tsl

Hey, DF!

Any chance of negotiating a group rate with that motor inn you mentioned, and perhaps getting us a block of rooms on the ground floor (for easier roll-in, roll-out, and to facilitate off-bike mingling)? I don't know if "family-owned" will make it easier or harder in negotiating.

This past summer in Loveland, they negotiated a group rate at a regular hotel, and most of us had rooms in the same hallway on the first floor, right off the lobby. Made it real nice and kept the wedding people at bay. (The place specialized in wedding receptions, and there were two that weekend.)

DnvrFox

It's worth a shot, as we get closer to finalizing how many and who.

jppe

Sounds like a great plan Dnvr.

bikinfool

Any singletrack adventures on this trip?

DnvrFox

Fruita, near Grand Junction, is one of the premier MTB places in the country.

https://www.gjmountainbiking.com/

Also, here is a link to 43 MTB trails right near Glenwood Springs.

https://www.wildernet.com/pages/recty...ntain%20Biking

bikinfool

I've ridden a lot of Colorado's singletrack, spent each July there from 2001-2006, that's why I was wondering if there was any singletrack adventures planned for this trip or if it was just riding on pavement...
don't mind bringing two bikes but usually leave the road bike at home when I go to Colorado.

DnvrFox

Well, it is 10 months away. I think just about anything is possible if folks have an interest.

Why not talk it up a bit!

tsl

For those of us who "Ride, Log, Repeat" at BikeJournal.com, I've added this to the BikeJournal Organized Rides for 2009.

Join it here.

Beverly

Thanks. I don't log my mileage on the website but I do use it to keep track of rides I plan to do.

bjjoondo 

LOL, well I'm probably going to be at your "level", I may still be riding a POS Roadmaster Mnt. Sport SX MTB from Wally-Mart and I just started riding a bicycle again a couple of months ago! I figure my wife will be even slower than I as she doesn't get much time to ride. Infact she might just do the Glennwood Canyon Trail (32miles RT) and not the New 88 mile RT trail ride. I'm sure there would be someone who's your speed being that we are all 50+!

DnvrFox

Updated Chart

I am not sure about Colorado Dale, as he had stated he could not make the weekend??

Please advise me gently by PM if I have you in the wrong category. I am also not sure about MUD.

Use ^F5 to be sure you are seeing the latest update.

mud

I have every intention of making the trip. I am not sure about my wife coming along, I'll be coming from the St Louis area.
Mud

DnvrFox

Thanks. I will update as soon as I hear from others I may have wrong.

Bud Bent

My wife and I are planning on being there.

DnvrFox

OK - I will add you.

Road Fan

Tom, if I make the ride, I would probably be riding at that same pace. I'd be glad to hang back with you.

Road Fan

Road Fan

DnverFox, I have some changes.

First, Mrs. Road Fan will not be coming, due to the school year begins right around Labor Day. We can't find out this much in advance what the next school year schedule is. I also haven't gotten confirmation from my cousin. So put me down as 1 in column 1 and 1 in column 2, if you don't mind.

I still hope to come to the ride, but now I have a driving dilemma, since it might be a solo 2-day drive each way. I may have a passenger/co-driver, but it's not settled and it won't be for a while. So I'm glad you marked your first column as you did - I'm 75% positive I'm coming.

I want to add my appreciation and thanks for taking this on. I lead the setup of a Classic and Vintage ride here in Ann Arbor last summer, and it was a lot of time spent to get everyone the information and adjust the plan to accommodate needs and wants, and to ask others to do their various parts of the plan. There were a lot of last minute changes in commitment - luckily it was a local ride, so no money issues emerged.

Again thanks! I hope you will find this rewarding, I did!!!!

Road Fan

Retro Grouch 

Sounds like fun but the Grouch is going to take a pass.

That's our wedding anniversary (46th) and driving that far with Mrs. Grouch for the weekend sounds like a bit much.

Digital Gee

I'd like to be added to the list as 2 maybes, please. Thanks!

DnvrFox

Thanks, Road Fan. One of my hopes is to keep this relatively simple, and not too much work for anyone. The easiest thing to do would be to simply state "The Annual Ride will be . . . " and make your own arrangements then show up or not. From there on it can get as complicated as one might like. I don't want to get much more complicated than it is right now.

Also, I believe that there are folks herein who would willingly help with other arrangements, such as the group motel arrangements (if any) and a dinner (again, if any). So, I will likely be calling on volunteers to assist down the line. In my music singing group, if no one volunteers, it just doesn't happen!!

Changes Done

donheff

Does Amtrak welcome bikes? How close is Grand Junction to Glenwood Springs?

Dnvr -- you could put me down as a very tentative possible for two people. It sounds tempting and the 31st is my birthday

DnvrFox

The Amtrak stops right in the middle of Glenwood Springs.

tsl is going further to Grand Junction because he wants to ride the exciting and challenging Colorado Monument.

DnvrFox

According to tsl, Amtrak is very bike friendly, and only soemting like $5 more for the bike, and $15 for the bike box, as I recall.

He posted this somewhere in the "ride" thread.

tsl

Correct.

1. Take your bike to the station along with a 5mm and a pedal wrench.
2. Buy their bike box for $15. DO NOT use an airline box. That makes it too heavy and they'll reject it. (I know this from experience.) You could use an LBS cardboard bike box, but they're smaller and require a ton of disassembly.
3. Remove the pedals, clip them to your shoes.
4. Loosen the headset, turn sideways and re-tighten.
5. Roll the bike into the box and tape it shut. (They supply the tape too.)
6. Label the box, and give it to the friendly baggage agent. (They'll lend you a marker.)
7. Pay $5 for the checked-baggage fee. All checked bags are $5. Like all checked baggage, it was checked through to my final destination. I didn't have to mess with it at all when I changed trains in Chicago.
8. At your destination, ask if they'll save your box for you to use on the return trip. They did for me.
9. At your home station, ask them to keep the box and give it to someone who can't afford one.

Optional:

• You can buy up to $2,500 insurance.
• I left my rack and trunk bag on the bike. I put my tools and shoes inside the trunk bag and bungeed my helmet to it. I even left on my pump, lights, battery packs, and bottles (empty) in the cages.

The Amtrak baggage handlers are very good with bikes. It was loaded on the cart by hand, which was wheeled out to the train and loaded in the baggage car by hand. (I got to see inside the baggage car and they're strapped to the wall, standing up on their wheels.) At the other end, they kept the bikes (Note the plural) on the baggage cart until they got the claim-check. Then they handed it to me. No sliding down the baggage chute for bikes!

My bike was ready to ride right out of the station after I reattached my pedals and turned the bars straight. That part was a real treat.

DF is also right about my destination.

I'm coming out a few days early and riding the train 88 miles past Glenwood Springs (GSC) to Grand Junction (GJT). I'll ride there for a few days before riding the bike upriver to GSC. I'll return to ROC from GSC.

The other thing I'll do this time is take a small duffle with carry-on stuff (some clothes, personal care stuff, camera, book) and check my panniers through. I had a few hours to kill between trains and--trust me on this--carrying loaded panniers up the Sears Tower is no picnic.

donheff

Thanks tsl, that sounds pretty easy. We just may do it.