Flyboy718

We will be heading to Silverton, CO next week for 10 days and this will be my first vacation with my bike. I plan on getting miles in while I am gone and really soaking in Colorado on the back...let the family go ahead of me in the car and I catch up on the bike a few times. That said, I don't know whether I should take my 1985 Univega Viva Sport or my modern mountain bike with disc brakes and three chain rings. I am just worried about the descents and having really good brakes to be able to slow myself and also the third chain ring for climbing. Anybody have any experience with this?

SJX426 

Been there a couple of times. I would opt for the MTB. It is sort of in a valley with nothing but up to get out. We are not talking about hills either. Condition of the roads are all over the map too. They have pretty extreme weather changes. Durango would be a different story, just about the road conditions though. There is more rolling country side there but not insignificant climbs if you are not use to it.

fender1

Nope.

OldsCOOL

No, but I think my '88 Cannondale would do better than I would.

Insidious C. 

Go for the gearing. Silverton is stinking high elevation. You will feel it in less oxygen and more intense sun. Pretty country though. Have fun!

american psycho 

I rode and raced my 72 Colnago Super all over the place from 1990-1999, having lived in Denver and Telluride, so it is possible, the hills are all manageable with say a 28 in back and a 42 or 39 up front.

BUT, Silverton is a 1 road town, and the mountain biking in SW Colorado is supreme, so you may want to rethink your plan, and do 3-4 hour MTB rides starting at 6AM and spending the afternoon and evening with the family.

jmeb

I ride C&V around CO, though never in Silverton. Unless you're really fit I think you'd want a compact crank + big cassette or a triple. If you're bringing the mountain bike, I'd opt for singletrack more than road riding. The Colorado trail goes right through there.

icepick_trotsky 

I'm taking the Guerciotti for Mt. Evans next month. I'll let you know if I survive.

CliffordK

I rode my C&V over hills and mountains before it became vintage.
Would anything have changed now, other than becoming vintage myself?

I do prefer good roads, but have been relaxing a bit now that the old sewups have been put away.

calamarichris

Rode my '86 Schwinn Peloton up the beautiful new Pikes Peak Road (asphalt all the way to the summit now) two Julys ago. Once you get a little over 12,000 feet, your lips & fingernails turn blue from lack of oxygen, and it gets harrrd on the steep parts. Pretty sure I got over 60mph on the way back down, but I forgot to turn my Garmin back on. Alas.







Also hiked up the Barr Trail the day before while I was waiting for my bike to arrive.




Ouray and the Million Dollar Highway are definitely worth checking out.

USAZorro

Beware of goathead thorns. More of an issue off-road, but they are exceptionally annoying.

Flyboy718

Holy Crap Bat Man!! That really really sucks about the Garmin.

calamarichris

Truly. Been trying for years to break 60, and have gotten up to 58 three times. Sigh.

BlueDevil63 

As mentioned previously Silverton is a one road town (the 550) and both ways are UP, either over Molas pass or Red Mountain pass. Depends on how strong you are. If you are coming from Texas be sure you are ready for the elevation and UV exposure. 550 is reasonably safely rideable in most place but I would not ride over Red Mountain pass all the way to Ouray. As you get to Ouray the road is narrow with steep, unprotected drop offs and if it has been raining like it has lately there will be rocks on the road. I don't even like to drive that road.

verktyg 

The altitude of Silverton, CO is 9,300 feet (Durango is 6,500 feet).

Used to ride the Iron Horse race during the 70's (1975 to 1978), 47 miles, Durango to Silverton. The race is against the Durango to Silverton narrow gage train. Two steep passes: Coal Bank Pass - 10,660 feet and Molas Pass - 10,899 feet.

Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Official Website - Durango, Colorado

I lived at 6,500 feet in New Mexico and was used to riding the high country so the altitude was no problem for me. I'd recommend starting off on easy rides at first.

Some people suffer from hyperventilation syndrome due to the high altitude - the feeling of being out of breath and gasping for air. It's caused by a temporary imbalance of CO2 in your blood. The treatment is simple - put a paper bag over your head and re-breath CO2 for a few minutes!

At 9,000 feet a few people get altitude sickness but that's different. The cure is to go down to a lower altitude.

I've encountered snow flurries just about every time I went over those passes, even in the middle of summer. The weather can change drastically in a short amount of time so take along some warm clothes (wool jersey, wind breaker, tights).

The humidity is low in the summer so drink lots of water. Also at that altitude it's easy to get sunburned so use adequate sun screen.

One last thing, the train ride through the Animas River gorge between Durango and Silverton or viceversa is spectacular. Take the train one way and return by bus.

Official Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train


verktyg

Chas.

Chuckk

Think about following them downhill. Maybe put some double pivot brakes on for the ride.
My experience with going from Austin (700') to anything around 1 mile is that what you think is cardiovascular fitness - ISN'T!

arex

Be supremely aware of the altitude and the sun. The air's a lot thinner than you think, and the sun will burn you in a short period of time.

jmeb

If you're not above shuttling...looks to be some great single track off of Coal Bank Pass. For example: Tour de Engineer Mountain Bike Trail, Silverton, Colorado

Pemetic2006

Might be a bit early in the season, but if it's not thunderstorms are a likely occurence.