Road cycling, mountain biking, gravel riding: You’d think Coloradans would have enough pedal-propelled pursuits. Two outfitters in the state, however, beg to differ. In 2021, Revolution Rail Co. began offering railbike rides along repurposed tracks near South Fork, and this past summer Colorado Railbike Adventures started plying 150-year-old rails in Erie. With five East Coast locations in addition to its two Rio Grande–adjacent routes, Revolution is a national pioneer of the tourist-friendly activity, which draws inspiration from the handcars used for railway maintenance in train travel’s heyday.

Today’s railbikes are built for leisurely cruising with four wheels and pedal-equipped, high-backed seats. “We had over 4,800 riders in our first 12 weeks, ranging from six weeks old to 92 years old,” says Colorado Railbike Adventures owner Jeff Rummer, whose father, Bob, came up with the business idea while teaching Jeff’s first grader about simple machines during the pandemic. Jeff worked with RTD to lease his first track, 4.2 miles of rail that go over a trestle bridge and past the old Boulder Valley Mine, and in September added a nine-mile route through a fall-color-filled historical homestead with views of Longs Peak. Revolution’s season ends this month and picks up again in May 2025. Rummer, however, plans to keep his wheels turning (prices start at $40 per person) through the holidays; look for upcoming theme nights such as Rails and Ales and haunted history tours.

5280 October 2024
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