Biking a Peak

Colorado peak questions, condition requests and other info.
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Wentzl
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Biking a Peak

Post by Wentzl »

Seems an obviously overlooked topic on the theme of the day:

https://www.bicycling.com/rides/a200484 ... community/

Anyone biked them all?

For the longest time I thought the first three words of this song were "ride my bike"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfqDXGCYPiI
Shorter of Breath and One Day Closer . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZXKgl8turY

"Social Justice" = Injustice
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cougar
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Re: Biking a Peak

Post by cougar »

Good topic since today is Bicycle Day

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cr ... daye2809d/

It would be tough to bicycle most 14ers due to wilderness regulations, but a unicycle might be a loophole. Although I've heard of ranger fines for elk carts.
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AnnaG22
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Re: Biking a Peak

Post by AnnaG22 »

At least a couple folks have biked the 18 on which it isn't strictly illegal. https://www.ianfohrman.com/bike-the-14ers/ I seem to recall a kerfuffle about it a few years back because some hikers felt the bikes are extra bad for erosion or something.
"The love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth, the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need – if only we had the eyes to see." -Ed Abbey

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Wildernessjane
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Re: Biking a Peak

Post by Wildernessjane »

“We don’t even summit all the time; usually we just go to the highest rideable point,” he says. “It felt a bit silly to hike our bikes to the top just to get a summit picture.”

Now is this really “biking a peak” or “biking on a peak”? Seems a bit lax to me.
“Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world.” -David McCullough?
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cedica
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Re: Biking a Peak

Post by cedica »

This thread got huge potential, since it is Bicycle Day :wink: :wink: Referencing Eno and Albert Hofmann in the first two posts already, one doesn't see such moxie every day. It is turning into true American Metaphysical Wheel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYAkR2hrOnk
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Re: Biking a Peak

Post by AndrewLyonsGeibel »

Bicycle day is a special day indeed. Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right.
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Oman
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Re: Biking a Peak

Post by Oman »

Denver teen and doctor dad unicycled all legal peaks, which they said was 14.

https://www.denverpost.com/2009/08/24/f ... urteeners/

http://14fourteeners.blogspot.com/
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Re: Biking a Peak

Post by Hiking_TheRockies »

While I like this idea, I'm not to sure how good a bike would do going up the hourglass on little bear...
Hiking when possible
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aholle88
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Re: Biking a Peak

Post by aholle88 »

I’ve ridden Pikes and Elbert multiple times, those are the top two for sure. Antero is on the list for this year as that also has a nifty long descent on mostly singletrack. Shav, Huron, and Bross would be solid downhills as well but you can’t really ride up those like you can with Pikes, Elbert, and Antero. They’d be fun to do for the down but it’s harder to qualify it as a bike ride if you are hiking 80% of the way up. Then you have Evans obviously via the road. None of the others on the list of 18 legal peaks are worthwhile IMO. It’s really only worth it if you can ride the downhill top to bottom with very minimal dismounting. Otherwise you are just taking your bike for a long and painful walk.
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justiner
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Re: Biking a Peak

Post by justiner »

Fun Fact: Bicycle Day is my Birthday!
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Re: Biking a Peak

Post by bdloftin77 »

aholle88 wrote: Tue Apr 20, 2021 11:21 am I’ve ridden Pikes and Elbert multiple times, those are the top two for sure. Antero is on the list for this year as that also has a nifty long descent on mostly singletrack. Shav, Huron, and Bross would be solid downhills as well but you can’t really ride up those like you can with Pikes, Elbert, and Antero. They’d be fun to do for the down but it’s harder to qualify it as a bike ride if you are hiking 80% of the way up. Then you have Evans obviously via the road. None of the others on the list of 18 legal peaks are worthwhile IMO. It’s really only worth it if you can ride the downhill top to bottom with very minimal dismounting. Otherwise you are just taking your bike for a long and painful walk.
Which routes on Pikes and Elbert did you take, and how were they? I’ve biked Pikes Peak before, but the via the highway. I’m planning on biking it via Barr trail this summer.. Much hike-a-bike on the way up? How was Elbert? Did you take the south ridge?
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Re: Biking a Peak

Post by Trotter »

Oman wrote: Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:16 am Denver teen and doctor dad unicycled all legal peaks, which they said was 14.

https://www.denverpost.com/2009/08/24/f ... urteeners/

http://14fourteeners.blogspot.com/
yeah notice their stats on that one. They unicycled up 2.2 miles, and hiked 81 miles. "Steeles required a minimum of three wheel revolutions of themselves before claiming success."

I mean, I could claim I rollerbladed a bunch of peaks if I just put them on for 2 minutes at each trailhead.

At least they get points for honesty.
After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. -Nelson Mandela
Whenever I climb I am followed by a dog called Ego. -Nietzsche
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