Cycling

Favorite Routes

Boulder Creek Path [map]

The classic. Boulder Creek Bike Path runs along Boulder Creek and is the heart of Boulder's extensive mixed-use trail system. On the West side, the path becomes gravel and climbs up Boulder Canyon (currently closed for blasting to widen the road). On the east side, the path branches off to the Foothills Parkway, Valmont, and South Boulder Creek paths. Bell or horn recommended since there are so many pedestrians!

Wonderland Lake [map]

Wonderland Lake is a mixed-use trail with great foothills views and lots of access points from around the North Boulder area. Take the Foothills path north to access Wonderland Hill/Old Kiln hiking and Olde Stage/Lee Hill biking routes. Can get pretty slushy after it snows.

Old Stage Road [map]

Olde Stage road is an "easy" Boulder hill climb with a straightforward ascent and rolling high road sandwiched between two front-range ridges. I'm not a fan of the highway return so I usually turn around at the top and descend the same way I came up. More extensive writeup from 10 Adventures here.

Jay Road [map]

Jay Road itself is a pleasant straight shot across Boulder, but also offers access to a number of other great trails if you're coming from west Boulder, including Cottonwood (part of the LOBO trail) and the East Boulder Trail network near Gunbarrel.

The Bikes

Red

Red is an early-90s red Trek 700 (53.5cm). Steel frame and fork, Shimano Alivio drivetrain. Bought used from a hobbyist in 2014.

Upgrades & Accessories

• Drop handlebars (replaced original flat bars)
• Tektro side-pull brakes (replaced original center-pull brakes)
• Re-built front and rear hubs
• Re-built headset
• Schwalbe Marathon Tires (700x37c)
• Cateye Reflex Auto front and rear lights
• Cateye Velo 7 computer

Quirks & Features

• Stem-mounted shifters
• Weighs 27 lbs.

Blue

Blue is a slate gray 2021 Cannondale Topstone (M). Aluminum frame, carbon fork, Shimano GRX drivetrain. Bought new from University Bicycles in 2020.

Upgrades & Accessories

• Dark Speed Works Speedpack 483D top-tube bag
• Specialized Ribcage II water bottle cage
• Selle Anatomica H1 saddle
• Flectr Zero wheel reflector set
• Custom purple direct-mount downtube gravel shield

Quirks & Features

• When re-mounting the rear axle, press the rear hangar up and back so the thread aligns properly.
• Weighs 23 lbs.