The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Historic Roaring Fork Valley

August 7th to August 17th

Ride Director: Mark Janer
Ride Co-Director: Christine Bartlett
Ride Driver: Boyd Peart
Report by: Jim McKinley

The attraction was to ride in the alpine terrain of the Rocky Mountains, and all the routes provided spectacular scenery. What distinguished the ride was its careful staging. We began in Glenwood Springs and visited four towns over ten days. From each, we could choose a ride of lesser or greater challenge, and the rides were all out-and-back, uphill on the out and downhill on the back. The first three inter-town travel days were uphill, of moderate distance, and the final ride, from Aspen back to Glenwood Springs, was long and hot, but downhill.

Glenwood Springs (pop. 9963, el. 5761 ft). This tourist town included a thriving downtown and an amusement park above the town, accessible by cable car. We stayed in a historic hotel decorated with pictures of famous guests, particularly Teddy Roosevelt. After two nights, we moved to

Redstone Historic District (pop. 127, el. 7185 ft), founded by a 19th century coal baron. Although signs around town depicted him as a self-made man, a tour with a local historian revealed that he was the scion of a wealthy family who ran the town as a benevolent tyrant. We stayed at the hotel he founded as a miner’s dormitory, where we had dinner on the first night of our stay. On the second night, dinner was pizza at the local art gallery. Rides from Redstone included to Marble (pop. 134, el. 7993 ft), where the stone for the Lincoln Monument and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was quarried, and to McClure Pass (el. 8735 ft). After two nights, we moved to

Basalt (pop. 3984, el. 6614 ft), a former rail and business center, offering an abundance of high-quality restaurants. We stayed in a simple, quiet motor court that was managed by the owners. The popular ride option was up the Frying Pan River valley on a low-traffic road to Ruedi Reservoir at 7766 ft el. After two nights, on to

Aspen (pop. 6949, el. 8000 ft), a town with renown, where the ski slopes begin in the business district. We stayed in a small hotel with Frank Lloyd Wright-ish design, where we met in the upstairs library or in the walled courtyard near the front door. The owner prepared outstanding omelets on demand at breakfast, and the host-dog was friendly and welcoming. On the first day of riding, most of us rode to the Marron Bells Visitors Center (9580 ft el.); the elevation and the view took one’s breath away. For the second riding day, some tried Independence Pass (12,095 ft el.) Others took a rest day, allowing time for the art museum, shopping, and a $36 hamburger (mandatory 22% tip included) at the Hotel Jerome. The John Denver Sanctuary Park featured walking paths and stones engraved with sage advice. In the evening, less-ostentatious dining was available, the streets were lively, and high school-aged street musicians played Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’ at the ice cream shop. After three nights, a 42-mile ride to

Glenwood Springs (still at 5671 ft el.) The day was hot and dry. BUT, it was all downhill, allowing a bit more than 3 hours on the bike, and the Carbondale farmer’s market was the spot for lunch. We stopped at the historic Colorado Hotel, had a wonderful last meal, and left the next day.

The ride leaders did an admirable, conscientious job organizing and running the ride. The combination of group dinners and pizza-fueled happy hours brought out the congeniality of the participants.