denver ride guide?

[sasquatch2]

I'll be in Denver in May, anyone know the trails? guides? not sure if I'll rent or bring my Fuel90.

-Sasquatch2

[xjoex]

If you have a car- go ride buffalo creek/pine valley. It's just awesome. You can do a great 5-50 mile ride there.

If you are in Denver on a Tuesday night, go ride with the Red Stone Cyclery crew: www.redstonecyclery.com Dave's a great guy and the rides are a blast. Usually 6:00 in lyons and a 1-2 hour ride at Hall Ranch.

Boulder has some ok riding:
Walker Ranch
Heil Ranch

Lyons:
Hall Ranch

Golden:
White Ranch

-Joe

[Cyclenaut]

A second for Buffalo Creek. Do it in the morning, then go to the Bucksnort in Sphinx Park for a burger and a beer afterwards.

Others:

Green Mountain-a mesa at the base of the foothills. Good for quick rides. A big climb will take you to the top, then ride the flats for a bit, then ride the ace descent down.

Apex-in Golden, another big climb up the face of the mountain followed by fun descending.

Waterton Canyon/Roxborough loop-Waterton is a 6 mile fire road up to the singletrack. Starts out with a gradual climb up the fire road, and the singletrack continues up to a junction where the Colorado Trail and the Roxborough loop split off. Take the Roxborough loop, which will eventually dump you back to the fire road.

Joe mentioned Hall Ranch. This is a very technical, out and back trail. If you like big techy rides, Hall fits the bill.

Heil is a lollipop trail, up to a nice view point, then back down.

Matthews Winters is another front range trail that is across from Green Mountain. You can link the two.

Mt. Falcon in Morrison: another up and back. Big climb to the top, and back down the same way. A bit of work followed by good fun.

If you are staying in the city and want to just ride around and explore, you can hop on the numerous paved bike paths that we have.

[MileHighMark]

Also, be prepared for changing weather.

[sasquatch2]

yeah, changing weather! here in New Jersey we had snow last friday and on easter sunday... damn that global cooling! I was checking Denver's trail condition website (http://www.co.boulder.co.us/openspace/spring_trail_conditions.htm) to get a feeling for the trails- it says "poor" now :(

I just might be rolling on a demo YETI ASL-R, otherwise I need to rent a steed, just in case I'd like to line up a rental. any shops that got the goods. Would love to try my hand at 29er and or SS, I'm too chicken to ride that on the east coast as we're all rocks roots and hills.

-Sasquatch2

[noweightweenies]

I would have to agree re: Buffalo Creek/Colorado Trail. This can be an epic ride! The book "Denver Rides" has many trails listed. All lower trails are open and snow free at this time. Mt. Falcon is boring and is just a bunch of swithbacks and you have to avoid too many people on the way back down. White Ranch, Deer Creek Park, Dakota Ridge/Mathews Winters and Apex are my fav's. Also check out mtbr for some other trail reviews.