In Boulder, it seems that riding options often toggle between big and epic. The 2.7-mile climb up to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) defies that logic, offering locals an escape into the foothills with just enough bite for a solid interval session but not so much that those looking to soak in the sunset scenery would be put off. Start by the King Soopers supermarket at the corner of Broadway and Table Mesa, and warm up on a gentle grade through a residential neighborhood on a generous bike lane. As the grade kicks up to a steady 6-8 percent, the road enters an open-space meadow of tall grass and scattered evergreens set against Boulder’s iconic flatirons. The bulk of the climb is a 1.5-mile stretch that winds up to NCAR, an architectural achievement designed by I.M. Pei (author of the Louvre’s signature pyramids), and stunning views of Boulder below and the Flatirons to the west. With no need to touch the brakes, the descent can be equally as thrilling--though cyclists are just as subject to speed limits as motorists on this road.
-Mapped by Mark Harrison
TO TRAILHEAD: Climb starts at the intersection of Table Mesa and Broadway in Boulder.
