I Think I Found An Acceptable Riding Route!

Rhio will be here in Colorado in exactly 11 days.  I think I have found a ride-from-home route that is totally doable!  There are trails within riding distance, but I have been questioning how rideable the roads are to get there.  The shoulders of the roads are generally narrow or non-existent, the drivers are zipping along, and the population of bicyclists is quite robust.  Although Rhio is fine with traffic, and good with bikes, it just doesn't leave enough margin of error in my opinion, and I have spent lots of time pondering how I'm going to go about riding out from home.

Yesterday we ran a 9 mile route from home, including bike path, roads, and trail, which is totally 100% doable with Rhio.  I'm quite certain of it.  I see horses (and their evidence!) on the bike path all the time, so the first two miles and last 1/2 mile on the bike path will be easy.  Then comes about 1 1/2 miles of road, 30 mph speed limit and an acceptable shoulder width for the most part (two sections with guard rails which could be dicey if cars are coming both directions, but I can always hand walk those.)  Then - a mile + of a dead end road leading to a trail head with the most direct route including 2 mile of rocky trail climbing up and over a significant ridge - I can also go south from this trail head and connect with more miles of trail- can't wait to explore that when I'm leaving hoof prints, not shoe prints!  The most dubious portion is the 3 miles along the road leading towards home from the ridge - on weekends, lots of traffic (bike and car) and little shoulder.  I may choose to do the trails, then turn around and retrace our hoof prints home.  But, I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have found a route that I know I'll feel comfortable riding!!!  Whoop, whoop!