We'd like to take a mile-high bike ride
March 12, 2010 3:08 PM Subscribe
Great road bike rides around Lakewood/Denver Colorado?
My wife and I are going to be visiting family in Lakewood, Colo. for the next few days, and we thought we'd take our road bikes and try to get a ride in.
Can anyone recommend interesting routes that will take us through cool neighborhoods or past interesting natural features? We'll be looking to ride between 30 and 50 miles, without brutal hills. We're both accustomed to riding in urban traffic, but bike lanes would be nice. Maybe going somewhere hipsterish to grab an afternoon beer on this ride would also be great.
We'll be staying right near Bear Creek Regional/Lake Park, near the intersection of 470 and 285.
Thanks!
My wife and I are going to be visiting family in Lakewood, Colo. for the next few days, and we thought we'd take our road bikes and try to get a ride in.
Can anyone recommend interesting routes that will take us through cool neighborhoods or past interesting natural features? We'll be looking to ride between 30 and 50 miles, without brutal hills. We're both accustomed to riding in urban traffic, but bike lanes would be nice. Maybe going somewhere hipsterish to grab an afternoon beer on this ride would also be great.
We'll be staying right near Bear Creek Regional/Lake Park, near the intersection of 470 and 285.
Thanks!
Ah, sorry, I mis-read. Road bikes will be perfectly acceptable, as it is a paved route. I just assumed mountain.
posted by paisley sheep at 3:40 PM on March 12, 2010
posted by paisley sheep at 3:40 PM on March 12, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks -- and by "hipsterish," I basically meant local and cool, maybe a craft brewery, as we're fond of good IPAs.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 4:39 PM on March 12, 2010
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 4:39 PM on March 12, 2010
Have you checked out the city's bike paths...I mean a bike path probably doesn't let you really open up but it might be a nice way to get somewhere to then do your real ride. http://www.denvergov.org/Bicycle_Program/BikeMaps/tabid/434898/Default.aspx
Also, you should ping lonefrontranger (she is a racer and would have ideas).
posted by fieldtrip at 6:26 PM on March 12, 2010
Also, you should ping lonefrontranger (she is a racer and would have ideas).
posted by fieldtrip at 6:26 PM on March 12, 2010
Response by poster: Ended up having a good couple of rides from Lakewood to Downtown and other areas along the Bear Creek and Platte River MUP routes.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 6:41 AM on March 18, 2010
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 6:41 AM on March 18, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
This is, as far as I can tell, pretty dang close to the route they use -- sticking to the bike path that goes along C-470 and then 6th.
You'll be riding alongside a main highway, true; but you'll also be going past Green Mountain and the foothills and Lookout Mountain, so it's actually pretty scenic. Once in Golden, you can wander around and check out the Main Street -- their tourism board has worked hard to make it more attractive for weekend breaks.
This route is also pretty popular, so if you get lost for some reason, there should be a few people on the path to help give you guidance.
And if you do go to Golden City Brewery, I highly recommend the IPA. I didn't know I liked beer until I had this tasty treat. (Although the Stout is good. We're a little ambivalent about their wheats, but the Red is usually pretty good, too. I'm not sure what special they'll have then, but that's usually fun to try). But if you're in doubt, go for the IPA. I've known very few who didn't fall in love with it at first taste.
(As far as I know, though, GCB is not hispterish -- but it is excellent, obscure, and delicious.)
posted by paisley sheep at 3:37 PM on March 12, 2010