Downhill Biking for the Faint Hearted

When my family hears me say, “I’m going on a bike ride,” they are accustomed to my multi-hour, 40+ mile journeys. And these often turn into metric century endurance rides.

Thus, it was no surprise to me that they were less than enthusiastic when I suggested a family bike outing during a Vail, CO, summer vacation stop. I mean, the only thing worse for them than one of my endurance rides would be a super endurance ride at high altitude, going uphill.

But after some tireless cajoling and convincing, they agreed to join me for one of the best rides of their life.

Ready, Set!

Visiting one week before the peak summer season, we had a wide selection of trip options even at the last minute. We arranged for rental bikes at Charter Sports near the Lion’s Head Lodge. We were quickly sized and seated on our selected steads, then fitted with a protective helmet. A forty-year local resident assisted us through the process, and shared trail tips and scenic viewpoints blended with local lore. We were joined in the shuttle by three hung-over members of a bachelorette party, which made for entertaining conversation.

Our starting point was the summit of Vail Pass, elevation 10, 662 feet. Surrounded by snow-covered peaks of the Ten Mile Range that form some of Colorado’s most visited ski resorts, Interstate 70 climbs to its penultimate elevation here. Our destination: Vail Village, 14 miles away and 2,500 vertical feet below us.

Just after noon on a sunny and windy day, we posed for pictures overlooking Black Lake. Distant snowy mountain peaks formed a backdrop. Then we devoured our sandwiches before saddling up to head down the wide paved trail from Vail Pass.

Downhill We Go

On a straight section on the banks of Black Lake, we adjusted our gear. Then, we settled into the saddles for nearly eight downhill miles surrounded by mountain scenery, listening only to the wind in our ears. Occasionally, the path neared Interstate 70, always separated but close enough that friendly motorists honked and waved.

At Polk Creek, the trail makes a hard right turn. Ducking under the Grand Army of the Republic Highway – the formal name for Interstate 70 here.  The bike trail follows the deep, rocky valley where Polk Creek, Miller Creek and Black Gore Creek converge.  Above, I-70 curves and splits into twin spans bridging the crevasse. With waters from melting snow as a backdrop, it was a perfect pit stop for a selfie.

The bike trail joins a lightly-travelled road near Gore Creek Campground. We made a mental note to return later for a hike along the popular creek-side trail. Crossing under I-70 again, road traffic increases substantially along Big Horn Road. We picked up speed here on marked bike path that shares the road’s shoulder and a few bus stops. To our left up on the mountainside, Zen Falls and Murphy Falls plunged silently in the distance to join Gore Creek.

At Bridge Road, we crossed Gore Creek, left the busy road and joined the Gore Valley Trail. At 8,500 feet, most of the downhill section was behind us. Following the creek, we rode through rocky mountainside grasslands, spotted a cayote, and struggled up a few short inclines.  We pedaled alongside the fairways of Vail Country Club. Then the path rejoined Sunburst and Vail Valley Road for the final miles back to Lion’s Head. With the bikes available for the afternoon, we pedaled around the village for some leisure exploring and in search of sweet treats.  The latter was found at Rimini Gelato. We ordered up double cones for everyone and watched a wedding photographer capture shots of newly weds.

Details and Statistics

We completed the riding portion of the excursion in just under two hours. That included nearly 40 minutes of stops for water, waiting, requisite family discussions and photos. My Garmin Fenix 5 tracker recorded 2,204 feet of total descent. Virtually all of that in the first half of the ride before we reached the flatter areas near Vail. My fitness watch also recorded these surprising data points:

• Our average speed was only 10 mph. Despite a 2,000-foot, 6-mile downhill section, we barely averaged double-digits. Actually, our moving speed was 12 mph, but that’s still surprising considering the massive slope we descended.
• We climbed nearly 300 feet along the way.  And while I used the word “climbed” intentionally, it’s all facetious. Best described as small elevation gains, all this came once we reached Vail, where the bike path and roads curved into residential and business areas.
• Peak heart rate was on the downhill section.  I would love to report a high-speed descent akin to what racers experience in the Alps or Pyrenees during the Tour de France. Alas, my top speed was 30 mph, and that data point doesn’t correspond to the heart rate point. In retrospect, maybe I could have fictionalized this part of the story for better effect.

Final Thoughts

This was an enjoyable family outing for us, and that’s exactly what we signed up for.  If I were to do it again with the family, I’d do the longer eastern descent. That runs from Vail Pass back down to Frisco, then offers an option to continue into Breckenridge.  If you’re a serious cyclist, you can consider making this an out-and-back trip from Breckenridge, Frisco or Vail.  The roundtrip from Breckenridge measures 41 miles and includes 2,300 feet of vertical climbing.  That’s not for me, but you do you!  Happy Trails.

Other Biking Adventures

If you enjoyed this account, you may also enjoy these other biking adventures on our site:

Family Fun Rides in Marietta, GA. We detail our experience on several trails in this Northwest Georgia location.

Biking on St. Simon’s Island, GA. Find our five favorite forays on this island community, plus our bike trail account.

Southern Silver Comet Trail. We did a 42-mile winter roundtrip on the southern-most section of this rail trail.