This is the Triple Bypass – an iconic Colorado bike ride. The route covers 118 miles from Evergreen to Avon, crossing three mountain passes with 11,000 feet of elevation gain in a single day.
We start at 7,500 feet and immediately begin climbing to Juniper Pass at 11,100 feet. Most of the climbing over the day is a reasonable 3-5% grade. From Juniper, it’s a long, fast descent to Idaho Springs. Next we grind back up to Georgetown and up to the brutal Loveland Pass – the highest point of the ride at about 12,000 feet above sea level.
By this point, we’ve completed half the miles, but fortunately much more than half the work. A glorious descent to Keystone follows, then another sneaky climb over Swan Mountain. After refueling in Frisco, we continue the gradual climb to Vail Pass at 10,700 feet. A third descent brings us through Vail and across the finish line in Avon.
This is the fourth time I’ve completed this ride. Every time is hard, but every time I ride with a big smile and hope to inspire others to take on the challenge.