Author Topic: About Colorado....  (Read 5953 times)

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Offline ronnie421

About Colorado....
« on: October 20, 2011, 01:26:30 pm »
Im not sure if this is in the right area or not. I tried looking for my answer in other areas of the forum but no luck.  I am traveiling east to west next  summer, leaving 1st week of June.  I plan to go thru Colorado.  By when should I be out of there? Or what is the latest part of the summer that I can comfortably enter Colorado without hitting cold weather?

Offline Pat Lamb

Re: About Colorado....
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2011, 01:39:32 pm »
I am traveiling east to west next  summer, leaving 1st week of June.  I plan to go thru Colorado.  By when should I be out of there? Or what is the latest part of the summer that I can comfortably enter Colorado without hitting cold weather?

Sundown?

Slightly more seriously, the coldest part of my trip a couple years back was in Guffey, when it was 34F the morning of July 3.  I think you have to be prepared for frost just about any time at the higher elevations.  Now you don't have that high a probability of hitting snow, but it might be cold enough for it.

Offline John Nelson

Re: About Colorado....
« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2011, 02:51:11 pm »
Unless you're really slow, you should have no problem. Cold (depending on your definition of "cold") probably cannot be avoided, but you want to try to avoid snow if you can. You'll avoid most chances of trouble if you're through Colorado by the end of August. But, depending on your (unspecified) route (you didn't even say if this is coast-to-coast or not), your cold-weather challenges aren't done there. If you're on the TransAm, Yellowstone NP will be your next biggest chance of problems, and you're still not done with possible cold. Most cross-country cyclists can complete the trip in three months or less, so you'll probably finish the first week of September or earlier, and most likely (but not certainly), you'll be fine.
« Last Edit: October 20, 2011, 02:54:14 pm by John Nelson »

Offline valygrl

Re: About Colorado....
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2011, 03:45:10 pm »
I agree with everything John Nelson said.

CO is good for touring June through early Sept, best weather is mid-July through the end of August, and you need to be prepared to descend a long pass in the rain any time of year because in summer afternoon rain/hail/thunderstorms on the high passes are common.  As long as you get off the top by early afternoon, you probably won't have to ride in them, though.

Generally you ride over a pass and camp much lower.  It's cool in the morning and sunny and warm all day, except for the freezing thunderstorm on top of the the pass at 12:30-3:00pm.  Then the sun comes back out.  Colorado is GREAT for bike touring.

Offline ronnie421

Re: About Colorado....
« Reply #4 on: October 21, 2011, 09:07:07 am »
Thanks for the info.  I am planning my departure from the Disney World resort in Orlando (after a full week visiting Mickey) and heading west towards Colorado then back a little south and finishing in SF, California.