Vail Pass to Vail
Summary
Every rider who reaches this point should feel extremely proud! You've covered 92 miles and climbed nearly 11,000 feet! The great news: it's all down here from here. The slightly bad news: you'll face what's easily the most technical descent of the course.
Immediately after passing the smooth, straight road along Black Lakes, you'll pass through a gate and enter a steep, narrow, and twisting bike trail. Surface conditions are also poor, with broken pavement and gravel. If any part of the Triple Bypass course could be called dangerous, this is it. Sections of this trail are directly adjacent to the I-70 eastbound shoulder, but there is plenty of separation from vehicle traffic.
Pay careful attention to the stretch between miles 97 and 98! The grade decreases to -7%, and gravel is often found on the sharp turn underneath the highway.
You'll have to work briefly to get up a small hill at this point, then the rest of the ride is on a wide, clean, well-maintained trail to the finish!
Of course, don't let this dissuade you from enjoying it! Be mindful of the conditions and exercise caution on this descent.
Eventually, you'll leave the bike trail and join the I-70 frontage road that crisscrosses the highway. You'll join vehicular traffic, but you have plenty of space, and the volume is light in the summer. It's generally flat, but you'll still have to do some work here—especially if there's a headwind.