Advice for a rural commuting in the mountains
12-23-20, 01:55 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 14
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Advice for a rural commuting in the mountains
Posted this in the commuting section but figured it might be good to put it here too -
I'm moving to rural Colorado for a new job and will have about a 18 mi commute on gravel county roads through the mountains. Luckily it's almost entirely downhill to work, though there's a 1300' climb on the way home. Am I nuts for thinking I can do this regularly? I have a All City Space Horse and am used to pretty long rides but have never lived someplace with this much change in elevation before...
Anyone on here have experience doing longer commutes in the mountains?
I'm moving to rural Colorado for a new job and will have about a 18 mi commute on gravel county roads through the mountains. Luckily it's almost entirely downhill to work, though there's a 1300' climb on the way home. Am I nuts for thinking I can do this regularly? I have a All City Space Horse and am used to pretty long rides but have never lived someplace with this much change in elevation before...
Anyone on here have experience doing longer commutes in the mountains?
12-23-20, 02:03 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,109
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 822 Post(s)
Liked 1,961 Times
in
944 Posts
Just checking that is feet and not meters?
Why not give it a test run and see?
Why not give it a test run and see?
03-07-21, 04:35 PM
#6
Bike-train
18 miles mostly downhill might be do-able. My concern is what part of Colorado? In Northern Colorado it wouldn't be feasible in winter(I don't know about the climate in Southern Colorado). Would you get sweaty before work? I am looking at biking to work as a school teacher every day next year with my son; Almost entirely down hill and only 1.5 miles. The ride back can get hot and sweaty in the afternoon though!
03-31-21, 12:26 PM
#7
Junior Member
How lucky are you! You can ride downhill to work, arrive without sweat, and then sweat on the return trip! Shower and done.
If the 18 miles distance turns out to be too time consuming, and there is good overnight car and bike parking at work - consider commuting one way. You will always have an alternate form of transportation to go home if you keep a set of wheels at work.
Spring is here - try commuting over the easy spring and summer. Then you can make a decision about winter as the weather gets colder.
If the 18 miles distance turns out to be too time consuming, and there is good overnight car and bike parking at work - consider commuting one way. You will always have an alternate form of transportation to go home if you keep a set of wheels at work.
Spring is here - try commuting over the easy spring and summer. Then you can make a decision about winter as the weather gets colder.
03-31-21, 01:32 PM
#8
staring at the mountains
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Castle Pines, CO
Posts: 4,560
Bikes: Obed GVR, Fairdale Goodship, Salsa Timberjack 29
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 394 Post(s)
Liked 197 Times
in
112 Posts
Are you already commuting every day? We don't know your current fitness, but 1300' in 18 miles is 'hilly' in my book, and if you're doing it everyday, yeah, might feel stiff by the end of the week.
If you're not already doing a couple hundred miles a week, I'd start with commuting 2-3x a week and see how you progress. Sounds like you're also coming from lower altitudes, which makes it a little harder for a while.
It's definitely doable, especially with the freebie miles in the morning. Set expectations that the ride home will be over an hour, and ease into it.
If you're not already doing a couple hundred miles a week, I'd start with commuting 2-3x a week and see how you progress. Sounds like you're also coming from lower altitudes, which makes it a little harder for a while.
It's definitely doable, especially with the freebie miles in the morning. Set expectations that the ride home will be over an hour, and ease into it.
