Peak Cycles Best Bike Routes to Cross of Your Summer Riding Bucket List 

August 1, 2019

While the temps are soaring and the days are still long, soon – summer will come to an end.  Now is the time to get rolling.  All of the rides, races, and cycling adventures you hoped to complete this summer need to have a checkmark next to them.  Who wants to look back on the season with regret? No one!  So get out your planner and make August your best month yet. 

Take a look at our list of some of the best road and mountain bike routes in the Golden, Colorado and Front Range area. See which ones you have done and plan to mark them all complete before season end. 

Mountain bike trails:

  1. White Ranch Trail
  2. Dakota Ridge and Red Rocks Trail 
  3. North Table Mountain 
  4. Green Mountain Park
  5. South Table Mountain 
  6. Chimney Gulch Trail 
  7. Apex Park Trail 
  8. Golden Gate Canyon State Park 
  9. Lair O’ the Bear 
  10. Buffalo Creek 
  11. Centennial Cone 
  12. Hall Ranch  

Road Rides:

  1. Historic Lariat Loop 
  2. Deer Creek Canyon 
  3. Bergen Park or Idaho Springs to Guanella Pass 
  4. Red Rocks Park Loop 
  5. Bergen Park or Idaho Springs to St. Mary’s Glacier (Alice) 
  6. Idaho Springs to Loveland Pass 
  7. Golden to Cold Springs Campground via Golden Gate Canyon 
  8. Bergen Park to Echo Lake 
  9. Idaho Springs to Juniper Pass 
  10. Manitou Springs to Pike Peak Summit Parking Lot (Pikes Peak Hill Climb) 
  11. Morgul-Bismark Route 
  12. Jamestown Canyon Ride 
  13. Flagstaff Hill Climb 
  14. NCAR Hill Climb 
  15. Lookout Mountain Hill Climb 
  16. Sunshine Hill Climb 
  17. Magnolia Hill Climb 
  18. Mt. Evans Hill Climb 
  19. Pikes Peak 
  20. Trail Ridge Road 

At Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we’ve found the best way to make the most of your bucket list rides is be prepared: mentally, physically, and have fully inspected your bike parts.  You want to make the most of your rides, don’t you? Of course! No one wants a mechanical during training or racing.  Obviously, functioning brakes are essential on the long, fast descents.  Proper gearing can make or break your chance of making a climb.  And, having the right bike tools, cycling accessories, and extra bike parts on hand make a difference between a stellar ride and a bailout. 

So make sure your bike is in proper order and while you’re at it, stop in and check out the new rides we have in the shop. Riding a new road bike or mountain bike while marking your bucket list rides complete will totally up the fun factor! We’ve got some great deals on bikes and cycling accessories, so stop by the Peak Cycling Bike Shop for help or visit us at bikeparts.com for all your cycling needs. 

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Posted by staffwriter8

Enchanted Forest – A BikeParts.com Favorite – See Why

July 11, 2013

What is every mountain bike riders dream?

Endless trails, a variety of terrain, scenic views of wildlife and bike parts that make a ride seem effortless.

Golden’s Apex Park – Enchanted Forest mountain bike ride contains 11+ miles of trails of stellar single track and a delightful surprise with the Enchanted Forest trail.  True to its name, the Enchanted Forest provides lush tree cover and is considered a favorite among local riders.  Watch the video to see why!

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Posted by staffwriter8

Boom! The 2013 Peak Cycles Race Season if Off!

May 16, 2013

ridgeline BESTWhat does the Ridgeline Rampage, Battle of the Bear, Eagle 40, and 12 Hours of Mesa Verde all have in common?  Sure, they are all mountain bike races but they are also all races in which the Peak Cycles Race Team have all raced AND celebrated their success on the podium!

Congrats to all of our racers!  At BikeParts.com, we do all we can to support our competitive and non completive athletes.  And while our racers can tell you, racing takes its toll on themselves as athletes, but also on their bikes.  The season is in full swing and most venturing into the shop want to know how to ride faster, ride easier, and what they need to do either get their bike parts in order or keep them well maintained.

So, what can we learn from our podium finishers that the rest of us can use to better our cycling season?  For starters, they start their races with a clean and lubricated chain.  They make sure to lubricate the moving parts of brakes and derailleurs. Their brake pads are in good shape and tires have the appropriate air pressure.  And, most importantly, after they race, they inspect their bike and replace damaged bike parts.

What other things can we learn from our top racers?  Find out for yourself!  Stop by the Peak Cycles Bike Shop for the shop ride in Golden, Colorado, follow us on Twitter, or catch up on Colorado racing in our recent blog posts.

What’s next?  Look for Taylor J Schmidt, Weston Burcar, Dan Dwyer and Joshua Murdock at this weekend’s RME Indian Creek race.  Cheer them on, or better yet, get out there and race!

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Posted by staffwriter8

Colorado Summer Vacations: 2013 Travelers Guide To Golden, Colorado Mountain Biking

May 2, 2013

BikeParts.com Team Rider Sam Dolzani shredding the season-opener Boulder Short Track RacePlanning a trip to Colorado? Why not explore the Front Range from the seat of a mountain bike?

Colorado’s Front Range includes countless mountain bike trails offering an abundance of steep, rocky and sandy terrain with exposed terrain, an abundance of climbing, as well as easy, smooth single track.  Sounds like a mountain biker’s dream – and it is.

Whether you’re traveling solo, with your family, or in a large group, the trick to enjoying the Front Range Single Track is being prepared.

The first step in your trip preparation is selecting the trails you want to ride.  Golden, located just outside of Denver, Colorado offers world class mountain bike riding.  Some of the popular Front Range trails include:

  • White Ranch Trail
  • Dakota Ridge and Red Rocks Trail
  • North Table Mountain
  • Green Mountain Park
  • South Table Mountain
  • Chimney Gulch Trail
  • Apex Park Trail
  • Golden Gate Canyon State Park
  • Lair O’ the Bear

Next, you’ll want to gather trail intelligence.  Meaning, there are key elements you should know before heading out on any unfamiliar trail:

  • Know the profile – How much climbing and descending should you expect?
  • Know the route – Where  is the trailhead?  How long is the route?  What is the technical difficulty?  What type of terrain will you be riding?  And, What are the current trail conditions?
  • Know the weather conditions before, during, and soon after you expect to ride.  Colorado weather changes quickly and sometimes, radically.  Be prepared.
  • Know what cycling apparel to wear.  Being over or under dressed makes for an uncomfortable ride.
  • Know which bike components are best for the terrain type and the right mountain bike tire to use.

Finally, there’s a checklist of essential items to carry with you.

The big question is what to ride?   Of course, you can ship or bring your own bike. Our shop, Peak Cycles Bike Shop offers rental bikes and all the bike accessories you may have forgotten to pack.  Or, opt to buy a new bike!  Embark on its inaugural rides here in Golden and ship it home.

Which bikes would we suggest for Front Range riding?  One option is a hard tail Stump Jumper or Giant XTC Composite  hard tail.  If you don’t mind a little extra weight but want a more comfortable ride, the Epic Carbon Expert is a good choice or the Giant Anthem. Both are full suspension bikes.  Whether you go the hard tail option or with a full suspension bike, having the right bike parts and mtb parts is going to make a difference over the long haul in terms of performance and comfort.

Enjoy Colorado’s Front Range mountain bike trails. Stop by our Peak Cycles Bike Shop for trail information, to pick up a map, or visit us online at BikeParts.com to get trail information as you’re planning your trip!  Happy Riding!

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Posted by staffwriter8

Pedal Power for Good: Kicking off National Bike Month in May at Peak Cycles

April 25, 2013

April showers bring May flowers and for us in Golden, Colorado – a long overdue start to the bike riding season!  May is recognized as National Bike Month and as a local bike shop and an online bike parts store serving the nation,  we couldn’t be happier!  Bike commuting, road riding, and mountain bike riding are all part of living a healthy lifestyle but they also serve as alternative transportation, helping the environment, as well as getting families, businesses, and communities involved.

As supporters of several bike race teams and local events, we encourage you to put your pedal power to good use this bike month.  Get committed and enroll your family, colleagues and others to get on a bike! Ride! Here’s how you can participate in National Bike Month with us at Peak Cycling.

For your bike: The bike season is a bit overdue due to the linger winter weather.  Now is the time to dust off that bike, look it over, and perform any bike maintenance to ensure comfortable and safe riding.

  • Get a tune up
  • Replace old bike parts with new ones
  • Replace worn out gear like helmets , shoes , gloves
  • Treat yourself to one of our jerseys – ride local and proud
  • Set a milage goal for the month of May- get a new computer

For your family and friends: Bike commuting has numerous benefits: it improves your health, saves you money on car maintenance and gas bills, and overall, lightens your mood and refreshes your outlook.

For your business: Create a bike commuting program for employees. Bike commuting increases worker productivity, reduces parking cost, reduces carbon emissions and bicycles can be produced and maintained locally by local bike shops (like us – Peak Cycles) contributing to local job opportunities as part of a sustainable economy.

For your community: Bike riding offers a certain connection to the open air and the surrounding trees. It’s amazing how usual surroundings look different when on a bike.  It can can be done by toddlers, teenagers, youngsters and adults as well. It can be used as personal time to reflect upon your day or a means to unite friends for regular rides.

  • Explore and discover your local community by bike
  • Commute by bike for work and play
  • Learn how to use Google maps and the City of Golden website for bike routes

What are you waiting for?  Pump up your tires, lube your chain, and put your pedal power to good use!  Ride ON!

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Posted by staffwriter8

White Ranch Trail: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

March 7, 2013

White Ranch Trail, Golden, CO

If grueling climbs, steep and narrow descents and tight switch-backs are your thing, then White Ranch may be the trail for you.  White Ranch Trail, located in Golden, Colorado near the Peak Cycles bicycle shop, offers an extensive trail system of 20 miles of multi-use trails over both gentle and rugged terrain.  Here’s our take on this popular trail.

The Good:

With steep grades, loose rock, and fast descents along sloping terrain, this trail is a favorite for advanced mountain bike riding on the Front Range.  Rugged and rocky steep climbs challenge even the best of riders while smooth and gentle meadow shots offer a release from the death grip on the brakes.  Your hard climbing efforts are rewarded with sweeping views of the Great Plains and the Denver skyline.

The Bad:

It all depends on what you call “bad.”  Starting at Belcher Hill with an extended, technical climb up can be a challenge.  If you aren’t up for that,  you might consider that a negative. Also, with two foot + drop offs, you need to be ready for technical sections and not a walk in the park type of ride.  Take note: hissing isn’t just for aggravated riders or flat tires.  There are plenty of snakes on this trail.

The Ugly:

Not having the right bike parts  or gear.  A full suspension mountain bike  is recommended to easily navigate  rocky sections, water bars, steps and drop offs.  Also, because of a majority of the park is exposed, the sun exposure in the summer months can be brutal.  A hydration pack is recommended not only to carry plenty of fluids but also for easier drinking riding over technical terrain.

There are 2 possible starts.  Opt of the East Access: 5611 Glencoe Valley Road, Golden for an easier ride.  Or, take the West Access: 25303 Belcher Hill Road, Golden for the long climb up to the top.

Either way, White Ranch offers cyclist living close to Golden, Boulder, and Denver a more advanced area to mountain bike and better yet – it offers a great escape from city riding.

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Posted by staffwriter8

Green Mountain Trail: Why It’s a Year Long Favorite

February 7, 2013

Green Mountain Open Space near BikeParts.com and Peak Cycles Bike ShopWhether new to the area, a resident, or vacationing in the greater Denver area, recreational and competitive cyclist are always looking for options to get their rides in.  While Colorado is blessed with amazing single track, finding a dry trail during the winter season can be a challenge.

Green Mountain (a.k.a. William F. Hayden Park), a fun, intermediate mountain bike ride about 20 minutes west of Denver and close to the Peak Cycles bike shop in Golden, Colorado is a trail to be ridden year round.  A special perk to this nearly treeless trail is that it can be enjoyed by both novice riders and competitive cyclists.  In general, the trail options are numerous.  Novice riders may forgo the steeper climbs and opt for an easier route while those looking for a challenge have a few hill climbs and intermediate descents to conquer.  The trick to riding the trail well is having the right mindset, bike and gear.

Mindset: Because Green Mountain is less technical than some of the surrounding trails in Golden, some consider it to be boring.  Yet, to others, it can be a great trail to do intervals or even test ride a new bike or dial in new bike components before heading out to a more challenging trail.  For some, Green Mountain offers the mental ease of road riding, but on dirt.  For others, it’s an opportunity to work heart rate and power zones.  Either option works, but having a workout objective when riding Green Mountain trail can spice up the trail to those who consider this trail boring.

Bike: Hardtail or Full Suspension?  The trail is hard packed but it also has loose and bobble head sections.  A full suspension bike, like the Specialized Stump Jumper 29er, might be best for longer or more casual rides; however, opt for a hardtail  like the Specialized Carve Expert 29 for a good workout and speed.  Some ride cyclocross bikes.

Gear: Fortunately, the trail is nearby so it’s not as critical to be as prepared for epic rides.  Do keep in mind, Green Mountain is exposed.  Sunscreen is important.  During the Summer months, thunder and lightening storms can roll in fast. Be prepared with the right gear.  A hydration pack may be your better option during the warmer, summer months but opt for bottles for shorter and faster rides.

What else is great about Green Mountain?  It is awesome for night riding. Of course, be safe – get a good light and be mindful of the evening critters.

Green Mountain may not be the most technical nor scenic trail Golden has to offer, but its accessibility and appeal to a range of cyclist for year round riding makes Green Mountain a keeper.

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Posted by staffwriter8

Golden CO Mountain Bike Ride, GPS – Dakota Ridge and Green Mountain

March 20, 2008

So, I took my new Garmin EDGE 205 GPS out for a ride today. Check out the map and this link to all the ride details! – swift

Picture_5

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Posted by swiftjesse