Mark & Bill,

Thanks for your reply!

mark wrote:

It's an excellent route, but keep in mind that Trail Ridge Road tops out
at 12,180 ft., and Berthoud Pass tops out at 11,315 ft. Snowstorms are a
possibility in September (or most other months, for that matter). Check
the weather and bring warm clothing no matter what the weather forecast
is. It's hard to brake with frozen hands, so bring long gloves. A lycra
balaclava to go under your helmet is also a good idea. Stay hydrated and
pile on the sunscreen, too.

Yes, i made similar experience in the Swiss Alps: riding down a pass
during a snow storm in summer is no fun ...

It might not hurt to ride to some fairly high elevations in the days
before you do this loop, just to get yourself acclimated and get a feel
for weather conditions.

Acclimatisation is certainly crucial. Luckily, i seem to acclimatise
quite quickly (e.g., last year i climbed Mt. Whitney with only two days
of acclimatisation and it worked out very well).

Oh My God Road is unpaved, but Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties have been
paving it at about one mile a year. Not sure how far they've gotten.

While i would never have considered longer unpaved roads on a road bike
back in Switzerland, i made the pleasant experience that here in the
Northeast of the USA, lots of unpaved roads have quite good a surface
and, in particular, not to big pieces of gravel and not really worn out
with deep ruts, and are quite ok to ride with a road bike. So my main
concern was whether it is of similar quality and, hence, well rideable
with a road bike or not. From a scenario perspective it certainly
should be nice and i don't mind the challenge.

-michael-

BTW: In the meantime i stumbled over Mt. Evans as a great and
challenging ride. Over labor day itself it probably will be too crowed
to climb and supposedly they close the last five miles after labor day,
i.e., half the fun would be gone. I wonder, is this closure for all
vehicles and strictly enforced or is there a way to sneak up by bicycle
(of course weather permitting)?