Boulder > Jamestown > Estes Park > Lyons > Boulder: 86mi, 8200ft gained

This was a ride that I'd been eying on the map ever since getting the Cannondale road bike last spring. I took the bus up to Boulder to make a Craigslist purchase of an avalanche shovel, then departed on the bike to Left Hand Canyon ascent to Jamestown. Continuing up Overland Rd towards the Peak To Peak Highway, the surface turned to dirt, with some ice and snowmelt runoff.

Further upwards to the Peak To Peak Highway, slinking below the looming Mt Meeker (and Longs Peak hiding out of sight just beyond it's summit.)

Once up high around 9000ft, the temps dropped to around 45 degrees and wind gusts kicked up to 40+mph. Some of the downhills required quite an effort to keep forward motion, but the views were amazing:

I eventually made it to Estes Park, the eastern entrance of Rocky Mt Natl Park. My hands were frozen but I stopped for a hot coffee before turning southeast and heading down the long descent into Lyons. From there, it was another 14mi of rollers into a strong headwind to make it back into Boulder for a beer with my friend Brandon and catching the bus back to Denver. Biggest ride in distance and climbing to date this winter. Anytime you make it up to the Peak To Peak is a worthwhile day of pedaling.