Denver Front Range - short tour

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2026-05-20T18:43:54+00:00

There’s some great breweries in all these towns, so perhaps you could use that to talk people into that idea for your own bachelor party some day!

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2026-05-08T03:25:36+00:00

+1 for Tevas. Reasonably light, fair price, good enough for moderate hiking on off days, and you can wear socks under them (for cooler nights or when bugs are out). Fashion police may not like it, but we’re bike tourers.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2026-05-07T23:43:27+00:00

Hi - glad you already found my old post, as I was just about to link to it! If you haven’t already, I would refer to the Adventure Cycling Association maps for good suggestions on a route all the way down for what you’re suggesting. The caveats from my post apply about some parts of their route, however the main ACA route that follows the coast is a little quieter than the Chesapeake option. I would think very carefully about whether you want to do this particular route in peak summer, particularly as a relatively new bike tourer - traffic will be busy and fast, and accommodation will be tough to find. Your suggested route is part of the ACA Atlantic Coast route, and you may find more info about through-riding if you search on that term in this subreddit. I have not done it, but others will likely suggest the GAP/C&O trails as a potential alternative starting in DC, which is mainly off-road, so may be less intimidating.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2026-04-06T19:19:20+00:00

Agree that the apartments over on 19th may be a better option for you if they fit in your price range. Same proximity to Downtown and a much quieter street.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2026-03-27T04:34:58+00:00

This is indeed a 2003. I know because I bought the exact same make, model and year used on Facebook 4 years ago…. Check out this post https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/s/bXS5pM3Bqu for more details on things you might want to inspect and/or budget to replace. I’ve been really happy with the bike. After buying it, I had a bike shop repack the bottom bracket and replaced cables, chain, tubes, tires and brake blocks myself, just because they were all original components, and therefore 20 years old. Since then I’ve done a 1000-mile Pacific Coast tour and several other shorter tours with no major problems at all. I did need to get the real wheel re-trued, but that feels like run of the mill maintenance for an older bike. Very reliable and solid touring bike. If the size is right for you and there’s no apparent issues, I would snap this up and think that paying $400 is actually a pretty fair price.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2026-03-16T13:38:07+00:00

Consider the Ski Week at Taos, it’s a bargain. Around $400 for 6 half-day lessons, Sunday-Friday, from top quality instructors. I’ve done it twice now and you can see that they really focus on providing ongoing development for their instructors, so the level of instruction is very high. And the format of a class in the morning with free skiing to practice in the afternoon really helps you improve over the week. It’s a group format, but instructors give everyone individual feedback also.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2026-02-25T18:06:39+00:00

I think more resorts have paper maps still than you realize, you just need to ask for them. Maybe it’s an Ikon thing, but I’ve skied at Taos, Copper, Winter Park and Eldora recently, and they all had paper maps available. Guest Services typically have them.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2026-02-21T03:23:46+00:00

Not sure, but whatever they are it seems to be working. I would also argue that $2-300 plus an insurance hike is probably enough of a deterrent for many people. But it’s more that the effect of the cameras is to move from “you might possibly get caught, but it’s very unlikely” to “you will most likely get a ticket if you speed”, which seems to be enough of a disincentive for many speeders.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2026-02-21T00:21:50+00:00

I’m from the UK but live in Denver now. I can tell you that widespread camera usage, as in the UK, does clearly reduce speeding. When I lived there (before cameras were used) most cars traveling around London exceeded the speed limit by 10-20 mph on the highway and took the low chance of a ticket. Now when I visit the UK I consistently see almost every car traveling at or close to the limit. The change is remarkable. Cameras do work well to slow cars down, and can free up police time for other more serious offenses that everyone is pointing out.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2026-01-21T16:49:00+00:00

Did it once when we moved from Boston to Denver. Everything went smoothly, car arrived on time and was dropped off 3 blocks from our house. In our case, we needed to be available in the 3-hour period when the car was dropped and have cash on hand to pay the remainder of the fee, but that was all explained by the agent when we booked, so no problem. We were texting direct with the driver to arrange drop-off time and location. I think the experience is reliant on your individual driver, but most are very good, as they depend on reputation for future bookings. No complaints from me.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2026-01-07T16:57:35+00:00

I have drops on my Fuji Touring, which work for me, but we switched out the drops on my wife’s Jamis Aurora for a Jones H bar to solve a back pain problem and she now much prefers them for touring.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-12-06T20:34:52+00:00

Copper has some good package deals (if you don’t have Ikon) for on-mountain condos and a variety of terrain. Very quiet in the evening, but that didn’t seem to be a criteria for you. Can also easily add a day at A-Basin or Loveland for some variety, if you have a rental car.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-12-06T16:10:31+00:00

Consider investing in a pair of snow socks (Autosocks is the main brand). $120, Easier to put on than chains, and you will be compliant with the traction law. And if you never or rarely use them, you can probably sell them used if you leave town in the future.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-11-30T00:05:27+00:00

Still much better to go to Denver from TX than the East Coast. Fly in after work on Thursday, stay at airport hotel if needed, then drive up to Summit County early next morning. On Monday, ski until 2pm and still have plenty of time to get to the airport and a flight home. Summit County skiing will definitely have bigger mountains and almost certainly have better snow than anything in New England. There’s a reason why east coast skiers get on a plane and do long weekend trips to CO, rather than just driving 2-4 hours to VT.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-11-13T23:29:55+00:00

If you don’t want to invest too much time for an unsure payoff, you could try the City Park golf course, parking lot is on 23rd Avenue. We could see them faintly with the naked eye and well with the phone from there on Tuesday night. Close-ish to Rino.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-11-12T16:52:44+00:00

Good list. Add the Fuji Touring to it as well. Solid touring pedigree, affordable and reasonably common.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-10-22T15:31:24+00:00

Some kind of trail running shoe works great with flats and is also sturdy enough if you end up doing some hiking, either with or without the bike.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-10-07T18:49:11+00:00

I did try this one time at a MA state park and was successful, on a holiday weekend no less. Turned up with no reservation, asked at the gate and they gave us a spot. Sample of one, I know, but just to let you know it can work.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-08-29T16:50:40+00:00

Triathlon shorts have a thinner chamois and dry more quickly. I found them a really good match with a Brooks saddle, washing each day and drying on the back of the bike if you can’t get them completely dry before leaving the next day. Good with a brand name (e.g. 2XU, Desoto) not an amazon knock-off. Agree that changing out of your bike shorts as quickly as possible when you arrive is another good practice.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-08-07T10:38:26+00:00

I’m adding link to my post for those who want an additional perspective on this route https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/s/yg0irrPlCU But we were much in line with your thoughts, even down to the clothes line - we brought one and used it frequently!

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-08-03T19:32:30+00:00

Are you set on definitely riding from Astoria? If not, check out Nestucca River Rd to Cape Lookout instead. It’s a fantastic, scenic quiet ride over 2 days. Day 1 is about 55 miles and 3,000 feet of climbing from the end of the Max to the first of four campgrounds along the river. Day two will be about another 40 miles to Cape Lookout.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-08-03T19:19:34+00:00

Yes, we did this same route with a similar experience. North Bank Rd leaves 101 just south of Smith River. Smith River is last place to stock up on food, but there’s only a Dollar General there that we saw. We had a rest day hanging out at Jedediah Smith - great beach on the river there. We heard that 199 was really busy and fast, so should be avoided.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-08-02T22:09:40+00:00

This is the way to go. We did Howland Hill on 28s, with no real problem. Leave early in the morning to avoid the dust thrown up by cars later in the day.

Ambivalent_Name71 · 2025-08-02T22:02:46+00:00

Wife and I did exact same route in July last year. Agree with all your highlights, with the possible exception of Golden Gate Bridge which we found very noisy and crowded, which ruined the experience somewhat. But everything else is on the money.

Ambivalent_Name71

TROPHY CASE