Tuesday Ride, Intense Demos this week!

Don't forget, Intense will be at Redstone for this weeks Tuesday ride. The bikes will show up between 4:30 and 5pm. Get there early to grab a bike and get loaded up. We're driving approximately 30 minutes to the Peaceful Valley region of the hills west of the Peak to Peak. Whilst I had originally intended for us to climb Middle St Vrain Rd and descend Buchanan Pass, the plan has changed.

I went out tonight to do some snow/thaw recon west of Peaceful Valley. I rode Sourdough to the Coney Creek Cutoff trail and up to Coney Creek Rd.


Coney Creek Road was it's usual baby head infested jeep road self. Fun for those that like to inflict bumpy pain. Really, though, Coney Creek is a good climb. I was actuallly pretty amazed at how dry it was. The usual super mega water/mud holes were pretty shrivelled up already. Things were looking positive.


Coney Creek road runs up to and abutts the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Basking in the goodness of Sawtooth here. Unbelievable views.



The return trip on Buchanan Pass was rocky. It's not a super long trail, but Buchanan Pass is devillishly technical at the top, with fun high speed sections at the bottom. This is about the only pic I took of the trail. It's rocky.

Another picture of the waterfall, one of the non big mountain money shot views on BP.

All in all, it was a great ride. Took me just about 2 hrs 20 min, but that included a 10 minute snack break at the top. The descent was super fun and completely thawed. We're going to pass on it for the demo ride, though. We'll save this one for next week. I looked at my bike later and it was pretty sloppy. Buchanan Pass is normally a wet ride late in the summer. Today, the areas that are typically wet and muddy were even more so. I've got too much respect for the Intense crew to take all their bikes out and get them muddy before they make it to the next shop!

For this Tuesday's ride, we'll basically be doing an abbreviated version of what we did last week. We won't creep out in the dark, don't worry. Show up at the shop at 5:30 and be ready to ride!

Oh, one last thing. I had one of my most fun test rides ever this week after doing some work on a customer bike. Check it out: I don't think I'd go out on the road with it, but it would be fun as hell to have a trike crit in a feild full of these. I had to try really, really hard to get a wheel off the ground. Talk about Gs!

Another road less traveled

I've had the local map up on the wall at my cube at work all week, knowing I only had a few hours on Sunday morning for a dirt ride all week. I decided on a trail I sort of knew existed but never quite decided to check out.

Oh, yes, I'll be back.

wow, great ride last night

12 crazy folks showed up for what ended up being one hell of a ride. 3+ hours of rocky technical singletrack and bombastic descents. I'd been looking forward to that one for quite a while. Thanks all for coming out. I didn't realize how huge that ride was until this morning when I wanted to stay in bed. Don't forget, next week the Intense demos will be here. Show up well before 5:30 to reserve your rig!

Here's a couple pics from last night:

Tuesday is tomorrow and we're riding!

Tomorrow's Tuesday ride is going to be good. Not only is this one of the longest daylight rides for Tuesday that we'll see all year, I also have a really good loop planned out. If all goes according to plan, it'll be around 2.5 hours, but this will be a LIGHTS MANDATORY ride. I don't plan on riding in the dark, per se, but you never know what will happen and this loop will absolutely suck to ride by Braille. :) Meet up at the shop at 5:30. It'll be about a 30 minute drive.

Also, don't forget that Intense will be here with demo bikes next week for our 7/1 ride!

Here's some teaser shots from last weeks ride.

And a taste of things to come...

Finding the Lost

I don't get lost very often. Occasionally, I might get a bit turned around..

I haven't been this deep into this part of the forest for a while. It's got the usual stuff - some Jeep roads, some singletrack, and even a bit of trail trash. It's that trail trash that I was hoping to find again, as its been years since I'd last seen it, and I wasn't quite sure how to get there...

Climbing through the Aspens.



Desending through the pines.



Reading between the lines.



Found trash.

Intense is coming out for Tuesday Ride 7/1!

I literally just got word that our good buddies at Intense will have the demo van here for our Tuesday Ride on 7/1. We'll be meeting at the bike shop at 5:30. Get here early to get your bike, as they will be first come first serve.

We'll have Spiders, 5.5s, 6.6s, Slopestyles and even the new adjustable travel trailbike (medium only on that trailbike). New trailbike linky here and here.

The schedule I put up a few days ago called for Lion Gulch on 7/1 but we may change that. Any suggestions? Or should we stay the course?

Father's Day & Ride Schedule

Our good buddy Bdiddy was in town visiting from Missoula, MT. Bdiddy was happy to see dry trails and warm temps. The cold and wet Spring hasn't let go it's grips of the Montana mountains yet. We rode bikes.

It's good to see the higher country drying out.

Bdiddy like the threading between trees.

Oh, and it was Father's Day, too! My awesome family decided that it was time for me to kick my old sandals to the curb. New Keen sandals in the house!

They should help with my commute, too.

Last but not least, how about a Tuesday Ride Schedule? The further these dates go out, the more tentative they are. Everything is subject to change, but here's what I'm thinking so far.

Tuesday, 6/17 - Jamestown. Bike shop at 5:30pm/Jamestown post office at 6pm

Tuesday 6/24 - this one is going to be just past the equinox so this will be our best daylight for any Tuesday ride this year. Peaceful Valley it is! Meet at the shop at 5:30. This will be a lights required event. We're going big.

Tuesday 7/1 - Lion Gulch. Bike shop at 5:30/Trailhead at 6pm.

Tuesday 7/8 - Another round at Peaceful Valley. Bike shop at 5:30pm

at the risk of being political...

Obama Pledges Funding for Cycling

CHICAGO, IL (BRAIN)—Barack Obama, in a private 20-minute meeting with members of the Bikes Belong board of directors, told them if he were elected president he would increase funding for cycling and pedestrian projects. And the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee also said he would support Safe Routes to Schools programs.

He also told them he seldom makes promises on what he would do if elected president, but that this was a promise he would keep. Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong, laid out the industry’s position on boosting funding for cycling-related projects and for Safe Routes to Schools at the meeting.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) called the opportunity for industry leaders—both suppliers and retailers—to meet privately with a presidential candidate so early in a campaign for the White House was historic. “It’s important for this industry to understand that it is a force,” said Blumenauer, shortly after Obama left the event.

Stan Day, SRAM’s president, said that Obama “gets it.” He pointed out that Obama understands that bicycles can be part of a solution to issues as diverse as health care, obesity, energy and environmental policy. “He does his homework and he can connect the dots,” he said.

Of the estimated 160 guests who turned out for the event, Day estimated close to 60 represented the bicycle industry ranging from suppliers, retailers and advocates. Among the guests were Greg LeMond and his wife, Kathryn. Obama, in his remarks to the guests, thanked the LeMonds for attending.

Chris Kegel, owner of Wheel & Sprocket, a six-store chain of stores in the greater Milwaukee area, drove to Chicago early Thursday evening to attend the fundraiser at the home of F.K. Day and his wife, Leah. Day is vice-president of SRAM.

“I think it’s very important that we (the bicycle industry) were involved with this type of event,” Kegel said. Kegel added that he personally supports Obama and believes that Obama can help end the partisanship that divides the country.

Chicago retailer, JoAnne McSweeny, owner of Trek Bicycles on Michigan Avenue, said she has followed Obama’s career for years and supports Obama’s run for president. She, like many others, said Obama’s support for cycling is important for the nation’s future.

During a conversational 15-minute speech, Obama poked fun at himself telling the crowd that when he was photographed last weekend riding a bike with his children, he looked like Urkel. For those unfamiliar with Steve Urkel, he was the nerdy, bespectacled semi-hero on the long running sitcom “Family Matters.” The show was centered on an African-American middle class family living in Chicago.

Obama said he had no idea at the time he was riding with his children that he would soon meet with so many members from the industry. However, he pointed out, he knew photographers would be snapping photos of him on his bike, and that he wore his helmet to set an example for the kids.

Tom Petrie, president of Velimpex, who flew to Chicago Thursday afternoon, said he didn’t expect to hear Obama lay out a specific agenda for the bicycle industry. “However, it was refreshing to see somebody trying to unite the country instead of trying to divide it with wedge issues. I find it refreshing and, frankly, necessary,” Petrie said

friday the 13th

Happy Friday the 13th to everyone. Hope everyone gets a little riding in. My good buddies Brian and Bryan are coming up today for some bike riding - can't wait.



Anyway, the main reason for this post. Please note that Redstone Cyclery will be closed Sunday 6/15. I'll be back to regularly scheduled programming next Tues. Have a great weekend!

edit - one more thing to add. Local riding peep and trailworker, Kim, is in the finals to make the Santa Cruz bikes Hellride this year. I don't know too much about it but it looks like fun. Vote for her here and maybe we can have a front ranger on the ride. yeehaw.

edit - check this out. One of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. Got wood?

~dave

thanks for the great Tues ride

It was a typical ride in the backwoods.


You need to work the descents...

To earn the climbs. Then you know you're really riding.

Did a little exploring today

Mondays are my new weekend. It's nice to have a day off after the last several years. I've been spending Monday mornings and lunch doing office stuff and hanging with my girls. Afternoons, then, have been wide open for riding. I've been jonesing to do some exploring for a while. Actually, I've been contemplating this very ride for quite sometime but timing has never worked out until today.

After a big ol' ham and roast beef sammich, I got the Jeep loaded up and I was off. The beginning of the ride went well enough. Much of today's route was on familiar terrain, but I specifically wanted to explore an option that I'd been riding by for a few years. As I climbed, I daydreamed about what this new trail would offer. After the hard technical climbing was behind me and I was on a steep but relatively smooth section something started feeling and sounding a little funky.

I was just riding along :) and my cassette seemed to want to expel a few teeth!




My number 3 cog had exploded into a few pieces but the rest were fine. Unfortunately, though, I couldn't use the 4 cog either because the 3 was bent into it. Never one to let a minor thing like missing gears hold me up, I decided to keep going. It took a little relearning how to shift, but I managed. Missing a couple of cogs is potential chain breakage territory and I wasn't in a mood to have to deal with that. I'm glad I managed. I had asked about this particular trail a few times. Recently, it had been described as the cherry on top of an area that is already ripe with fantastic riding.

Cherry on top, indeed. It was good. There was mellow singletrack thru Aspen groves,

There were a couple of really rocky steeps. I was thinking that this was a Lion Gulch character of a descent.

And there was plenty of water. Water seemed to be the them of the day, as I would cross this drainage back and forth several more times. It was hub deep at times, but clear and calm so as to make riding thru an easy task.

Finally, I came to a junction. One I had seen before on the map, one that I had been told about, and one that I was eagerly anticipating. The map suggested to go left and everyone I talked to indicated that I should go left. I did as any self respecting mountain biker would do, though, and I opted for the singletrack. I knew it would be steep, but I couldn't resist.

The bottom section was surprisingly very rideable, but I was hiking soon. It isn't a real mountainbike ride unless your hiking. This shot somewhat accurately depicts the grade of the hike,
And combined with this one, looking backwards from the same position, shows the hike so far.

really, though, it was tolerable. Only a few hundred feet vertical of hiking and I was back on familiar terrain. Thank goodness. I was starting to get a little tired.

One last section of climbing before the descent to the car. One look back and I was on my way.
There is nothing for me that can touch exploring uncharted territory in the backwoods but it has been a very long time. Today was good. Today was really good.

Hopefully, I'll see a few of you for the ride on Tuesday. It's all familiar enough terrain for me, but hopefully someone will learn something new.

**as a disclaimer, 100% of this ride was mapped and legit. Get a map and start exploring!

Tuesday Ride 6/10

I think we're due for another Raymond expedition, hopefully this time without all of the moisture. Bike shop at 5:30 or the switchback above the Raymond store at 6pm.
Here's a few weekend ride pics to tide you over.




I'm going exploring today. Venturing into unknown terrain is one of my favorite things to do on a mountain bike. Wish me luck!

National Trails Day at Heil a Huge Success!

Saturday, 6/7 was National Trails Day. We had a huge project going in our backyard - the Picture Rock Trail that will connect Lyons with Heil Valley Ranch. Boulder Mountain Bike Alliance partnered with Boulder County Open Space to make sure that we could get as much done as possible. The last week here saw a flurry of activity as corridors were aligned and flags were set and reset to yield the trail with the most flow possible. When Saturday AM rolled around, over 220 volunteers showed up to work. The Boulder County Horsemen's Association kicked in breakfast burritos and donuts, and REI handed out tech t's to all volunteers. We were on our way.

I was in the last crew to go up the hill, so our crew was working closest to Lyons. And I mean close. We started right at the edge of the Olson Property. This view is looking to the south right as you get on the trail.


After working several hours, I got into the brown bag lunch that was provided. Yum. PB&J, carrots, and an apple. That's about as good of trail food as I've had in a long time.

Since I was lunch breaking, and our section was 95% complete I started hiking to the south. The trail meanders thru open meadows and up onto the hillside before sneaking into the trees.

There will be some fast open sections

and a few fun curvy sections with natural chokes built in.

After the work day was over, it was party time. The trail crews finished all of their work earlier than expected so that left the lunch crew scrambling to get things together for folks. The post work feedathon was very graciously provided by our good friends at Oskar Blues. Here is the man himself throwing down on the grill. It's hard to keep up when you've got 225 hungry volunteers but Dale is always smiling.

Chris too. Here, he displays that he really is THE man when it comes to throwing the party.


The line to eat seemed never ending. At least the Dales Pale Ale was flowing like water. I believe that 3-4 kegs were consumed.

And here is why Chris is the man. The finely tuned art of Beer Can Chicken.

Mark seemed happy as he staggered out of the bus.

And perhaps happiest of all was MtbMike, the president of Boulder Mountainbike Alliance.

Why was he so happy? Because we got 8400 linear feet of trail built, that's why! Where we ended up yesterday, you could see the other section of completed trail across the valley. We're left with only 1200' left to build. The time frame on trail completion got bumped back up to late August/Early Sept. There are still several structures that need to be built - retaining walls and such, but we'll be riding this trail before the snow falls!

I think that calls for celebration, don't you?