Originally Posted by
Seattle Forrest
Thanks for the reply. Unless I'm confused, you live in Colorado, right? Mountains are definitely their own thing...
It sounds like I mostly do the same type of research that you do, to get ready for a ride. This part, though, I can usually find out the basics by talking to hikers, lurking on hiking/cragging forums, and stuff like that. Enough that I don't worry about it, anyway, and chalk up surprises to part of the adventure.
Yep, CO. Mountains are definitely different beasts depending on the season. However the planning isn't too different for the rural flatland routes I take. I hit the farmlands solo a lot and for really lengthy unexplored rides I still like to do the prep to see where and for how long the pavement ends. I'm not adverse to dirt sections on the road bike but 70miles in I'd rather avoid a 20mile section of washboards...
Oh, and for the record I LOVE paper maps. Goog Sat just happens to give a good visual of what many maps miss.