Riding from Denver to Boulder

Ted said:

I'm planning a trip to Boulder, Colorado. I'm hoping to be able to ride
from Denver International airport over to Boulder.

You have several choices.

Just to get it out of the way. The RTD Sky Ride bus from DIA to Boulder
is $10 and there is room in the enclosed undercarriage (all luggage goes
there) for bikes. It would have to lay on its side. The bike would be free.

That said, riding would be fun, too. I think that's what I would do
(although the bus would be tempting).

Here are your resources:
1. http://www.dot.state.co.us/BikePed/maps.htm
You want the State Map and the Legend (both PDF). Zoom way in and using
the legend it will tell you where it is legal and where it is illegal to
ride (along with cycling conditions - like how much shoulder and traffic
volumes.)

2. Google Maps is also very good (that's what I'm using to right now and
what I suggest for ease of use in your browser). http://maps.google.com/

I started by typing in Thornton Colorado and then dragging the map to
move it where I wanted it (if you are not specific enough it puts little
graphic pins all over the map).

A few years back, I left Boulder and headed for the Kansas border. The
route I took was Baseline Rd, which is highway 7. You can see it just
north of Barr Lake State Park going through Brighton (north of DIA). It
would be nice if there were a more diagonal route, but I think you'll
just have to go north from the airport and then west.

Quoted message said:

I was looking at a map and I see a road named "240".

I think you mean 270. Bicycles are not allowed there (and you wouldn't
really want to ride there). It's an expressway - and very very busy with
many exits and entrances.

I suggest you take Peña Blvd (bikes are legal) to Tower Road. Zoom way
in on the Google map and it will be labeled. It is the first street that
Peña Blvd crosses after leaving the airport grounds (after crossing 470
- a toll road where bicycles are prohibited.) Peña Blvd crosses Tower
Rd. before turning south. There is an exit ramp to ride down.

The simplest route would be to take Tower Rd north to Barr Lake. That
means back tracking about 2 miles east at Barr Lake before heading north
again. I think you can see how to get to highway 7 at that point. From
there it's a straight shot (all on 7) into Boulder (it angles north a
bit just east of I25 - as on the map). You'd be coming into Boulder
through Lafayette and Louisville on Baseline Rd (the 40th parallel). It
is a very ridable road. There is plenty of shoulder (I never remember
exactly, as I am not bothered by shoulders less than 4 feet wide) and
not much traffic outside of rush hour.

An alternative that I would be tempted to try in order to shorten the
route is to take Peña Blvd to Tower Rd and then the first left (lest
than 2 miles) on 88th Ave. to Buckley Road to 96th Ave. (thus avoiding
the 2 mile back track around Barr Lake). This is how I have sometimes
driven to DIA, so I have seen these roads. They are low traffic and you
may even see some bald eagles by the Rocky Mt Arsenal (which is
supposedly all cleaned up).

Once across I76 you can "bushwhack" your way up to highway 7 (definitely
the simplest and probably best way to get right into Boulder).

You could also take 104th street west. It's busy - lots of lights - and
I'm not sure where that would leave you once you got near US36. Bicycles
are only allowed on US 36 between Boulder and Broomfield, where 128
crosses it. I'm not sure what a good route to there would be, but if you
don't mind highway riding - US 36 would be your most efficient shot from
there - diagonally up to Boulder.

Maybe someone else will no more about how that would work.

Still, .... Highway 7 (Baseline Rd - Arapahoe Rd) is a relatively
peaceful route compared to coming in on 104th to Broomfield. (BTW,
Baseline road will take you straight in. There's no need to go up to
Arapahoe Rd, which is what route 7 does in Louisville.)

I'll give that some more thought, as there may be nice way to get from
104th to highway 128 to US36.

Let me know if you have trouble finding these on the Map. I really do
think the Google Map is easy to use (because you can drag the map).

Quoted message said:

I plan on doing day rides out of Boulder. Does anybody know of some
good challenging rides with lots of climbing and plenty of good
scenery?

LOL. You better believe it! We got your rides here. I can help you, as
can just about any other cyclist in Boulder. I've been focusing on
mountain rides (road rides) the last couple of years, though, so I could
hook you up with some routes that are not as widely known - very
challenging - very quiet - and very scenic. We might even be able to do
one or two together if you like, depending on when you'll be here. I'd
be glad to give you some instructions in person. How about a beer at the
Southern Sun Brew Pub (less than a mile from my house) while we pour
over maps (not with beer)?

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************

Chuck, thanks a lot. That's some great info you've given me. I measured
the distance along the first route you suggested(going by Barr Lake St.
park) and it looks to be about 50 miles. That shouldn't be a problem.
It's also good to know there's a bus going there just in case I don't
want to ride it.

I'm actually planning ahead a ways, I thinking of next summer(of 2006)
for the trip. My cousin who lives in Colorado Springs described the
area around Boulder, but he does mostly mtn biking and I do road
biking.

It sounds like you know of some good routes, I'll have to look you up
when I get there.

Ted

Chuck Anderson said:

Ted said:

I'm planning a trip to Boulder, Colorado. I'm hoping to be able to ride
from Denver International airport over to Boulder.

You have several choices.

Just to get it out of the way. The RTD Sky Ride bus from DIA to Boulder
is $10 and there is room in the enclosed undercarriage (all luggage goes
there) for bikes. It would have to lay on its side. The bike would be free.

That said, riding would be fun, too. I think that's what I would do
(although the bus would be tempting).

Here are your resources:
1. http://www.dot.state.co.us/BikePed/maps.htm
You want the State Map and the Legend (both PDF). Zoom way in and using
the legend it will tell you where it is legal and where it is illegal to
ride (along with cycling conditions - like how much shoulder and traffic
volumes.)

2. Google Maps is also very good (that's what I'm using to right now and
what I suggest for ease of use in your browser). http://maps.google.com/

I started by typing in Thornton Colorado and then dragging the map to
move it where I wanted it (if you are not specific enough it puts little
graphic pins all over the map).

A few years back, I left Boulder and headed for the Kansas border. The
route I took was Baseline Rd, which is highway 7. You can see it just
north of Barr Lake State Park going through Brighton (north of DIA). It
would be nice if there were a more diagonal route, but I think you'll
just have to go north from the airport and then west.

Quoted message said:

I was looking at a map and I see a road named "240".

I think you mean 270. Bicycles are not allowed there (and you wouldn't
really want to ride there). It's an expressway - and very very busy with
many exits and entrances.

I suggest you take Peña Blvd (bikes are legal) to Tower Road. Zoom way
in on the Google map and it will be labeled. It is the first street that
Peña Blvd crosses after leaving the airport grounds (after crossing 470
- a toll road where bicycles are prohibited.) Peña Blvd crosses Tower
Rd. before turning south. There is an exit ramp to ride down.

The simplest route would be to take Tower Rd north to Barr Lake. That
means back tracking about 2 miles east at Barr Lake before heading north
again. I think you can see how to get to highway 7 at that point. From
there it's a straight shot (all on 7) into Boulder (it angles north a
bit just east of I25 - as on the map). You'd be coming into Boulder
through Lafayette and Louisville on Baseline Rd (the 40th parallel). It
is a very ridable road. There is plenty of shoulder (I never remember
exactly, as I am not bothered by shoulders less than 4 feet wide) and
not much traffic outside of rush hour.

An alternative that I would be tempted to try in order to shorten the
route is to take Peña Blvd to Tower Rd and then the first left (lest
than 2 miles) on 88th Ave. to Buckley Road to 96th Ave. (thus avoiding
the 2 mile back track around Barr Lake). This is how I have sometimes
driven to DIA, so I have seen these roads. They are low traffic and you
may even see some bald eagles by the Rocky Mt Arsenal (which is
supposedly all cleaned up).

Once across I76 you can "bushwhack" your way up to highway 7 (definitely
the simplest and probably best way to get right into Boulder).

You could also take 104th street west. It's busy - lots of lights - and
I'm not sure where that would leave you once you got near US36. Bicycles
are only allowed on US 36 between Boulder and Broomfield, where 128
crosses it. I'm not sure what a good route to there would be, but if you
don't mind highway riding - US 36 would be your most efficient shot from
there - diagonally up to Boulder.

Maybe someone else will no more about how that would work.

Still, .... Highway 7 (Baseline Rd - Arapahoe Rd) is a relatively
peaceful route compared to coming in on 104th to Broomfield. (BTW,
Baseline road will take you straight in. There's no need to go up to
Arapahoe Rd, which is what route 7 does in Louisville.)

I'll give that some more thought, as there may be nice way to get from
104th to highway 128 to US36.

Let me know if you have trouble finding these on the Map. I really do
think the Google Map is easy to use (because you can drag the map).

Quoted message said:

I plan on doing day rides out of Boulder. Does anybody know of some
good challenging rides with lots of climbing and plenty of good
scenery?

LOL. You better believe it! We got your rides here. I can help you, as
can just about any other cyclist in Boulder. I've been focusing on
mountain rides (road rides) the last couple of years, though, so I could
hook you up with some routes that are not as widely known - very
challenging - very quiet - and very scenic. We might even be able to do
one or two together if you like, depending on when you'll be here. I'd
be glad to give you some instructions in person. How about a beer at the
Southern Sun Brew Pub (less than a mile from my house) while we pour
over maps (not with beer)?

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson · Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************

Ted said:

It sounds like you know of some good routes, I'll have to look you up
when I get there.

Quoted message said:

From Boulder you can go west for mountains, north for hills, and east

for flats. That's all you really need to know ;-)

I second Chuck's recommendation to use State Highway 7, though
personally I prefer the bus. http://www.rtd-denver.com/skyRide/

If you take 104th Ave, you can cut onto 287 (Federal Blvd / 120th Ave /
112th St) and follow it around through Broomfield until you get to
Baseline Rd / SH7. US287 isn't too bad if you're used to riding in
heavy traffic, but the whole intersection where US287 / US36 / and
Wadsworth all come together is pretty nasty -- I prefer local streets
to bypass that interchange altogether.