I don't know what the criteria for a deathmarch is...all I know is I felt dead after this march. Oh, and it didn't help much bashing my head against a tree(sorry MGE, I can't plow over trees like you ) skidding off trail taking a blind corner going too fast. That almost made it a deathmarch. Luckily the bike took the brunt of the impact buy my helmet absorbed some good impact too.
My friend Kedith wanted to get in a good workout today so I decided to take him to the place the always kicks my behind real good everytime. I've done this trail a million different ways and decided to change it up a bit again to get maximum elevation gain. Started at CR5 to 800,down to the house by the dam, up to Lenny's rest and up the ridge, down to Steven's Gulch, up eastside of Steven's, down west side of Steven's,up 800 to the trailhead and then up to Ringtail and down to Roxy Park. In the end he got more then he bargained for. 7.4 hrs total and 5.1 hrs saddle time.
I don't know if 31.9 mi is long enough for a deathmarch, but when you've gained approx. 12,853 ft, it ain't no walk in the park. Just for comparison, the standard lollipop loop starting at Waterton is 28.3 mi, 5300 ft elev. gain, which is an exhausting ride itself. http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/8415838
BTW, pics can never do this place justice. Sorry to sound cheesy, but the tight twisty narrow singletrack, densely covered forest, lush green meadows, gentle flowing creeks, views of in the distance, and the feeling of total remoteness is pure mountainbiking bliss. Even the head crash on the finish down Ringtail can't wipe the silly a$$ grin off my face.
That was quite a ride you took! No wonder you were exhausted. Great pics, too. I rode the traditional Indian Creek Loop with friends on Sunday. The weather was cloudy and cool, but we managed not to get rained on, despite showers in the area (and tornadoes in Denver). Not many horses on the trail, either, despite lots of trailers in the parking lot.
Max speed 48.8 - holy schnikees
Great pics - I have to add that one to my list ... though I may just do the "regular loop". 12K+ ' gain is a bit much for me.
“Me fail english? Thats unpossible.” - Matt Groening
I've ridden back there alot and a couple of those pics i don't recognize. the old cabins by the rock? Is that a new bridge? Give it up Ko pm me! Maybe that is off cr5. I haven't come in that way before. Solid ride. sweet pics, thanks.
I've ridden back there alot and a couple of those pics i don't recognize. the old cabins by the rock? Is that a new bridge? Give it up Ko pm me! Maybe that is off cr5. I haven't come in that way before. Solid ride. sweet pics, thanks.
CR6>TR800>Roxy>CT>Lenny's Rest>the Ridge>down Steven Gulch>up Steven's Gulch>down Steven's Gulch>Indian Creek to IC TH>Up to Ringtail>Ringtail to Roxborough Park>
Just download to your GPS from his MotionBased post.
Max speed 48.8 - holy schnikees
Great pics - I have to add that one to my list ... though I may just do the "regular loop". 12K+ ' gain is a bit much for me.
Would've hit 50 had not been for the tree. Did you see my max elevation gain. 2,263 ft. in one minute. I had no clue I was that good.
Would've hit 50 had not been for the tree. Did you see my max elevation gain. 2,263 ft. in one minute. I had no clue I was that good.
Sorry MGE no pics, helmet still in tact.
MGE and I experienced some GPS strangeness at 3 Sisters 2 weeks ago - his Garmin said we hit 45+, mine said 28 (I'm certain his was correct ). I've also noticed consistent discrepancies with regard to mileage / elevation between the figures uploaded to Motionbased and those found in the Garmin "Training Center" on my desktop.
That's a great loop, BTW. I ride back there pretty regularly and it hadn't even crossed my mind to go that route, it's usually just a Lenny's / BC / Ringtail loop clockwise or counter.
MGE and I experienced some GPS strangeness at 3 Sisters 2 weeks ago - his Garmin said we hit 45+, mine said 28 (I'm certain his was correct ). I've also noticed consistent discrepancies with regard to mileage / elevation between the figures uploaded to Motionbased and those found in the Garmin "Training Center" on my desktop.
In other words GPS is like any other crappy high tech gadget. Don't trust it for the truth.
In other words GPS is like any other crappy high tech gadget. Don't trust it for the truth.
My favorite was the Google earth placemark that was sent to a couple friends that made it appear I'd been cutting big sections of trail (straight lines between switchbacks) when you zoomed in.
The out and backs where I gain 2k feet, but only descend 1200 feet are cool too...
Any ride in which you gain more than 10K in 30-ish miles counts as a deathmarch. Well done!
I'd believe it if they climbed from Denver to the top of Mt. Evans. This ride, which looks super awesome BTW, is only about 6,500 vertical in those 30 miles. A great ride, but not over 10k of climbing.
Those photos are awesome. They make me rethink my plans to ride in Breck this weekend.
I'd believe it if they climbed from Denver to the top of Mt. Evans. This ride, which looks super awesome BTW, is only about 6,500 vertical in those 30 miles. A great ride, but not over 10k of climbing.
Those photos are awesome. They make me rethink my plans to ride in Breck this weekend.
Shhhhh. Just let me feel like a stud. That hit on the head must've affected my Garmin too. Looking at the data, I think you're pretty close on the vertical gain, mileage wise is pretty accurate though. Just checked my Garmin training center and it said 10,500, which is why my max vertical was 2,200ft.+, which is about the difference between motionbased and training center. Still though, that was quite a sufferfest.
Godzilla-I thought I was the only one cutting trail on the switchbacks . The reason for that I think is because the GPS tracks points every 5 seconds. Going up, it looks like I'm right on trail, but when descending at a higher speed like say 48.8mph, it makes you look like public enemy #1 to the trail nazis.
I'd believe it if they climbed from Denver to the top of Mt. Evans. This ride, which looks super awesome BTW, is only about 6,500 vertical in those 30 miles. A great ride, but not over 10k of climbing.
Is that cumulative?
I rode to the Platte and back via Waterton with DWF and Funkmaster a few weeks ago, and my Forerunner 205 showed a cumulative gain of 10,706 - I thought at the time that it seemed a bit optimistic, but the numbers have been roughly consistent with other rides I've done since.
Originally Posted by kosayno
Godzilla-I thought I was the only one cutting trail on the switchbacks . The reason for that I think is because the GPS tracks points every 5 seconds. Going up, it looks like I'm right on trail, but when descending at a higher speed like say 48.8mph, it makes you look like public enemy #1 to the trail nazis.
Aha - that explains a lot, I didn't realize it took reading every 5 seconds.
CR6>TR800>Roxy>CT>Lenny's Rest>the Ridge>down Steven Gulch>up Steven's Gulch>down Steven's Gulch>Indian Creek to IC TH>Up to Ringtail>Ringtail to Roxborough Park>
Just download to your GPS from his MotionBased post.
schnauzers, Ive ridden all of the above mentioned routes several variations, but not the part off of cr 5. thanks though. Thanks for the pm ko. It has been a while since we've rode! Yah i was kinda scratchin my bald head wondering how you came up with 12,800 some odd elevation gain. we've done some epics out there and haven't come close to that kind of gain! The unsigned stevens is the $hit!!
It most definitely is! Although, with so much good DH stuff in there, I prefer to use go up rather than down. Besides the steep beginning and end, it's a nice a mellow climb and I just enjoy the scenery. The "marked" Stevens Gulch, now that is some effin scary fast fun stuff along with the the descent down Steven''s from the intersection coming down after the ridge.
Skared-I highly value you opinion, please reconsider your updated rating. Afterall, I did have a booboo on my head, along with tree sap stuck in my hair and I woke up with sore neck and shoulders. Thank you
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Skared-I highly value you opinion, please reconsider your updated rating. Afterall, I did have a booboo on my head, along with tree sap stuck in my hair and I woke up with sore neck and shoulders. Thank you
I rode to the Platte and back via Waterton with DWF and Funkmaster a few weeks ago, and my Forerunner 205 showed a cumulative gain of 10,706 - I thought at the time that it seemed a bit optimistic, but the numbers have been roughly consistent with other rides I've done since.
We did Waterton to 126 and back last weekend and got ~8600ft via Topofusion. (Actually, we turned around about a mile short of 126, but, whatever.)
The newer Garmin's can be set to record either every second, or only when a change in direction, elevation, or speed occurs. They call it "Smart Recording". Is that not an option on the Forerunner 205?
We did Waterton to 126 and back last weekend and got ~8600ft via Topofusion. (Actually, we turned around about a mile short of 126, but, whatever.)
The newer Garmin's can be set to record either every second, or only when a change in direction, elevation, or speed occurs. They call it "Smart Recording". Is that not an option on the Forerunner 205?
We saw you guys....twice
JJ and I rode from the buff creek ranger station via Shinglemill/CT to Lenny's and back via CT/Buff Burn/CT/Shinglemill = ~9,700 ft. total on the GPS unit, and as usual TopoFusion bumped it to over 10,500 ft. which is I believe an exaggeration.
Our intent was to include the Indian Creek Loop but we ran out of time and maybe even energy
The horse people were super nice on the way out, and despite the seemingly endless train of them we only had to stop for a total of ~4 mins. to accommodate all of them. Not a big deal and the trail was not damaged at all.
The "marked" Stevens Gulch, now that is some effin scary fast fun stuff along with the the descent down Steven''s from the intersection coming down after the ridge.
I almost killed myself there last night. Lost a pedal coming off a root but found it again with my shin and by then I was in that damn rut bouncing off roots & rocks @ 20+ mph.
A man must have enemies and places he is not welcome. In the end we are not only defined by our friends but those against us.
I rode to the Platte and back via Waterton with DWF and Funkmaster a few weeks ago, and my Forerunner 205 showed a cumulative gain of 10,706 - I thought at the time that it seemed a bit optimistic, but the numbers have been roughly consistent with other rides I've done since.
Aha - that explains a lot, I didn't realize it took reading every 5 seconds.
I thought cumulative on that was 9.8K according to your 205? If you plot just the major ups & downs using Google Earth it's around 6K.
A man must have enemies and places he is not welcome. In the end we are not only defined by our friends but those against us.
I almost killed myself there last night. Lost a pedal coming off a root but found it again with my shin and by then I was in that damn rut bouncing off roots & rocks @ 20+ mph.
Sounds like you were coming down just after the ridge. This was my first time coming off the top of Steven's from 800. Halfway down the descent the trail turned into a stinkin creek with all the runoff and mud. One of these days we're gonna eventually cross paths.
I thought cumulative on that was 9.8K according to your 205? If you plot just the major ups & downs using Google Earth it's around 6K.
According to official Colorado Trail figures, Waterton to the Platte is 2,338, so an out and back should be approx. 4,676. So that's a little less than half of your 9.8k. My loop said 12.8k, but only approx. 6.5k if you count using the elevation profile. I'm thinking that I need to take the figures and divide them roughly in half on every ride.
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) skidding off trail taking a blind corner going too fast. That almost made it a deathmarch. Luckily the bike took the brunt of the impact buy my helmet absorbed some good impact too.
Even the head crash on the finish down Ringtail can't wipe the silly a$$ grin off my face.
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Originally Posted by PBR me!
Did you see my max elevation gain. 2,263 ft. in one minute.
The unsigned stevens is the $hit!!
