Outdoor Recreation

Videos: Best bicycling states of 2013 -- and why Colorado finished near the top

The League of American Bicyclists is out with its list of the best states for cycling -- and Colorado finished in impressive fashion. Not that the League thinks any state has achieved perfection when it comes to welcoming and protecting cyclists. In our top ten list below, we've included the organi ... More >>

Cycling: 15th Street Bikeway won't be a trail connecting to nowhere, city says

A proposed bike lane for 15th Street has been a hot topic in the cycling community, with the advocacy organization BikeDenver making its feelings known at a Valentine's Day love-in at which members presented more than 200 I-love-bike-lanes cards to Mayor Michael Hancock's office; see photos below. M ... More >>

Cycling advocates plan Valentine's Day love-in to support protected bike lanes

There's been debate aplenty in the cycling community about a plan for a new proposed bike lane for 15th Street. Now, a Valentine's Day special: The advocacy organization BikeDenver is staging a "love-in" this morning, all to let Mayor Michael Hancock and other local officials know about the widespre ... More >>

Bike lane on 15th Street: Will it enhance safety or continue to leave cyclists vulnerable?

Because bicycling continues be a popular mode of transportation for traveling around the city, and the safety of cyclists is a growing concern among riders and city officials. But some community members and activist organizations think the city needs to take things even further -- an opinion they'r ... More >>

Photos: Cars blocking bike lanes -- including a city vehicle

As more cyclists ride on Denver's roads alongside cars, the city's planners are working to build out a network of safe paths for bikes. But when a car double parks in a bike lane, it can make these paths a lot harder to navigate -- a fact that BikeDenver is highlighting by collecting photos of off ... More >>

Reader: Are cyclists the enemy?

Photos: Top ten suggestions to make Denver a better bike city

For "On a Roll," our feature on cycling, we connected with many local bike advocates, who have a wide range of perspectives on what officials can do to make Denver a top urban center for biking. Concerns about the rise in bike-car collisions, and the sometimes fatal results, have pushed these ideas ... More >>

As Denver becomes a major bike city, can it put safety first?

See also: Dan Peterson, R.I.P.: Remembering hit-and-run victim who elevated bike-safety concerns

Photos: Ten Best of Denver bike rides

Back in June, we shared a collection of the ten best Colorado hikes, culled from our Best of Denver archive. Now, for those of you who prefer two wheels to two feet (at least some of the time), here's a batch of best bike rides selected by our writers over the years, featuring links and the original ... More >>

New 15th Street bike facility? City exploring major new link in cycling system

As the number of cyclists in Denver continues to grow rapidly, the city is racing to keep up, building new infrastructure that helps bikes and vehicles safely share the road. The city is now exploring the best options for a bike facility on 15th Street, a major link in downtown, to be completed in 2 ... More >>

Cooking with Pete and Barb Marczyk: Samurai edamame and mushrooms over rice (backpack-style)

Pete Marczyk and Barbara Macfarlane do not leave their work behind when they leave Marczyk Fine Foods and head for their great old Denver house with the big, new kitchen. They often bring some of their market's choicest ingredients home with them and cook up a feast. Dave Bekken, the manager of Mar ... More >>

Denver cycling accidents on track for all-time record in 2012

Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series of reports about biking and bike safety in Denver and beyond. Update: After we reported yesterday that the number of bike-related accidents jumped from 2010 to 2011, the Denver Police Department sent us new statistics for 2012 -- and it's looking like t ... More >>

Guess where I'm biking and win a Denver B-Cycle season pass

In early May, we ranked this park in the top tier of Denver's best parks for bicycling. With the option of bike rental, bike-car rentals, and even boat rentals, this park offers a lot more than just some great cycling. If you can guess where I'm biking near this pond that sits on the north end of ... More >>

Reader: Denver should lead the country in bicycle stats

Denver is big on bikes -- but is it big enough? The Alliance for Biking and Walking ranks Colorado twelfth in the nation for "bicycle friendliness." Bicycling Magazine also lists Denver as the twelfth best bicycling city in the nation.

Denver bicylists pedaling to work in greater numbers, city trying to keep up

Editor's note: This is the first in a series of reports about biking and bike safety in Denver and beyond. Denver has dramatically increased its spending on bike lanes and other bike-related projects over the last six years, and for good reason. The advocacy group BikeDenver reports a major increas ... More >>

Denver's best parks for bicycling

Along with all the other things that Denver is friendly for, bicycling is definitely at the top of the priority list. We have Denver's B-Cycle program, bike trails, designated bike lanes in automobile traffic areas, and even constructed bike terrain parks for the extremists. Here is a list of the ... More >>

Tour de Fat raises more than $150,000 for Colorado bike organizations

Westword photographer Brandon Marshall spotted a penny farthing in City Park at the 2011 Tour de Fat Denver​New Belgium Brewing, the Fort Collins-based brewery with the iconic cruiser bike logo and best known for its Fat Tire Amber Ale, raised more than $90,000 on September 3 for the Overland ... More >>

Camping tips for people who don't like the wilderness: Kenny Be's Hip Tips

Berkeley alley getaway.​ August is a great month for enjoying a Colorado camping trip, but it is also the busiest. Rowdy campground crowds and hiking-trail traffic jams can add extra hassle to the burden of outdoor living. People who don't like the wilderness experience can still enjoy some Au ... More >>

Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads

​The Colorado Roadless Project and the Outdoor Alliance have a cool new campaign promoting their efforts to protect Colorado's 4.2 million acres of National Forest lands currently designated as "Roadless Areas" for mountain biking, hiking, climbing, paddling, backcountry skiing and snowboardin ... More >>

Tour de Breck

Elevation Olympics

Today in Stoke: 2011 Copp-Dash Inspire Award climbing expedition grants announced

​The spirit of Boulder's Adventure Film Festival founder Jonny Copp lives on: The five winners of the Copp-Dash Inspire Award grants for 2011 were announced on Friday, receiving $20,000 and climbing expeditions to Alaska, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Nepal. The grant program was estab ... More >>

Grow show highlights the electronic garden: Kenny Be's Worst-Case Scenario

Plug into the great outdoors.​ Forget the Colorado Home and Garden Show! As shown above, electronic lifestyle advancements have replaced the potted patio ficus tree with a Wi-Ficus phone-charging tree. Below, the greatest advancement will help growers use outdoor sunshine indoors...

Mile High Music Festival: Come for the music, stay for the attractions/ammenities

​All right, so if for some reason, you're crabby about the line-up for this year's Mile High Music Festival -- which, you know what, say what you will about DMB and Jack Johnson; love 'em or loathe 'em, you can't deny there's some serious gems on the undercard (um, hello, Weezer? Phoenix? My M ... More >>

Bike to the Future in Breck

Opening Doors to the Outdoors

Make It Your Mission to Ride

Happy Trails

Colorado Campground Confidential

Extreme snowshoeing? Yes, please!

Leave it up to us crazy Coloradans to turn anything into an extreme sport. Parallel parking, shadow puppetry, tax preparation -- you name it, we'll "extreme" it. The latest outlet for local adrenaline and bone-fracture junkies, it turns out, is snowshoeing. Yes, snowshoeing, that thing where you st ... More >>

Happy Trails

Win a ski day with Cosmopolitan's 2008 Most Eligible Bachelor

I have to admit: I always thought the men Cosmopolitan magazine chooses for its annual Most Eligible Bachelor contest were cheeseballs. Every year, fifty eligible bachelors (one from each state) pose shirtless in the mag, next to a brief description and quote, in the hopes of being crowned the Most ... More >>

Teva Tastic

Climb Every Mountain

The Ouray Ice Climbing Festival brings fanatics together.

Best of Westword Winners From 1988

Denver's Bike Messengers Are a Union Divided

Bike messengers ride fast and they ride alone, which is why an effort to organize them has hit the skids.

The Bicycle Thief

Road Warriors

Pepsi Center

Who would wait in line for the Who?

Roughing It

In the wilderness, even bad American beer works.

Cycle Killer

Why is the city putting the brakes on the Derailer Bike Collective?

Wheeling and Dealing

Critical Mass is a mess to handle.

Critical Mess

Denver bicyclists get taken for a ride.

Rough Ride

Mountain bikers and hikers face off over wilderness.

Best Bike Fixer

Jenn Dice

Best Campground

Halfmoon Campground

Crown Jewel

Teva Mountain Games electrify Vail

Best Camping Spot With Maroon Bells Access

Silver Campgrounds, Aspen

Rare Air

Mile High Marathon stays the course

Consumed

Cooking With Gas