So, I've decided to try a commute from home to work on the designated Denver/Boulder Area Bike-to-Work Day on June 28,. It'll be a lo-o-o-o-o-o-ng ride (time wise... only ~40 miles on the bike), but I fully expect it to take at least 2.5 hours. I have two route options, which I may try to check out over the next couple of weekends.
Route #1
This route has some of everything, and is probably a bit safer (not to mention a couple of miles shorter). From Stapleton, I'd be on the Denver city bike routes through the City Park area until I reach Washington St. The route would put me on Washington St., which has a shoulder but no bike lane, for a short period of time, and incorporates mostly off-street trails, streets that are designated bike routes or have a designated bike lane.
I would wind through the suburban areas of the Denver-Boulder turnpike (US 36) until I reached Colorado Hwy 7, and then north and west to Gunbarrel. A map of Route 1 is shown below.
Route #2
This route is a little more direct, but longer (by ~3 miles) and almost exclusively on streets and roads with shoulders, but no bike lanes. Moreover, these streets are not designated bike routes. I'd follow the same path as before from Stapleton to Washington street. This time, however, I'd stay on Washington for several miles as it parallels I25 north. At the intersection of I25 and Colorado Hwy 7, I'd head west on CO 7, starting out much further east than where I'd pick it up on Route #1. At 75th St., I'd pick up the same route from Route #1 and head into Gunbarrel.
I'm leaning towards choosing Route #2 simply because there are fewer places where I might get lost. Also, I think there would be fewer stops I'd have to make, which might make the overall trip faster, despite the extra 3 miles. On the other hand, because it's Bike-to-Work Day, there will be aid stations and mechanical support on many of the designated bike routes. Since Route #2 is primarily not on these designated routes, I wouldn't get that support.
I'll ride some of both routes this weekend, and see which one I like best.
Of course, your Momma wants you on the safest route . . . :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope it doesn't rain . . .
Have you decided yet? I'm toying with the idea of trying and have been trying to track down some routs. Yours looks pretty good and I bet I could alter for my needs. I've never ridden around this rout at all though! eek
ReplyDeleteMan, really want to know how can you be that smart, lol...great read, thanks.
ReplyDelete