BikePlusTours Performance Cycling Trips Colorado Rocky Mountains Tour
A Breathtaking Experience Our Colorado Rocky Mountains Tour gives you the opportunity to ride on some of North America's highest roads and experience the rugged beauty of the Colorado Rockies. The rides are tough, but doable and we'll have a rest day in the middle of the week to recover from your efforts and recharge your body for the final stages. In order to minimize the hassle of packing and unpacking, we'll be staying for two consecutive nights in all but one of our hotels. This also allows for optional additional sightseeing or rest days and possible shortening of routes on some days in case of inclement weather. This is not a group ride and you'll be able to cycle at your own pace and with the riding partners of your choice. Our guides will be on the road, on bikes and with a support vehicle to assist you whenever needed. Join us for the trip of a lifetime! At a glance Trip dates: June 8-16, 2019 Duration: 8 nights / 9 days Cycling distance: 324 miles Cycling vertical: 32,600 ft Small group: maximum 16 guests Supported rides with experienced guides Hotel accommodation with all breakfasts and dinners included Price: $2,495 per person, single room surcharge: $795
Itinerary and Elevation Profiles Saturday 8 June: Arrival at Denver airport and group transfer (45 mins) to Boulder. In the afternoon you'll have time to put your bike together and go for a quick test ride. Sunday 9 June: Boulder Loop (51 mi / 4,800 ft) We?ll take it easy on our first ride on Sunday as our bodies are adapting to the altitude. Today?s ride is a classic loop around Boulder on undulating roads with great views of the mountains. At the end of the ride we?ll have the option to climb the steep Flagstaff Road, which is known to the local pro cyclists and triathletes as?boulder?s Alpe d?huez?. The ride includes an uphill section on a gravel road. After the ride, you can explore Boulder or visit a local brewpub to sample some of Colorado?s famous craft beers. Monday 10 June: Boulder - Estes Park (52 mi / 6,800 ft) On Monday we?ll ride into the Rocky Mountains through Lefthand Canyon and continue on the famous Peak to Peak Highway which provides great views of some of the highest peaks in Colorado. We?re staying overnight in Estes Park at 7,500 ft, so today?s ride will be much more up than down! Tuesday 11 June: Estes Park - Grand Lake (50 mi / 5,500 ft) During Tuesday?s stage we?ll cross Rocky Mountain National Park via Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved through road in North America. Keep your eyes peeled for elk and mountain goats. From the crest at 12,183 ft it is mostly all down to our hotel in Grand Lake, the largest natural lake in Colorado.
Itinerary and Elevation Profiles (Continued) Itinerary and Elevation Profiles (Continued) Wednesday 12 June: Rest Day Wednesday will be a rest day and there will not be a scheduled ride. We?ll have all day to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. There are some great hikes in the area or you can rent a boat and cruise on the lake or do some fishing. If you'd like to go on an unsupported ride you can climb Trail Ridge Road from the west side or ride along the lake on a quiet gravel road. Friday 14 June: There will be a choice of rides on Friday: Option 1: Mt Evans (57 mi / 6,900 ft) It is 28 miles of climbing to the top of Mt. Evans, which at 14,130 ft is the highest paved road in the USA! Option 2: Squaw Pass Loop (42 mi / 4,700 ft) This is an easier and shorter loop with most of the day's climbing at the beginning. It includes the scenic Squaw Pass as well as a 1 mile stretch on gravel and returns to Idaho Springs via a paved bike trail. The first 14 miles are the same as the long route, so you can decide during the ride which option you prefer. Thursday 13 June: Grand Lake - Idaho Springs (69 mi / 4,500 ft) On Thursday we start out with a 20 miles flat stretch before gradually climbing up to Berthoud Pass via the Winter Park ski resort. A long thrilling descent takes us to Idaho Springs, an old mining town with a charming historic main street and a distinct frontier vibe. Saturday 15 June: Idaho Springs - Boulder (45 mi / 4,100 ft) On Saturday we will return to Boulder through the mountains via Central City, a historic mining town which has now been reinvented as a casino resort. Initially there is some climbing on gravel roads but you?ll be rewarded with scenic vistas and a long descent through Boulder Canyon. In the afternoon you?ll have time to pack your bike. Tonight we'll have a celebratory dinner in downtown Boulder. Sunday 16 June: Early morning group transfer to Denver Airport.
High Altitude Risks This trip takes place at very high altitude. Our itinerary is designed to allow your body to get used to the thin air gradually before taking on the highest climbs. However, this does not mean that you cannot be seriously impacted and we recommend that you consult your doctor before engaging in rigorous exercise at high altitude. Our package includes: - Group airport transfers to and from Denver Airport for you, your luggage and your bike - Vehicle support and luggage transfer - Assistance during the rides from our experienced tour guides on bikes - 8 nights of hotel accommodation - All breakfasts and dinners - Supplementary water, snacks and fruit on the rides - Laminated stage sheets with route information and altitude profiles - GPS files of all rides Excluded items: - Flights to and from Denver - Travel insurance - Rocky Mountain National Park entrance fee ($10), payable at the Park gate - Lunches, drinks, gratuities and personal expenses Price: $2,495 per person in a shared double or twin room, single room surcharge: $795 Please e-mail Carolyn and Pieter for more information and booking: info@bikeplustours.com Why BikePlusTours? 15 Years of experience in organizing performance cycling trips Owners Carolyn and Pieter personally guide every trip Routes that combine famous climbs with beautiful local byways Small group size Great value We reserve the right to change this itinerary due to availability of accommodation, road closures, weat her and ot her unexpected circum stances. Our trips are catered to experienced cyclists with excellent bike handling skills. We ride rain or shine. You will be required to complete all rides by bike. Van transfer is not available except in case of an emergency.
About BikePlusTours We are a small company owned and operated by Carolyn and Pieter Maessen. BikePlusTours was born out of a desire to share our love for cycling on the great mountain roads of Europe with our guests. We have been organizing group cycling trips since 2002 and we feel very lucky that our hobby has become our profession. Pieter has been a cyclist all his life. He has competed in junior and elite races in his native Netherlands as well as in Belgium, Germany and the USA. Although more of a classics rider than a climber, Pieter has had a passion for cycling in the mountains ever since riding up Passo dello Stelvio at age 16. Carolyn has had a lot of success as a triathlete. She was a sponsored athlete for seven years and has won races in every distance from sprint to Ironman. She has competed in World Championships in Ironman in Kona (Hawaii), Ironman 70.3 in Las Vegas (Nevada) and Sprint Triathlon in London (UK). Please get in touch with us if you would like more information about our trips. BikePlusTours LLC www.bikeplustours.com PO Box 8131 BikePlusTours Breckenridge, CO 80424 info@bikeplustours.com