For Those Who Ride Deer Creek Canyon
 

I know that many of you ride Deer Creek Canyon and that many of you have also used my website for a description of this ride.

Well, a local resident has been flaming on in the comments about banning cyclists in the canyon and such. Since this is the #2 Google hit for "high grade road" and the #1 for "deer creek canyon ride," I thought I need to either delete her comments or respond intelligently. I chose the latter and just researched some facts and wrote a reply. I welcome any other thoughtful replies that will demonstrate that cyclists have rights as well.

The post is here.

I do ask that you please keep it thoughtful if you choose to reply, even though I got a little snarky ;)

I don't want this to degenerate into a general cyclists vs motorists thread, but to keep it as a place for people who actually ride the route to express themselves. If it gets out of hand, I will have to lock the comments. My website is already getting more hits than my hosting level can support whenever I post on a group reading project that I am in for the summer.

BTW, I am the user "rich" on the page.

Sorry to reply to my own thread, but here is some info on Jeff Co trying to gain the legislative right to limit bikes on roads.

http://www.lcni5.com/cgi-bin/c2.cgi?...90707036000997

I wonder if this is something bicycle colorado would be involved in?
Anyhow, I ride Deer Creek Canyon once a year so I have no idea what this conflict is about.

DJ, I am informing people I know at Bicycle Colorado and Colorado Bike Law. It will be just crazy to have a law that lets elitist communities block of public roads.

Message posted, although I'm not sure if it'll help as it seems at least one "Resident" has an axe to grind...

In my post I gave residents around Deer Creek the benefit of the doubt, but the one time I rode Deer Creek Canyon I was horn blasted and flipped-off by the only driver to pass me. I was riding solo and about 6" from the shoulder while they were speeding and crossing the double yellow line while going around a blind curve...

Thanks celtifrost. I approved the comment.

Generally, I am treated well by drivers in that canyon, but I did have a really obnoxious old Nissan pickup honk at me while descending in switchbacks on Monday. I gave him a hold back signal with my hand, but he continued on his horn and passed me in the curves. We hit a straight area with a shoulder less than a minute later...

I also sent my link to Bicycle Colorado and joined while I was there. I am realizing that are rights on the road take effort. They are not a given.

I doubt I would have anything worthwhile to add to the discussion. I feel illiterate reading the posts. :p
Perhaps it is just me but it seems like Deer Creek Canyon is one of the least friendly places to ride. Considering that I ride in Thornton this says quite a bit.

Deer Creek isn't bad if you can ride it on a weekday The morning rush has them all comming down in the morning so you pretty much have the road to yourself.

That's when I like to ride it too. There is nothing worst than hitting it on a weekday after work.

From the article:

Great, another case of "cars endanger cyclists, so let's ban cyclists". I'd have more respect for the other side in these debates if they'd stop pretending they care about cyclists' safety and just admit that they find the 20 seconds it takes to pass us intolerable.

+1

The troops are mobilizing apparently

http://bicyclecolo.org/page.cfm?PageID=1042

I wonder if having a pro cycling governor will help any.
Anyhow, I'm sending in my dues tomorrow to bicycle colorado.

I emailed JeffCo and got a canned response.

http://holierthanyou.blogspot.com/20...san-mateo.html

I just posted over in the other thread on this, but haven't seen all this because I have been away at a conference all week. I just checked Google Analytics and my page is getting slammed. Hot topic.

I have already sent my money to Bicycle Colorado, but that is not enough. I plan to actively engage in this fight. It is so absurd that I cannot imagine it passing if we rally a voice.

I do this ride a lot, it is a fantastic climb and pretty too. To be honest, there are a few bad apples that may ruin it for the rest of us. For example, I saw three guys in team kits (I won't name them here) peeing on the side of the road a few weeks ago. Not on someone’s lawn, but still. I have seen people riding 2 abreast many times. It is almost always racers in team kits that do this. Before reading this thread I didn't know the severity of the issue. Thanks for bringing it up. I knew there was some tension though and I do my best to not be problematic.
My biggest beef with the anti-bike lot is the argument that cyclists make the road un-safe. Hmmmm...pot calling the kettle black???
Didn't they just expand the shoulder a couple of years ago to accommodate motorists? I thought this was to assuage the complainers. The county (state?) has already invested infrastructure $$ on this issue and I doubt, seriously doubt, bikers would lose the privilege of riding this great ride on account of kids seeing bulges in spandex, or whatever (“…walking out of your wedding amidst spandexed cyclists”).
I think if you see cyclists peeing, riding side-by-side, or exhibiting road rage to a motorist politely remind them of the tension with the locals. Or, email the team Website and let them know a few of their riders were misbehaving. Also, if a motorist messes with you take down their license plate number and report them.