If you're looking for a challenging, inexpensive, supported tour this year, check out the Bicycle
Tour of Colorado (http://www.bicycletourcolo.com). I've ridden this tour each of the last 3 years,
and really enjoyed it each time. The scenery is outstanding, and the support is good. With an
average of 30,000 feet of climbing, there's plenty of high mountain climbing to motivate your
training. And, it's always organized as a loop ride, which makes for much easier logistics if you're
coming from out of state.

I've posted some photo galleries of past BTC's here:

2001 (http://www.shastasoftware.com/BTC2001/BTC2001_1.htm ), which featured Monarch Pass, the Grand
Mesa, Tennessee Pass, and Leadville

2002 (http://www.shastasoftware.com/BTC2002/BTC2002_1.htm ), which featured Slumgullion Pass, Wolf
Creek Pass, Coal Creek Pass, and Red Mountain Pass

2003 (http://www.shastasoftware.com/BTC2003/BTC0017.htm ), which featured Garden of the Gods, Mt.
Evans, Loveland Pass, and Royal Gorge.

The ride averages around 1500 riders, and I plan on attending again this year. See ya there!

--
~_-* ...G/ \G http://www.CycliStats.com CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

Thanks for many great pictures. I'd love to go out to CO for cycling some day and go over those
mountains.

Just wanted to ask if it is possible to do use the loop used in Tour of CO as self-support/loaded
touring over the same circuit. Are the grades OK for loaded ride, and are towns spaced out at good
distances (loaded tour probably stop after shorter distance than the supported Tours). etc.

Are there archive of old Tour of Colorado from the previous years so one can get some idea of what
woudl be a good route (besides the 2004 route that is on the web).

Just asking, if I could not go at the time the Tour is offered, or simply want to do the same route
as loaded tour.

Thank you. Good day.

"GaryG" <garyg@shasta_SPAMBEGONE_software.com> wrote in message
news:vvd1b6mprv8b7c@corp.supernews.com...
> If you're looking for a challenging, inexpensive, supported tour this
year,
> check out the Bicycle Tour of Colorado (http://www.bicycletourcolo.com). I've ridden this tour
> each of the last 3 years, and really enjoyed it each time. The scenery is outstanding, and the
> support is good. With an average of 30,000 feet of climbing, there's plenty of high mountain
> climbing to motivate your training. And, it's always organized as a loop ride, which makes for
> much easier logistics if you're coming from out of state.
>
> I've posted some photo galleries of past BTC's here:
>
> 2001 (http://www.shastasoftware.com/BTC2001/BTC2001_1.htm ), which
featured
> Monarch Pass, the Grand Mesa, Tennessee Pass, and Leadville
>
> 2002 (http://www.shastasoftware.com/BTC2002/BTC2002_1.htm ), which
featured
> Slumgullion Pass, Wolf Creek Pass, Coal Creek Pass, and Red Mountain Pass
>
> 2003 (http://www.shastasoftware.com/BTC2003/BTC0017.htm ), which featured Garden of the Gods, Mt.
> Evans, Loveland Pass, and Royal Gorge.
>
> The ride averages around 1500 riders, and I plan on attending again this year. See ya there!
>
> --
> ~_-* ...G/ \G http://www.CycliStats.com CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

"JG" <telfordutd@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:HjkMb.778$Nz2.14072@news.itd.umich.edu...
> Thanks for many great pictures. I'd love to go out to CO for cycling some day and go over those
> mountains.
>
> Just wanted to ask if it is possible to do use the loop used in Tour of CO as self-support/loaded
> touring over the same circuit. Are the grades OK for loaded ride, and are towns spaced out at good
> distances (loaded tour probably stop after shorter distance than the supported Tours). etc.
>
> Are there archive of old Tour of Colorado from the previous years so one can get some idea of what
> woudl be a good route (besides the 2004 route that is on the web).
>
> Just asking, if I could not go at the time the Tour is offered, or simply want to do the same
> route as loaded tour.
>
> Thank you. Good day.

I would guess that most of the routes used by the Bicycle Tour of Colorado would make pretty good
routes for loaded touring. The climbs are generally not all that steep (6-8% average), although the
elevations can be a significant challenge. The roads are usually pretty good, and there are usually
enough towns along the route for re-provisioning (especially in the Front Range near Denver and
Colorado Springs). Plus, there are many campsites available along the route.

However, I've not done much loaded touring myself. After a week long trip down the Oregon Coast a
few years ago, I decided I much preferred the company of other cyclists, and having someone else
haul my camping gear!

I wish there were archives of past BTC's on their website. I'll suggest that to their web guy. You
can find information on some of the past routes by looking that the "Photos" links. Most of those
links include a description of the route taken.

--
~_-* ...G/ \G http://www.CycliStats.com CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

>
>
> "GaryG" <garyg@shasta_SPAMBEGONE_software.com> wrote in message
> news:vvd1b6mprv8b7c@corp.supernews.com...

[snip]

> >
> > I've posted some photo galleries of past BTC's here:
> >
> > 2001 (http://www.shastasoftware.com/BTC2001/BTC2001_1.htm ), which
> featured
> > Monarch Pass, the Grand Mesa, Tennessee Pass, and Leadville
> >
> > 2002 (http://www.shastasoftware.com/BTC2002/BTC2002_1.htm ), which
> featured
> > Slumgullion Pass, Wolf Creek Pass, Coal Creek Pass, and Red Mountain
Pass
> >
> > 2003 (http://www.shastasoftware.com/BTC2003/BTC0017.htm ), which
featured
> > Garden of the Gods, Mt. Evans, Loveland Pass, and Royal Gorge.
> >
> > The ride averages around 1500 riders, and I plan on attending again this year. See ya there!
> >
> > --
> > ~_-* ...G/ \G http://www.CycliStats.com CycliStats - Software for Cyclists
> >
>

>Just wanted to ask if it is possible to do use the loop used in Tour of CO as self-support/loaded
>touring over the same circuit. Are the grades OK for loaded ride, and are towns spaced out at good
>distances (loaded tour probably stop after shorter distance than the supported Tours). etc.

Yes. I have ridden most of the roads described in the 2004 Bicycle Tour of Colorado with my loaded
touring bicycle. I have not ridden the Bicycle Tour of Colorado.

There may be a good challenge, but otherwise a good touring route. More particular comments: Day #1:
Fort Collins to Estes Park. This is a good ride up a ~4% grade along the Big Thompson Canyon. The
route description says "Glen Haven". That road has a short steep stretch ~8%+, but if necessary one
can walk. One could also choose to bypass Glen Haven and just continue up the main road. Day #2:
Estes Park to Granby. This would likely be the most challenging day. Estes Park is 7500ft. Top of
Trail Ridge is 11200ft. It can be fairly windy up top. Depends a bit on how well you climb with
loaded bike and also how much you'll be affected by altitude. However, beautiful scenery and great
descent! Day #3: Granby to Steamboat. To Hot Sulpher Springs it mostly follows the river and is a
good road. After that I haven't ridden this particular road. Day #4: Rest day in Steamboat. Nice
little town. Day #5: Steamboat to Walden. A solid climb up Rabbit Ears Pass. I believe grades are
~7% for short while. Mostly downhill from there. Nice open vistas. Day #6: Walden to Fort Collins. A
climb up Cameron Pass, ~4% grade. Then a wonderful descent.

The following trip report describes a tour I took in May 2003 from Salt Lake City to Fort Collins
that coincidentally duplicates days #4,
#5, #6 of the 2004 tour: http://www.mvermeulen.com/saltlake/

If you do a search of "Trail Ridge Road" and "Bicycle", you'll find a number of trip reports that
describe that days ride.

I don't know as much of the prior routes of Bicycle Tour of Colorado, but in general in Colorado the
grades on the passes are long but not extremely steep. Altitude definitely affects some riders.
Afternoon thundershowers can also occur. Scenery is frequently spectacular.

--mev, Mike Vermeulen

>Rocky Mountain National Park has the highest paved roads in any US National Park. Trail Ridge Road
>crests at 12,183 -

Yep, thanks, meant to say 12200 in the orignal post.

In any case, it is a good climb from Estes Park. The one time I rode it on a touring bicycle, I was
in slightly better shape and cycled from Fort Collins up via Estes Park and then down to Hot
Sulpher Springs. If I were to do it now, I'd stay overnight in Estes Park and get going first thing
in the morning.

--mev, Mike Vermeulen

mike.nospam@vermeulen.com (Mike Vermeulen) wrote in message news:<400220da.635386968@news.4dv.net>...

>.... The route description says "Glen Haven". That road has a short steep stretch ~8%+, but if
>necessary one can walk.

That would be Devil's Gulch Rd (43 Rd). The steepest section, a couple of miles west of Glen Haven,
averages about 12% for most of a mile and has a short pitch or two at about 15%. One does
occasionally see a cyclist walk it.

Alan S.

> Just wanted to ask if it is possible to do use the loop used in Tour of CO as self-support/loaded
> touring over the same circuit.

Of course, it is possible, though one needs to be able to spin some low gears. And, unless you are
living at high elevation so you are acclimatised, it would make sense not to beginn with the ridge
road. We did last year, flew into Denver and set off for Estes Park the next day, and it was rather
strenuous. You find a trip report here http://www.lowdin.nu/MTB/Colorado/Singletrack.htm

Per

Denver C. Fox <dnvrfox@aol.com> wrote:

> Rocky Mountain National Park has the highest paved roads in any US National Park. Trail Ridge Road
> crests at 12,183 -

Just in case anyone wants to ride these:

Trail Ridge road in RMNP is the highese *paved* *through* road in the US, but... The road over
Mosquito Pass east of Leadville is the highest UNpaved through road. The highest paved road in
the US is the one up Mt. Evans, off I-70 west of Denver. It tops out at around 14,250'. The
highest mountain in the US with a (rough, unpaved) road nearly to the top is Mt. Antero, in the
Sawatch Range near Buena Vista. And there's the road up Pikes Peak, which is higher than Trail
Ridge, though not as high as Evans or Antero.

Bill
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