Colorado 2024

Glenwood Springs → Aspen → Leadville → Keystone

It’s been a long time since I’ve taken a multiday bike trip. With the summer coming to an end I planned a 3 day ride to climb Independence Pass and cover some terrain in Colorado that I haven’t ridden before.

Day 1: Glenwood Springs to Aspen, 45 miles

I have a history of poorly executing the first day of a bike tour. Today was a nice change of pace with everything going to plan. The day started by navigating public transportation to my starting point in Glenwood Springs. I caught the light rail to Union Station and got my bike loaded onto the Bustang bus which headed out at 7:00 and arrived in Glenwood Springs around 11:00. From there it was a fairly simple 45 mile ride on the Rio Grande Trail to Aspen.

The route climbed from 5,800 ft to just under 8,000 ft but stayed at a consistent 1% to 2% grade the entire ride. Other than a few well documented detours, things were pretty easy until I reached the last 8 miles which unexpectedly switched from paved path to gravel and included the largest climb of the day. I ended in Aspen which set up nicely to start climbing over Independence Pass for Day 2.

Day 2: Aspen to Leadville, 57 miles

Today’s segment from Aspen to Leadville is what this whole trip was planned around. Climbing up Independence Pass proved to be a huge challenge with a great payoff in views at the top and a long downhill to Twin Lakes.

The ride from Aspen to the top of Independence Pass is 19.5 miles and took just under 3.5 hours. The climbing was hard but generally what I expected from the elevation profile. What I didn’t expect was the heat. About an hour from the top I had gone through most of my water and began rationing knowing my only refill spot was in Twin Lakes 25 miles away.

Thankfully the miles from the top of the pass to Twin Lakes were fast. I hit a top speed of 38 mph and arrived hungry and with empty water bottles. I refueled with a 14 inch pizza and a gallon of water and then got back on my bike for the last 20 miles of the day. The ride from Twin Lakes to Leadville was uphill averaging about 2% grade which was tough after an already long day, but I made it to town in time to grab a few beers before dinner.

Day 3: Leadville to Keystone, 44 miles

I’m not sure if I underestimated the climb from Leadville to the top of Fremont Pass because it looked so much easier than yesterday’s climb or if it just seemed hard because I was riding on tired legs, but it was a slow start to the day.

Riding north on 91 out of Leadville was scenic, but there were a ton of cars and a very narrow shoulder. It was about 14 miles of climbing up to 11,300 ft followed by 30 minutes of rolling hills before I got a big descent down to Copper Mountain. From there I hopped on the bike bath which took me right to Main Street in Frisco. I stopped for a brat and a beer and then got back on my bike to finish out the day with 13 miles around Dillon Reservoir.