Aspen, CO

[scrubadub]

Hey, I'm headed out to Aspen for a week or so in mid-July. Anybody living out there or have recommendations for road or mountain rides? We're staying in Snowmass but will be in Aspen daily as the wife has a workshop to attend. I'm not looking for anything epic, maybe 2-4 hours or so to get some base mileage and climbing.

I found a couple of places to rent high-end bikes - any particular recommendations? It might also be a good excuse to try out a full-suspension. There's also the Aspen Cycling Club but they don't list any casual rides that I can see.

Thanks!

[Dekonick]

Epic ride: from Aspen to Ashcroft. You can't go wrong.

Want to ride a true HC? Independance Pass - From Aspen just follow the signs... until you hit the wall...you will know... believe me...

For another hard climb, just go to the base of Snowmass Village, where you turn in from the highway - and climb up to the top. I think it is 8 miles? - also a really nice mountain bike ride from Snowmass Village to the yin/yang marker up on the ridge (opposite the ski resort) and you can then ride along the ridge. It gets HAIRY...

TONS of mountain bike rides and hikes - just ask.

For mortals, I suggest riding along the roaring fork river - it is as flat as you will find and you will appreciate flat at 8000 feet above sea level... You can ride from Aspen all the way to Glenwood Springs if you have the time and legs for it. The river offers a nice soothing sound to go with the ride.

Enjoy it! Hopefully you don't get sick, but if you do PM me and I will send you to the best doc in town.

[Louis]

LA has a house in Aspen. If he's around maybe you could hang out and give him a few pointers.

Oh wait, mid-July, I think he'll be busy elsewhere :p

[Ken Robb]

Maroon Creek Road toward Maroon Bells is nice.

[mgm777]

As has been said already...Independence pass is terrific. Better yet, have someone drive you over the pass and start from the Leadville side. Great ride. One of my favorites. Also, the river trail from Aspen to Glenwood Springs is beautiful cruiser ride.

[JohnHemlock]

Road Rides - Maroon Bells is good. Castle Creek / Ashcroft is highly recommended. Indy Pass. Basalt to Ruedi Reservoir. Woody Creek Rd and carbo load at WC Tavern.

MTB - Elk Camp Gondola. Rim Trail and Powerline at Snowmass. Forest Service Rd 103, Gunter Creek, Government Trail. Lincoln Creek Rd is nice, ride a few miles east out of Aspen, take a right, and its 12 miles back to campsites and Grizzly Reservoir.

[xjoex]

You have to ride independence pass! Its amazing. If you enjoy bouldering, the area is covered in cool spots. Oh and the hiking is great.

-Joe

[Ken Robb]

You have to ride independence pass! Its amazing. If you enjoy bouldering, the area is covered in cool spots. Oh and the hiking is great.

-Joe

I had a snowball fight at the top July 4, 1960 so make sure you have the right clothing for the entire ride. :beer:

[scrubadub]

Thanks for all the recs! I have a sad feeling that between the altitude and my lack of base mileage I'm going to be huffing and puffing a lot. I'm going to talk to the rental places and see if we can work out renting a road bike for part of the time then a mountain bike for the later part.

[Ken Robb]

I spent a week or two skiing there for years. Coming from sea level I found that I really did better if I took it very easy for at least 24 hours after arrival. I can't imagine a flat-lander enjoying riding Independence Pass without a couple of weeks of easier riding at 9,000+ feet of elevation.

[lemondsteel]

I always take Diamox (I'm from an altitude of 350ft) before I go to Colorado. Spent 2 weeks on the bike one summer and based some of my rides out of Aspen. Independence Pass is not so bad. Old Coors Classic route up to Marron Bells is awesome!
See your doc about Diamox. I start it about 3 days before I leave. Makes beer taste like sh*t as well as anything that's carbonated. Diamox is not for everyone but it sure stops the headaches and loss of appetite you get.

[Dekonick]

I always take Diamox (I'm from an altitude of 350ft) before I go to Colorado. Spent 2 weeks on the bike one summer and based some of my rides out of Aspen. Independence Pass is not so bad. Old Coors Classic route up to Marron Bells is awesome!
See your doc about Diamox. I start it about 3 days before I leave. Makes beer taste like sh*t as well as anything that's carbonated. Diamox is not for everyone but it sure stops the headaches and loss of appetite you get.

I was just about to post this but you beat me to it.

Also - don't drink any alcohol for the first day or 2 and drink lots of water.

[W_Sobchak]

If you are looking to rent a nice road bike, Aspen Velo on Puppysmith St has some seven titanium road bike that I see hanging outside. They also have a variety of high end mtbs.

The shop is conveniently located around the corner from the Aspen Brewery, where you wont be the only one stopping for a pint in cycling gear. As stated by other lay off the beer for the first 48hrs :no:

If you have any other Aspen questions or need someone to ride with feel free to pm me.

[Nautilus]

I vote rent a downhill/long travel bike and take it up the gondola. Or, stop by one of the other more mountain bike developed resorts. I guarantee you'll have more fun than you've ever had on your road bike.

[97CSI]

I spent a week or two skiing there for years. Coming from sea level I found that I really did better if I took it very easy for at least 24 hours after arrival. I can't imagine a flat-lander enjoying riding Independence Pass without a couple of weeks of easier riding at 9,000+ feet of elevation.If you do your high mountain riding the first 2-3 days you'll do your best. For most folks, takes a couple of days to start feeling the effects of altitude (unless you are above 12K, or so). You'll start dropping off rapidly after that. If you want an epic ride, go up Mt. Evans. You can start at Plateau Lake to make it easier on yourself. The view and ride down are great. Especially if you are into speed.

[chuckred]

If you do your high mountain riding the first 2-3 days you'll do your best. For most folks, takes a couple of days to start feeling the effects of altitude (unless you are above 12K, or so). You'll start dropping off rapidly after that. If you want an epic ride, go up Mt. Evans. You can start at Plateau Lake to make it easier on yourself. The view and ride down are great. Especially if you are into speed.

Not close to Aspen (although I guess relative to whereevery you're coming from), but worth the side trip. Also, it's Echo Lake that you can start from if you want to just do the top half...


But, you won't go wrong hanging in Aspen, mountain biking, road biking or hiking, all will keep you pleanty happy!

[scrubadub]

FWIW, I ended up renting an Ibis Mojo. The first day (1 day after arrival) I just rode from Aspen to Snowmass and was pretty winded at the end of the climb. The second day, I used the chairlift and rode the singletrack around Snowmass. On the third day, I took the Government Trail back down into Aspen which was a fabulous ride.

I had planned to rent a road bike but ended up bagging it when the rain started coming down towards the end of the week. The rec center was really nice for some high-altitude swimming though! I have to say, there are a lot of bike shops in town too which are quite nice for window browsing.

[th_boone]

That is awesome, I am jealous. You need to get back in the Fall (late Sept) and ride the Government Trail again. It is out of control gorgeous that time of year. Glad you had fun.. All this talk makes me crazy to move back there.

If ever in town again, the cycling club does races on Wednesday evenings in the warmer months.

[Ralph]

If I were going there....I live near sea level....I would first investigate the riding toward Glenwood Springs. Until I got my climbing legs and breathing at altitude whch takes a few days...or more. I believe there is a real nice paved trail along the river. I've also done the 16 mile scenic paved trail (tourist thing....amazing engineering feat) under the Interstate in Glenwood Caynon which is easy ride along the Colorado River....mostly uphill going out of town, mostly downhill coming back.

[djg21]

Hey, I'm headed out to Aspen for a week or so in mid-July. Anybody living out there or have recommendations for road or mountain rides? We're staying in Snowmass but will be in Aspen daily as the wife has a workshop to attend. I'm not looking for anything epic, maybe 2-4 hours or so to get some base mileage and climbing.

I found a couple of places to rent high-end bikes - any particular recommendations? It might also be a good excuse to try out a full-suspension. There's also the Aspen Cycling Club but they don't list any casual rides that I can see.

Thanks!


Shortish training ride or intervals -- Maroon Bells. You've see the postcards!

Epic Climb -- Independence Pass. This is brutal, and it is exposed and weather at the top can be unpredictable. But it's is awesome.

Long ride with a lot of climbing -- over Independence Pass and then to Vail via (1) Leadville/Minturn (past Ski Cooper and over Tennessee and Battle Mountain Passes), or (2) Climax and Copper Mountain (Fremont and Vail Passes). Much of either of these routes are on the Copper Triangle course.

Another good climb: From Carbondale up McClure Pass.

If you are in need, D2Shoe is in Eagle, not too far of a drive from Aspen or Vail. There is a lot of nice riding in that area too.

[SEABREEZE]

Take 24 hrs to adjust to altitude. after sleeping the first night and walking around the bed when we arose, my wife and I were exhausted.

Drink pleanty of water, you will adjust. Its not that bad.

[Dekonick]

I love Aspen -

FWIW - a healthy adult has a room air oxygen saturation of 98-100% (SPO2) when at sea level. In Aspen, the normal SPO2 is only 92-93%... that would be considered mild hypoxia at sea level.

No mention of the wonderful ride from Aspen to Ashcroft?

Maroon bells... you can hike from the Maroon bells to Ashcroft. I haven't done it but from what I hear it is an all day affair, with probably one overnight camp.

Glenwood Springs has a hike you called the Hanging Lake trail. Fantastic view from the top. Worth the effort and not terribly technical at all.

Ahhhh

I miss Colorado.

Oh - a couple of local secrets... go eat at the Woody Creek Tavern.... mmmmmyuummmmmy

And the Pine Creek Cookhouse (in Ashcroft - you probably need to make reservations) is another worthwhile stop. During ski season, you can cross country ski there (or snowshoe...) and eat lunch... They make a wicked Bloody Mary... get one or 3... ;)

[Pete Serotta]

Epic ride: from Aspen to Ashcroft. You can't go wrong.

Want to ride a true HC? Independance Pass - From Aspen just follow the signs... until you hit the wall...you will know... believe me...

For another hard climb, just go to the base of Snowmass Village, where you turn in from the highway - and climb up to the top. I think it is 8 miles? - also a really nice mountain bike ride from Snowmass Village to the yin/yang marker up on the ridge (opposite the ski resort) and you can then ride along the ridge. It gets HAIRY...

TONS of mountain bike rides and hikes - just ask.

For mortals, I suggest riding along the roaring fork river - it is as flat as you will find and you will appreciate flat at 8000 feet above sea level... You can ride from Aspen all the way to Glenwood Springs if you have the time and legs for it. The river offers a nice soothing sound to go with the ride.

Enjoy it! Hopefully you don't get sick, but if you do PM me and I will send you to the best doc in town.

Do it if you can....It is Beautiful !!!

[bob the nailer]

FWIW if you happen to know a friendly neighborhood urologist ;) Viagra can significantly improve high altitude performance( on the bicycle i mean). Those who suffer the most get the most improvement. Decreases pulmonary artery pressures for those of you into the physiology. My experience has certainly been the first day is the worst, although my symptoms are very mild, just a little breathlessness, feeling of needing to take a deep breath, especially at night while lying in bed. Get better every day. Chris Carmichael, LA's coach, says it takes 3-4 weeks to get totally acclimated-that or some epo, who knows which is the truth.