Pedaling the peaks: rides abound for colorado cyclists.

• Author: Beck, Cathie

No one knows Colorado biking better than Mike Miller, a bona fide bicycling guru who eats, sleeps and lives the sport. As owner of Denver's Handle Bar & Grill, Miller makes sure his menu touts food items named after bicycling people and events, and his restaurants brims with biking memorabilia.

At the slightest prompting, Miller will happily yak a mile a minute about Colorado biking, unleashing his 33 years of biking experience, including a promo for his Web site, www.handlebarandgrill.com--a site he claims hosts the most comprehensive list of bicycling events in town. "Here in Colorado," says Miller, "bicycling is a way of life. There are more bicyclists than there are non-bicyclists. Generally, almost everyone has a fond memory associated with bicycling. Everyone can relate to bicycling."

To those thinking of jumping into the Colorado bicycling culture, who may be coming to the state for its thousands of miles of biking trails, and who wonder what it might be like to sign up for one of the "grand-scenery" Colorado bike tours, Miller's got a word or two of advice:

"There are a number of organizations people can join to get acclimated to the biking culture here," he says. "The Rocky Mountain Cycling Club, Team Evergreen and The Denver Bicycle Touring Club, are a few.

"More important--if you've not biked at all here, Colorado can take some adjustment," he adds. "Easy does it--don't jump in head over heels. Getting on a bike path is a good idea. You're at a high altitude with an extremely dry climate. You'll be sorer for longer periods of time if you're not hydrated."

A plethora of Colorado bike tours host riders who, through pledges, raise money for worthy causes while riding some of the most scenic byways and bike trails in the world.

The Great West MS 150 is one (see list). Clare Sinacori, communications manager for the Colorado Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, saw more than 2,000 riders pledge $300 or more last year to help fund research to treat Multiple Sclerosis. Some 3,000 riders are expected this year.

Sinacori says that MS Tour riders don't necessarily have a direct connection to MS, but do feel inspired to help a cause while enjoying a spectacular biking weekend. "A lot of the riders do have a direct connection to the cause because they know someone with MS," says Sinacori. "But many just learn of the ride and sign up. Companies often create biking teams, which offers support and motivation for whole groups of people."

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