![]() ![]() It reminded me of this weird place we often find ourselves in life, where we know some sort of “victory” is coming. I knew there was only one real climb remaining, the part where the trail goes around the Cherry Creek Reservoir. The final 30 miles of the trip would feel like a victory lap. This sign (the Cherry Creek Trail has one every 1/2 a mile, but this is the first one I saw when I joined the trail) felt like a welcoming of sorts, to the home stretch. In Parker, the route connects to the Cherry Creek Trail, an amazing trail that is fun, well kept, and mostly flat.įrom here, it is 30 miles to downtown Denver. My next burst of energy was actually mental, which is usually the battle we are actually facing when we decide to undertake physical challenges like this. This area is growing quite rapidly, and seems to get busier every time I ride this segment. It is a good thing there is a wide enough shoulder for bikes. Maybe it was the caffeine, maybe it was the sugar, but the coke re-energized me, and I was back on my way.Ĭrawfoot Valley Road, the road that connects Castle Rock and Parker was surprisingly crowded. The additional time it took on the unpaved trail up Monument Hill had set me back at least half an hour, but I definitely needed a rest, a snack, and, most importantly, I had a coke. In these situations, it is usually good to stop and take a rest. It was the hottest part of the day, and after the unanticipated challenges, I began to doubt whether or not I could complete the ride. This was also where I struggled the most. It was probably the least enjoyable part of the ride. Despite it being right next to the interstate, the road was quite crowded, and with no shoulder. However, that climb occurred in less than two miles, and can be unexpected, as Castle Rock is at 6200 feet and this climb came from one of the subtle terrain features east of the Rocky Mountains.Īfter climbing and descending Tomah Road, the route was follows the Frontage Road along I-25 for about four miles into Castle Rock. The total climb is pretty small, from about 6200 feet to just over 6800. Turning East, Tomah Road was actually the most challenging climb on the entire ride. I found it worthwhile, as I was enjoying the ride, but it does mean a total of about 20 miles between towns. There are a few route options at this point, and following Perry Park Road as long as I did, a little over 10 miles to Tomah Road, does bypass the town of Larkspur. It was a wonderful 25 mile per hour ride on a smooth road, with bright blue skies, wide open spaces, rock formations popping out on both sides around every turn, and a light cooling breeze. This section is mostly downhill, but with some rolling hills. The next part of the ride was my favorite, north along Perry Park Road. However, although the journey up the hill is actually quite subtle, with no switchbacks or steep climbs, it did take more time and energy than anticipated to get to Palmer Lake, the high point of the trip, at an elevation of about 7,300 feet (2225 m). Perhaps most importantly, Colorado Springs is among the most active and fittest cities in America. Yet, it is often amongst the most visited and talked about because, compared to many of Colorado’s other mountains, it is relatively isolated. Pike’s Peak is actually only the 20th tallest peak in the State. People who think about Colorado Springs often think about one of two things its affiliation with Christian conservative causes, as it is where Focus on the Family is headquartered, and Pike’s Peak, the mountain that towers over the city to the west. departure from Denver, which arrived in downtown Colorado Springs just after 9:30.Ĭolorado Springs is an interesting town. For anyone thinking of making this journey, the only real option is the 7:35 A.M. It would be a great service with more schedule options. Bustang is a pretty good service for cyclists in Colorado, as each bus has bike racks on the front. ![]() It started with a two hour bus ride, from Denver to Colorado Springs, on something called the Bustang. ![]()
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