Keeping It Simple

Keeping it Simple

Our original plan was to ride from Loveland to the Wyoming border. We chose a route that (we thought) would be bike-friendly. 90 miles from Loveland to the border to New Belgium Brewery in Ft. Collins, and our prize was a tour and free beer awaiting us. 

The first hour took us into Ft. Collins and past the Horsetooth Resevoir - short very steep climbs with fantastic descents with beautiful scenery to boot. We then began our slow ascent into the foothills and northern Colorado border mountains. The roads; however, were less than desirable, and once we got almost 40 miles into the road, I could no longer hold back my objections. Semis racing past at 70 mph while we hugged what little shoulder was left. That was not for us. We decided instead to do what we have traditionally done when the route chosen did not meet with our expectations…change it up. 

We decided to take another route, Wyoming would have to wait for another year to be graced by these staches. We turned off the main road and onto a county road with only a number to identify it. Gravel. Now we had endured this situation before (in Kentucky and Indiana), but we had never started down a road that wasn't paved to being with. However, we did see pavement a mile ahead. That pavement last approximately 200 yards before turning back into gravel, but we weren't turning back. This turned out to be the best decision of the day. Not one car passed us from behind and only three oncoming cars came by in the 10 miles we were on the un paved road. Sure, we had to take the downhills a bit slower, but check the pics, and see if tour decision didn't yield the most breath-taking ten miles of the day.

After the road turned back to pavement, we found Costello posted up on a small farm under a shady tree. That shady tree along with some store bought sandwiches and leftovers served as our lunch for today. We watched chickens strut around the yard as we dined and planned the last 25 miles of the route. Simple is good. 

We rode into Ft. Collins, having to take one a brief break to fix my flat tire. But we would not be denied what was to be the crown jewel in the trip…a stop a New Belgium Brewery in Ft. Collins. Ride bike. Ride on fun road. Take in beautiful scenery. Drink good beer. Keepin' it simple.