Mountain - Plains - Is Monarch Crest Trail Doable on a Cross Bike?

I've checked singletrack.com, monarchcrest.com as well as BFMTB forums but can not find anything answering this specific question. So, I'm going directly to the locals. The shuttles and bike rental companies are only renting out MTBs so I'm guessing a MTB is ideal but I do not own one and do not want to rent if my CX bike is adequate for a leisurely 7/4 ride. I know it might rattle the crap out of me, but I've used the CX bike on trails before with no problems.

Any thoughts?

Doable - yes. Would I do it? Nope. It's more rugged than I think a CX bike can handle. There are several scree fields that come to mind right off. Those would be pretty hard on such skinny tires. There are also lots of twists and turns on the descents that might be sketchy with the short wheelbase. Oh, and lots of roots in some sections. Again, it's doable but it won't be near as fun as if you were on a mtn bike.

it certainly would be anything but leisurely. i've only done the crest trail once, and it was years ago, but i remember there is a creek bed you ride though towards the end that is very rocky, aside from the hazards bulldozer mentioned. imagine doing williams canyon or elk park on a cross bike. it's perhaps doable, but would also be a great place to ruin a wheelset or a fork. that's sort of a long walk home.

as far as nice long dirt rides, what about riding up rampart range road to palmer lake and down the santa fe trail or up to the summit of almagre? you can take FR 379 all the way there, off of old gold camp/ old stage roads.

how can you live in this town without a mountain bike!?

it certainly would be anything but leisurely. i've only done the crest trail once, and it was years ago, but i remember there is a creek bed you ride though towards the end that is very rocky, aside from the hazards bulldozer mentioned. imagine doing williams canyon or elk park on a cross bike. it's perhaps doable, but would also be a great place to ruin a wheelset or a fork. that's sort of a long walk home.

That's what I figured. I'm hearing that Monarch Crest still has significant snow. I'll just rent a MTB for the day. Unless you want to let me borrow one! :-) I recall that you're a tall fella. I'll put up my Yeti CX bike for collateral. :-)


as far as nice long dirt rides, what about riding up rampart range road to palmer lake and down the santa fe trail or up to the summit of almagre? you can take FR 379 all the way there, off of old gold camp/ old stage roads.

I didn't know all that sh*t was connected.


how can you live in this town without a mountain bike!?

I sold my college Cannondale MTB a few months ago and have not acquired a replacement yet. I'm in the market for a used mid level MTB if you know of anyone. Thanks!

yeah, i'm 6'4". i have a on-one rigid ss 29er. i'm actually going to be using my mountain bike on friday morning... i'm probably going to head down to pueblo and ride the reservoir. i hope it's not too busy!! then on saturday i'll probably do a tour de cheyenne canyon. or at least buckhorn/jacks, etc.

what sort of mountain bike are you looking for? 26 or 29? geared or single? i'll ask a few tall folks i know if they have anything they want to get rid of. i know a friend with a rigid 29 indy fab frame and fork kicking around, but i wouldn't call that mid level.

do you work in a bike shop? if a ss 29er is of interest to you, i'd check out the redline monocog. it's steel, has a low rake fork... so it handles great, is fairly light, and is inexpensive. it's about as much as the bikesdirect ss 29, which does not come with a trail friendly gear ratio. or at least not a colorado gear ratio.

i've never done the ride from rampart range to palmer lake and so forth, but up near woodland park there is a connector road that takes you over to the watershed and down to palmer lake. if you drive to rampart reservoir from woodland park, when you have to turn right onto that dirt road, if you go straightish/leftish (to use the technical term) instead, i *think* that's the one that connects.

I had the bikesdirect Outcast 29er and it worked well as a commuter but I've passed it on to a friend's son for college use in Gunnison. I never used it on singletrack.

I would prefer a geaered 29er but I also like SS. Since I can only get one for now, I'd go with the gears. Let me know if you hear of anything. The IF sure is nice! I like building instead of buying too but I'm sure it's out of my range.

I don't work in a shop anymore but used to back in Austin. I sure to miss the employee prices!

Looks like we're going to ride from Marshall Pass to Pagosa, missing the first 10 miles of the MCT.

Enjoy the 4th! We'll get together for a ride eventually....