So since the Springs area guys normally do a solstice ride every year I figure we can call it something a bit different this year. So I'm thinking if the world does not end in the morning then we should be riding at night. I figure we should do the Monument thing again since that seems to work for both the north and south folks. So how about it? Who is in?
So since the Springs area guys normally do a solstice ride every year I figure we can call it something a bit different this year. So I'm thinking if the world does not end in the morning then we should be riding at night. I figure we should do the Monument thing again since that seems to work for both the north and south folks. So how about it? Who is in?
I still like the term "Solstice Ride" but I'm willing to ride like the world is going to end. Either way, I think it calls for a virgin sacrifice and lots of whiskey consumption. We can either celebrate the days getting longer, or the last day before they get really short so we should celebrate regardless!
I'm in for Monument and I'm REALLY hoping that we need snow shoes this year like we did last year. That being said, I'm willing to bet that we'll be on bikes with the way this winter seems to be going. Let's keep the ride on the front side of the mountain if that's ok with everyone.
Meet at the Mt Herman Preserve trailhead at the corner of Mt. Herman Rd and Nursery Rd. Traffic on I-25 north SUCKS on Friday evenings so expect the drive to take longer than normal. Do we want to meet at 6:00, or 6:30 for the Denver people?
For those in the Denver area - we are looking at doing one at Bear Creek Lake Park - starting at 7:30 from the lot across from Conoco. Fat bikes and cross bikes are certainly welcome.
You are right about BCLP - it closes at 6 (and they have a Winter Solstice Hike that evening, which we don't want to disrupt). Any suggestions on a destination?
You are right about BCLP - it closes at 6 (and they have a Winter Solstice Hike that evening, which we don't want to disrupt). Any suggestions on a destination?
Denver area has 2 options - Green Mt (open till 10pm) & Buffalo Crik (24/7).
CS ain't got no stinkin' rules, so go south young man!
Sooo...
If the world ends on the 21st, wouldn't you want to be riding on the 20th...maybe park it up on a hill somewhere w/ a good vantage point to watch 12am roll around, and the world melt down?
Naysayers never apologize. Critics go to their grave thinking everyone else is wrong.
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Sooo...
If the world ends on the 21st, wouldn't you want to be riding on the 20th...maybe park it up on a hill somewhere w/ a good vantage point to watch 12am roll around, and the world melt down?
Meet at the Mt Herman Preserve trailhead at the corner of Mt. Herman Rd and Nursery Rd. Traffic on I-25 north SUCKS on Friday evenings so expect the drive to take longer than normal. Do we want to meet at 6:00, or 6:30 for the Denver people?
I'm going to try to make it. 6:30 would make the chances better for me. Summer conditions in the Preserve today...
It's in Monument--about 35 minutes south of the Tech Center. I'm sitting at the trailhead now in fact waiting for joe. We're going to scout out conditions today. Looks like a thin cover of snow on the ground but I don't know how the trails are yet. I think they should be good! I hoe you can make it Jay!
It's in Monument--about 35 minutes south of the Tech Center. I'm sitting at the trailhead now in fact waiting for joe. We're going to scout out conditions today. Looks like a thin cover of snow on the ground but I don't know how the trails are yet. I think they should be good! I hoe you can make it Jay!
Kristian, how were conditions today? After working all night, I could use a little spin if things aren't too sloppy.
Going out of town again...that's two weeks in a row ..and I'll be getting my Amoebas this week so double Booo!!
Have fun guys..I might have to do a Tuesday night ride so I can try out my new lights. If anyone is interested in a Stratton OS night ride, let me know.
Brad, the conditions are pretty good for having that much snow still on the ground, we made it up to the memorial with no problem but once we got on pearl up to chub rock I had no choice but to walk my single speed. The snow was in good shape, kinda like grapple, crunchy and lightly packed, hardest part is the horses have chuncked holes in the snow which makes it bumpy, but for the most part I would say conditions are perfect, hope to see you Friday
Couple inches of snow could get interesting. I have not ridden up there in so long it will be nice to ride in Mo Town again.
If we get the 7" that the weather guessers are guessing on Wednesday, it will make Mt. Herman very difficult. Worst case scenario, we climb up the road and then ride down the trails. Stay tuned I guess...
I haven't posted up that I am out for the Solstice ride this year. Have a concert to go to in Denver. Hopefully conditions hold out or we get some good snowshoeing weather.
BikesBoardsBrews - Come on out! I will have a light for you.
Anybody else thinking about coming out but needs a light, let me know. I am going to bring some extra lights down with me.
What is the weather looking like down that way? We FIFO'd Chimney Gulch this morning. About an inch when we started and out tracks were totally covered on the way back down.
What is the weather looking like down that way? We FIFO'd Chimney Gulch this morning. About an inch when we started and out tracks were totally covered on the way back down.
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It's only snowing sideways so all of the snow is heading for Pueblo .
Seriously though, we have about an inch here on the north side of COS, so there is probably a little more than that in Monument. We'll have to play this ride by ear--if they get 5-6" of snow it might be a little difficult to pull this off.
Jay, I still haven't made it to the post office. Since you're going to be down here Friday, I'll just bring it with. Sorry for being a slacker!
It's currently windy and snowing in Monument right next to the Preserve. Maybe 2" so far, but hard to tell due to the blowing/drifting. I'll post an update later today. Good thing I prepped my snow bike last week. :-)
Down at my place down by the canyon there is only a small dusting, just enough for you to leave tracks in but not enough to measure by the rule of guess.
You should have been there last winter Solstice. There was a good 15" of snow in the preserve and we went "freeshoeing" off of Black Pearl in the direction of HZ. I have never contemplated shoeing on terrain that steep before. It was off the charts!
I don't think we're going to have anywhere near that much snow this time so I'm guessing that this will be a bike ride Solstice....now what bike should I bring.....
Wow we only got a dusting down here. Went for a hike with the dogs in the open space and half of the trails all the snow blew off of them already. Not sure about up higher though. Any idea if it is going to melt off any by friday eve?
The forecast is for clear skies and above freezing temps the next two days, so it looks like we'll get some decent melting between now and Friday evening. It could be just perfect or it could be crappy refrozen footprints.
I am going to WP on Friday. If I get back in time to make it down there, I will but I kinda doubt it. I'll text K or Joe fri eve if I am coming. If not, have fun!
Actually had a crash and F'd up my shoulder on a night ride last month, the shoulder is better but the rear shock on the bike also blew on the ride so no MB since. Funny cause I blew the primary shock for the bike while out in CA at Mammoth over the summer, then the backup blew on that ride.
Took it as a sign I'm ready for something diff, it's in the works hopefully by next week
Hey did you ever find an alternative helmet mount aside from the velcro? I'm getting a new helmet and will need something.
Is winterpark ski bike friendly? I really want to ride one of those things I see them and every year I say i need to do that but I dont want to be "that guy". So I am thinking that there needs to be a ski bike day as a group if we can find a place that rents them and a friendly resort. I think it would be a blast!!
take exit 161 and go West on 2nd St. Make a left on Mitchell Ave and a right on Mt. Herman Rd. Follow Mt. Herman Rd. onto the dirt and make a right on Red Rocks Dr. The parking/turn-around is on your right.
Not quite, we usually meet at the first parking lot on the left which is the corner or Mount Herman Rd. and Nursery. About 2 miles up the road from Mitchell, easy to see.
Expect to have a snow tonight people, from watching a friends video from Wed. it looks like 6" in places, should be a good time
BikesBoardsBrews - Come on out! I will have a light for you.
Anybody else thinking about coming out but needs a light, let me know. I am going to bring some extra lights down with me.
What is the weather looking like down that way? We FIFO'd Chimney Gulch this morning. About an inch when we started and out tracks were totally covered on the way back down.
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I really wish I could but I can't make this one...soon though...soon. Thanks for the offer though.
Not sure if I can make it tonight, got out in the Preserve late morning though. Very ridable, CCW lap out of the parking lot, up Cool Runnings (the new way, thanks Joe), over Flow Dog and down 715. Was on 20psi 2.4 Wolverine 26ers, someone with a bit more tire and better "rotating in unconsolidated snow" skills could clean that loop tonight.
Very few places where it was drifted more than 4-5", and mostly ridable 2-3 inches on hiker tracks. As typical, it was easier to ride where no-one hiked it yet, but hard to find much that hasn't been used so let the air out of those tires and prepare to rotate a bit.
Gratuitus snow bike shot attached. Have fun if I don't see you folks,
Jon
Yep, running 650's on the Jamis for non-snow rides, I just have the 26ers with beefy tires laying around so might as well put the slush/snow/wet miles on the older gear. That Jamis fits 2.3's in 650b easy, and would likely hold 2.4's. Just a heavier frame, but a nice All Mountain mule trail/flow dog ride.
That's what I'm saying... Any feedback on how the fatties rode?
Yeah, I kinda like fatties... Seriously though, it was just like riding a freeride bike. Lines were totally irrelevant--you could ride WHEREVER you wanted. I found difficulty going through fresh drifts deeper than 12" but otherwise it would ride right through (over) anything. (mind you that the snow wasn't really fresh as it had two days to set up). The Pugsley rallied the corners right up until the point where it didn't, but that point of slide was way more aggressive than any other bke I've ever ridden on snow. riding flat pedals was nice for sure. I would like to ride a more downhill oriented trail on it.
There were only a few climbs that I didn't clean. Climbing was definitely a strong suit for the wide tires. That being said, that's where the other half of the freeride analogy comes in--it sucked to climb on a 38ish pound bike with a 1x9. I had intentions of taking it out again for some more miles this morning before returning it but I was so worked over from last night that stayed in bed. I would never consider owning one of these bikes without a granny.
I do want a fattie now, and it will probably be my next bike. Im a little concerned that I'llbe at the back of the pack when I ride it though unless a few more of you guys jump on the bandwagon with me. Still, it's impossible to deny the perema-grin I had riding it--it was totally my kind of bike. I'm also kinda thinking about how strong riding one of those all winter would make my legs for summer riding. It seems like a really nice way to spend the winter months.
Serious props to The Hub for renting us the fatties. If anyone else in the Springs is "fat curious", give them a call and set up a rental for yourself. I had a laugh when I picked mine up and learned that Tennubs had the same devious plan as I did.
Was a great ride with perfect conditions and cool peeps. Was good to see some old friends and make some new ones. There was a bunch of you guys that couldn't make that I missed seeing also, next time
Ummm - perhaps rephrase the question...we are wondering where the tights came from and want a story.... (nice work carving the Preserve with the gang today while I sniffled about my shoulder).
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Originally Posted by hitechredneck
..and I'll be getting my Amoebas this week so double Booo!!
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