Breckenridge CO question (Updated)

[pick187]

We are planning on taking the Nomad to Breckenridge this year. Anyone know of must ride areas in that area?

[waterman]

Pick,

Do we have enough time for that!!! Must do's. Trailridge Road, the Peak to Peak from Estes Park to BlackHawk. North of Silvertone. Around Keystone. The Highway 40 from Empire to Winter Park. Not to many bad roads up there.

I am sure that Dan, Ells, Audio will add some more.

[audiogooroo]

From Breckenridge? Pick any road heading any direction and you'll have an amazing ride!
Seriously, if head east you'll hit Denver in about an hour, but any other direction has some great rides. How much time you got?

[trip]

I don't know Colorado like audiogooroo, ells or Dan Lund, but I've taken several trips up to Colorado and have ridden most of the highly publicized roads.

I find that I-70 (yes, I-70) between Dillon and Eagle to be a fantastic ride! Tunnels and winding lanes in the valleys. I have also ridden 40 North from I-70 to Granby and 34 from Granby to the Rocky Mountain National Park. Excellent ride!

[pick187]

In refference to time. We are leaving with another couple in the end of July begining of Aug. We are going there just to ride! We will get there Thur late day and will leave on Sunday Morning. We are staying in Breckenridge (my sister has a condo there).

[pick187]

Two interesting links that I found.

http://www.motorcycleroads.us/co.html

http://www.motorcycleroads.com/routes/RockyMtn/CO/CO_index.htm

[pick187]

It looks like Pikes peak is about 140 miles away. Is it worth going there?

[audiogooroo]

I don't now Colorado like audiogooroo, ells or Dan Lund, but I've taken several trips up to Colorado and have ridden most of the highly publicized roads.

I find that I-70 (yes, I-70) between Dillon and Eagle to be a fantastic ride! Tunnels and winding lanes in the valleys. I have also ridden 40 North from I-70 to Granby and 34 from Granby to the Rocky Mountain National Park. Excellent ride!
True story Trip. If you have to ride the super-slab that section of I-70 is pretty cool.
I think the Rocky Mountain National Park is a must ride if your that close. Not really too far from Breckenridge at all. You could do the Mt. Evans road (highest paved road in the continental U.S.)
Pikes Peak is in my backyard and it's pretty cool and you could take a nice leisurely ride through Garden of the Gods while here.

[ells]

Pick187,

I'd have chime in that there are no bad roads in or out of Breck. The main roads go only where they can which which means they follow the valleys and over the lower passes. Without getting to specific (and not ruin your fun of exploring), I'd suggest studying the map and picking out maybe 200 to 300 mile loops for a day with plan for a lot of stopping and slow riding along the way. I-70 is a good way to get from one side of the state to the other but would try to minimize time on it. Pikes Peak? While a big attraction in the Colo Springs area, may not be the best use of your time, I think it is still gravel to the top (right AudoGR?) Although the ride to the Colo Spgs area and back would be fine and there a few other things to do around there. Definetely would put Buena Vista/Salida and Granby/Estes Park on the destinations list. Steamboat Spgs for another if you can get another day in. Coming down to the east side of Mts (Denver) would not really be a good use of your time (IMHO) unless you want to run into the hoards, which you will anyway on I-70. For shorter rides, Frisco, Fairplay, and Leadville are interesting. The Peak to Peak hiway south from Estes Park is a must. Can't recommend Central City or Blackhawk which were neat old ghost towns that have been ruined (my opinion) by low-stakes gambling but they are popular with some and right there if you come down the Peak to Peak (Hys 72, 7, & 119) from Estes Park. Rides can get a little long because there aren't that many roads that will get you back and you won't be crusing at 75 mph, in fact at times a lot less with lots of photo ops. The San Juans (SW) and the NW part of the state are great too but will be a little out of range for you to get back to Breck each night, unless you really want to grind.

Hope this helps. Could try to be more specific on any of this if you like. Dan L and AudioGr probably have some more recent experience into some areas I haven't been in for a while, big damn State we got here, seven times the land area of Switzerland if you want some perspective.

[cactusjack]

We were in Denver a few years ago in June and wanted to take a ride in the car. We took 285 W out of Littleton and went to Jefferson and Fairplay, at Fairplay we took Hwy 9 through Breckenridge and on to Silverthorne and I-70 back to Denver. We got snowed on near Breckenridge in June. It was a neat ride, you're up above the tree line for some of it and their are these vast valleys that must have been glacial at some point in time.

Personally, I'd like to ride I-70 from Utah to Denver. I've done it in a car a few times, never on a bike. The cantilevered interstate at Glenwood would be cool, and I imagine the Eisenhower Tunnel would be an experience unto itself.

[audiogooroo]

Yep, Pikes Peak HWY is still gravel. Seems just about every year they talk about paving it and it meets alot of resistance. I agree that from Breck it's probably not really worth the ride down, although it is a nice ride. Definitely agree about the Arkansas River Valley (Leadville, Buena Vista, Salida)

[pick187]

Thaanks guys! What great info. I am studying the map and looking up where you all pointed me to.

[dantama]

I've been meaning to make some of my trip reports here, but haven't.

Here are some links to threads on another board with photos and maps of a few of my Colorado rides, unfortunately on my Breckenridge ride my wife had the camera in Europe so I didn't have pictures, but I'll post the link for the map, the ride south was a great ride.

HWY 77
http://www.msgroup.org/forums/mtt/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6072

Rocky Mountain Natl Park
http://www.msgroup.org/forums/mtt/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5491


Golden Gate State Park
http://www.msgroup.org/forums/mtt/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5885

Conifer to Woodland Park
http://www.msgroup.org/forums/mtt/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5389

Breckenridge
http://www.msgroup.org/forums/mtt/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5805

[ells]

Pick187, I should mention that when I identify towns, I'm considering more the journey than the destination. Not quite like heading for Disney World. However, each has its own charm but may not always be obvious. Also should have mentioned that you'll want to set a couple passes in your sites, Independence and Loveland, which you might miss taking the most direct routes, you'll hit a few others without trying.

[audiogooroo]

Ah yes, Independence Pass is amazing! And there's a couple of spots you can stop and catch a mess of Brook Trout if you like to fish. Pan size and tasty!

[pick187]

I would like to thank you all for your advice. I just got back and we had an AWSOME time. I did meet some other Nomad owners and I met one forum member, EL Nomad (I think that is right).

Our first day of riding we went up the backroads to Estes Park and thru the national park and looped back to Breckenridge. The second day we headed south to Buena Vista area and looped back around. We are already planning on going back.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p255/pickle187/10-1.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p255/pickle187/11-2.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p255/pickle187/9-1.jpg

[pick187]

Forgot to add that I rolled the odometer to 5000. Not bad for buying it this Feb.

[pirate]

Thanks for sharing the great pics. I've been to Colorado a few times, but never on a bike. I'll have to add it to my list of places to ride. Glad you had a great time.

[ells]

Looks and sounds like you had a great time. Glad the weather held for you too, from what we see in the fine pics.

[audiogooroo]

Home sweet home! :)
Nice pics man. Glad you had a good time.

[papat]

Great pics !!! Estes Park is on our list http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif