. This is an easy, and most enjoyable ride, she'll love it, take your time.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...mer/Kemph2.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...mer/Kemph3.jpg