In a place like Loveland, Colo., where sculpture parks meet mountain trails and lakes sparkle just minutes from downtown, adventure is never far away. But finding the right gear to get out there can be a barrier, especially for out-of-town visitors or families just getting started. That’s where The Extra Mile Outdoor Gear & Bike comes in.
Founded by longtime outdoor enthusiast and Loveland local Dan Wiesner, The Extra Mile is more than just a consignment shop. It’s a welcoming hub for affordable, high-quality outdoor gear, and one of the few places in northern Colorado where you can rent e-bikes, hybrid cruisers and stand-up paddleboards in the summer and snowshoes and outlander ski shoes in the winter.
In this guest blog, Dan shares more about his family’s passion for adventure, how The Extra Mile got its start and what makes gear rentals such a great way to explore Loveland’s backyard.
What inspired you to start The Extra Mile?
My family and I have been in Loveland since 2006, raising children and getting involved in the community through coaching soccer and school involvement. We have four kids and have always been active in the outdoors. While trying to supply a growing family with quality outdoor gear, I began sourcing used gear for our use but also started reselling gear online, which I did full–time for seven years. I wanted to bring together my love of outdoor gear on a budget and my enjoyment of being involved in the Loveland community by starting a gear and bike retail space.
What kind of rentals do you offer?
We started renting bikes about four years ago and have continued to grow our rental fleet. We rent e-bikes, e-mountain bikes, regular pedal bikes, paddleboards and in the winter, snowshoes and a type of universal cross-country ski.
Who are your bike rentals best suited for?
Our lineup of Gazelle e-bikes is great for the all-around rider who wants to do a bigger ride of 20 to 40 miles with some assistance on the paved/gravel bike paths from here to Fort Collins. The hybrid bikes are a good all-around pedal bike, upright riding and comfortable, but efficient enough for a good, solid day of riding.
The e-mountain bikes are full-suspension, single-track mountain capable bikes. They can be ridden in the state parks nearby, like Lory State Park, on advanced mountain bike trails, or would be plenty capable on forest service roads for some good adventure riding with some electric assistance.
What do you love the most about outdoor recreation in northern Colorado?
Hiking, biking, skiing, camping and watersports are all accessible here year–round. From the local bike paths and close mountain bike trails to quick accessibility to the Rocky Mountains, you just can’t beat it.
What are your top spots for paddleboarding near Loveland?
Boyd Lake and Boedecker Reservoir are great, close, accessible destinations for paddleboarding. Carter Lake is also close by and is a large body of water that has a lot to explore. However, one of my favorite destinations is up the hill from Carter Lake—Pinewood Reservoir. Pinewoord only allows wakeless, motorless boats and it’s surrounded by lots of trees and trails, making it a great place to spend the day with a paddleboard.
What bike trails would you recommend for renters, both in-town and in the mountains?
The Loveland bike path loop is a 20–mile loop around town that has the Big Thompson River on its south side and runs right next to Boyd Lake on its east side. There are also several offshoots toward Marianna Butte on the west side and the Equalizer Lake area on the east side. For a longer ride, you can head north toward Fort Collins on the Long View Farms trail on the north end of the Loveland Loop. E-mountain bikes can be ridden in state parks like Lory State Park in north Fort Collins or on the trails surrounding Pinewood Reservoir. Forest service roads and dirt roads up Big Thompson Canyon or Poudre Canyon are fun to explore on an e-mountain bike as well.
When renting a bike and cruising around Loveland, where do you recommend people go and why?
We do a regular Thursday evening group bike ride out from the shop. This has given us the opportunity to get to know the town and various routes and stops on and off the bike path. If you are riding the bike path, exploring on and off the path along the south side of the loop in the Big Thompson trail portion, there are a few parks, ponds and rivers worth checking out. The east side of the loop in Boyd Lake State Park has some off-the-path trails, a beach spot and marinas to check out.
One exciting new section of the bike trail leads you to the Interstate 25 underpass just east of Rocky Mountain Avenue, off the east side of Equalizer Lake. You can now safely pedal under the interstate to access The Promenade Shops at Centerra and, more importantly, the Chapungu Sculpture Park on the east side of the shopping center. A bike ride through town can also get you to the Benson Sculpture Garden. Some new trails from the St. Louis Natural Area can take you to a new park off First Street called Willow Bend Park and Universal Access Playground, which has several new paved and gravel paths to explore.
What’s your favorite way to spend a summer day outdoors with your family?
For an adventurous day, we like to load up the paddleboards and bikes and drive up to Pinewood Reservoir for a little SUP and cycle!
What are your top tips for renting gear for the first time?
If you are planning on riding from the shop and downtown Loveland, you need to have appropriate cycling clothing and footwear, a water bottle and some sunscreen. We’ll provide you with a helmet, bike path map, lock and instructions for riding an e-bike if you haven’t ridden one before. We do 24-hour reservations for bikes, so call the day before and we’ll hold a bike for you.
Anything else to share?
Our shop is owner–managed and strives to provide quality customer service. Our shop offers a destination for folks new to the outdoors and seasoned explorers. We have new and used bikes and gear and have a consignment program for folks to resell their formerly loved quality bikes and outdoor gear. We also have cross–country, backcountry and downhill skis for sale in the winter. From April through October, we host a Thursday group bike ride at 5:30 p.m. for fast road and gravel riders and a 6 p.m. ride for casual riders of all levels. Come join the community!
Rent a Bike or Paddleboard in Loveland and Enjoy the Sweetheart City Like a Local
Big thanks to Dan for sharing his expertise and passion for helping others get outside. Whether you’re planning a weekend adventure or just looking to try something new, The Extra Mile is a fantastic place to gear up, ask questions and feel like part of the local community. Next time you’re in Loveland, or anywhere in northern Colorado, stop by The Extra Mile and get everything you need to take your trip a little farther.
Check out The Extra Mile at TheExtraMileOutdoorGear.com.