Conference noted::bicycle

    
    I didn't know there was a road to the top of Pikes Peak.
    (Or are you just talking about part-way up?)
    
    However, there is a road to the top of Mt. Evans - paved
    all the way to the top (over 14,000').  A good place to
    start the climb is at Idaho Springs (on I-70 and US-6),
    around 7000'.
    
    A 28x42 should do in a pinch.  I recall it's not being
    quite as steep as Mt. Washington.  Just a longer climb,
    and thinner air.  Thinner air is the main thing.  
    
    Oh, and there are mountain goats (steinbock) who will
    sometimes approach quite close to watch you.
    
    -john

>>    I am in need of some information on one of the highlights of my
>>    August Colorado trip:  riding up Pikes Peak.  
>>    
>>    I would appreciate any comments on the grade of the road.  I'll
>>    have cyclocross tires on my touring bike.  Right now my the lowest
>>    gear is 40 32.  As a strong rider, I'm debating whether or not to
>>    put a triple on the bike.
>>    
>>    Has anyone out there done this peak by bike?  

      First of all, you CAN'T ride the Pikes Peak highway.  Now that
      I've totally destroyed your vacation, let me suggest that you
      take a look at the TYFYS::COLORADO_BICYCLING notes file.

      The highway is closed to cyclists!  There is a hiking trail (Barr
      Trail) that IS open to mountain bikes but unless you are Superman,
      there is no way in the world that you can ride all the way to the
      top.  Oh, you can ride 95% of it but the last '16 golden stairs' you
      will have to carry your bike.  By the way, the first and last 3 miles of
      Barr Trail ascends 3,000 feet.  I think you can easily calculate
      the grade here....STEEP!

      As for gearing, I'll let others tell you, I haven't riden Barr 
      Trail.  Mount Evans, mentioned in the last reply does have a paved
      road which IS open to cyclists.  There are lots of passes you can
      ride as well.

      Michael
      Moderator Colorado_Bicycling      

    No cyclists allowed!?!  That is a shame.  It's the cars that should
    be banned!  I'll have to re-route my route to pass by Mt. Evans,
    because one way or another, I'm gonna climb a 14,000 footer on my
    bike, out there, this summer.
    
    From reply #1, it looks like a triple won't be necessary on Mt. Evans.  
    
    Thanks for the info.
    
    -Robin
    
                                 

    
    Yes, you should be all right without a triple (he said).  
    At least I was.  But be sure you are acclimated before
    climbing at that altitute.  (I suppose you will be by then,
    but don't try Mt. Evans the first thing.)  A couple days'
    riding/walking at lower elevations (5000'-7000' - Boulder,
    Denver, Colorado Springs, etc. are at that altitude) should
    do it for you.
    
    Bon courage!
    -john

    
    PS: Note that Idaho Springs, Evergreen, etc. (the route to Mt. Evans)
    are in the valleys taken by I-70 and US-6 west from Denver.  Bicycles
    are not allowed on parts of US highway 6, because it goes through many
    narrow tunnels at certain points.  Where you cannot take US-6 or other
    roads, you can bike on I-70 (in the breakdown lane).  There are signs
    directing cyclists onto and off of those parts of the Interstate that
    they need to be on.  It seemed safe to me.
    
    There may be alternate routes, by the way; I'm speaking from memory;
    but just a hint...
    
    -john

    John,
    
    Thanks for all of the advice.  I'm flying into Albuquerque, so by
    the time I hit Mt. Evans I should have at least a week of riding
    at altitude under my wheels.  I'll have to consult the map as to
    how I'll be approaching Mt. Evans. 
    
    Other trip highlights are the highest suspension bridge, (if it
    allows bikes), hiking Mt. Elbert, and finally Rocky Mtn. National
    Park.  Altitude sickness would really be a hindrance on a trip like
    this.
                                                       
    -Robin (Who still thinks cars should be banned instead of bikes.)

    Robin,
    
    Sounds like a great trip!  When are you leaving?  How long will it take?
    
    Trail Ridge Road (Rocky Mtn. National Park) is certainly worthwhile.
    Great climbing; great views - you gaze across at 14,000-footers.
    That would be a natural follow-on to Mt. Evans, because you can
    bear north from Empire, I believe, and be already at some altitude.
    
    Climbing up to the park from Boulder direction is a big climb (7000'?),
    or, alternatively, a great descent.
    
    -john (who doesn't mind cars, as long as they are sparse :-))

    Since you don't seem to want to put this conversation in the
    COLORADO_BICYCLING notes file where it would get more attention,
    I'll continue it here by asking you what your trip plans are.
    Given a tentative route, those of us who live here in Colorado
    might be able to suggest some routes and maybe give you some
    elevations (they are helpful to know).

    If you are coming in from Albuquerque and going to Rocky Mountain
    National Park, there are slews of ways to do it.  If you can give
    your tentative route, I can tell you the best way to Mt. Evans and
    from Mt. Evans to Rocky Mountain National Park.  If you are
    coming from the south, you are probably not going to use I25 (I would
    hope).  Even by the time you get to Mt. Evans, Idaho Springs area,
    which is right on I70, you won't necessarily have to use the Interstate
    since the 'old highway' parallels it to most of the places you
    may need to go.
    

    John, Mike,
    
    The route is still in the formative stage.  I'll look at the map
    this weekend and report back Monday with details.
    
    The flight home is from Denver so now I'm looking forward to this 7000'
    descent from the Park.          
    
    -Till Monday
    
    -Robin

    Finally, here is a rough sketch of the "route" as it stands now.  
    The way I do bike pack trips is, get to the start (Albuquerque), ride
    to/through as many places as time allows, using proper sense and
    route planning, and end up at destination (Denver), in time to catch
    flight home.  Except where steep passes are concerned, 70 to 100
    miles days are par.  
    
    I welcome any other comments or suggestions.  This will be a 17 day
    trip, 8/4-8/20.
    
    =Route 3 up from New Mexico, 159 to 160 to 69 to...Royal Gorge, Parkdale,
    Pikes Peak?, South Park, Buena Vista (to Elbert, Massive), then
    up to Minturn, East to Mt. Evans, Grand Lake, and Sulpher Springs,
    north to RMNP, and alas, down (~7000') to Denver, to fly home.
                   
    The main concern that remains is what kind of gearing will be
    necessary.  My guess is that the grads are long, but not steep.
    40x32 is what I'll be working with.
                                       
    -Robin

    
    This is an enticing-sounding trip!  I can't comment on most of
    the aspects (such as the route outside of Colorado), but your
    gearing sounds fine, as well as miles-per-day and general approach.
    You sound like a strong rider.
    
    Most of the grades in Colorado (and on major roads in the West,
    as echoed by the Californians) are long but not backbreakingly
    steep.  (Much less steep than some Alpine passes, or English roads.)
    
    Depends on how much you're carrying.  With tent + sleeping bag but
    no cooking gear, I got by with 42x26 or 42x28.  So 42x32 sounds good.
    Some people would consider a 39 on the front instead of the 42;
    I've not tried it, but it sounds reasonable.  (But then, check your
    derailleur capacity.)
    
    -john

Boy, this sound like one heck of a trip!

I take it you will be coming up I25 out of Albuquerque to Santa Fe and
then US84 to Espanola and then NM68 to Taos and NM3 on to Red River and
Colorado. Nice route, I travel that route wheneven I go see my sister
in Albuquerque.  Don't miss seeing the Rio Grande Gorge just west of Taos.
Other than minor rolling hills, I can't remember anything too touch here.
You do climb out of the Rio Grande valley from Espanola to Taos which will
be your longest climb in this area.  Albuquerque to Santa Fe could be
HOT - Its almost dessert there and 'fairly' flat.

You will be going from Taos to Colorado on NM3/CO159 to Fort Garland.
This area is FLAT and cars DO treat this span of highway like a speedway
so be careful.  I'm going to take a guess that you are going to Walsenburg
and hit CO69.  The road at the top of LaVeta Pass on the way to Walsenburg does
cut across but I think its dirt.  If you are going from Walsenburg to
Westcliffe, Texas Creek (on US50) and on to Parkdale, then you will be
riding part of a popular century route in this area.  I've never gone
from Walsenburg to Westcliff so I can't comment on the terrain or roads.
Going northwest out of Westcliff to Texas Creek is flat, slightly up hill
and the road sections (every 20 feet or so) will drive you crazy.  Bump, Bump,
Bump...etc for about 15 miles or so.  When the road starts due north then
you will be going down hill to Texas Creek.  US50 to Parkdale is a kick,
its relatively flat but there can be A LOT of tourists on this road.  It
has a good paved shoulder but again the traffic can be high.  At Parkdale
you will be going up 'PARKDALE HILL'.  You will climb about 1000 feet in
the course of about 2 miles.  Of course you will continue climbing
although not quite as steep until you get to the Royal Gorge.

From the Royal Gorge, your route gets a little fuzzy.  Since I told you
you could not ride to the top of PIKES PEAK, have you basically written
this off?

Are you going on to Canon City and Colorado Springs or are you going to
swing north to Hartsel (in the South Park area) and then west to Buena Vista.
From Hartsel to Buena Vista, the road is wide open, again relatively flat.
You will come to an intersection in the road where US24 meets US285.  Turn
left towards Buena Vista and you will have a slight hill climb for the
next mile or so to the top of Trout Creek Pass and then hold on....Great
down hill for the next 15 or 20 miles into Buena Vista.

You said "Buena Vista (to Elbert, Massive)"...OK, I take it you will continue
on US24 to Leadville.  You can't ride Elbert or Massive!  You can't even
mountain bike in that area since it is all Wilderness Area.  I might make
a small suggestion and maybe you considered it.  Why not go to ASPEN?

About 2/3 the way between Buena Vista and Leadville, CO82 heads due west
towards ASPEN (about 40 miles).  You will ride past Twin Lakes and then
head up Independence Pass (12,000+).  Now this is what you may have been
considering when you said 'ELBERT' since Elbert is just to the north of
this pass but not right on it.  I've ridden this pass several times from
the ASPEN side but not the Twin Lakes side.  Its about 22 miles from the
top of the pass to ASPEN which is about 7,000 ft.  It will be a hefty
climb back out over Independece Pass but its beautiful.  Now I'm a wimp,
I have done it with both by road bike (15 speed) and mountain bike.

Ok, on to Leadville and Minturn.  On the north side of Leadville (10,000ft)
you will turn left and continue on US24 towards Minturn and Vail.  You wil
climb a little more to the top of Tennessee Pass and then again hold on...
you are going to really drop into Minturn (8,000ft).  There is an hold
abandon mine and city on this pass which sets at the very edge of a 1000ft
cliff...its pretty spectacular.  This mine only closed about 6 years ago.
Now you are in Minturn headed toward Vail.  Pick up the bike trail (you
won't be allowed to ride I70) which goes all the way to Breckenridge.
You will have a good climb out of VAIL over Vail Pass (11,000ft) and then
drop down again to about 8,000ft at Frisco/Dillon.

From Dillion you will have to take US6 over Loveland Pass (12,000+) towards
Georgetown and Idaho Springs.  Hefty, hefty climb here from the Keystone
Ski Area but relatively flat from Dillon to the ski area. From the top
of Loveland Pass you will drop down again to I70 at the Loveland Ski Area.
You have just bypassed the Eisenhower Tunnel which is a 2.5 mile tunnel
through the mountains at an elevation of 11,000ft.  There is a side road
which is the old highway which parallels I70 to Georgetown and Idaho
Springs.  At Idaho Springs turn right (south) to Mt. Evans...follow the
signs I don't know the highway.  You will first climb a set of switchbacks
until you get to ECHO LAKE (about 10,000ft).  At Echo Lake you will turn
off the main road towards Mt. Evans.  It is about 15 miles from the turn
off.  They hold both running and cycling races up this road during the
summer.

Now, from your route description you are going to head back to Idaho Springs
from Mt. Evans and then retrace your route back towards Georgetown.  Between
Georgetown and Idaho Springs you will turn north to Empire and Berthoud
Pass (about 11,000).  Another climb here. Looooong climb with few switchbacks
and then you will drop down into Winter Park.  From Winter Park to Granby
and Grand Lake you will have a relatively flat ride.  You will leave the
mountains and trees for a semi-arid area until you get to Granby.

Grand Lake - Back door to Rocky Mountain National Park.  I assume you will be
going though the park and on to Denver but your route is fuzzy.  You will climb
out of Grand Lake over Trail Ridge Road (12,000ft) back down into Estes Park.
From Estes Park there are 2 ways to Boulder (if that is where you are
going). You can take US 36 to Lyons and boulder (oh hum) or the 'back way'.
Take CO7 through Allenspark to Ward.  Just outside Ward, you will
already be about 10,000 a short interesting detour might be to go to
Brainard (sp?) lake.  This is the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area and you
can ride to the campgrounds about 7 miles off the highway.  From
Ward, you descend into Nederland and then on to Boulder (don't know the
hwy number).

From Boulder on to Denver....

Any questions, I'll be checking back.
    [text]

    Michael,
    Wow, what a wealth of information!  I just printed it out and will
    study it tonight, with map.
    
    Now I'm really getting excited, as I visualize the roads, sites,
    and elevations that you described!!!!
    
    Maybe you could join us for a day or two.
    
    More to come...
    
    Robin
    

    You're wilcome.  That is why I said you should have persued this
    topic in the COLORADO_BICYCLING notes file.  There may be others
    who could give additional info.  I know many cyclists here at DEC
    look at this conference but many times there is a feeling that
    its not relavent to this area so they look at COLORADO_BICYCLING.

    I haven't cycled any of the areas you are going to exept for the 2
    that I mentioned. I don't know how strong you are or if you are
    dead set on your route but did you consider going to Durango?
    Same route to Taos then head west to Pagosa Springs and Durango,
    north through Silverton, Ouray, Montrose, west to Gunnison and
    then north to Buena Vista.  Yeah, Yeah, I know that's adding several
    hunderd miles but that area of Colorado is the most beautiful part
    of the state.
    

    Robin,  I just cross posted this in the Colorado_bicycling conference.
    Maybe someone else can come up with some pointers for you.
    

    Michael,
    
    Thanks.  I'll add Colorado_Bicycling to my Notes menu.
    
    I've got some map studying to do this weekend.
    
    -Robin

    If you're still interested in Pikes Peak there is *one* opportunity
    to do it -- if you don't mind it being a race.  The last weekend of
    July, the Colorado Games is holding a mountain bike race from the
    old Pikes Peak ski area to the summit (3600' climb in 8 miles).  There
    is a NORBA and citizen's section.  They start at 6:00 AM, an hour
    before the toll road opens to cars.  It doesn't say whether you get
    to turn around and ride down (or have to get a lift).
    
    Griz

    Too bad.  I'm not leaving until August 4.
    
    I would definitely try to do it if the time was right.
    
    Thanks 
    
    -Robin

    Robin,  got anymore info on your route?  I might be able to give you
    more info if you need.

    Michael

    Robin,
    
      I've been reading this note and drooling...  I just returned from
    "Ride The Rockies", a 391 mile, six-day trip from Craig, CO (on the
    western slope) to Boulder.  We had wonderful weather, etc. etc...
    
      I would agree that taking US 36 from Estes Park to Boulder is a 
    real yawner compared to other possiblilities.  CO 7 climbs out of 
    Estes Park to the south to join the Peak to Peak highway continuing
    on to Nederland.  It is one of the most scenic routes in Colorado.
    
      Contact me via E-Mail, as I have route AND elevation maps from the 
    tour I just completed.  I can fax you copies of them.
    
    Yours in saddle sores...
    -Kent