Fort Collins - City Bike Trails

In the summer of 2012, against my will, I migrated north to a small town in Northern Colorado. The intelligent half of my marriage got into Veterinary School at Colorado State University. So, in an effort to keep my dream alive of retiring when I'm 35, we packed our bags and headed into a city that has actually seasons.

One of the things I loved most about my previous town, Tucson, was riding my bike into the office everyday.  I'd load my clothes, my lunch, and my laptop into my panniers, and start the process of the 9 mile ride in the crisp 80 degree morning weather.  It was always nice out for my ride home, so I would take the long way and mix things up a bit.  I would cut through schools, work my way around the sweet sweet Mexican restaurants, and fly through the Southside, hopefully without being mugged.  It was bliss.

Now, I work from home.  I have no exact commuting or riding schedule, and no final destination. Some of the main streets in Fort Collins can't even be cycled on.  In addition, there aren't really even any hills here.  Everybody thinks of Colorado cities as being these mountainous villages where you need a Sherpa or a donkey to help you get around.  The cities are actually the opposite.  They sit at the base of the Rockies, and are pretty much Nebraska.  All of that being said, the city biking in this town is nothing short of top notch.

Spring Creek Trail, Fort Collins

• No riding schedule?  Who needs one?

• Hop on a Bike and aim it in any direction.  There is literally great riding everywhere.  Ride towards the Rockies and cycle Horsetooth Reservoir.  Point it towards the great plains and stroll down some country roads.  There are so many beautiful things to see on your bike here.

• No destination? Pshh, you kidding me?

• Pshhh.  Fort Collins has a great system of city cycling with miles and miles of city trails.  Tucson and South Orange County have nothing that competes with the convenience of this.  I can ride literally 500 feet from my house, and very easily be on a bike trail that connects me to almost anywhere in the city.  This is both good and bad for my health.  It get's me out on my bike and puts a smile on my face; however, my final destination is a brewery more often than not.

Map of City Trails, Fort Collins

• Let the Good Times Roll - where to Bike to?

• Going West? Horsetooth Reservoir
• Take Spring Creek trail out west, hop off at Harmony, and cycle the Resevoir.  Can be decently challenging, and has some amazing views.  Hint: pull off at one of the rest stops, where you can find a trail to the water and jump in.

• Going North? Old Town
• Take spring creek to Remington, follow that up through old town to Equinox, Odell's or New Belgium.  If you go to new Belgium, make sure to do the tour!  Check out my favorite spot, Pinball Jones.  It's a Barcade, which is essentially a place for nerds like me who love beer and old-school video games.

• Going East? Harmony Rd
• Take the Mason Trail to Harmony road and head East past the I-25.  You will start to get out to some beautiful open spaces with a lot of dirt country roads.  A great area for an adventure.  Bring a tent and a book and make an evening out of it.

• Going South? Loveland
• Take the Mason Trail to the Fossil Creek trail.  Jump onto Lemay and head down towards Loveland.  It's a great ride with plenty of parks and lakes to fly by.

I'm not a hippy, an environmentalist, or a health nut.  I just dislike driving, and hate traffic.  I also really love bikes.  So whenever I am going somewhere by myself, I always ride my bike, and this city has made it extremely convenient.  

The best part of my day is getting out on my bike.  Last weekend, both days were around 20 degrees, and I had a blast riding through the city.  It also made the Beer at the end of my journey taste that much better!

Looking for a City Adventure on Two Wheels? Fort Collins get's a killer  9/10