Bicycle Routes and Bicycle Tours

Colorado Minnesota Wisconsin Arizona California

Updated 09/2024

Messages

NEW:

Colorado Climate

New 1-3 Day Routes Page

 

COLORADO PICTURES by PhoenixEIS, LLC and Lanmark Studios:

Photoshelter.com

 

 

Bicycle Routes and Touring

Detailed descriptions of Colorado mountain passes plus some interesting non-pass rides.

View detailed on-line pictures and descriptions and/or read and download handy two to four page PDF summaries of most paved Rocky Mountain passes in Colorado. Also, get descriptions of and learn of the various bicycle routes planned by some of the leading tour groups.

MESSAGES:

Ride The Rockies

Unfortunately, the RTR was cancelled for 2024 for lack of enrollment. It is doubtful it will resume in 2025.

Coming Soon

Sorry about the lack of updates... But that is changing. I originally created this website using Dreamweaver. When I updated my computer, Adobe would not allow me to reinstall my Dreamweaver version (which I owned). Instead, they wanted me to pay a high monthly fee for the current version. I refused. I liked and paid for the Dreamweaver version I had. So I refused the new fee structure. For the past few months, when I have time, I've been updating the website using Bootstrap. I so far like the changes and have updated descriptions and pictures... But I'm not quite ready publish it. My goal is to get the new updated site ready before the spring 2025 cycling season starts. The descriptions here are still accurate (passes don't change that much)... But I am looking forward to getting the updated site up and running soon.

Day and Weekend Trips

I've been rearranging this site a bit by adding a one to three day loop tour and route page. For Colorado rides, I've added some loop rides, and am developing more, to this page. I've also moved Arizona, Minnesota, Wisconson, California, and Utah loop rides and tours from the Routes page (now renamed Cycling Passes) to the Day Trips page. By doing this, I can highlight riding the Colorado Passes on one page and then the other loop rides on the day trip page. Note, the Utah and California rides are multi-day tours of The Pacific Coast Highway in Northern California and a tour of Southern Utah.

Final Note:

This site is most comprehensive for Colorado. I have Cameron Pass completed... but it is in the to be released version. This pass was ravaged by the fall 2020 forest fires: Cameron Peak Fire and East Troublesome fire. It will take years for the lush forests to regrow, but new growth has started and the ride is still worth it as and out and back or as a really long day or multi-day ride as the the western side of the pass deposits you in a really remote area.

Disclaimer: 

While I strive to provide accurate information, things change and I can not always keep up with the changes.  I don’t travel every route every day or even every year.  If I say the road has good shoulders, it means the road generally had reasonable room for a bike to maneuver on the shoulder the last time I was there.  If an avalanche or summer flood took out that shoulder, I’m may not know about it. In other words, I don’t know what I don’t know.  Any information presented in my reports is as accurate as I could get it.  You are responsible for doing your own homework and research conditions on any route you plan to take. These routes are simply a guide introducing routes to you, there are no guarentees on anything reported here. Things change. Distances may be off and altitudes may be off.  Shoulders that were there may be gone, or ones that weren’t there may be there.  Potholes may have developed.  Sand and debris may be on the road.  An animal may jump out at any time (like big horn sheep suddenly appearing on the road down Mt Evans- I know from experience). Ice may exist when not expected.  And the unknown or unanticipated issue may pop up at any instance.  Expect the unexpected. Expect vehicle drivers to be jerks. As for cyclists, don't be jerks. Cycling in the mountains or anywhere carries risks and it is your responsibility to know and practice good riding skills.  It is your responsibility to follow local laws. It’s your responsibility to make sure your equipment is in good operational shape.  It’s your responsibility to exercise due care and caution on the roads, trails, and in life in general.  If a road is too narrow or too busy for your tastes, get off of it.  It’s your responsibility to make sure that you are physically able to ride a bike and to follow the advice of your doctors.  The bottom line, be responsible for yourself and use common sense. Be responsible. Be safe. Share the road. Ride single-file. Stop at red-lights and stop signs. Don't impede or block traffic. Understand your limits.