May is National Bike Month with LAB

May is almost over and are you using your bike in place of your car more often? May is a hard month in Colorado for the commoner to consider putting their car keys away in choice of a bike but many across the national are doing just that. The DenverPost try to help those wanting to leave their cars at home and the 303 Commuter Team provides tools to see much of a difference you can make and sense of group to motivate them to commute. Check out our Commuter Team page for tips on getting you rolling by bike more often, and for all of our commuting related articles then look at our bike commuter feed

Group stats the 303Cycling commuter has accomplished since Jan 6 2011

July 1st, Mike Horgan HC Race heads up the Sugarloaf route

Sugarloaf may not be hardest climb in Boulder County but it isn't far behind. To the "summit" it gains 2735 feet of elevation in 9.6 miles so clearly isn't for the meek at heart. For many the "summit" is the highest point on paved road, however for those daring to ride some hard pack gravel, the road descends for a little over a mile then turns into gravel at a much lessor pitch than what the rider has just completed.

For those on a mountain bike or cross bike this ride opens up many other options besides the typical out-and-back. The most common alternative route takes the rider on the Switzerland Trail and who's entrance to that road is just to the right at the summit of the climb.

The ride up Sugarload starts on Boulder Canyon which has a Ok shoulder most of the way, the worst part about the entire ride is the 100ft of tunnel to ride through. Best advice is to have a tail light on your bike and use it while riding through. After the tunnel it's about a mile to the right hand turn up Sugarloaf. Just a 100 yards before Sugarloaf on the left is Magnolia which is THE hardest climb in Boulder County!.

At first the ride is mellow-ish but you will find that is gradually gets steeper as you become more exhausted and by the end it is fairly bare landscape and exposed due to a fire in the 80's. Once at the top a look back over the Boulder Valley is enough to tell you this climb was worth it... we hope.

From Bike Routes Boulder/Denver