I thought this July, 1891 story was interesting for a couple reasons.

“On Sunday morning a party of Monument bicyclists left the town at shortly after 8 a.m., their destination being Colorado Springs. The party consisted of Messrs. S.M. Colman, F.E. Kendrick, J. Neil, H.D. Leonard, D. LaSalle, John Colman, jr., Eton Goodfell and Albert White. The roads were in excellent condition and the ride proved a very enjoyable one for the majority of the bicyclists. No attempt at “time” was made, the jaunt being merely intended for pleasure alone. After dinner was partaken at the D&RG’s eating house, the party of excursionist viewed the big city and were highly entertained by their visit.”

The return was made in the evening on a Santa Fe passenger train. The station being on the opposite end of Pikes Peak Avenue.

My grandfather lived in Monument at the time, but his name is not in the group. He did entertain me by telling stories of how they would go up Ute Pass on the train, bicycles in the baggage car, and ride back down to Colorado Spring on the road in the pass. The group often took the waters of Manitou with them. I wonder if he rode his bicycle down from Monument first. I also assume they might have taken the train back home to Monument, like this group must have.

I have also seen stories where Denver groups came to Palmer Lake then rode north to Denver. That is pretty far for a bike ride. A few years later our family moved to Colorado Springs and my grandparents would take a streetcar to Manitou to get a gallon or so of mineral water for making lemonade.