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Hi all,
So, by some immeasurable luck I will be "stuck" in Colorado next week with a few days to kill (27/08/11-03/08/11).
Now, I remember quite a while back reading an article about microbreweries and awesome singletrack in Colorado but I can't find it anywhere. Does anyone know which issue it was in so I can download the pdf, or have any recommendations for any of the following:
Cheap accom near Boulder/Denver area.
Cheap rental car/vans in same area.
Good bike shop to rent a decent steed from.
Awesome trails to explore.
Friendly locals to show me the way!
Cheers in advance!
(If by any chance anyone else is out riding in Colorado next week and wouldn't mind an extra rider, drop me a line on darrengsteele@gmail.com)
It's a fairly big state - depends how far you want to drive really
MTBR have a sub forum [url= http://forums.mtbr.com/colorado-front-range/ ]dedicated to the front range[/url]
If you fancy driving West a bit Crested Butte should be in perfect condition, further West again Fruita etc will probably be very hot
I think there's some riding in Boulder and it's a nice place to hang out, but for that length of time I'd spend to go to Crusty Butt etc, they are fantastic places.
I went to Breckenridge a few years ago and there was a great local magazine showing all the trails - enough to keep you happy for a couple of weeks.
http://www.gobreck.com/what-to-do/mountain-biking-breckenridge
I think wherever you go the local bike shops should be able to give you info on trails particularly if you rent a bike from them.
Crested Butte is a good 6 hour drive from Boulder. There are some local trails you can ride from your front door. University Cycles in Boulder was a big shop, not sure if they hire but there will be loads out there. Winter Park is closer it's about 2 hours away and there is LOADS there, you could even do a DH half day, the DH's are 20 minutes and are brilliant. Colorado is my favourite place in the World for MTbing! If you need more info feel free to e-mail in profile.
Salida has some awesome trails, the monarch crest route is one of my all time favourites. Awesome. The town is pretty cool and the home to absolute bikes which will, I am sure, help you out with routes and gear. check out the local natural hot springs too.
Crested butte is also good, quite a few routes there.
There's a couple of guide books you'll be able to pick up locally. The altitude might kick a little up on the continental divide.
AHHHH Monarch Crest we did that last summer .. phenomenal but again still a LONG trek from Boulder! It is an awesome trail but it's a good 6 hours if I remember correctly .. did so much riding that summer. Remember the altitude as well, not sure if you've ridden at altitude before. Me and MR MC aclimatised really quickly but my brother went out 6 weeks before me and struggled a lot more.
If you aren't there for long I would suggest the trails around Boulder and heading up to Winter Park. Stay at Winter Park Mountain Lodge (stayed there in winter and micro brewery is ace!).
Just remembered the local Boulder trail is called Marshall Mesa, you also have Nederland which is about 30 minutes drive up the valley however there are buses which have racks on the front to take your bike. Also mayeb 1 hour away was a ride called buffalo Creek.
Buffalo Creek is a mix of wooded singletrack and Utah style slick rock, way better than expected! Mr MC thought it was just following the river.
University cycles in Boulder will rent you a decent bike and point you in the direction of some trails.
They are at the mountain end of Pearl St which is the main shopping street in the town.
Good them and give them a call.
100s of rides in Colorado, my faves were:
Monarch Crest - absolute classic
Golden Gate State Park - superb
Buffalo Creek - great single track
Some photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/collections/72157607781180762/
Best bet would be to hook up with some locals....
crested butte is fantastic but such a trek youd need to spend all your time there.
winter park woodwork
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403 trail in crusty butt
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scenic pass over the divide on the drive to crusty
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monarch crest
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again
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Guys stoppit, it's making me want to go back! Barstewards! 😉
Boulder isn't the greatest in Co. There's some stuff further out past the flat irons direction I think.
Winter Park I liked and plenty to do. Iirc it's 70 odd miles out west. Dead easy to get to really.
I loved Crested Butte. Had my best day ever on a bike (so my best day ever really) riding 503 then 501. This time of year it would be at it's best I'd have thought. You could also stop in past places like Leadville and Vail on the way. CB as a place to hang out is great. Please I wanna go back...
I do love Boulder as a place though it's a real cool place.
It's a real cyclists town. A bike shop on just about every corner.
Im pretty sure I posted on that previous so if you search my posts it shouldn't be hard to find (I'm on the jphone ATM)
I would agree that Crested Butte is the best riding I've ever done, but unless you are willing to drive for 6 hours over there and spend some time then I think it's worth while staying more local. Winter Park is great and only 1 1/2 hours away, or the local stuff. Best bet is to e-mail some of the bike shops and just tag along with some of them. Everyone in Boulder is so friendly..and you certainly won't see a fattie there either, despite colorado having more beer than anywhere else in the US of A!!!!
