A FUN MID-WEEK BIKEPACKING OVERNIGHTER FOR EVERYBODY
Bring yourself, a bike and whatever gear you need — a hammock, tent, a Jimmy Johns sando (props to our ingenious/low-effort attendees)– and join the Good Grief gang for a casual overnighter that gets you out of the city, into the mountains to our secret camp spot…and back in time for work on Thursday morning.
With two easy meetup locations and monthly dates, you can choose your own adventure(s) for a ride that’s fun enough to break up the mid-week blahs, without leaving you with jelly legs for work the next day (it’s downhill the whole way home). Whether you glamp or rough it, cookout or open a can of beans, the way to approach it is in the name: DON’T OVERTHINK IT.
See us on bikepacking.com, too!
JUNE 25
JULY16
AUGUST 13
SEPTEMBER 17
Meet at:
5pm @ Red Rocks Open Space Parking Lot on S.31st Street | MAP
(~10 miles to camp, 1700-ish ft climb),
6pm @ Gold Camp Road parking lot | MAP
Not into so much climbing? Come anyway! Get a ride up to the lot and meet the group for a chill last mile-or-two-ish of trail to the camp. (There’s no overnight parking allowed.)
A note on bikes:
You’ll need an off-road capable bike for this ride. Gold Camp Road turns from paved road into gravel and then squishy/rocky kitty litter in a few places, so skinny-tire bikes aren’t really suitable. You’re welcome to try though, gangsta.
A note on stragglers:
We’ll wait at the meeting points, but no longer than 15 minutes. We want to get everyone up to camp with time to enjoy a beautiful sunset and set up before dark.
SO HOW DOES THIS THING WORK?
Climbing Red Rocks and Gold Camp Road on a bike with your overnight gear (even if it’s just a fanny pack full o’ string cheese) might seem intimidating, but it’s a great intro to bikepacking in the Rockies. Bike camping is not about personal bests or being the fastest up, but about slowing down and lookin’ around– at least with us it is. Nobody gets dropped, and we go whatever speed everyone is comfy with for a slow yet steady climb up Gold Camp Road, a former railroad route that connected the mining towns of Cripple Creek and Victor to Colorado Springs in its mining heydey.
Gold Camp Road is even and steady climbing, with no extreme inclines or anything gnarly. But, it does transition from paved road to gravel and then to looser sandy spots and a bit of rock-littered squish in places. This overnighter gives you the full bikecamp experience: you’ll hike-a-bike (push) your rig up a tight, root-gnarled path at one point, then you’ll wade your rig through a gentle stream, and wobble through some rim-deep sandy stuff just after. BUT! We’ll all settle into our comfy paces, keep pedaling, and marvel at the extraordinary machines that are our bodies powering bicycles up a still-growing geological wonder. Bikepacking in the Rockies, guys!
You’ll need a full water bottle(s), something for dinner, and then for breakfast and/or coffee the next morning (if that’s your thing). Also bring bike lights, a helmet, enough clothing layers (temps can dip in the night at elevation) and something to sleep in or on. Anything else is up to you. Details are for overthinkers.
A LITTLE MORE INFO:
There’s no fire ban at the moment so we’ll get a crackling fire going for hot dogs (or hot pockets) if you want to cook out.
There’s a little stream we cross before reaching the campsite, so filter and fill up your water bottles there – no need to bring 15 full (heavy) water bottles.
Pets are welcome! (Unless they’re aggressive or not well-trained, then it might not be the trip for them.) Eddie Merckx (the dog, not the Belgian legend) will be on most/all dates, so he’d love the company.
Leave camp Thursday morning at any time. Want to lay in and enjoy a slow morning with pour-over coffee? Do it! Need to jam down the mountain to get to work? That’s cool too.
Finally, don’t stress about how fast you ride or if you’ll be able to keep up. This group is for riders of all abilities to get out and enjoy the stunning nature that’s only 5 minutes from our back doors for a fun mid-week adventure. If you need to stop and catch your breath or take a my-butt-hurts break, do it. We’re not trying to Strava flex out here– we’re here for the ride, the camaraderie…and those crispy-skinned campfire hot dogs.
Still have questions? Shoot us an email here, or a DM here.
“A man on foot, on horseback or on a bicycle will see more, feel more, enjoy more in one mile than the motorized tourists can in a hundred miles.”
– Edward Abbey | Desert Solitaire
