Roads and Paths, Denver and Environs

[chatnoire]

I posted in the other thread about it, but it's a pretty old thread.

I live in S. Denver, just past DU. I'd love to have other people to ride with, so that I am not always relying on my boyfriend for a cycling companion. I can go mornings, evenings, afternoons, weekends....I'm pretty flexible.

I am also willing to do easy rides, or get a bit more aggressive. I typically do 20-30 miles, and 12-14 mph average, a little higher when I'm not climbing any hills. I'd love to be pushed, but I can also take it easy.

Anyone out there want to ride?

[Kathi]

Are you interested in riding from Idaho Springs to Georgetown/ Bakerville/Loveland Ski area on Sunday? The DBTC (Denver Bicycle Touring Club) is doing a ride starting at 9 am meeting at MoJo's in Idaho Springs. My SO is leading it. Guests are welcome.

The DBTC has other rides during the week if you're interested.

I'm currently training for a tour in Neb. in 2 weeks but after we come back I'll be available.

I'm near the Stone House off the Bear Creek. Ride the Bear Creek, Platte to Chatfield, sometimes the C-470 loop. Sometimes to Golden, down the Clear Creek to the Platte and back home. 50+ miles. Yesterday I rode to REI downtown and back.

I could use someone to ride with as I don't have a set time to ride and I often get busy with other things and don't get out.

[chatnoire]

That could work. We want to put in a few miles this weekend. How tough will the ride be? I just looked at the map, about 25 miles round trip, 1000 feet of gain....is that about right? Looks like a few parts get into the 4% range for climbing...which we are new at (never done more than 3%, and that was last weekend)...

[Artista]

Chatnoire, are you sure about the grades on the E Rock? That steep hill sure felt like it was over 3%! And what about Chatfield Dam road that you do hill repeats on. It's not for weaklings.

[Kathi]

its 25 rt miles 1000' climb idaho springs to georgestown visitor center where we will make a stop before continuing on to bakerville so others may opt to turnaround
my guess is the 4% is just before the easter seals camp bout 3 miles frm georgestown for a few tenths and a short section just prior to flat section along georgestown lake

the neat thing is if its too much you turn around and its all downhill back to idaho springs
it does get steeper beyond downtown georgestown 600' in 2-3 miles to silverplume hence the reason for the loop railroad and then on to bakerville but whenever u feel too tired to continue u can turnaround with a downhill back to car a great way to try a more challengng grade

[chatnoire]

Maybe they are higher....I think the length of the Chatfield hills aren't measurable as a "classed" hill according to map my ride, due to the short-distance. But MMR also said that Erock was only rated 5 and 4 on the hills.

Heck, if those were higher, then sure, I'm all for mountain climbing. :)

[chatnoire]

its 25 rt miles 1000' climb idaho springs to georgestown visitor center where we will make a stop before continuing on to bakerville so others may opt to turnaround
my guess is the 4% is just before the easter seals camp bout 3 miles frm georgestown for a few tenths and a short section just prior to flat section along georgestown lake

the neat thing is if its too much you turn around and its all downtown back to idaho springs
it does get steeper beyond downtown georgestown 600' in 2-3 miles to silverplume hence the reason for the loop railroad and then on to bakerville but whenever u feel too tired to continue u can turnaround with a downhill back to car a great way to try a more challengng grade

I am checking with the boyfriend - if he's not up for it, it may be just me, but I think it would be fun!

[Kathi]

Correction, meeting place is BoJo's in Idaho Springs.

[Kathi]

If you've not ridden this ride you really should come. It's a favorite, beautiful scenery and if you drive I-70 you've looked at much of the route without realizing it.

[Artista]

Temporary hijack: Kathy, I heard that lots of homes near Bear Creek were flooded in Wednesday night's storm. Hope yours wasn't one of them.

Back to the topic: What's the group's average speed on this ride? The mountain bike trails might still be too muddy to ride this weekend so I may do a road ride. This one sounds intriguing but I'm kinda slow - average 13-14mph on flats and sometimes down to 4mph on hills that Chat thinks were no steeper than 3%:eek:

[chatnoire]

(I was down to 4.5 on that big one myself!)

[Kathi]

We were fine, we're up on the hill above the Bear Creek. It was a little scary as I've never heard the emergency sirens going off in the almost 8 years I've lived here.

The group speed will vary depending on who shows up. Riders tend to fall into 2 groups. Some of the riders ride all year round so they will take off. One woman said she is coming but she will be slow, whatever that means. I ski in the winter and I'm still building my base so I will be slower. My average speed on the flats is around 13 (hard to tell with all the wind I've been riding in) and on my climb up Garrison its around 5 mph depending on how tired I am. I also have asthma so I will warm up more slowly and since I'm training for a tour my focus is time on the bike rather than speed. You may outride me. I will ride my pace and not worry about keeping up with the other riders.

Once you're out of Idaho Springs there are no turns so you can't get lost.
We tend to look out for newbies and slower riders, especially anyone unfamiliar with the route. Some will turn around at Georgetown. I want to try the new trail up to Loveland ski area.

This nice thing about a group ride like this is you will be familiar enough you can do it on your own the next time.

[chatnoire]

Sounds like a great time. We'll both be there, possibly with a couple other friends as well.

[Artista]

We were planning on mtn biking all weekend but this ride sounds awesome. I'm especially tempted since it sounds like I could mostly hang with at least a few other riders. (I'd probably still lag behind on the hills but I wouldn't mind if no one else minds.) I'll talk with hubby and maybe we'll join you guys.

Thanks for posting about this Kathi. And glad to hear that your house wasn't in the flood area.

[Kathi]

This is one of those rides that everyone in the club says is a "must do" sorta like Lookout mountain which I have yet to do.

Helmets are required, (for club insurance regulation and coverage) and you have to sign a liabilty release.

Some people stop at MoJo's for lunch. I'll carry a sandwich because I will get hungry before then.

Hope to see both of you there.

[solobiker]

Bummer....I can't make it. And as for Lookout Mtn..it is a fun climb...if climbs can be considered fun. ;) I have not ridden it in a few years though due to my losing my riding partner and DH has no interest in it. Hope you guys have fun!!:D

[Artista]

I'm out. Hubby has a late gig the night before and was hoping to do a late morning ride with me closer to home. Have a great time everyone!

[solobiker]

How did the ride go everyone?? Would love to read a TR and see some pics.

[Kathi]

Not yet, the ride is tomorrow but thanks for reminding me to take my camera.

Anyone doing the Betty Bash mtn bike race in Bear Creek park tomorrow? I'd ride over if I weren't going to Idaho Springs.

[Kathi]

I'm out. Hubby has a late gig the night before and was hoping to do a late morning ride with me closer to home. Have a great time everyone!

Sorry you can't make it, I thought we might have a TE group. Sounds like there will be some slower riders.

I'm sure there will be other opportunities and I know later this summer we will do a group ride in Summit County either around Heeney Lake or in the Dillon/Breckenridge area.

[Artista]

Anyone doing the Betty Bash mtn bike race in Bear Creek park tomorrow? I'd ride over if I weren't going to Idaho Springs.
Not me. I'm normally competitive but the only person that I'll mtn bike race against is myself.

[chatnoire]

Looks like we're a late bail on this one too. Boyfriend wants to sleep in after a stressful week at work. We might look to do the same route later in the morning though....

[Kathi]

We had approximately 20 riders show up. It was nice and cool when we took off. We split off into 2 groups faster/slower, and me. I didn't try to keep up with the fast group but out rode the slow group.

The ride from Idaho Springs to Downieville was wonderful. We had a tail wind that made the climb very easy, and great views of the Clear Creek. No traffic and a few fishermen. It's hard to believe I-70 is on the other side of the Creek.

Getting closer to Georgetown the wind really picked up. Not unusual for that area but when I got close to the lake the wind gusts were up to 30 mph. Several times I thought I was going off the road. I finally got off and walked my bike, I was hoping to make it to the Georgetown visitor center where we had agreed to regroup. A rider came up to me and asked me if I was Ok. I explained I was fine but couldn't stay on my bike due to the wind. Shortly after that the slower riders from the group caught me and I told them I was turning back.

Once I got a little lower down the road the winds died somewhat but there were places I had to pedal downhill. When I got to Idaho Springs I rode the trail to nowhere that I see from I-70. When I got to the end I stopped and ate my pnut butter sandwich. The wind wasn't much calmer there. The group was coming back down, noone made it to Loveland ski area due to the wind.
I had the bright idea to ride up and meet them but after 2 miles I gave up because the nice tailwind of the morning had become a nasty crosswind.

It was a nice day but you guys were probably smart by bailing. I did meet my goal of getting my second 100+ mile week in a row and 500 miles of riding for the year.

[solobiker]

It was darn windy where DH and I went hiking today..can't imagine trying to stay upright on a bike in those winds.

[Artista]

Yeah, it definitely sounds like that ride was beyond me. I think that we may be about the same size.

Hubby and I did a mtn bike ride that was windy but manageable.

Wow! 100+ miles two weeks in a row! That sounds pretty impressive to someone who usually tracks her mtn rides by the hour rather than by the mile.

How long will your Nebraska tour last and what kind of daily mileage are you looking at?

[chatnoire]

We ended up in the SW area of denver (denver/littleton/morrison), and did a 32 mile loop, later in the day (between 1 and 4), and we had some good headwinds, but not much in the way of crosswinds.

It sounds like it was a good ride on a good day, but yeah - I think I'd have trouble with those crosswinds!

Hurray for your mileage goals though! That's awesome. I have yet to pull in a 100+ week. I just cross the 200 mile mark on my bike, which I rode the first time may 13, so I have been doing ok...not great.

Glad everyone had a good weekend as it was. I posted a pic of part of today's ride in the weekend rides thread, to show the haze we could see from the fires up north.

[Kathi]

Yeah, it definitely sounds like that ride was beyond me. I think that we may be about the same size.

Hubby and I did a mtn bike ride that was windy but manageable.

Wow! 100+ miles two weeks in a row! That sounds pretty impressive to someone who usually tracks her mtn rides by the hour rather than by the mile.

How long will your Nebraska tour last and what kind of daily mileage are you looking at?

5 days, 305 miles if we do the optional route on Sat. My riding started a little slow this year so I might be pushing myself on this tour, we'll see. I'm hoping to do a 50 miler this week then relax with shorter rides the rest of the week.

One nice thing about training at elevation is you ride stronger when you go to a lower elevation.