Fort Collins Cycling Guide - Gearage Outdoor Sports

Bicycles = Joy

Everything you need to get started cycling in Fort Collins

Congrats on your new bike! Or your newly serviced bike! Or, your rekindled desire to experience the freedom of pedal-powered two-wheel adventures!

bikes bikes bikes!

Bicycles are for everyone

Cycling can sometimes feel like it has a lot of “unwritten rules” and expensive gear, but at the Gearage, we don’t care what bike you ride, what clothing you wear, or how fast you go. We just want you to love riding and be safe doing it. This page is a resource for Gearage customers and the broader Fort Collins community to use and share.

Getting Started

Ettiequte, stay safe, be prepared.

Suggested Routes

Remove the analysis paralysis of knowing where to ride.

What to Bring with You

Repair kit, multitool, food, ID, etc.

What to Wear

Dress smart and don’t overthink it.

How-To Videos

How to fix a flat and lock your bike.

Explore the Cycling Community

Find more resources and groups.

Getting Started

Be courteous.

Announce when you’re about to pass. Share the trail and yield appropriately.

Stay safe.

Wear a helmet. Use lights when riding at night. Use hand signals when turning.

Be prepared.

It’s no fun to get stuck with a flat tire or surprise yourself with the difficulty of your ride.

Suggested Routes

These route suggestions are intended for entry to intermediate level cyclists. Review the routes yourself before heading out, be prepared, and ride at your own risk.

Starting and ending at The Gearage, this route takes the Poudre Trail out west to Laporte and returns to town by going over Bingham Hill. This is a steep but short climb popular with cyclists. There’s a nice big shoulder going south on Overland, and then you’ll return to town via Vine and then Mountain Ave.

Starting and ending at The Gearage, this route takes the Poudre Trail east and then goes south on the Power Trail. Then you’ll go west on the Fossil Creek Trail, and return to town on the Spring Creek Trail, finishing on Remington Ave. This route can easily be ridden in both directions.

Starting and ending at The Gearage, this route is a good introduction to gravel and mixed surface cycling. Head west via the Poudre Trail, then climb over Bingham Hill. Continues up Rist Canyon Road for just a bit, and then enjoy a gradual descent going north on a gravel road. You’ll turn east towards Howling Cow Cafe where you can take a well earned pit stop. From there, you’ll hop on 287 very briefly before riding southeast through a neighborhood in Laporte on gravel roads. Continue south on Overland before taking a right on Michaud towards some fun gravel at Reservoir Ridge. From there, you’ll head towards another fun side-quest through Kestrel Fields Natural Area. Return back to Old Town via Mountain Ave.

Starting and ending at The Gearage, this route takes you east of I-25 via Vine, north on some county gravel roads, and returning west just south of Wellington. From there, you’ll follow county roads (mix of gravel and asphalt) south back into town.

This is a great introductory mountain bike ride that we’d rate “green.” Fun for everyone, though! Start by going south on the West Valley Trail, and then switch to riding south on the East Valley Trail once you reach the Arthur’s Rock parking lot. Continue riding until you return to that lot going north on the West Valley Trail, and finish the route by going North on the East Valley Trail. This direction ensures you have the most fun descents in each direction! Can also be ridden any way you like.

Blue Sky is a great MTB trail we’d rate “blue.” Commonly ridden as an out-and-back (and with lots of two-way traffic), the Indian Summer add-on we’d rate “black.”

Thanks to our local MTB trail organization, OMBA, for reworking Hewlett Gulch. This route takes you up Hewlett Gulch and continues the climb on the mellower north section of the trail system, for a very fun descent that can easily be lapped. We’d rate this “blue” (with certain sections potentially being harder depending on trail conditions).

Fort Collins Bike Maps

Curious about all of the bike trails and lanes in the city? View a full bike map from the City of Fort Collins.

More Routes from local Cycling outlet YGR

Curious about more cycling route ideas? YourGroupRide, a local cycling news outlet and resource, has compiled many, many different routes for all disciplines of cycling in Fort Collins, including kid friendly routes!

Be Prepared

What to Bring With You

Be prepared for anything that might happen while out on a ride. Store these items in a bag on your bike so you don’t forget them, or pack them in your clothing.

Of course, wearing a helmet goes without saying!

Flat Repair Kit

Spare tube (or tubeless repair plugs), hand pump or CO2 applicator, and tire levers.

Multitool

A basic multitool should have alan keys and a phillips screw driver. Anything more is a nice-to-have.

Snacks & Water

Don’t run out of fuel for your body! Bring something to keep your stomach happy.

ID & $$

In case of emergency, it’s a good idea to have ID on you. And some $$ for emergency coffee breaks.

Appropriate Layers

Check the weather before you head out and be sure you’re dressed appropriately.

Phone

For communication & navigation. We love Strava. There are many other great apps for mapping & navigation.

What to Wear

“Do I need to wear lycra?”

Here’s the short answer: wear what you have. Spend time on the bike to learn what additional clothing would be worth investing in for you.

Here’s the long answer: purpose built cycling clothing exists for a reason. Padded shorts make long rides more comfortable and packable layers are great for unpredictable Colorado weather. Feel free to ask us for guidance!

HOW TO videos

How to Fix a Flat Tire

Gearage Service Manager Joe Pelto walks you through how to fix a flat, whether you’re at home or on the trail.

How to Lock Your Bike

Use a good U-Lock, grab the rear wheel and frame, and use a cable to grab the front wheel.

Additional Resources

Fort Collins is a wonderful town to be a cyclist. Check out more local cycling organizations.

Overland Mountain Bike Association

OMBA is our local mountain bike advocacy and trail building nonprofit. They host trail work (dig) days, group rides, events, and more.

Fort Collins Gravel People

FCGP is a group ride geared towards intermediate cyclists. Some rides have pace groups that serve a wide range of paces and abilities. Often no-drop.

Fort Follies

Fort Follies is a local nonprofit women’s cycling organization. They seek to empower femme cyclists of all abilities through group rides, community involvement, educational events, and race participation.

Bike Fort Collins

Bike FC is a local nonprofit bicycle advocacy and bicycle education organization dedicated to advancing bicycling and other active modes of transportation in Fort Collins.

Queer Plus Bikes

Queer Plus Bikes is a Northern Colorado based cycling and community group, inviting queer folks and allies to create a safe, welcoming space for all bodies, experiences, and genders on bikes. They value creating community just as much as they love riding bikes.

Friends of Foco Fondo

A sister organization to the group that puts on the Foco Fondo gravel race, this nonprofit serves riders of all ages and skill levels through group training rides, skills clinics, and a robust leadership program designed to support historically underrepresented groups in the community.

YourGroupRide

YGR is a Fort Collins cycling news outlet ran by local cyclist Dan Porter. Learn about cycling news, races, routes, and much more. Geared towards more engaged or advanced cyclists.