Bicycling on Colorado's Roads
Bicyclists have all the rights and duties applicable to the drivers of any other vehicle and can be penalized for violating traffic laws.
- Ride on the right, never ride against traffic
- Ride in the right lane, except when passing another vehicle, preparing for a left turn or avoiding hazards
- Ride on paved shoulders and bike lanes when present and free of hazards
- Ride no more than two abreast, returning to single-file if riding two abreast would impede the flow of traffic
- On curving canyon roads without bike lanes or shoulders, play it safe and ride single file
- Obey traffic laws, signs, and signals
- Use hand signals to indicate left or right turns, slowing or stopping
- Use a headlight, taillight, and reflectors at night
- Make eye contact with drivers
- Never assume motorists see you or that you have the right-of-way
- Wear passive safety equipment to protect yourself: helmet, glasses, and gloves
- Expect the unexpected; your first responsibility is to be safe
Multi-Use Trails
While Colorado has no statewide statues regulating multi-use trails, here is a list of suggested practices. Please be sure to obey any local regulations when using a multi-use trail.
- Please use common sense and courtesy on the trail
- Always ride, walk, and skate on the right side of the trail
- Obey traffic control signs and markings on trail
- Pass on the left, when the trail is clear of traffic
- Give audible warning before overtaking other trail users
- Ring your bike bell
- Loudly and clearly call out "Passing"
- Listen up! Headphones prevent you from hearing warnings
- Use hand signals to indicate turns and stops
- Do not stop on the trail, blocking other users
- Ride single file so that other user may pass safely
- Look for traffic before entering trail
- Watch for the unexpected, especially with kids or dogs
- Slow down when the trail is crowded, and travel at speeds that are safe and appropriate to trail conditions
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Proper Pacelining
by Andrew Kalter
Beginner – Advanced Pacelining Tips
Riding in an efficient, consistent paceline can easily add 1-5 mph to an average speed. These tips and etiquette rules are based on a group that is trying to remain together in a smooth, efficient paceline.
Pacelining Tips and Etiquette:
- The distance between bikes is determined by the comfort and consistency of the group. Closer is better for efficiency but also more dangerous.
- If you are leading the group avoid holes and road debris by one foot if traffic permits. This gives the person in the back of the line enough room.
- When it is your turn to be up front and “pull” keep the speed/effort consistent.
- When you pull off it is your responsibility to slow down so the new lead person does not need to speed up.
- When you stand up, keep your cadence smooth and move forward on the bike gradually so as not to lose too much distance. Please practice this!
- Predict when the person in front of you will stand and give enough room in case the bike drops back.
- Don’t ride perfectly in-line with the rider in front of you. Try to be an inch or so to the left or right. This will give you better visibility and if there is an abrupt change of pace you will have more time to react.
- Never overlap your front wheel with another rider’s back wheel. The person guilty of this is the one who crashes.
- Predict pace changes by looking and thinking ahead. Speed will increase on downhills and decrease on uphills and at intersections.
- If you are too tired to pull through you still need to take a turn at the front to keep a smooth paceline. Pull off after 2 seconds if necessary but keep the pace smooth.
- If the person behind you yells “Pull Off” it probably means that you have slowed down and should pull off. Don’t hog the front.
- Leave extra space between bikes when going through stop signs, traffic lights, and busy intersections. If you are up front it is your responsibility to slow the pace gradually and give a short distance after the intersection at an easier pace to allow everyone to tighten up the gaps. Once the gaps are closed, accelerate gradually back up to speed.
Pacelining Strategy:
- If you are tired/hurting never take a strong pull down a hill heading into an uphill. As soon as you are out of energy at the bottom of the hill a fresh rider will keep the pace up and you could get dropped.
- The strongest climber should lead the climbs but at a pace everyone can handle.
- The heaviest, most powerful, rider should lead on the descents but pull off with enough time to recover before the next climb.
- When you pull off the front stay close to the line passing you and start accelerating before the last rider passes so you can drop into the backof the paceline. It is also courteous to let the person know if you are the last rider.
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Northern Routes
The North Routes are mostly flat to rolling terrain north of Fort Collins. The roads are great and the traffic can be almost non-existent, especially north of Wellington. Northern routes can be windy, with very little shelter but offer roads where you can do a nice steady pace. With very little civilization aside from Wellington, the north rides can be a nightmare when not prepared. Have plenty of water, plenty of food, extra tubes and a cell phone. The power plants, Owl Canyon, Wellington and the Budweiser plan are common landmarks on these rides. North of Wellington offer some long quiet miles.
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Eastern Routes
Riding east can be very deceiving. It's not flat. If fact some of the climbs can be tough, especially when you have bonked or are heading home from a tough ride. Weekends are an excellent time to ride out east. Without the weekday farm traffic and commuters between Windsor and Greeley, these roads can be quiet. During the week you will encounter some farm trucks and cement trucks on these roads. The further east you travel, the quieter it gets, especially east of Ault. Many rides can stretch from Nunn all the way south of Johnstown and Milliken. don't go too far, the hills always seem steeper on the way back :-)
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Southern Routes
South of Fort Collins, down into Lyons and Boulder include some nice roads. the terrain is rolling and can drain the legs on longer days. The traffic can be a problem on some days, but most of the roads have an adequate shoulder. Carter lake area is an exception to the flat and rolling description. It is a favorite riding area for many Front Range cyclist. Carter lake is as hard as you or your group make it.
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Western Routes
I don't think I need to describe the terrain here. These rides go anywhere there is a road and sometimes where there is not. From Boulder Canyon, Hwy 7, Hwy 36, Hwy 34 to the Poudre Canyon, you should find a few climbs to push your anaerobic threshold. If not, may I suggest Devil's Gulch, Rist Canyon or Left hand. Bring extra clothing or a vest, the weather can change quick. Oh yeah, watch out for those big horn sheep...that will hurt.
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| Velo-One taking a break |
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| Its all about the ride. |
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