Mountain Biking - events around Summit County COLORADO

Hey Guys,

My friends and myself will be driving out to Summit County Co. from Chicago from Aug 9th til the 16th and was wondering if there are any cool mounting biking events in the area? What good trails should we look into riding out there?

I know we are driving into Fruita one day to ride the Kokopelli Trail and also another day drive out to Moab for an outing.


Thanks,

Bill F.

be careful, the drivers in Colorado suck and gawk at every cop car thats pulled over and if it's a sunday the expressway is patrolled like mad

Bill, I sent you about a 30 page booklet on mtn biking in Summit County. I mailed it on Monday.

Let me know if you don't get it. It should answer all your questions.

the drivers suck? They're far better than in most states, imo. Anyways, I don't know what mountain biking events are going on in the summity county area, but there are some good trails there, can't list any off the top of my head, but i mean you have like a grouping of ski resorts with a ton of trails, so you will have no problems finding something to do, obviously. I think bikeCOLORADO would know more about this area...

I suggest you stay in fruita/moab for most of your trip, personally i like the riding out there, well i live 15minutes from fruita so i'm kinda personal to that area. You're not riding the whole kokopelli in one day are you (i don't why you would, or how)? Anyways, there are TONS of great trails out in the bookcliffs in grand junction and fruita, there's this one trail outside of fruita called Joes Loop i think it is, it's pretty sweet, it has this one part where you go around these little curves really fast and the trick is not to use your brakes ;) Anyways, also in grand junction there's a trail area by the colorado monument which has some great stuff, that's where i usually go riding. In moab, well tons of trails, if you stay right off of potash next to the river and by all the climbing along that road there's poison spider trail and portal trail, for pics of it check my web page in my sig. Lots of sand, but lots of slickrock too.

Anyways, stop by over the edge bike shop in fruita and get their trail suggestions and they have trail maps in there you can buy and what not. Remember, it will be very hot/dry out there. Maybe i'll see you out there ;) Have a good trip

Originally posted by PeterG1185
be careful, the drivers in Colorado suck and gawk at every cop car thats pulled over and if it's a sunday the expressway is patrolled like mad

You must be kidding. CO has less state patrol cars per mile than just about any state. Lucky to see one of them on any trip through the state. New Mexico is a different story.

DnvrFox,

I have not received it as of today. That was really cool of you to send something like that to make life easier.

Thanks,

Bill F.

DrGonzo,

I was out at the Kokepelli trails about 2 years ago and loved it. Mary's loop was outstanding.

Bill

Originally posted by DnvrFox
You must be kidding. CO has less state patrol cars per mile than just about any state. Lucky to see one of them on any trip through the state. New Mexico is a different story.

Thats weird. Everytime i went up to dever on 25 a cop had someone about every 5 miles. Coming back from Boulder cops were everywhere

Dnvrfox,

I received the guide just now.

Thanks again,

Bill F.

Originally posted by bfong
Dnvrfox,

I received the guide just now.

Thanks again,

Bill F.

If you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

Have fun.

Hey, with 30 different mountain bike rides detailed in the booklet, up to 24 miles in length, from easy to most-difficult/advanced and altitudes over 12,000 feet and about 3,000 feet in altitude increase in some rides, it ought to keep you busy for a few days.

ttt

Hey DnvrFox, you have any good trail recommendations for Colorado. I live in Greeley, but am moving to Denver next month. Thanks

Take Care

Originally posted by wkpat81
Hey DnvrFox, you have any good trail recommendations for Colorado. I live in Greeley, but am moving to Denver next month. Thanks

Take Care

I'm definitely not a technical mtn biker, so you may have better luck asking elsewhere.

Just a couple of suggestions:

1. Deer Creek Open Space Park in Jefferson County. Just south of C-470 and Wadsworth is the start of Deer Creek Canyon Road. Take the road about 3 miles to the sign to the park on the left. Park in the parking lot, and take the trail to the left. Not extremely technical, but quite steep (about 50% have to walk their bikes up). Be sure to yield to hokers - a serious bone of contention in Jeffco, which almost led to the closing of this park to Mtn Bikers a few years back.

2. Waterton Canyon. Continue south on Wadsworth to the sign for Waterton Canyon. Park in lot. At the end of the 7 mile ride up the canyon is a pretty serious single track loop as a part of the Colorado Trail. I think it takes about an hour to do the loop. Have only been on the first part.

3. The lower end of White Mtn Ranch Open Space Park in Jeffco, but near Boulder. I have hiked this and it is pretty good challenge.

Ask at any bike shop for many more, including Green Mountain. There are hundreds of miles of non-technical paved and gravel trails throughout the area. Thise I know intimately.

Have fun.

I was in Breckenridge & Frisco just the other week...

wow.

That area KICKS... oh my gawwddd.

Downhilling ruled on Peak 8 ... , and the Burro Trail was a blast to hammer back down (after several miles of UP UP UP!)

DnvrFox, thanks for the suggestions, ill have to check those out.

Take Care

Well, we have spent the weekend at our condo in Summit County - still there right now.

Judging from the car racks, trailer bike hitches, and bikes in van (like mine), there ae a WHOLE LOT of mtn bikers up here this weekend. I mean, every other car that you see.

Nora and I went on a nice ride today - from Frisco up to Copper mtn and back. Uphill all the way and downhill all the way back - whee!! (like 25-33 mph). It is only 14 miles, but Nora did not feel up to going to the top of Vail Pass. We also rode around Lake Dillon (full and overflowing this year as compared to last year), and after driving to Breck, I rode back while NOra drove. About 10 miles of almost total downhill!! whee again.

Tonight we went to hear Duwop Denny at the Blue Spruce Inn in Frisco. Great dinner, and afterwards, we listened, sang and danced to those wonderful 50's and 60's song - Unchained Melody, etc. AND WE WON THE DANCE CONTEST - doing swing (Jittterbug) to "That Girl." We do a pretty mean swing - lots of spinning, twirling, etc. - just like the movies of the 50's and 60's. Anyway, we got a LOT of compliments, and won two free drinks (as we don't drink alcohol, we got club sodas).

What fun this trip has been.

Just got home from Denver's condo, very nice place to stay. Mad props to Denver for providing such a service. Man was it mtn. bike mecca in that area. Awesome trails in Breck. Peak's trail, Colorado trail which about killed all of us climbing and also took a gondala rides in Steamboat which was intense. Also got to ride in Vail. I will be back next year Denver :) Never made it down to Fruita or Utah. Just too many nice trails within an hour of Summit county. First day we rode the street all the way up to the condo. (about 3 miles that lasted about 1000 ft) Not use to that out here in the flat lands of Chicago. That just about killed me. (Not use to the elevation) I highly reccomend the area to anybody looking for a nice trip. We all biked everyday for 7 days which was alot.


Bill F.

Sounds like you had a blast. Any mad pics of the trip?

L8R

Originally posted by bfong
Just got home from Denver's condo, very nice place to stay. Mad props to Denver for providing such a service. Man was it mtn. bike mecca in that area. Awesome trails in Breck. Peak's trail, Colorado trail which about killed all of us climbing and also took a gondala rides in Steamboat which was intense. Also got to ride in Vail. I will be back next year Denver :) Never made it down to Fruita or Utah. Just too many nice trails within an hour of Summit county. First day we rode the street all the way up to the condo. (about 3 miles that lasted about 1000 ft) Not use to that out here in the flat lands of Chicago. That just about killed me. (Not use to the elevation) I highly reccomend the area to anybody looking for a nice trip. We all biked everyday for 7 days which was alot.


Bill F.

Glad you all liked the area.

That ride from the bottom of the hill up to the condo is indeed a killer. I only do it on the mtn bike in lowest gears. Did you know there is a mtn bike trail you can ride up also? The condo is at 9,600 feet. Silverthorne is at 8,800 feet, for a total climb of 800 feet in the less than 3 mile trip.

Sometimes the kids will take their bikes up on the buses and ride down the trail.

Folks always seem to go to Fruita, etc., when the riding is superb right there in Summit County. Both road and mtn biking.

Denver,

I was in my granny gear also. (almost coughed up a lung when I reached the top) Went to Steamboat to visit the Moots plant. That will be a very expensive plant tour. I will be saving for a Vamoots soon. Dan the sales rep. took us for a 3 hour plant tour. Talking to the girlfriend about relocating in Co somewhere. I just loved the atmosphere. I also attended the http://www.montezumasrevenge.com/cmon.html Intense to say the least. Just drank at the Fat tire beer tent all day during the race. Loved the microbrews in the area. You guys have the life :)

Bill F.