I'm moving to Denver

[Velo Dude]

I'll be moving to Denver from Ohio some time in July. How is cycling in the Denver area? Does anyone from the area have any inside information or tips about riding there?

 

[Velo Dude]

No one here rides in Denver?

 

[180mmCrank]

The cycling there is so awesome that they are all out on their bikes!

What part of Denver?

T

 

[Velo Dude]

The cycling there is so awesome that they are all out on their bikes!

What part of Denver?

T

Lol. Well, that's a good sign!

I would imagine the cycling is fantastic, as long as you can adjust to the altitude. But I'm wondering if anyone with experience riding there has anything valuable to share about it to a newcomer.

I'll be living in Lakewood.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

I've been in Denver since the beginning of the year, and despite my commuting woes which I mentioned in the Bikepathaletes thread the road riding is pretty sweet. Seeing as how you're moving to Lakewood you'll have fast access to the front range, faster than me, I'm up in Highlands area (North Denver), takes me about 30min to get to Golden. From where you're at your regular rides will be Morrison/Genessee/Red Rocks/Lookout/Golden, but the best road riding by far in the immediate area is up in Boulder.

Getting used to the altitude differs from person to person, but if you're relatively fit it shouldn't take very long, just a few weeks, you'll be huffing for a bit in the beginning.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Welcome to the front range! You can go on 303cycling.com and check out some local routes...lots of cyclists in the Denver/Boulder corridor...great riding everywhere. Go visit Ron Keifel @ Wheatridge cyclery...your'e in the neighborhood.

 

[mewmewmew13]

...also, one of your days off throw your bike in the car and drive up to Boulder. Stop for a morning coffee @ Amante on north Broadway, where almost all the rides start from Boulder---the center of the universe
you can join up with groups of all abilities...check in with Boulder Cyclesport that is next door. They can help you with routes, groups, etc.
cheers
you will have a great summer!

 

[YancyFry]

The Front Range can be the best place in the country to road bike, depending on where you are in it. If you actually live in Denver or some suburb then you are close to a cycling mecca but not right in it. You will have to drive/ride West or North West to get to the good routes. If you live in Golden you are better off.

Now if you actually live near Boulder you are damn near set. Boulder has many canyons that lead out of it and classic climbs. Many cycling legends live here as well as current pros. Since Boulder is right up next to the mountains, and there are such good climbs here and rolling hills, it is the place to be. Boulder has a really big cycling scene and pretty much everyone here rides in some manner.

Coming from Ohio be prepared to get your legs ripped off and your lungs ripped out for the first 2 or 3 months.

 

[danjo007]

i went to denver last year and cycled. direct from sea level is was a bit of a struggle, but doable. (i managed mt evans ok after a week, it was awesome.)
i stayed out there in lakewood, and it doesnt take long to get to some fantastic rides.
drivers were quite curteous to cyclists there too. one my first rides back home, i had a beer can chucked at me from a car... go aussie!
colorado was pretty special.. this year its tahoe and vegas.

 

[YancyFry]

Yeah at least up in Boulder I rarely rarely have any problems with drivers. We are probably spoiled.

 

[slippyB]

A premature welcome to the front-range!
The others have shelled out some solid tips and I'll concur that in Lakewood you're in a nice location for some road riding. It's not Boulder...but there are some positives to that fact
Deer Creek Canyon Road (just southwest of lakewood) will also be a good ride for you. So check that out. In addition to Lookout Mtn. in Golden, Golden Gate Canyon provides a nice ride that connects up to the Peak-to-Peak hwy and from there you can turn north and loop back via a number of different canyon road routes.

 

[Velo Dude]

A premature welcome to the front-range!
The others have shelled out some solid tips and I'll concur that in Lakewood you're in a nice location for some road riding. It's not Boulder...but there are some positives to that fact
Deer Creek Canyon Road (just southwest of lakewood) will also be a good ride for you. So check that out. In addition to Lookout Mtn. in Golden, Golden Gate Canyon provides a nice ride that connects up to the Peak-to-Peak hwy and from there you can turn north and loop back via a number of different canyon road routes.

slippyB I sent a reply to your PM but it's not showing up in my PM box. Let me know if you got it.