ljsb717

Hi all!

Me and a couple of buddies are planning on doing a road cycling trip in Colorado. We're planning on biking from Colorado Springs up Route 24 to Buena Vista but we've heard that it can get sketchy around Pikes Peak and Manitou. Has anyone done this route? Any words of advice and/or an alternate route that we should take?

Thanks so much!

SoSmellyAir

Good luck. Try asking here: Mountain - Plains - Bike Forums

znomit

I've pedalled up and down there a few times with no issues, but not for a while. Some of the drivers around cripple creek were a bit close for my liking

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/333427541

lasauge 

I grew up in Colorado Springs and have ridden Highway 24 between Manitou and Woodland Park many times. Going up Ute Pass there are a few blind corners that are unnerving due to the traffic, but it's only a handful that you'll get past quickly and if you're an experienced road cyclist you've probably ridden far worse. Aside from those few spots you have a beautiful route in mind. The Donut Mill in Woodland Park is a good place to stop for a snack.

For alternate routes, you could ride to Cripple Creek on Gold Camp Road which is gravel (and has a few steep, rough sections), or take the scenic north route from Colorado Springs to Woodland Park via Mount Herman Road (also gravel).

ljsb717

Thanks so much!

Iride01 

You might get on Google Earth and "drive" it from the street view to see what the road conditions look like. Realizing of course that the imagery is old in some or many places and won't reflect repaired, new construction or worsening conditions.

You are planning for next year aren't you? If you are going this year you better do it very soon. Maybe like last week.

superdex

You could do Rampart Range Rd from Garden of the Gods and drop down into Woodland Park. It's a 12mi, 3000ft steady climb to start your ride, but after just being down there last weekend, I'd fear anyone riding on the stretch between Manitou Springs and Woodland Park. Zero shoulder and 50-60mph. Honestly, it's just the stretch between Manitou and Cascade, where you can get onto a parallel access road or two. But I wouldn't ride it. Too many cars, too fast, no shoulder, blind corners. No thanks.

https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/5242546678/


This is what the road looks like, and it's 45-50mph through here. And some miracle there are no other cars. It's a very busy hwy:

superdex

Here's a fantastic write up on Gold Camp Road. I'd consider it a must-do.

https://cyclingtips.com/2022/06/the-...old-camp-loop/

Baetis

Not sure what the road is like east of Wilkerson PAss, but the west side, towards Hartsel the traffic speed is 65+. From Hartsel, over Trout Creek Pass, the road is VERY busy and posted SL is 55. Narrow shoulder, too. God speed if you do it.