Meet Zach Lee

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zach Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zach, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It centered around recognizing a need for a unique cycling map in Boulder. At the time, I was freelancing and had the liberty to pursue a personal project not reliant on client demands. I’m a dedicated cyclist with a professional background in designing signage and wayfinding systems, and have always been fascinated by the transportation-style visual language. Boulder’s unique cycling landscape played a significant role in this endeavor; it’s quite uncommon to find a place where you can ride directly from town into such diverse terrain, whether climbing in the mountains to the west or heading out east to roll along the plains. Boulder is truly world class for cycling. There are countless possible routes, so I wanted to find a way to compile and convey all these options effectively. You don’t need to see every curve in the road – you just need to know where it goes, what type of terrain, what level of difficulty, and how far it is. Drawn simply like a subway map, but color coded for level of difficulty—a crucial detail often overlooked. While difficulty levels can be subjective, it’s essential to inform cyclists about what they might encounter: Is it Easy? Moderate? Difficult? Very Difficult? Such categorization is common in mountain biking maps and ski resorts but was absent for road and gravel cycling. I was frustrated by my cycling computer giving me strange directions – or the batteries dying. I love print so I wanted to create a physical map that could be used in tandem with technology. We view it as a macro / micro relationship. Our maps are high level showing the broader system, then a cycling computer or app can show the micro turn by turn directions. This project was something I wanted to undertake at my own pace without any external pressure—if it thrived, wonderful; if not, that was fine too. Ultimately, I aimed to create something meaningful and share it with others.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I believe that for an artist or creative individual, a significant part of the journey involves discovering sources of inspiration and motivation that ignite projects and passions. I have a deep love for cycling; it’s a true passion of mine. As a designer in a sea of talented professionals, my unique edge lies in merging my enthusiasm for cycling with information graphics. This synergy is what differentiates our brand since we are dedicated cyclists who want our work to be not only distinctive but also engaging and informative. Our creations go beyond mere aesthetics; they serve practical purposes as well.

Take our maps, for example—they’re designed to provide functional art. Additionally, we have other graphic series like the Profile Series and Climb Comparison Series, which aim to offer users comparative analytics on different rides. All of the climbs are drawn to the same scale so you can get a relative sense for what is short or long, steep or gradual, giving viewers valuable reference into what they can expect. What inspired me was that I wanted to get a sense for how our local favorite climb, Super Flag, compares to Alpe d’Huez (one of the most famous climbs in the Tour de France).

What excites us is embracing the lifestyle aspect of cycling—creating opportunities to travel to popular biking locations while developing new maps. Recently, we’ve heard numerous friends mention Girona, and we’re eager to continue expanding our graphics related to Mallorca and Santa Monica.

However, balancing this passion with full-time work has proven challenging; crafting high-quality pieces, that distinguishes our maps from others, requires significant time and skill in an analog process. But it has also proven to be a fascinating journey. For instance, in Santa Monica, we found success by collaborating with someone local, Cory Pomerantz, a fellow cyclist and LA-based aerospace engineer, who truly understands the area and the terrain—someone who shares our passion for cycling. This partnership helped us address the challenge of lacking hyper-local knowledge. The strength of our collaboration stemmed from his local insights, which he generously shared as we joined forces to create the map. While I wish I could say it was completed quickly, it actually took around three years due to both of our full-time commitments; however, the end result is much richer and more refined because of our collaboration. We continued to enhance it after several visits to Santa Monica where we engaged with bike shops and cycling clubs along the way.

Another significant hurdle with these maps is their abundance of information. Ensuring maximum accuracy is crucial, especially since there are countless data points on the map that require meticulous attention. It can be time intensive, but it’s essential to allow for a thoughtful approach rather than hurrying through the process. It can be a bit meditative, like tending to a garden. You’re always observing changes and wanting to clean things up.

Our passion lies in cycling, and our goal is to encourage individuals to hop on their bikes and explore their surroundings with confidence, igniting a sense of adventure. The branding of Simple Cycling Maps revolves around distilling complex information into unique and easily digestible formats for users. Our products serve a niche community by offering insights from a cyclist’s perspective while simplifying the experience rather than complicating it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

One of the best aspects is the ability to embark on numerous adventures right from town. We could kick things off at either the Rapha Clubhouse or Cassiopeia for a coffee. If needed, you can also find cycling gear there. A great first ride might be along the gravel roads near Boulder Reservoir heading towards Hygiene. While gravel may seem challenging, it actually offers a more tranquil experience due to reduced traffic and slower-moving vehicles. Although the terrain can be a bit bumpy at times, the overall experience is far superior; you’ll enjoy stunning views, encounter wildlife, see honey stands, and pass by farms with seasonal produce—it’s just a different vibe than being in town.

There are various gravel and paved routes leading out there, and once you reach Hygiene, there’s a charming market called Mountain Fountain where you can take a break—use restrooms, refill water bottles, and stock up on supplies. The best part is that there are always cyclists around; it creates a sense of community where you can easily ask for advice or share stories.

On the second day, I would bring my friend up Flagstaff Mountain—the ultimate climb—to give them a feel for the local terrain. The scenery is breathtaking; it’s challenging but incredibly inspiring to ride in this area. We’d ascend to Super Flag before descending towards the amphitheater where we could relax and soak in the incredible views. The entire ride takes about an hour before we can leisurely roll back into town on a delightful descent.

I’d also suggest a classic ride to Jamestown. It’s more of a moderate journey, starting with a climb up Left Hand Canyon. After taking a right turn, you’ll continue your ascent through James Canyon. The total climb is roughly around 10 miles. Once you reach Jamestown, don’t miss out on the Merc—a fantastic place to enjoy some cookies, which are always a treat.

Another route I really enjoy is what I refer to as the Three Bears because it features three gravel segments and three climbs. You start by heading up Wagon Wheel to Bow Mountain (on gravel) before descending down Linden, where it’s usually quite serene—hardly any traffic except for the occasional turkeys crossing the road.

From Linden, you can connect to 4th Street and ride up Sunshine Canyon for about two and a half miles on pavement; it’s an easy climb. This leads you over to Poor Man, which is another gravel connector that takes you downhill. If you’re fortunate enough, you might even spot a wallaby while riding down Poor Man.

After descending Poor Man, you’ll find yourself connected to Four Mile Canyon. What’s great about this area is all the little connectors that let you navigate around the range easily. Riding down Four Mile Canyon offers a lovely paved descent that brings you to the Boulder Creek Path. From there, you’ll take the newer connector along Boulder Creek Path leading to Chapman Drive—one of my favorite climbs! It’s about two and a half miles of gravel that’s closed off from cars and shaded; it feels like its own little microclimate.

You’ll climb this gravel section for two and a half miles before reaching the turnoff for the amphitheater, allowing for an enjoyable descent back into town from there. At no point during these rides do you feel too far from town; yet somehow you’re immersed in nature’s beauty in the mountains.

However, if a friend wanted to experience a truly epic day, I would take them to Estes Park. There are specific times of the year when Rocky National Park opens Old Fall River Road exclusively for cyclists since vehicles are not allowed during those periods. This nine-mile gravel ascent leads up to the Alpine Visitor Center at a significant elevation. The ride along this gravel path is stunning, though I’d rate its difficulty as black—similar to tackling Chapman but for nine miles. The views along the way are spectacular, and reaching that visitor center makes you feel like you’re on top of the world. After that, there’s a brief climb on pavement for about three miles before you get to descend down Trail Ridge Road—a must-do experience for anyone seeking an adventure in Colorado. Riding down Old Fall River Road and then descending Trail Ridge is simply fantastic!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I can think of numerous individuals, but my first mention goes to my wife, Michelle. She has a passion for discovering new paths rather than riding the same routes repeatedly. This lead me to consider how I could create a map that accompanied her along the ride and provided enough information to help make a confident and spontaneous course change — it’s this spark of inspiration that ignites the entire process.

I would be remiss not to mention that a significant part of my inspiration stemmed from Harry Beck’s iconic London Underground map. Its influence is monumental and directly connects to Massimo Vignelli’s design for New York’s subway system. We’ve all encountered this subway style countless times; it represents an essential visual language.

On a local level, while developing the map, it was crucial for me to share ideas and gather input from friends within the cycling community—Caley Fretz (Founder and Editor of Escape Collective), Chris Crosby, Pete Webber, and Aaron Barcheck (owner of Mosaic Cycles) played vital roles in shaping the initial Boulder System Map. Over casual beers, we would discuss routes, connections, and argue about difficulty ratings. In today’s fast-paced world, finding people who genuinely care about sharing insights and providing feedback is rare. I feel incredibly fortunate to have friends who were invested in this project; their involvement was invaluable. For our Santa Monica project, I want to give a solid shoutout to my project partner Cory Pomerantz. He reached out to me to initiate the project and has been equally committed to the design and details. Again it’s rare to find people who share not just the interest but the passion to follow through.

I knew I couldn’t—and didn’t want to—navigate this journey alone. While I have my own expertise, creating an effective map truly relies on the shared knowledge of a community. There were countless roads and trails I had never encountered until we embarked on this endeavor together.

Website: simplecyclingmaps.com

Instagram: simple.cycling.maps

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-lee-4406a814a/ 

Image Credits
@mthurk.com, @andrewpatra