Golden is where Denver's western edge hits the mountains. The town sits at the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon, squeezed between the twin flat-topped bulks of North and South Table Mountain, and its main street still looks like a western town that grew up respectable. Golden was the territorial capital of Colorado in the 1860s before Denver took over, and it has kept a few reminders, including the banner that arches over Washington Avenue welcoming visitors, and the Colorado School of Mines, the college that trains mining and petroleum engineers. Coors Brewing has made beer here since 1873, and the brewery still dominates one end of town, with a tour that finishes at a tasting room.
For a rider, the value is practical and geographic. Golden has several fuel stations and plenty of places to eat, which makes it a natural starting and finishing point for the roads into the Front Range. The road up Lookout Mountain winds in a series of hairpins to the grave of Buffalo Bill Cody, who died in 1917 and was buried on the summit with a view over the plains, and the museum beside it is a small treat. The Lariat Loop, a scenic route that circles up through Lookout Mountain and down through Genesee and Morrison, packs a lot of road into a short space.
Further on, Clear Creek Canyon leads west along Highway 6 with rock walls on both sides, the creek foaming beside the road, and a handful of tunnels. Beyond it, Highway 119 and Golden Gate Canyon Road climb toward the Peak to Peak Highway, which links mountain towns such as Nederland, Estes Park and Black Hawk at heights of eight or nine thousand feet, with the Continental Divide glittering to the west. From there, Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park reaches over twelve thousand feet, and only opens when the snow has cleared, usually from around Memorial Day until mid or late October.
Weather on the Front Range moves quickly. Mornings are often clear and calm, and afternoon thunderstorms can build over the mountains, bringing hail and sudden cold. Start early, carry rain gear and layers, and be aware that the temperature difference between Golden and the high passes can reach twenty degrees Celsius. Golden itself is easy: parking is manageable, the creek-side path is pleasant, and a coffee at the edge of town is a good way to start or end a ride.