The thirty miles from Idaho Springs to the summit of Loveland Pass looked to be the most challenging part of the the Triple Bypass. As you look at the ride profile at the Triple Bypass website, you notice that it is 30 miles of continual climbing. The grade averages between 4% and 6% all the way to the top of the pass. The altitude increase is right at 4,400 feet. That is a lot of climbing! None the less, we left Idaho Springs in good spirits ready for the challenge of the long climb.
Leaving Idaho Springs, ahead lay 30 miles of climbing to the summit of Loveland Pass.
This section of the ride followed Interstate 70 along Clear Creek Canyon. We crossed over or under the interstate several times.
We didn't see any bighorn sheep on the mountain sides!
Much of the time, we rode right along Interstate 70.
At times we rode right on the shoulder. This was a bit disconcerting, especially, when the big semi trucks drove by.
But....almost always we were climbing. By the time we got to the base of Loveland Pass, it was almost 12:00 noon. We still had 4 miles of hard climbing to the summit. 
As we approached the ski area at the foot of Loveland Pass, we were ready for a break. It had taken us about 3 1/2 hours to get here from Idaho Springs. Notice the dark clouds looming over the mountain tops. They would become a factor as we climbed to the top of Loveland Pass. 
I was ready for lunch! 
Where is the smile Thomas? All we could both think of was.....four more miles to the top.
As we ate lunch, most of our attention was focused on the road to the top of the pass. It was a long way up there!
The top of the mountain wasn't getting any closer, and after a short rest and lunch stop, it was time to head to the top. 
Off to our left was the start of four miles of 6% - 8% grade to the top of the pass. On our way up the clouds came over the pass and started to drop rain on us. We stopped, put on our rain jackets, and forged on. 
The climb to the top was arduous, but the views were spectacular. The picture at left shows a view of the valley. That is Interstate 70 down there in the background. It was the road we took to get to the foot of the pass.
Finally, we crested at the summit of Loveland Pass, 11,9990 ft. above sea level. We had climbed almost 1500 feet in four miles. 
Thomas has his grin back! We were at the top!
I did it all on my bike! You always get your picture taken by the summit sign. This is no photo shop job! I....was....there!We were now at mile 61, just over half way done, but in reality the hardest part of the ride was behind us. We had one more major climb, Vail Pass at 10, 500 feet. But we would only descend to 8500 ft. Yep, it was all easy from here on to the end......or so we thought.
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