Biking Independence Pass From Aspen

Views are Incredible!

After receiving a road bike for my birthday at the end of July I started going on a few road rides. I never thought this was a sport that I would get in to, and even my boyfriend who gifted me the bike said he expected it to be used by me as a great little townie bike! But I have a few road biking friends and I decided to give the harder stuff a try.

Map View of the Ride

My first big ride was Castle Creek Road to Ashcroft, though very challenging the first few times, it has now become a regular ride for me. I next ventured the Maroon Bells, much more challenging in my opinion as it is a steady uphill the whole way offering little to no downhills to take a break on. Next was McClain Flats to Snowmass and a great ride up through Missouri heights in Carbondale. I discovered a few short routes, McClain Flats to Starwood Mesa Drive, and Red Mountain road for off days. And to date my furthest ride has been McClain Flats to St. Benedictine Monastery looping back through Snowmass to Aspen.

Miles Vs. Elevation Gain

It is now only weeks before it becomes too cold to road ride around here and I decided to ride Independence Pass, the 4th highest paved road in Colorado. From Aspen its a 4,200 foot (19 mile) climb to the summit. The road is generally steep, curvy, and with little shoulder to ride on. It is definitely the hardest route Aspen has to offer on a road bike and something of a rite of passage as a road biker in Aspen! Though I have been riding my bike for over a month now, putting about 264 miles on my bike, I was definitely a bit nervous.

Us at the top!

We set out from my front door making the ride 40 miles in total and 4,500 feet of elevation gain, not too much different from starting at the gate. The ride took us about 3 hours and 40 mins and we ate about 200 calories worth of food every hour and LOTS of water. The ride is long with very little downhill areas or even flat areas for rest, but the views along the way are worth every ounce of sweat! The ride is incredible and not impossible for a new biker, just bring plenty of fuel! I would suggest doing a few easier rides if you are not used to the altitude as the air does get a little thin when nearing the top.

Such a blast and can now be crossed off my bucket list!

Tuesday Cruiseday Fun!

 Tomorrow is Tuesday...

 So...

Wanna go meet a million cool locals in one night in Aspen? Maybe you haven't had enough exercise hiking and biking or whatever you do and you just want to go on a sweet bike ride and discover some of Aspens cool public parks? Or maybe you just wanna get drunk, but you are sick of doing it in bars? Any of these are good reasons (not that you need one) to go check out Tuesday Cruiseday!

Tuesday Cruiseday is a magical day where about 200 people all get together to get drunk, make new friends and ride around to different Aspen Parks on bikes. Don't have a bike? Don't worry, there are bike racks on every other corner here in aspen where you can just swipe your credit card and rent a bike in no time!

The event starts at about 6-6:30 at the Aspen Brewing Company (its always good together there early and grab a beer from the brewery!) and hits up 3 or 4 different Aspen Parks. The event usually ends around 9 pm or whenever you are verging on too drunk to bike yourself home. Try it, its fun, cheap, counts as exercise, and you will meet some of aspens most fun locals!