eBike rider in an orange helmet on a gravel trail near Erie, Colorado

3 Sunday eBike Rides from Old Town Erie on the Coal Creek Trail

Ride guide

3 Sunday eBike rides from Old Town Erie

Every one of these starts at our shop on Briggs Street, and every one of them lives on the Coal Creek Trail.

9–24miles
3towns
1coffee stop minimum

After our BERT update went up this summer, the question we heard most at the counter was some version of "OK, but where do I ride right now?" Fair question. BERT is still years out. The Coal Creek Trail isn't. It starts about 100 yards from our front door and runs roughly 14 miles of soft-surface trail through Erie, Lafayette and Louisville out to Superior.

These are the three rides we actually do on Sunday mornings. I pulled them straight from our own GPS files, so the mileage is real, not a guess. Grab the GPX for whichever one fits your day.

1 · Easy Sunday2 · Lafayette Coffee Loop3 · Louisville Main Street

The routes

Pick your Sunday

1The Easy Sunday

9.3 mi out and back~250 ft climbingAbout 1 hourFamilies & first rides

This is the one we send people on for their first eBike ride, and it's the one families usually love. Hop on the Coal Creek Trail a block from the shop and head south. It's concrete for a bit, then crushed gravel, and the grades stay gentle the whole way. There's basically no traffic. Turn around near the Erie Air Park (the trail keeps going toward Lafayette if you're feeling good) and cruise back into Old Town.

Finish in Old TownWhen you roll back onto Briggs, you're a couple of blocks from coffee and lunch.
Elevation

2The Lafayette Coffee Loop

17.3 mi loop~490 ft climbingAbout 1.5 hoursOur go-to Sunday

This is my usual Sunday. Follow the Coal Creek Trail south out of Erie and along the creek into south Lafayette. When you hit South Public Road, turn north and ride into downtown Lafayette for coffee. After that, a string of paths through Lafayette's neighborhoods drops you back on the Coal Creek Trail for the ride home.

Coffee stopPublic Road, right around Simpson Street. East Simpson Coffee Company, The Read Queen Cafe and Tip Top Savory Pies are all right there. Lafayette City Park is a few blocks up if you want to sit in the grass for a minute.

Heads up: the downtown stretch of Public Road is on the street. It's short and it's a 25 mph zone, but ride where drivers expect you to be and use the crosswalks.

Elevation

3The Big Sunday: Louisville's Main Street

24.2 mi out and back~810 ft climbing2–2.5 hoursPack a lunch appetite

Block out the morning for this one. You stay on the Coal Creek Trail from Old Town Erie, through Lafayette, and all the way west into downtown Louisville. It's nearly all trail. Eat lunch on Main Street and ride the same way home, probably a little slower than you came out.

Lunch stopLouisville's Main Street has plenty within a block or two: The Huckleberry, Lucky Pie, Lulu's BBQ and Verde, plus Giovannitti Coffee Roasters if you just want coffee. Memory Square Park is around the corner if you need a break before heading back.
Elevation

Distances and climbing come from our GPS tracks, so call them close, not exact. Restaurant hours change, so check before you go.

Before you roll

What to bring

01WaterBring a full bottle, even on the short ride. Our air is dry and it catches up with you faster than you'd think.
02SunscreenThere isn't much shade out there. Put it on before you leave the house.
03Phone mountOn an Aventon or a Specialized, plug your phone into the USB port on the display and it charges while you ride.
04HelmetEvery ride. If yours doesn't fit right, stop in and we'll sort it out.

The right bike

What we ride on these routes

You don't need anything fancy for these. Any bike you're comfortable on works. But if you're shopping, these are the ones we keep grabbing for crushed gravel with coffee at the end.

Aventon Level 4 ADV eBikeAventon Level 4 ADVBuilt as a commuter, but it doesn't mind a gravel trail one bit. Aventon Ramblas eMTBAventon RamblasOur eMTB pick, for the days a Sunday ride wanders off onto dirt. Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2 4.0Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2 4.0Light and quiet. It feels a lot like your regular bike, just with help on the hills. Specialized Turbo Vado 3 EVO 4.0Specialized Turbo Vado 3 EVO 4.0The comfy choice for the long day out to Louisville. Specialized Turbo Creo 2 ExpertSpecialized Turbo Creo 2 ExpertDrop bars and a light, quick feel if you want to cover more ground.

One thing to know: Louisville only allows Class 1 and Class 2 eBikes on its trails, which means motor assist tops out at 20 mph. If you're on a Class 3 bike, look for a 20 mph setting before you head that way, or bring it by and we'll help. Each town posts its own rules, so follow the signs and give people on foot plenty of room.

Still waiting on BERT

Car-free miles, today

The Boulder to Erie Regional Trail is in design now, and construction could start in 2029 if the funding comes through. Until then, the Coal Creek Trail is the best car-free riding we've got, and it's right outside our door.

Read the BERT update

Questions

Riding the Coal Creek Trail

Are eBikes allowed on the Coal Creek Trail?

Yes. Boulder County allows eBikes on the Coal Creek Trail. Louisville is stricter: only Class 1 and Class 2 eBikes (up to 20 mph of motor assist) on its trails, so Class 3 riders should dial it back to 20 mph there. Follow the posted signs either way.

How long is the Coal Creek Trail?

About 14 miles of soft-surface trail, following Coal Creek from Superior through Louisville and Lafayette to Erie.

Which ride is best for kids or a first eBike ride?

Ride 1, the Easy Sunday. It's about 9.3 miles out and back on the Coal Creek Trail, and the grades are gentle.

Where do these rides start?

At our shop, CyclErie, 515 Briggs Street, Suite D, in Old Town Erie. The Coal Creek Trail is about 100 yards from the door.

Can I rent or test ride an eBike for these routes?

Yes. You can rent an eBike in Erie or book a free test ride on the Coal Creek Trail.

Ride it this Sunday

Come take a free test ride on the Coal Creek Trail, or find our next group ride on Strava.

Book a test rideGroup rides & events
— Dan Johnson
Tagged: BERT Coal Creek Trail eBike rides Erie Lafayette Louisville Ride guide
Older articles Back to Updates