Triple Bypass

Overview

The Triple Bypass is one of Colorado's most revered mountain cycling routes, a point-to-point test of endurance that carries riders 134.8 km across the high spine of the Rockies. Along the way it piles up 3026 m of vertical gain, a figure that tells you almost everything about the day ahead: this is not a route you drift through, but one you earn pass by pass. The name says it plainly. To reach the finish you must clear a sequence of major climbs, each one demanding its own reserve of patience and lungs already thinned by altitude.

What makes the Triple Bypass iconic is the combination of scale and sustained elevation. At 134.8 km it is long enough to be an all-day affair for most riders, and with more than three kilometres of climbing packed into that distance, there is precious little coasting. The reward is a traverse of some of the most dramatic paved terrain the state offers, linking high mountain passes into a single continuous line across the Continental Divide country.

The Route

The route runs point-to-point rather than looping back, which gives it the feel of a genuine journey: you start in one place and finish somewhere meaningfully else, having crossed a wall of mountains in between. Over its 134.8 km the profile is defined by long, deliberate ascents separated by descents that give back a fraction of the height you fought for. The 3026 m of total climbing is not delivered in one heroic effort but distributed across the passes, so pacing becomes the central discipline of the day.

Riders should think of the Triple Bypass as a series of chapters. Each climb resets the effort, each summit resets the view, and the cumulative altitude means even strong legs feel the thinning air by the later kilometres.

Key Climbs

Two marquee ascents give the route much of its character. Loveland Pass is a classic high crossing of the Continental Divide, a paved climb that rewards steady rhythm and delivers a genuine summit moment before the long descent beyond. Guanella Pass is the other headline climb, another substantial paved ascent that adds significantly to the day's 3026 m of gain and tests riders who have already spent hours in the saddle.

Together these passes anchor the Triple Bypass. Clearing them is the essence of the ride: two named high-altitude climbs that turn a long day into a genuine mountain traverse rather than a simple distance ride.

Terrain & Surface

The entire 134.8 km route is asphalt, which shapes how it should be ridden. There is no gravel to negotiate and no surface roulette; the challenge is purely one of gradient, distance, and altitude. Smooth pavement means a standard road bike is well suited, and it lets riders focus their attention entirely on climbing efficiency and descending control rather than on traction. On the long paved descents from the passes, that consistent surface allows confident, flowing riding, a welcome contrast to the grind of the ascents.

When to Ride

Because this is a high-altitude Rocky Mountain route crossing exposed paved passes, conditions are best in the warmer months when the roads are clear and the high country is open. Alpine weather can shift quickly at elevation, so riders should watch the sky, carry layers for cold descents, and give themselves enough daylight to complete the full 134.8 km with 3026 m of climbing at a sustainable pace.

Logistics

The point-to-point format is the key logistical consideration. Because you finish away from where you start, plan transport in advance, whether that means a vehicle shuttle, a support vehicle, or a return arrangement. Pack for a long day: adequate food and water, spares for the paved miles, and clothing that handles both hot climbing and cold, fast descents off the passes. Fuelling steadily across the climbs matters as much as fitness on a route with this much sustained elevation.

Summary

The Triple Bypass distils Colorado mountain cycling into a single unforgettable line: 134.8 km, 3026 m of climbing, and a fully paved traverse over marquee passes including Loveland and Guanella. It is long, high, and relentless, but that is exactly why it is iconic. Ride it well and you will have crossed the Rockies under your own power, one summit at a time.