Big Kids on Bikes
by George F. Karioris
The inevitable process of growing older does not absolutely necessitate the process of “growing up”. In fact, we as humans strive to hang onto our youth with an iron grip as tightly as we can. We go the gym and work out. We travel to new places to keep out minds fresh. We wear blue jeans and athletic materials, bike jerseys, yoga pants, and bright colors that our grandparents would have never considered at the same age. We look for activities that are timeless and what some folks are calling “life sports”. While bowling, golf, and pickle-ball are on that list, the top entry (IMHO) is cycling. What other activity can actually provide transportation, recreation, sight-seeing, and exercise simultaneously? If you’re an uber-competitive person you can race, but 99% of the rest of us do cycling as an activity to share with friends (or solo) generating new memories and those oh-so-sweet mellowing endorphins. And that’s what transports us back to the idyllic days of our youth; carefree mornings and afternoons gliding under our own power on two wheels. With the freedom to turn the handlebars whichever direction we choose.
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The views of the Rocky Mountains set as a backdrop against the sapphire blue skies and the deep cobalt blue of the water make any day exciting. My wife and I and two friends came to stay and play in the mountain town of Dillon which sits right on the edge of the 5 square-mile Dillon Reservoir. The Reservoir is encircled by an absolutely beautiful bike/rec- path. The path passes directly though the towns of Frisco and Dillon and has spurs that lead to Breckenridge, Keystone, Silverthorne, Copper Mountain, and Vail. To be sure, there are walkers, joggers, and long-boarders on the trail. But the most elegant and utilitarian use of the trail system is by bike. The various stopping points are 7-12 miles apart which makes for a great bike ride whether you’re a tourist or a cycle-commuter. Of course, as a visitor there are tons of places along the way to stop and take in the scenery. With luck you can spot some Ospreys circling over the lake hunting for fish, or see an elk up on a nearby hillside.
There are bikers of all ages, shapes and sizes on the trails, although most of the local Coloradans are pretty fit people. What’s great to see is that there are also lots of different bikes on the trail. They vary from ultra-light road bikes to full-suspension mountain bikes, and everything in-between. This year there were more and more e-bikes too. But the all-around trail bike is the go-to most versatile of all the bikes to ride. We got ours for the week at Christy Sports shop in Frisco on Summit Boulevard (across from the Walmart). The nice guys there helped fit us and get us oriented on the bikes. The Trek “Verve 3” bikes we got had a very wide range of 9 gears at the back cluster with a triple-crankset of gears in the front. They were perfect for riding on the paved trails and had wide enough tires to do some light off-roading on crushed stone or gravel trails. The tires were pumped up, and the chains were lubed properly, and the brakes were in great shape. But what I really appreciated was that the shifting and gearing was perfectly in tune. When we wanted to shift gears, the bike performed flawlessly. I’ve rented from other outfits (and had my own bike along also) where the gear shifting has somehow gotten wonky and the bike becomes difficult to manage. Although you could see that these bikes had been ridden before, they were in perfect riding condition. We were so pleased with the smooth operation of these bikes.
We did lots of riding in the area. Of course we had to do the mandatory downhill ride from Vail Pass to Frisco. With its 15-mile descent and amazing views it’s hard to beat (check out our article from a few years ago). This year we decided to completely circumnavigate the whole Reservoir. The 21-mile route around the lake provides for visits to both Dillon and Frisco. The pathway meanders through meadows lush with fragrant sagebrush and forested areas cloistered with stands of lodge-pole pines. There are areas that gracefully open up to views of the deep blue water. Its surface offers surreal images where the reflections of the sky and mountains are inverted in a blue mirrored world. The path undulates gently up and down as it reveals to the rider stunning vistas along its many curves. Everyone who rides this round-the-lake route knows that while they enjoy the roller-coaster sections, lurking on west side of reservoir is the beast. To complete the circuit, bikers will need to face the climb up Swan Mountain Road to Sapphire Point. From the south riders ascend on a bike lane adjacent to the road itself. From the north riders will be on the paved rec-trail. Both are very steep and challenging, although the ascent from the south is an unrelenting climb of over 500 vertical feet in less than 2 miles. I can honestly say that we stopped several times gasping for air to catch our breath on the way up. The ride down from Sapphire Point side is a super-fun fast paced adrenaline rush. There’s a youthful feeling almost like flight in the descent that reminds us what it’s like to be a kid again. That’s the point; we all need more of that feeling, cycling can help get you there.
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The summer of 2020 found me in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in the town of Dillon. During this languishing Covid-19 pandemic Dillon and the surrounding Summit County area are noticeably sleepier than normal. Concerts at the amphitheater and parks are cancelled, the farmers markets are more restrictive, any large group gatherings are just plain verboten. Face masks are all the fashion. Outdoor activities including cycling and hiking are accepted and encouraged. Yeah, face masks/gators are still in play when you see another cyclist or hiker on the trail. Just keep yours handy and do a quick “mask up” when you come close. Hopefully vaccines are coming soon and we’ll be able to say with confidence “This too shall pass”. Thus ends the obligatory Covid coverage.
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Published August 2020