funrover 

enjoy the wonderful weather. Headed out to Dakota Ridge/Matthew Winters/Red Rocks. While I didn't have my "A" game I still had a great time. Conditions were dry and clear the whole way. Grass could use some water.

The climb up




Once on the ridge




Down the Saddle




Back up the saddle

Down again

funrover 

On to Matthews










Some locals hanging out


Darnit, I missed dinner

Rock31

Great pictures that looks like an amazing place for some cycling adventures!

freighttraininguphill

Beautiful scenery Makes me miss mountain biking!

That first steep climb you posted would make me live up to my username more than any I've done so far

What I want to know, should I ever decide to buy another mtb, is if rear suspension is less efficient on climbs. In the '90s it sure was, so I had Rock Shox front suspension on a hardtail bike.

Mr. Beanz

Niiice!

funrover 

They have come a long way on that. Heck if it really bothers you get a rear shock with a lockout. Best of both worlds that way!

freighttraininguphill

Thanks, good to hear Full suspension would be nice on descents.

Another thing I've noticed that's different now is the number of riders who use bar ends. In the '90s lots of riders used them, myself included. Now when I watch footage of mtb races I notice that the majority of pros ride without them. I've also seen plenty of non-race mtb ride videos where riders don't use bar ends. I love my bar ends and have them on both my hybrids. If I get a mtb that will be the first thing that goes on it. I wonder why people don't use them as much anymore?

funrover 

I have bar ends on my SS road bike (Was a Stumpjumper) and on that bike I love the bar ends. With my FS bikes on the riser bars I love them just that way and see no reason to add bar ends. It's a weird but on flat bars I still rock bar ends and on riser bars I don't.

freighttraininguphill

I have a Rockhopper that is too big to ride off road, so I use it on goathead thorn infested roads because of the thick 26x1.95 Specialized Hemispheres. It has riser bars and I use bar ends on it. My Trek 7000 hybrid also has riser bars, and I use bar ends on it. The Sirrus has flat bars. Bar ends on it too

I love climbing, so bar ends make it much better and offer a hand position similar to riding on the brake hoods of my road bike.

CraigB

I'm disappointed in pic #6 in your first post. You always find a way to keep your bike upright in all your shots. What happened to this one?

Beautiful pictures, as always. Yours are among the few that make me want to actually take my bike off road.

iforgotmename

Looks like fun. Great pics as always Rover.

perspiration

This looks awesome! I wish I had actual landscape to ride around in Illinois....

funrover 

HAHAHAHA!! The bike was tired and wanted to rest, it's not easy being upright in every pic hahaha