Ran into a black bear this morning on Santa Fe trail just a bit south of the I-25 bridge construction. Entered the trailhead by Criterium Bike Shop and was heading south, went under the I-25 underpass and over that patch of loose gravel (for those familiar with the area). A bit ahead rounded a turn and there it was, about 50 yds in front of me in the middle of the trail.

I jammed on my disc brakes, skidded some and came to a halt but the bear didn't seem to care. Contrary to all "expert" advice, I turned my bike around and clipped to start heading back, and the "clicking" sound made the bear's ears go up, raised his head and looked at me. I thought, "Oh, this isn't good", but the bear hesitated while I started my way back on the trail and then it took off in the opposite direction.

I now have second thoughts about riding that trail (or any other trail here in Colorado Springs) alone and that early in the morning (it was about 6a). I moved here from NY about 3 months ago, and I've been talking to people and reading up on the topic, and most people assured me that I wouldn't see a bear that deep into Colorado Springs. Now I know that they can be just about anywhere and I worry that I run into another one. At 20mph on a trail... rounding a curve and coming face to face with a bear... that's not my idea of a nice commute.

GreenAnvil