The  UPnBACK ride... ...  ... WHY IT IS SO GREAT!

Frisco in July, Avg High=72.5, Avg Low=38.7, Avg Precip=1.9"

It real terms the highs are usually in the 80s, maybe 90 for an hour near the peak of the day.  The mornings quickly reach the 50s + for comfortable riding temps. The evening are enjoyably cool. There may be an occasional afternoon shower, but no long periods of rain.

There is so much about this ride that differs from the usual week long cycling tour. Im not going to take time to contrast it all. Here are some of the positives.

Its a trendy "green" ride, in that you can come to Frisco, park your car, and ride for a week without the usual parade of support vehicles from town to town.

It works for riders with different fitness levels and goals because individuals can turn around at any time, meet up on the way back to town with out having to wait or catch up with each other on route to the next nights lodging.  If you want to take a day or half a day off, no problem youre already where you need to be. On the other hand, If you to push yourself, get in a long challenging ride, that is also available.  It may have been Allison Dunlap who put it well by saying that  "riding together means you are somewhere on the same highway". Well this routing also means the person out in the lead will be turning around and riding back to you at some point. Its not all chase or be chased.

Even tho you travel out and back on the same route, the mountains make it a different experience each way. Not just the grade and number of switchbacks, but the view is different in each direction. I hope you take time to look around and notice where you are. If so you will see different scenery and landmarks. Water falls, mountain peaks, valley views, rivers and streams all seem to change, become more pronounced or hidden, more noticeable on a climb than on a descent.

WINTER PARK DAY.

Riding out and back an "extreme" challenge. The Empire to Loveland Pass return is a killer. Just getting to Winter park is a big ride. This day has been laid out with the idea that you will recruit a friend to bring you back from Winter Park.

For 2007, I am offering to shuttle rider, bike and gear from Winter Park to Frisco for a $10 fee. Because not everyone will want this service, I didn't include the cost in the entry fee. There will be a signup sheet available at the start of the ride because space is limited. 

Frisco to Winter Park is a challenging (read rewarding) ride, and it includes enough downhill recovery time to make it possible if you are conditioned for long rides. Empire to Berthoud pass is a long stead uphill ride.