Breckenridge Loop Ride
Miles: Approximately. 179
Day: Saturday
Duration of Ride: Total Time - Pictures, Fuel and Food 7.0 hrs. Driving Time - 4.0 hrs.
Description of Ride: This ride will start by taking you out US 285.  Mostly 4 lanes, US 285 is known for its sweeping corners and the ability to get a good head of steam and really cook. On 285 you will find great curves and elevation changes with Crow Hill, Kenosha Pass and South Park.

This ride offers a wide selection of views and riding, from old mining towns to ski resorts, mountain passes, sweeping valleys and South Park, the town recently made famous by the cable TV show of the same name. It's definitely a fun ride.

We take 285 to Fairplay where we top off our fuel tanks. Heading up Hwy. 9 over Hoosier Pass and into Breckenridge, for an intimate lunch.

After lunch and a walk around town, we leave Breckenridge continuing on Hwy 9 toward I-70. Next we look for Swan Lake Road through Dillon with a trip over Loveland Pass where we stop for pictures.

Back on I-70 we look for the C470 junction and back to the hotel.

Pictures of this ride from previous years can be found in our photo gallery. "2003" "2005" & "End of Summer"

Additional information here for "Breckenridge"

If you have any questions on this ride or route email them to vtx2up@aol.com

Link to PDF Map File

Cripple Creek Ride
Miles: 240
Day: Saturday
Duration of Ride: Total time - Pictures and Stops 6.7 hrs. Driving Time - 5.0 hrs.
Description of Ride: A new addition for the 2011 Ride in July offering many great scenic views. You will ride the twisties  following the north fork of the South Platte River, passing through mountain towns like Pine, Buffalo, Deckers, Manitou Springs and Cripple Creek. And if you're feeling lucky, drop a quarter in the slots as Cripple Creek offers small stakes gaming. 

This will be a nice paced ride with plenty of stops for those who want a leisurely Sunday ride..

We leave the hotel taking  Hwy. 285 to Pine Valley Rd. Here is where you see the South Platte River and ride through several mountain communities. After a brief stop at the scenic pull off you head in the scenic direction (backwards) over Horse Power Hill into Woodland Park, Manitou Springs and Cripple Creek. Leaving Cripple Creek taking SR-9 and Hwy. 285 to Fairplay and back to the hotel.

This short ride will take some great scenic back roads visiting mountain communities and roads less traveled.  It's a great addition to the 2011 Ride line up.

If you have any questions on this ride or route email them to vtx2up@aol.com

Link to PDF Map File

Curves & Canyons Ride
Miles: 158
Day: Sunday
Duration of Ride: Total Time - Pictures, Fuel and Food 6.0 hrs. Driving Time - 3.7 hrs.
Description of Ride: The name of this ride says it all. It showcases a series of canyons just northwest of Denver. We will run up and down the canyons in a fabulous combination of curve after curve. You will see lots of twisties, elevation changes, hair pin corners and panoramic views. What a great way to experience the canyons of Colorado.  

We will follow C470 around to the foothills and Golden.  From Golden, we will be heading up Clear Creek Canyon to 119 where we go through Black Hawk a popular mountain gambling area. We pick up the Peak to Peak Highway for a few miles and come down Coal Creek Canyon to Hwy 93 and then right to Golden Gate Canyon.  Up Golden Gate where we will take a short break by the lake in Golden Gate Park. Continuing up the Canyon to 119 taking a right for your next stop in Nederland CO to grab a bite to eat at a nice little restaurant, The Black Forest Inn and grab some fuel. Taking a right out of Nederland and back to the canyons once again, you'll take Boulder Canyon back to to 93, 6 and C470 heading back to the hotel.

No worries about the pace. It will be a fine group pace while enjoying the scenery and taking plenty of time for pictures. We ask that you don't exceed your comfort level. Please take your time and ride safe. And remember the Ride name, if you don't like the twisties, this is not the ride for you.

Pictures of this ride can be found here "2005" and other galleries in our photo gallery.

If you have any questions on this ride or route email them to vtx2up@aol.com

Link to PDF Map File

Five Pass Ride
Miles: 309.
Day:  Friday
Duration of Ride:  Total Time - Picture, Fuel & Food 8.5  Hrs. Driving Time -  6.2 Hrs.
Description of Ride: This ride is designed to go from pass to pass, showing you the Rocky Mountains and The Continental Divide from the top of one mountain pass to another, giving you panoramic views like you have never experienced before.  

Redesigned this year, you will see breathtaking views passing through some of the finest mountain scenery, mountain towns, and ski resorts in Colorado. This year the 5 Pass Ride will travel over Kenosha, Red Hill, Trout Creek, Cottonwood, Tennessee, Vail and Loveland Pass.

The other rides offer you some of the same passes, but this ride is designed to give you pass overload ranging in elevations from 10K to over 12K feet. The 5 Pass ride will show you some of the best mountain riding that Colorado has to offer.

Pictures of this ride from previous years can be found in the photo gallery. "2004" and "2005"

If you have any questions on this route or ride email them to vtx2up@aol.com

Link to Tennessee Pass
Link to Kenosha Pass

Pass Elevations & Distance

Tennessee Pass:  10,425' - 8 miles
Kenosha Pass:  10,001' - 15 miles
 

Link to PDF Map File

Mt. Evans / Black Hawk Ride
Miles: 139
Day:  Friday
Duration of Ride: Total time - Pictures, Fuel and Food  7.5 hrs. Driving Time - 5.3 hrs
Description of Ride:  Kiss the Sky on this ride. You can't get any higher than this, with an enjoyment factor in the fourteens. 14K that is!

We will start at the La Quinta Hotel taking US 285 to the Morrison Road exit to head up Bear Creek Canyon to Evergreen.  At Squaw Pass Road, we will make a left and enjoy a beautiful ride packed with twisties up to Echo Lake Lodge for refreshments and a brief rest stop.

At the Echo Lake Lodge, we will continue on to over 14,000 ft. to the top of Mt. Evans! (Toll $3.00 p/p)  What's at the top you may ask? Just a parking lot, a rest stop, some mountain goats and a breathtaking view of the world that you just don't find in many places! Be advised, this road to the top of Mt Evans is narrow and steep, carrying a lot of traffic, both vehicle and bicycles.

After all the pictures are taken we will head back down the mountain to Idaho Springs for fuel and head to Black Hawk for lunch and a brief walk around town. After lunch we take a quick scoot out 119 to Golden Gate Canyon before heading back to La Quinta.

Pictures of this ride from previous years can be found in the photo gallery. "2003" "2004" and "2005"

If you have any questions on this ride or route email them to vtx2up@aol.com

Link to Mt. Evans

Link to PDF Map File

Old Fart's Ride
Miles: 95
Day: Sunday
Duration of Ride: Total time - Pictures and Stops 6.5 hrs. Driving Time - 3.0 hrs.
Description of Ride: Leave your AARP card at home! On this particular day, being an "Old Fart" has nothing to do with age, it's a state of mind.

When you ride a cruiser, sometimes you just need to cruise, look around and enjoy the scenery. If that's what you're looking for, this is the ride for you.

This will be a slow paced ride with plenty of stops for those who want a leisurely Sunday ride no matter what day it is.

We leave the hotel taking  back roads and canyon cruising heading for our first stop the "Historical Western Museum and Buffalo Bill Cody's" last resting place. .

After leaving Lookout Mountain, we will take the back roads to into Red Rocks Park, the northern version of Garden of the God's. and then down Bear Creek into Evergreen for lunch. 

Completely redesigned for the 2010 Ride it will be an all new riding experience.

Pictures of this ride from previous years can be found in the photo gallery. "2005"  & "Motorcycle Maniac"

If you have any questions on this ride or route email them to vtx2up@aol.com

Link to PDF Map File

Pikes Peak Ride
Miles: 204
Day: Offered Self Directed Only
Duration of Ride: Total time - Pictures and Stops 7.7 hrs. Driving Time - 6.0 hrs.
Description of Ride: Pikes Peak is the easternmost fourteen thousand foot peak in the United States, located 37 miles west of the city of Colorado Springs.

Pikes Peak is a very special place and now that the road is paved there is no reason not to ride to the top. Did you know that Katharine Lee Bates was moved to write the words of "America the Beautiful" in July, 1893, after having traveled to the top of Pikes Peak on a carriage ride? The words began to come to her while admiring the view from Pikes Peak, and she wrote the song out that night at her hotel in Colorado Springs.

We leave the hotel taking  Hwy. 285 to Pine Valley Rd. Here is where you see the South Platte River and ride through several mountain communities. After a brief stop at the scenic pull off you head in the scenic direction (backwards) over Horse Power Hill into Woodland Park. From there to Pikes Peak for a brief stop at the summit. Leaving Pikes Peak and heading into Manito Springs for lunch and fuel. From Manito Springs heading for I-25 and back to the hotel.

If you have any questions on this ride or route email them to vtx2up@aol.com

Link to PDF Map File

South Park Ride
Miles: 225
Day: Monday
Duration of Ride: Total time - Pictures and Stops 9.0 hrs. Driving Time -  4.5 hrs.
Description of Ride: On your ride today don't expect to see the familiar faces of Cartman, Stan, Chef and Mr. Hanky. This ride is something else altogether. You are, as your luck would have it, riding the real South Park, a huge hunk of wild and untamed real estate right in the center of Colorado.

As you look at South Park, riding through it or from any of the passes, it seems as though the world has opened up and flattened out with wide expanses of ranchland pasture, ribboned by the South Platte River and creeks. To some it may look open and barren, without a past worth mentioning, but in fact this region is steeped in the history of Indians and Gold Rushes.

Stopping briefly at the Wilkerson's Pass summit you will see where Trappers, miners and settlers first crossed over the Pass into South Park. Today you will have the opportunity to walk where they did, along with 10,000 years of history, seeing the panoramic views of three mountain ranges and the area's natural history as you take the short nature trail.

Are you ready to ride and get close to nature? We hope so. You'll leave the hotel taking Hwy. 285 over Kenosha Pass dropping down into South Park. Past Fairplay, taking Hwy. 9 over Wilkerson Pass picking up 24 past Lake George, Divide and Woodland Park for lunch. Guess what my friends? Out of Woodland Park you'll take 67 to 126 going through Deckers, Buffalo, Pine and back to 285. If that doesn't ring your bell, let me explain. That is heading back to the hotel over Horsepower Hill. How cool is that? A great ride through national forest with the South Platte River showing you the way.

If you have any questions on this route or ride email them to vtx2up@oal.com

Link to PDF Map File

Steamboat Scream Ride
Miles: 407
Day:  Offered Self Directed Only
Duration of Ride: Total time - Pictures, Fuel and Food  11.0 hrs. Driving Time - 8.5 hrs
Description of Ride: In a effort to offer you something special each year we mix our rides up a bit. Sometimes we offer different destinations, or we reroute the ride to keep it fresh and interesting. This years ride to Steamboat Springs gets a little of both, a new and interesting route with added areas of interest along the way.

Admittedly the Steamboat Scream is a long ride with 8.5 hrs. of saddle time.  It's not designed to stop every hour and take a break, but if you want to ride, keeping a brisk pace to see some great scenery, this is the ride for you,  You will not be disappointed.

Head out C-470 to I-70 and catch Hwy 40 through Empire which sets at the base of Berthoud Pass. Over Berthoud full of switch backs and twisties with views above timberline beyond your expectations. Through spectacular mountain scenery and towns like Winter Park, Granby and Hot Sulphur Springs head towards Steamboat for lunch.

Steamboat is primarily known as a ski town but is actually a sportsman paradise. Hot air ballooning, fishing, Pro Rodeo, you name it and Steamboat has it. After lunch you will head back over Rabbit Ears Pass a non aggressive pass with sweeping corners. Muddy Pass is next on the agenda where you will see some panoramic views of meadows and the Continental Divide as you ride toward Walden for fuel. After fuel and a break head out over Cameron Pass and through Poudre Canyon. With the river beside you, canyons and twisties a plenty, this ride will keep you smiling.

If you have any questions on this route or ride email them to vtx2up@oal.com

Link to Steamboat Springs
Link to Berthoud Pass
Link to Rabbit Ears Pass
Link to Poudre Canyon
Link to Cameron Pass

Link to PDF Map File

Walk About RMNP
Miles: 205
Day: Friday
Duration of Ride: Total Time - Pictures, Fuel and Food 7.4 hrs. Driving Time - 4.7 hrs.
Description of Ride: This year to mix it up a bit, instead of riding through the Rocky Mountain National Park and over Trail Ridge we are taking you into the  Park for a nature walk around Bear Lake. You'll be able to enjoy the park and its wildlife up close and personal.

After communing with nature and enjoying the great outdoors we'll head into Estes Park for lunch.

You leave the hotel taking US 6 to the Peak to Peak enjoying some of the best back country we have. Stopping in Estes Park for fuel and a brief break, you head into Rocky Mountain National Park for your nature walk. 

Returning to Nederland, taking the Peak to Peak to Golden Gate Canyon, back  to Hwy. 93 and then to the hotel.

This is a great ride with a new route, plus taking the time for a nature walk, you'll be talking about it for months to come.

If you have any questions on this ride or route email them to vtx2up@aol.com

Peak to Peak Highway information here
Link to Trail Ridge Road
Estes Park information here
Stanley Hotel Information here

Link to PDF Map Fil