Love-Horse-Rist-Love

Depending on your pace, this route can be very demanding..  There are some (not many) steeper walls to climb going around Horsetooth, and again at the top of Rist Canyon. 

 

The highlights of this 55 mile ride include HT Reservior, Rist Canyon ascent, Rist Canyon descent from the peak (30 mile mark- 12% grade down - hang on to your hat!), and the lovely roll back down to Loveland on Buckhorn rd (Cty Rd 27)

 

This ride is approx 1/3 flat, 1/3 up, and 1/3 down... pretty much in that order.

 

Rist Canyon is a local favorite, but is not the most difficult climb on the Front Range (pretty nasty tough at the top...however).  Average grade over the 11 miles of climbing runs about 4.5 to 4.75, but again kicks pretty hard right near the top with some steeps and switchbacks. 

 

Great training ride and the next step in difficulty from riding Lyons to Estes (Olypus Hts).