Cycling Guide by Colorado Mountain News Media

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so you can go beyond! 800-645-5886 578 Highway 6 and 50 Grand Junction, CO Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5:30pm Sat: 8:30am-5:00pm

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CYCLING GUIDE 2012

INSIDE IN THIS ISSUE

TRAIL RIDES

04 06 08

32 34 36

10 12 13 14 16 23 28 30 38

Happy Trails The Immaculate Double Growing Local Cycling Scene Ride Palisade GJ Junk Ride Run with the 'Rats' Cycling Lingo Kids' Ride Event Calendar Singletrack Sisters Training Your Weakness Grand Valley Bikes

Lunch Loop Area 18 Roads Area Kokopelli’s Loop Area

in the Vines

ROAD RIDES 18 19 20 21 22

Colorado National Monument 30-Mile Route 50-Mile Route 100-Mile Route Rose Hill Rally

BIG THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTORS: Brent Steinberg, LTR Sports; Sarah Mah and David Withers, Desert RAT Tours; Ryan Cranston, Ruby Canyon Cycles; Carrie Calvin, graphic design; Kristina Kittelson; Dr. Richard Price; Sharon Sullivan, Free Press staff writer; Scott Winans, COPMOBA/ co-owner Rapid Creek Cycles EDITOR Tracy Dvorak ACCOUNT MANAGERS Linda Findley, Tamara Morris DESIGNER Louie J. Atencio

After a long day in the saddle, let us pamper you with a laid back atmosphere in the middle of working vineyards. Deluxe breakfast, complimentary afternoon wine tasting, pool or jacuzzi, cocktails and dinner in the Tapestry Lounge, and cloud soft beds. Secure bike storage and other support services available. 777 Grand River Dr. Palisade, Exit 42

464.5777 www.coloradowinecountryinn.com

Enjoy a taste of Western Colorado

970-243-2200 | 145 N. Fourth St. Grand Junction, CO 81501 Facebook.com/gjfreepress Twitter: @GJFreePress www.gjfreepress.com

ON THE COVER: Jon Rizzo of Grand Junction riding the "Moore Fun" trail Copyright © 2012 Colorado Mountain News Media. at the Kokopelli Loops near Loma. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in Courtesy of part without express written consent is strictly prohibited. Nancy Rizzo

e t i r o v

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Visitor Information

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Large Selection Jams, Jellies, Syrups, Salsa all made from local fruit

• Books and guides on area attractions • Hiking and bicycling trail maps

Fresh Peaches Shipped anywhere in 49 states during the month of August.

• Large variety of trail mixes for energy • Local gifts and souvenirs

Plain Dried Fruit or hand dipped In Milk, Dark or White Chocolate

Two Stores To Serve You 419 Main St Grand Junction 81501 3402 C 1/2 RD East Orchard Mesa 81526 Phone (970) 434-8769 • www.alidasfruits.com

2012 CYCLING GUIDE

COPMOBA

Happy Trails

BY SCOTT WINANS

rails are what make it all work for us bike riders — pick your ﬂavor. Some of us like them broad and rolling, some like ’em tough and technical. However they may stir your appetites, we’re lucky to have the variety that we do. I get to speak for COPMOBA, Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association; perhaps you’ve heard of us or our work. We’re an organization dedicated to creating and maintaining these trails. We’re all volunteer, and consist of members with a broad variety of backgrounds and interests. What brings us together is the common desire to maintain the trails that we already have, and to continue to design, pursue and create new ones. It’s a surprise to some people that these trails aren’t just made by ... somebody else. Let’s see, who would that be? Let me be clear — they don’t just happen on their own. COPMOBA works closely with many partners — public land agencies such as the BLM and Forest Service, local municipalities, businesses, etc., to create as many and as varied an array of new routes as possible. One thing to consider about trail construction is that organization and persistence do matter. The reason that we enjoy a large amount and variety of trails in the area is because we work consistently

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

and in an organized way to make that happen. The mountain bike community has been consistent in that effort, and it pays off. It’s not a quick process most times, as there are many steps and requirements that must be met to get a trail from the idea stage to on the ground. Typically, the planning phase entails more work than the actual construction. This process takes a lot of time and energy, and benefits from the involvement of many COPMOBA members. That is why we’re working to open the doors to anyone interested in creating MTB singletrack trails. We’re holding monthly meetings where you can learn about local activities and add your ideas and efforts to the process. Visit our webpage, www. copmoba.org, for more information. The calendar there lists work activities, meeting dates, and events to take part in.

2011 ACCOMPLISHMENTS The year 2011 saw the completion of several new routes in the valley and the initiation of planning for several others. In Palisade we worked with BLM and the city of Palisade to complete the ﬁrst phase of the Palisade Rim Trail. This route climbs up the bench directly east of Palisade with some stunning views and challenging climbing/tech sections. A second and longer loop will be constructed on the upper bench area this year

to complete that project as the largest new trail addition to the valley in years. The North Fruita Desert received its ﬁrst new mountain bike trail in many years — this one with the funky name of “Down-Uppity.” The town of Fruita realizes the economic beneﬁt that mountain bikers bring to the area and is full steam behind new trail construction — contributing direct funding toward the process via COPMOBA and providing much appreciated support in the whole process.

WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON Several new routes will be started in the North Fruita Desert very soon, with the first one targeted for completion by the end of April for the upcoming Fruita Fat Tire festival. See www. fruitasingletrack.com for a dedicated fundraising effort targeted directly at this trail construction. Another route is planned in a cooperative effort with motorized users higher in the Bookcliffs that will be a rocking multi-use route for some of the more adventurous riders.

Early March this year brought the completion of an extension to the Mack Ridge Trail in the Kokopelli area, with extensive rock work and a bomber turnout of volunteers. And in the Tabeguache area, COPMOBA assisted BLM to complete a connector in the Gunny Loop portion of that trail network. Coming up this year in the Tabeguache area is a big project that we hope you’ve already

heard of — the Three Sisters Project being spearheaded by the Mesa Land Trust (see www. mesalandtrust.org/ThreeSisters. htm). COPMOBA has signed on to design and construct several miles of mostly beginner-oriented singletrack in this new area. All in all, COPMOBA maintains a steady stream of projects in various stages of process so that typically more than one new trail is getting to construction

phase each year. This year already has a few under way, and the thinking and planning phase for the next projects need to begin now. These trails won’t get created without volunteer work. There are many aspects to creating a new trail, and not all of them include digging in the dirt. No matter what your strengths, we’re happy to hear from you if you’re interested in creating mountain

Photos Courtesy | COPMOBA

bike trails. Take the initiative, join COPMOBA, and add your eﬀorts to the process.

See you out on the trail!

Scott Winans is president of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trails Association.

WHETHER YOU MOUNTAIN BIKE OR ROAD BIKE

ALL ROADS SHOULD LEAD TO THE BOARD & BUCKLE

2822 NORTH AVE . MONDAY-FRIDAY 9-6 SATURDAY 9-5 . 242-9285

SERVING THE GRAND VALLEY FOR OVER 40 YEARS 2012 CYCLING GUIDE

The

Immaculate Double A mountain bike can take you on multi-sport adventures BY RYAN CRANSTON

modern mountain bike is an amazing machine that is usually used only for its intended purpose — recreational riding of some sort. Sure, there are the select few people that make a living riding one, or building one, or even selling one, but for the most part bikes exist to be ridden, and that’s what the majority of us do. We ride. We seek out the trail, ride it, and go home. Fun right? Heck yeah, it’s fun, that’s what makes living in Grand Junction so great. But what about using your mountain bike as a recreational means of transportation for another activity? I love mountain biking, and I love backcountry ﬁshing. Why not double up? We live in one of the most incredible places on earth for these types of recreational pursuits and it seems like a crime not to take advantage of them. When a recent Saturday came up that I had no prior commitments, I went for it. The alarm went oﬀ at 6 a.m. I had packed everything the night before, so I threw my Yeti SB-66 onto the

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

Photo Courtesy | Ryan Cranston

rack and headed for the hills. After a quick stop for coffee the mile markers were flying by and before I knew it I was at the trailhead. I was the first one there, and I felt a sense of relief that nobody else was up there catching “my” fish. I activated my SPOT satellite messenger, and jumped on the bike and pedaled into the morning woods. The dew-laden undergrowth immediately started soaking my shoes. I could see my breath in the cold October air. It seemed like I was slipping into a trance as I silently slid through the aspen and spruce trees, acutely aware of all the sounds around me. The dull buzz of rubber knobs on the hard-packed trail, the whir of chain and cassette working in perfect unison, the bugles of rutting bull elk echoing off the cliff bands to the north. Mist was rising off the numerous beaver ponds as I climbed and climbed toward my final destination, a natural lake at close to 11,000 feet in elevation. After seven miles and close to 2,000 feet of climbing, I crested the last climb to the lake and stood up on the pedals for a better view. The ink black water came into sight in front of me. Only the occasional trout rising disturbed the surface. I threw my pack rod together quickly and tied on a black ant pattern. A cruising shadow caught my attention, and I cast 6 feet in front of it. The tiny dimple of the size 18 black ant hitting the water triggered an immediate charge from the 18-inch fish, and it inhaled my fly. After three minutes of intense battle, a gorgeous native Colorado River Cutthroat trout came in to shore. After some admiration, a gentle nudge was all it took to send the fish back to the depths. Three hours later I was still fishing and it was lunch time. I had planned on catching lunch, and bright red trout fillets fit the bill perfectly. After building a quick campfire and adding a dash of salt and pepper, my

mountain lunch was ready. Wow. It’s hard to describe how delicious it was. I was about to settle in for a nap, but a quick glance at the sky revealed changing weather, and the black clouds rolling in from the west indicated the trip was over. The thin jacket I packed would not be enough to withstand a mountain thunderstorm, so I hastily packed up and headed back down the trail toward the truck. My bike felt perfect. The suspension was soaking up the roots and rocks like they didn’t exist. The tires were gripping the damp mountain dirt tenaciously, and my vision narrowed to a small ribbon of single-track twisting downhill in front of me. Even though I was loaded down with a fly rod, wading shoes, and other gear, it felt like I was flying. What took two hours to climb took less than 45 minutes to descend. I was racing the storm. Small raindrops started to hit my face as I hit the last mile of trail and closed in on the perceived safety that the stamped steel and glass would provide. The dirt started to stick to my tires and the noise of debris flinging up and colliding with my frame became louder and louder. The truck came into view just as the clouds opened and unleashed the full fury of a Colorado thunderstorm. I opened up the camper shell, crawled onto the foam sleeping platform and cracked open a post adventure beer as the downpour commenced. Wow, what an incredible day.

BOTTOM LINE:

When your "BOO-BOO" is bigger than the Band-Aid

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970.243.1707

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Ryan Cranston is owner of Ruby Canyon Cycles, located at 301 Main St. in GJ. Reach him at 970-241-0141 or visit www.rubycanyoncycles.com.

Mon - Sat 9am - 6 pm • 970.243.0807 • 10th & North • Grand Junction

www.thebikeshopgj.com

2012 CYCLING GUIDE

How do you stack up? Join Strava BY BRENT STEINBERG

Ever wonder how you stack up to other cyclists through record times, routes, miles and more? There is now an online cycling database where users can download their latest rides into maps, charts and graphs. It’s called Strava (strava.com). Unlike many online applications, Strava builds a community. As a cyclist, you can download your ride from a cycling computer, GPS unit, or phone app into the online database and analyze all your data. Track where you went, your average speed, distance, elevation gain and more. If you like to geek out to data, you will love Strava. Strava is a great online tool for any cyclist. Wondering what a good time is up the Monument or down Holy Cross? On Strava, you can explore segments and see where others have set checkpoints. You can check the leader board to see where your time stands, or get an idea of what a respectable time is based on age, weight and other variables. For cyclists not familiar with the area, or new to cycling, Strava is a great resource for ﬁnding popular rides. A search can be made to ﬁnd routes others have ridden and can even be downloaded to follow in a GPS unit. Cyclists in the Grand Valley should join Strava (basic membership is free) and start sharing your favorite rides, creating new timed segments, and building a database in the Grand Valley. It is a great tool for recreational cyclists, amateur and professionals alike. Who knows, you might be the fastest on a certain segment, or meet a new riding partner via Strava.

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

Photo Courtesy | Livetrainrace.com

Grand Valley

cycling scene

continues to grow

... and grow

BY BRENT STEINBERG

s a professional cyclist and insider in the bicycle industry, I was excited when I found that the Livetrainrace.com Cycling Team shared my vision of strengthening our growing cycling community. We started hosting races and developing the team base in 2009. Since then, we have promoted multiple criterium events for road cyclists, introduced an annual cyclocross series, hosted a road ride for a Fruita festival and much more. Besides hosting events, we took the opportunity to recruit local cyclists and give them support at rides and races through-

out the valley, Colorado, and across the nation. Where there had been a handful of cyclists from the valley at races and events, now there are droves of people joining us on our quest for cycling fun! As a way to educate and grow the sport, the Livetrainrace.com Cycling Team and its sponsors have taken the opportunity to provide free seminars for interested cyclists. Seminars range from an introduction to training, how to become a better and ﬁtter cyclist, hands-on bicycle skills clinics, and even weekly indoor rides at LTR Sports to keep people motivated and in-shape during the winter months. One of the most exciting opportunities I was able to help with in 2011 was

the start-up and growth of the Grand Valley High School mountain bike team. We now have large packs of high school students coming together and spending afternoons on the trails. As a club sport, they have races throughout the fall where they can compete against other high school teams from across the state. It is great to see these young adults enjoying our great trails and growing the cycling community. The 2012 season is going to rock in the Grand Valley! Livetrainrace.com Cycling Team and LTR Sports has been working on bringing new events for all levels of cyclists. Watch for spring road bike criteriums, time trials, hill-climbs, family fun Poker Ride, some unique fall mountain bike races, and our fourth annual Cyclocross Series. You can ﬁnd out more information about 2012 events by visiting the Events tab at

LTRSports.com. See you on the roads or trails soon. I’ll be the one with the smile on my face!

LIVETRAINRACE.COM 2012 EVENTS IN THE GRAND VALLEY April 30 — Rocky Mountain Bicycles DEMO Days May 5 — Rocky Mountain Bicycles DEMO Days

Professional mountain bike racer Brent Steinberg manages LTR Sports, located at 2470 Patterson Road, #3. For more information, call 970-257-7678.

May 12 — Mountain Bike Race, Gunny Enduro, Grand Junction, Colo. May 19 — Urban Poker Ride, Fruita, Colo., Mike the Headless Chicken Festival! May 21 — Rocky Mountain Bicycles DEMO Days Sept. 22 — Mountain Bike Race, Grand Junction, Colo., Team Relay Cross Country, (permit pending) Oct. 6 — Mountain Bike Race, Fruita, Colo., Cross Country, Fall Rumble at 18 Road! Oct. 27 — Cyclocross, Grand Junction, Colo., LTR CX Series Nov. 10 — Cyclocross, Palisade, Colo., LTR CX Series Nov. 24 — Cyclocross, Fruita, Colo., LTR CX Series Dec. 8 — Cyclocross, Grand Junction, Colo., LTR CX Series

2012 CYCLING GUIDE

RIDE PALISADE

Discover the east end of the valley BY SCOTT WINANS

hen we opened Rapid Creek Cycles in Palisade several years ago, we were unaware of many of the existing mountain bike routes in the east valley. Yes, the countryside is gorgeous with the Grand Mesa and the bluff face of the Bookcliffs standing above, orchard trees rustling in the million dollar breezes, and low vineyard rows arcing across the valley floor. What’s been discovered, and developed, in the way of trails, however, is what’s truly been exciting — from a mountain biker’s perspective. And in Palisade you can enjoy some post-ride pleasures that really are found nowhere else in the valley. So let’s get down to what you’ll find in the area. This location provides the perfect opportunity for both long and short routes, taking advantage of terrain that varies from rolling desert singletrack to extended climbs up the adjacent benches and drainages and tech areas to challenge the tricky riders in the crowd. There are three general trail areas — the Bookcliffs north of town, the Mesa flank areas including Rapid and Cottonwood Creek drainages and Palisade Rim, and the Horse Mountain and lower desert area. Few riders know of the access

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

Photos Courtesy | Rapid Creek Cycles

to the Bookcliffs via Coal Canyon road, starting in Cameo, just north of Palisade. A gentle grade climb up the Coal Canyon drainage from the Cameo area takes riders to the rear face of the Bookcliffs, climbing to an overlook immediately above town. From there you can link into the Stagecoach Trail, one of the oldest routes in the valley. This trail offers a rolling and grin-inducing line along the range with views of the Mesa. Further exploring along the

Coal Canyon road to the west is also available, but please honor the areas closed to bikes. To the east, Rapid and Cottonwood Creek drainages access higher elevations and cooler temperatures pretty quickly. Bridging between the upper reaches of these drainages creates an extended non-technical and varied climb and loop. This route is also part of our mountain bike race called the Grand Mesa Grind. The Grind takes you 4,800

feet up on the flanks of the Mesa to eventually drop into the desert south of Horse Mountain, a challenging route with awesome views. The recent prime addition in this area is the Palisade Rim Trail on the lower benches of the Mesa. A new line improving on an old social trail was conceived of by local riders and planning began a few years ago. In cooperative effort between volunteers, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Town of Palisade, the first loop was com-

pleted in 2011. This four-mile route winds and climbs to the first bench through Pinon and Juniper rock gardens, skirting the valley edge with stunning views and exposure. This trail will grab your attention. A southwest rock face with ancient petroglyphs marks the high point of the first loop and begins a techy and groovy descent to the river. Construction of the larger and higher second loop of this trail will begin in the coming weeks. This final trial will be one of the longest continuous

trails in the valley. South of Palisade, the Horse Mountain area oﬀers extensive doubletrack and desert singletrack options. The terrain in the Horse Mountain area varies from rough sections of embedded volcanic rock for some technical riding challenges amidst scrub pinon and juniper, to sparsely vegetated open ground with rolling trail and broad views. The best access to the Horse Mountain area is via the E Road entrance. A climb up and over the top

of Horse Mountain is deceptive — this modest looking hill is as high as the nearby Palisade Rim and the face of the Bookcliﬀs. Singletrack crosses Horse Mountain in a north-south line in a central valley, creating several loop options on the mountain itself. Doubletrack nearly circles the entire mountain and also provides access to the singletrack routes to the south. The southern singletrack meanders along the subtle rolls of the desert — not highly technical, but groovy and fun. There’s plenty of exploring to be done in this area. Palisade is also the best start point for many trails in the Grand Mesa area. Some routes are seldom used due to their remote location, but they oﬀer unique riding opportunities. Flowing Park trail and the Mesa Top Trail at the high reaches of the Mesa start at nearly 10,000foot elevation. Rides such as Indian Point, Kannah Creek, Coal Creek Basin, Whitewater

Creek, and others are remote and killer rides for the adventurers in the group. Further trail development efforts continue on this end of the valley. Long-term goals include an extensive network to tie the existing Mesa top area trails to the valley ﬂoor in Palisade. This will be a singletrack network unmatched in the region. Ending a huge ride with a relaxing meal and a drink at one of Palisade’s ﬁne establishments is a great way to spend a weekend. Along with mountain biking, cruiser touring of the vineyards, orchards, and wineries is a mellow and fun way to see and feel what makes Palisade special. For more information on these rides described here, visit Rapid Creek Cycles on Main Street in Palisade, 970-464-9266, or online at www.rapidcreekcycles.com.

We’re happy to help you find your way around this great local riding.

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GJ JUNK RIDE

he GJ Junk Ride is a group of citizens who promote alternative transportation, secure fun ways of recreating, create safe conditions for cyclists, reduce traffic congestion in the Grand Valley and have a lot of fun doing it! The Junk Ride is a monthly community bike ride for young and old, skinny tires and fat tires, old bikes and new bikes. The ride takes place the last Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. and departs from the GJ Main Street Community Garden, which is located at the corner of 10th and Main streets in downtown Grand Junction. Winter rides consist of admiring Christmas lights around town while summer rides snake along the Colorado River. Each ride has a different route and terminates at a different downtown restaurant for food, drink and merriment. The Junk Ride takes place in the cold, the rain, the blazing heat, during bug season, when you’re wearing a skirt and heels, when you’re wearing a Santa suit, when the gas tank of your car is full, if you have a basket (or pannier) full of groceries — whatever the case may be, we ride. Join the enthusiastic band of cyclists, don your favorite costume, adorn your bike with bells, and come out for a Junk Ride! This is a movement and you can be part of it. In the borrowed words of the Junk Ride: “We aren’t stopping traffic, we are traffic!” For more information, visit gjjunkride.com.

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

GRAND JUNCTION HIKE-N-BIKE As you might suspect, this group focuses on hiking and biking (both road and mountain), with adventures taking place in the Grand Valley area. Organizers of this meetup group plan frequent events, so there’s always something going on. Folks who join this meetup are expected to be active and take part in events. Visit this dynamic group at www. meetup.com/Grand-Junction-HikeN-Bike/ Courtesy Photos

RED ROCK RIDERS Join the Red Rock Riders for Wednesday evening mountain bike rides throughout the Grand Valley. Group rides also take place on Sundays. Riders of all abilities are welcome. BBQ typically follows rides. Weekly rides continue through Sept. 26. For a ride schedule, e-mail redrockriders@gmail.com or see us on Facebook. For more information, call Tom at 970-260-9043.

Run with the ‘Rats’

They’ll guide you through the maze of local singletrack

Desert Rat Tours, the brainchild of David Withers and Sarah Mah, was conceived in early 2010. After a year of applying for permits, wilderness medical training, and accumulating gear, Desert Rat Tours became the only locally-owned guiding business for cycling in the Grand Valley. Now the “Rats” are approaching their second season and are looking forward to showing oﬀ area trails. In addition to guiding, Desert Rat Tours also conducts skills clinics and last

year saw cyclists from Australia, Europe, Canada, and both coasts of the U.S. “Cyclists come to our area for world class trails and Desert Rat Tours specializes in showing them the best that the Grand Valley has to oﬀer,” Mah said. The day may start by meeting at a local coﬀee shop before embarking on scenic adventure on some of the valley’s famous bike trails. After a quick trailhead discussion about our fragile desert soils and the importance of staying on the trail, the clients are led on the beautiful ribbons of singletrack that make this area so renowned. A trailside lunch can be provided, complete with homemade cookies, or a visit to the local pizza joint might be in order.

Photo Courtesy | Sarah Mah

The guiding company makes all attempts to tailor the experience to the visitor. In order to best do this, the group sizes are kept small, ensuring that the clients’ expectations are met or exceeded. The small-sized groups also complements the company’s ethics of leave no trace. Because of the small group sizes, Desert Rat Tours can cater to the speciﬁc needs of the group. If there are folks that

need skills clinics, they may spend half a day, or even a full day, learning how to overcome obstacles on the trails. Or if the advanced rider is looking for incredibly technical terrain, there is the opportunity for those riders as well. At the end of the trip, guest riders will not have worried about a thing. They will have experienced the local ﬂavor and magniﬁcent trails picked out according to their skill level.

CONTACT DESERT RAT TOURS Sarah Mah at sarah@desertrattours.com David Withers at david@desertrattours.com Visit desertrattours.com.

Save the Date! Sunday, August 26 Grand Junction, CO

it s i V YourCommunityHospital.com for more information and to register on line. Sponsored by:

Community Hospital 24th Annual

Community Hospital’s

TOUR OF THE valley 2012 CYCLING GUIDE

Blogroll & favorite websites This is a list of sites we’re lovin’ that embrace and embody our local cycling scene, not to mention provide help and resources.

bikeabout.net bikejames.com boardandbuckle.com browncycles.com commandonlandon. blogspot.com copmoba.org desertrattours.com dirtanddogs.blogspot.com fruitasingletrack.com

fruitamountainbike.com gjbicycles.com gjcyclists.blogspot.com gjjunkride.com grandvalleybmx.com grandvalleyyouthcycling. blogspot.com grassroots-cycles.com gvtrails.com hottomatocafe.com

livetrainrace.com ltrsports.com otesports.com rapidcreekcycles.com rossschnell.com rubycanyoncycles.com single-tracks.com singletracksisters.com thebikeshopgj.com threesisterspark.org

Learn some cycling lingo You’ve got your kit, your bike, your skills — but have you got the cycling slang down? Here’s a primer on terms you should be familiar with:

the shin; 2) (n.) the tooth-like scars resulting from being beartrapped. BETTY — (n.) any female ride

ANCHOR — (n.) your child, or children (anchors) that keep(s) you from riding. Also known as sinkers. “I’d love to go riding, but the anchors want to go to the movies.”

BOG OR BOG OUT — (v.) to be riding in a circumstance where much pedaling force is required, such as through mud or up a steep hill, and to fail to generate the required torque, generally a result of overgearing, being a wimp, or picking your line incorrectly.

AUGER — (v.) to involuntarily take samples of the local geology, usually with one’s face, during a crash. Also known as a soil sample.

BOING — n. a suspension fork or stem; a dualsuspension bike is a boingboing. “Jake’s not going to feel much pain with his new boing-boing.”

BABY HEADS — (n.) small boulders about the size of, yep, a baby’s head.

BONK — (n.) (v.) a classic term for blowing up, hitting the wall, or otherwise expiring mid-ride. Can be caused by — and is frequently blamed on — insufficient water or calorie intake, but in truth is usually a result of insufficient training.

AIR — (n.) space between the tires and the ground. Said to be caught or gotten.

BACON — (n.) scabs on a rider’s knees, elbows, or other body parts. BAGGING OUT— (v.) canceling a ride for something other than a death in the family. BEARTRAP — 1) (v.) to slip off one pedal, causing the other pedal to slam one in

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

BRAIN — (n.) a biking computer, usually featuring an odometer, speedometer,

clock, and other “important” display modes. BRAIN BUCKET — (n.) helmet. BRING HOME A CHRISTMAS TREE — (v.) to ride (or crash) through dense bushes so leaves and branches are hanging from your bike and helmet. BSG — (n.) an abbreviation for “Bike Store Guy.” BULLY — (v.) to ride up a steep hill without slowing (much) from the flatland cruising speed you approached the hill with. CAPTAIN CRASH — (v.) to “go down with the ship.” Usually the result of a novice failing to clip out in time. CHEESE GRATER — (v.) to grind off your skin against gravel, asphalt, bike parts, etc. CHUNDER — (v.) to crash; another word for an involuntary dismount. CLEAN — (v.) to negotiate a trail successfully without crashing. “I cleaned that last section.”

COCKROTTER — (n.) one who allows his bike to fall in disrepair, and whose bike invariably fails him at some point in every ride. These people don’t know why their bike always breaks, and often would rather buy new parts than keep their bike in good condition. CORNDOG — (v.) to become covered in silt, usually after a fall. CRANIAL DISHARMONY — (n.) how one’s head feels after augering. “When my lid nailed that rock, I had a definite feeling of cranial disharmony.” CRAYON — (v.) a mostly road-specific word that refers to the leaving of skin and viscera on the asphalt after a crash. “I’m not sure Lisa’s going to make it tonight. We locked wheels this morning and she crayoned all over the place.” CROTCH-TESTING — (n.) sudden impact between a male rider’s private parts and something very hard and pointy, such as a handlebar stem or seat.

CURB GRIND — (n.) expensive erasure of lowhanging, shiny parts of the bike on a curb or rock. DAB — (v.) to put a foot down in order to catch your balance on a difficult section of trail. “I made it without crashing, but I had to dab once.” DEATH COOKIES — (n.) fist-sized rocks that knock your bike in every direction. ENDO — (n.) the maneuver of flying unexpectedly over the handlebars, thus being forcibly ejected from the bike. Short for “end over end.” ENSCARFMENT — (n.) a food break at the edge of a cliff. EXCEDRIN DESCENT — (n.) bone jarring downhill that rattles your brain. FLASH — (v.) clearing a technical pitch without dabbing, especially if the rider has no previous experience on the route. FOOT FAULT — (n.) when a rider can’t disengage his cleats from the pedals before falling over. FRED — (n.) a person who spends a lot of money on his bike and clothing, but still can’t ride. “What a Fred — too much Lycra and titanium and not enough skill.” Synonym for poser. Occasionally called a “Barney.” GIBLETS — (n.) sexy little add-ons or upgrades, usually made of titanium or CNC’d aluminum. See also veloporn. GONZO — (adj.) treacherous or extreme. GRAVITY CHECK — (n.) a fall. GRUNT — (n.) a very difficult climb, requiring use of the granny gear. GUTTER BUNNY — (n.) a

bicycling commuter. HAND PLANT — (n.) a crash where your fall is broken only by cheese grating your hands. HOOK — (v.) to lock handlebars or wheels, and go down in a bloody pile of metal and muscle. MANDIBULAR DISHARMONY — (n.) how your jaw feels when it and the handle bars attempt to occupy the same space and time. MANTRAP — (n.) hole covered with autumn leaves, resembling solid earth and effective at eating the front wheel of the unsuspecting rider. MO — (n.) momentum. “If you don’t get in gear at the bottom of that hill, you’ll lose your mo.” MUDECTOMY — (v.) a shower after a ride on a muddy trail. NARD GUARD — (n.) used to prevent wang chung. NOSEPICKIUM — (n.) the crusties you pick from your nose after a ride on a dusty trail. O.D. — This is short for “Off Day.” Even the best riders have them. It is important to recognize the symptoms and to back off when you are having an O.D. OVER-THE-BAR BLOOD DONOR — (n.) a rider who is injured while doing an endo. OVERGEARED — (adj.) a condition where the rider is using a gear combination which is too high or “hard” given the circumstances. Generally results in bogging out or needless fatigue. PANIC SKID — (v.) to try with all one’s will and strength to prevent an impending stack by attempting to implant one’s

heels as deeply as possible in the ground. Usually a dumb idea. POKES — (n.) short for slow pokes. This is someone that always lingers in the back of the pack. This is not a crime. POSER — (n.) derogatory term for people with $7,000 bikes that never see an actual trail. Usually found near a trailhead and never dirty. POTATO CHIP — (n.) a wheel that has been bent badly, but not taco’d. POWDER RUN — (n.) extremely dusty section of trail. RAG DOLLY — (v.) to wreck in such a way that one is tossed like a flimsy scrap of cloth.

and doesn’t hit the ground for a long time. This may result in injury, but when it doesn’t, it’s really funny for everyone else. TACO — (v.) to bend a wheel over on itself, in the shape of a taco. Worse than a potato chip. TEA PARTY — (n.) when a whole group of riders stops and chats, and nobody seems to want to ride on. THREE-HOUR TOUR — (n.) a ride that looks like a piece of cake at the outset but turns out to be a death march. Derived from the theme song to “Gilligan’s Island.”

RETRO-GROUCH — (n.) a rider who prefers an old bike with old components and isn’t fond of new, high-tech equipment.

TRACK WOBBLE — (n.) when the rider stops the bike and attempts a track stand, but can’t do it very well. Characterized by rolling forward, violent movements of the front wheel, and a distressed expression on the rider’s face.

’RHOID BUFFING — (v.) going down a hill so steep that your butt touches the rear wheel.

TRAIL SWAG — (n.) equipment or accessories dropped by other bikers and found on the trail.

RIDE ON! — a parting phrase used by riders with out much else to say.

VELO-PORN — (n.) full-page, four-color advertisements of giblets in cycling magazines. It can arouse giblet lust, giblet envy, and in serious cases, feelings of bike inadequacy.

RIDING THE PEGS — (v.) standing on the pedals through rough terrain. ROCK-ECTOMY — (v.) removing rocks, dirt, gravel lodged in the skin and body after a yard sale. SKID LID — (n.) helmet. SPIKE — (v.) to obtain a chainring tattoo on the back of the calf, usually the result of a newbie trying to dab or panic skid at high speeds. STEED — (n.) your bike, the reason for your existence. STICTION — (n.) when friction makes a suspension fork travel sticky instead of smooth. SUPERMAN — (n.) a rider who flies over the handlebars

WANG CHUNG — (n.) what you might get when your stem has no nard guard. See crotch-testing. WEIGHT-WEENIE — (n.) a bike owner (not even necessarily a rider) who is more concerned with how many milligrams a certain component saves off the bike’s total weight than with how to be a better rider. WILD PIGS — (n.) poorly adjusted brake pads that squeal in use.

SOURCE: BicycleSource.com

2012 CYCLING GUIDE

Grab your kids for a Grand Valley

KIDS’ RIDE

ocal resident David Withers has a passion for getting kids outside on bikes. He frequently acquires broken-down old bikes from friends and neighbors and repairs them for kids who might not have a bicycle otherwise. “In 2009 I started working with a group that was looking for used bikes that could be donated and ﬁxed up for another kid to ride. I found that most of the bikes that were being donated didn’t have many problems. Most of these bikes were just not being ridden anymore because they had ﬂat tires. I realized that a lot of parents just needed a little help to keep their kids’ bikes in working order,” Withers said. On top of the issue with bike maintenance was the issue of not knowing where to ride or being uncomfortable riding alone, he said. With the dissolution of another local kids ride group, Withers saw a need that would be unmet. So he decided to take it upon himself to start a weekly ride that not only catered to kids, but also to the parents. The group soon grew, and Sarah Mah, his partner at Desert Rat Tours, started to help out with some of the marketing. Having two kids of her own, Mah knew the importance of

getting kids out with their parents. Both she and Withers knew that by bringing the parents into the arena, it would ensure the lessons were learned and the love of bicycles would be fostered at home. On top of that, Withers taught some simple maintenance so that the bikes wouldn’t sit idle in disrepair. In no time at all, the group was attracting more and more people; some were just checking out cycling, others were longtime

GRAND VALLEY KIDS’ RIDE 5:30-8:30 p.m. Monday Meet at Junior Service League Park For more information, visit Facebook “Grand Valley Kids’ Rides”

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

Photos Courtesy | Sarah Mah

cyclists. In 2011, the group consisted of kids from the age of 2 to 72 (Withers will say heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a kid who wants to ride his bike). They ranged from experts who had raced in the Tour De France to kids who still need to spend a couple more years on a tag-along bike before being ready to ride on their own. To accommodate the various skill levels of the group, the weekly Monday rides take place on the River Front Trail. The

main route of the ride goes from Junior Service League Park at 24 Road and the Redlands Parkway to the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens near Seventh Street. Several weekend rides are planned to take place at 18 Road, Kokopelli NCA and the Lunch Loops area to challenge the more advanced riders. If you would like to join in on the fun this year, contact Withers at david@desertrattours.com.

We believe in play.

We believe in hardtails and endos, and the exhilaration that accompanies some of the most scenic trails in the country. We believe in kayaking and canoeing, rock climbing and hiking, skiing and snowboarding. And we believe weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re incredibly lucky to have a setting right outside our door, where we can do all of these things.

Visit coloradomesa.edu/future and apply now for fall 2012.

2012 CYCLING GUIDE

WARNING: TUNNELS

BR O A

COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT R KD RO C RIM

Start / Finish D RD

U ON

RIM RO

CNM East Entrance

CK DR

Picnic Area & Restrooms

$5 entrance fee or park pass required

WARNING: TUNNELS Make sure you have bike lights for the tunnels

Highest Point on Rimrock Drive 6650ft

COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT

LI PA TTLE RK RD

N W

This is probably one of the most popular routes for intermediate and advanced riders â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and one of the most beautiful. It shouldn't be a surprise that this route, called the "Tour of the Moon" stage, was featured in the 1980s Coors Classic bike race, back when commercial cycling was allowed on national park land. Relive it yourself by giving this loop a try. And don't forget your digital camera; there will be many opportunities for Kodak moments.

ROSEVALE RD

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

S BROADWAY

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COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT 18

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For a quick jaunt, try the 30-mile route of Tour of the Valley, an annual cycling event fundraiser for Community Hospital. This route takes you out to Fruita and back through scenic backcountry roads nestled in the Grand Valley’s farming heartland. This is a tour perfect for a family fun & fitness ride.

26 1/2 RD

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2012 CYCLING GUIDE

Junior Service League Park

50-Mile Riders Go North on Overpass to 24 Road Please Note: At This Intersection 50-Mile & 75-Mile Riders Go West on the Riverfront.

ROAD RIDE MAPS

DoubleTree Hotel Start / Finish

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Tour of the Valley, an annual road cycling event fundraiser for Community Hospital, features the option of a 50-mile tour. Riders warm up by heading east toward Palisade, then through peach and vineyard country on east Orchard Mesa and finally head back toward Grand Junction. This ride has a little of everything: one short, but notable uphill climb, rolling hills, and easygoing flats. Try it out on your own, or register to do it with hundreds of others on Aug. 26, 2012.

TOUR OF THE VALLEY â&#x20AC;˘ 50-MILE ROUTE

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

20 RD

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Tour of the Valley is the name of the annual fundraising ride for Community Hospital that has taken place for the last 23 years. The 100-mile route is a true tour through the Grand Valley. Cyclists will roll through peach orchards, vineyards, farm fields, and over the majestic Colorado National Monument. You'll traverse through three cities that comprise the Grand Valley and you'll do it the best way there is — by bicycle. The Tour of the Valley event is set for Aug. 26, 2012. But don't wait till then to try out this scenic and challenging daylong ride.

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Colorado National Monument

Fruita Chamber REST STOP

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TOUR OF THE VALLEY • 100-MILE ROUTE

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2012 CYCLING GUIDE

HIGHLINE LAKE STATE PARK

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100K Route

50K Route

The Rose Hill Rally is a popular tour that kicks off the cycling event season around here. The event, which draws several hundred, is planned for May 6, 2012. The tour starts and ends at Canyon View Park off 24 Road. The weather in early May is always a bit iffy — you never know if you're going to get rain or wind or both. But it doesn't stop the dedicated masses from showing up to raise money for Rose Hill Hospitality House, a residence for St. Mary’s Hospital out-of-town patients and their families. This tour offers a 50K (31 miles) and 100K (62 miles) route. Pick your pleasure!

23 RD I 1/4 RD

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CANYON VIEW PARK

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ROSE HILL RALLY – 50K & 100K ROUTE

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

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CYCLING EVENT CALENDAR There is a veritable feast of riding events — both MTB and road — happening every weekend through September. Do the local Mesa County events, sure — but stretch yourself and try a couple of out-of-towners. Touring on two wheels is a great way to experience the beauty and majesty of Colorado.

APRIL 14

RUMBLE AT 18 ROAD A new cross-country MTB race hosted by LTR Sports. Top 10 riders in each class and category qualify to compete in USA Cycling National Championships! Visit LTRsports.com for more information. Cash prizes for top 3 finishes. No day-of registration. 10-mile loop. Open to ages from 8 to 108.

26-29

FRUITA FAT TIRE FESTIVAL Sunshine, singletrack, products displayed from the best in the bike industry, beer garden, the Clunker Crit and more are what you can expect from the 17th annual New Belgium Brewing Company Fruita Fat Tire Festival presented by US Bank. Info at: www. fruitamountainbike.com

MAY 3-6

KOKOPELLI TRAIL GROUP RIDE  BIKERPELLI 1 A 4-day trek consisting of 142 miles of linked singletrack, Jeep trail and retired wagon road traveling from Grand Junction to Moab, crossing an amazing and untainted part of the desert southwest. Info/ registration: www.bikerpelli. com

4-5

8TH ANNUAL 18 HOURS OF FRUITA One of the most loved

endurance events in the West. Six-mile loop race starts at midnight Friday night. Event takes place at Highline Lake State Park, 1800 11 8/10 Road, in Fruita, Colo. Event is capped at 100 teams. Info: www. fruitamountainbike.com

4-6

BETTERRIDE WOMEN’S MOUNTAIN BIKE SKILLS CAMP Taught by Gene Hamilton and his trained professionals. This comprehensive 3day camp will help you with both the mental and physical sides of mountain biking. The goal is to help you reach your potential by teaching you the core skills of mountain biking and the drills to master these skills. Cotst $618. Register at bikereg.com

MOONSHADOWS IN MOAB Watch the full moon rise briskly above the La Sal mountains; take in the sweet sage of the desert as you make your way to the Earth's edge overlooking the Colorado River a thousand feet below. Enjoy this fully supported 44 mile out-and-back ride by the light of the full moon. Info: skinnytireevents.com

16TH ANNUAL ROSE HILL RALLY GRAND JUNCTION Popular 50K or 100K ride benefits St. Mary’s Rose Hill Hospitality House, a place where families and patients

who live out of town can stay. Info: www.stmarygj. com/body.cfm?id=383

10-13

KOKOPELLI TRAIL GROUP RIDE  BIKERPELLI 2 A 4-day trek consisting of 142 miles of linked singletrack,Jeep trail and retired wagon road traveling from Grand Junction to Moab, crossing an amazing and untainted part of the desert southwest. Info/ registration: www.bikerpelli. com

12 HOURS OF MESA VERDE 6th annual 12-hour mountain bike race on singletrack all in the shadow of Mesa Verde. Twists, turns, juniper trees, technical spots, rapid descents and more. All categories and classes. Info: 12hoursofmesaverde.com.

DESERT RATS CLASSIC 100K ENDURANCE MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE RABBIT VALLEY/FRUITA This endurance mountain bike race is a challenging out and back test of stamina and a great early season test of fitness and a great reason to keep training over the winter and early spring. The course is equally well suited for geared bikes and single speeds and covers a wide variety of terrain including challenging technical terrain, grueling climbs, fast flats and tricky descents. Late registration at geminiadventures.com

is $105.

9TH ANNUAL MISSION TO RIDE MONTROSE Non-competitive bicycling tour for riders of all abilities in Montrose. Road and mountain routes offered. A century ride and 30-, 40-, 60-mile routes takes you through the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Forest. Proceeds benefit Montrose Medical Mission, a free clinic. Info: www. missiontoride.com

17-20

KOKOPELLI TOUR DE BLOOM The Tour de Bloom is COPMOBA’s biggest annual fundraiser. It is a fully supported and catered 4-day/3-night mountain bike tour along Kokopelli's Trail from Grand Junction to Moab. Info: www.copmoba. org

URBAN POKER RIDE  MIKE THE HEADLESS CHICKEN FESTIVAL FRUITA Family fun ride around Fruita collecting a hand of cards at local businesses. For all ages and abilities. Best poker hand wins a Rocky Mountain Soul 29er mountain bike. Proceeds go to Camp Hope. Info: LTRSports.com.

L’EROICA HISTORIC RACE A reenactment of an old race that used to take place from GJ to Glenwood 2012 CYCLING GUIDE

Springs. Riders earn points for best simulating the costumes and bike of that era, so one doesn’t necessarily have to finish across the finish line first. Info: Chris Brown, Brown Cycles, 970-245-7939.

INDEPENDENCE PASS FOUNDATION RIDE FOR THE PASS A charity race and recreational ride from the Winter Gate on Hwy. 82 (mile marker 48 west of Aspen) to the Independence Ghost Town 10 miles east. Info: www.independencepass.org

14TH ANNUAL BUENA VISTA BIKE FEST This ride offers outstanding views of Colorado's highest mountain peaks while enjoying the sunshine of the Arkansas River Valley. Ride is almost

capped out so register now. 35-, 50-, 62- and 100-mile options. Info: www.bvbf.org

19-20

ASPEN CYCLING FESTIVAL Featuring the Ride for the Pass charity (May 19) fun ride (above) and Aspen Criterium (May 20), a fast-paced, energy-packed bicycle race held in the heart of Aspen. Info: www. aspenrecreation.com. Info: 970-429-2093.

26-28

IRON HORSE BICYCLE CLASSIC DURANGO One of the classic bicycle events in the West takes place every year in Durango. Outside magazine named this ride #33 out of 50 on its “Life List” of things to do. Info: www. ironhorsebicycleclassic.com

JUNE

NOW ! OPEN

31- JUNE 3

www.rapidcreekcycles.com

2012 TEVA MOUNTAIN GAMES VAIL Held in Vail, the Teva Mountain Games are the nation’s largest celebration of mountain sport, lifestyle and music featuring top professional and amateur athletes from around the world. Events include kayaking, rafting, stand-up paddling, mountain biking, road cycling, World Cup bouldering, climbing, flyfishing, trail running, a halfmarathon and a photography competition.

GRAND MESA GRIND PALISADE The race takes you high onto the flanks of the Grand Mesa, with a 4800 ft. elevation gain. In 34 miles, you do that, then descend a rough route down to the desert floor on the south end of Horse Mountain area. Info:

HIGHLINE HUSTLE SPRINT TRIATHLON FRUITA Swim, bike and run — Sprint Triathalon. A 500meter swim in Highline Lake, a 16-mile bike road race, and a 3-mile trail run. Info: www. gjcity.org or 970-254-3893.

9-15

2012 RIDE THE ROCKIES An annual bicycle tour that takes 2,000 cyclists on a 7-day, 532-mile ride on paved roads through Colorado's Rocky Mountains. This year’s event starts in Crested Butte and ends in Georgetown. Info: www. ridetherockies.com

17-23

DESERT RATS MTB TOUR Ride the 148-mile Kokopelli Trail from GJ to Moab, Utah. Fully supported

Check out www.mandysellsgrandjunction.com for the BEST homes and trails that the Grand Valley has to offer!

Fine Food and Brew The Community Beverage

All Micro-brew pints are half off 4pm-6pm Monday thru Friday... Check it out!

Mandy Harter

127 E. Apsen • Fruita, Colorado

MANDY@GJPROPERTIES.COM

(970)858-9400 House: 11am-10pm Monday-Saturday

www.sudsbrothersbrewery.com 24

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

Broker/Associate

120 W PARK DR, SUITE 200 GRAND JUNCTION, CO

C: 970.623.9400 D: 970.683.2572 MEMBER OF JUNIOR SERVICE LEAGUE & SINGLE TRACK SISTERS

ride with guides. Limited to 50 participants. Register at geminiadventures.com

17-23

18TH ANNUAL BICYCLE TOUR OF COLORADO An annual 7-day, fullysupported bicycle tour in the wide-open valleys and the majestic peaks of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. Travel the Saratoga, Wyo., to Steamboat Springs, Colo., loop. Limited to 1,500 cyclists. Info at: www.bicycletourcolorado. com

BOULDER SUNRISE CENTURY A 75- or 100-mile skinny tire ride through plains and canyons — a “challenge you’ll be proud to conquer,” say race organizers. Limited to 1,200 riders. Register soon. Info: www.bikerpelli.com

21-24

CRESTED BUTTE BIKE WEEK Long known as “The Birthplace of the Mountain Bike,” this is the oldest mountain biking festival in the country, so come celebrate the annual celebration of the Fat Tire in beautiful Crested Butte, Colo.

JULY 14-15

23ND ANNUAL TRIPLE BYPASS EVERGREEN For those who dare. More than 120 miles and more than 10,000 feet of elevation gain over three major mountain passes make this Evergreen, Colo., event only for the fittest cyclists. Info: www.teamevergreen. org/triple

LEADVILLE SILVER RUSH 50mile Mountain Bike Race Set 13,000 feet up in the treacherous Colorado Rocky terrain, the strong

may survive, but only a few will leave with their pride. All finishers will receive a "Leadville Silver Rush" silver bracelet and finishing medal. There are also great age group awards. Capped at 1,000 riders. $90 early registration, or $115. Info/register: www. leadvilletrail100.com

9TH ANNUAL GRIN & BARRETT CHARITY FUN RIDE MONTROSE 33-, 50-, 75-, 112-mile rides to benefit Montrose Memorial Hospital. Fullysupported with aid stations, post ride celebration with live music and food, and more.

23-25

2012 COURAGE CLASSIC COPPER MOUNTAIN A renowned cycling event in Colorado, the Courage Classic is a three-day journey fueled by individual and team fundraising efforts that benefit The Children’s Hospital. The course begins and ends in Leadville, whose stunning views will motivate riders’ 157-mile trek through Summit County. $95/adults, $50/children. Register: www. couragetours.com or call 720-777-7499.

AUGUST

AL N LOC GRAND JUNCTIO RACES Leroica GJ to Glenwood Springs 102 Miles In The Knickers

May 19th - 20th, 2012 Info: browncycles.com/Ieroica.htm Worst Day Of The Year Ride The Suckiest ride all year. A real suckfest. Feb 26, 2012

Grand Mesa Grind

June 9th, 2012 Pedal Paddle Pedal Mtn Ride, Boat, Road Ride

August 19th, 2012

Info: RapidCreekCycles.com Email: RacePalisade@gmail.com

Road Race, Monument Madness Time Trial Hill Climb, Grand Junction, Colorado

March 31, 2012

Mountain Bike Race, Fruita, Colorado, Cross Country, Spring Rumble at 18 Road!

April 14, 2012 4

COPPER TRIANGLE COPPER MOUNTAIN Enjoy breathtaking scenery, gorgeous roads and three challenging climbs on one of Colorado's classic alpine road rides. Registration includes commemorative event jersey, post-ride lunch/party, aid stations, road support, door prizes, live music. Rain or shine, it’s on! Info at: www.coppertriangle.com

Brown Cycles Bike Shop

Mountain Bike Race, Gunny Enduro, Grand Junction, Colorado

May 12, 2012

Urban Poker Ride, Fruita, Colorado, Mike the Headless Chicken Festival!

May 19, 2012

Cyclocross, Grand Junction, Colorado, LTR CX Series

October 27, 2012

Cyclocross, Palisade, Colorado, LTR CX Series

November 10, 2012

Cyclocross, Fruita, Colorado, LTR CX Series

November 24, 2012

Cyclocross, Grand Junction, Colorado, LTR CX Series

December 08, 2012

For more info: LTRSports.com, call 970-257-7678, or email sales@ltrsports.com

Mountain Bike Race, Grand Junction, Colorado, Team Relay Cross Country

September 22, 2012

Mountain Bike Race, Fruita, Colorado, Cross Country, Fall Rumble at 18 Road!

October 06, 2012

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS 2012 CYCLING GUIDE

Colorado National Monument Rim Rock Drive offers many A favorite among sweeping vistas, of national cyclists, plenty Rim Rock fresh air, and varied grades. Drive offers dramatic views Itofhas challenged of bold, big andmany brilliantly the world’s strongest riders, colored steep-walled canyons but to the most casual andyields towering masses of of recreational bicyclists. naturally sculpted rock. The milemile gate-to-gate The 2323 ride also ride provides accesstoto the provides access the Saddlehorn Saddlehorn Visitor VisitorCenter Center and and Campground, Campground, 19 19 signed signed viewpoints, and 14 viewpoints, and 14hiking hiking trails. The Monument park entrance fee trails. The is easy for an individual bicyclist is to get to from Grand Junction $5 and $10 per vehicle. and Fruita, Colorado. The

LEADVILLE TRAIL 100 MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE The race of all races. 100miles across high altitude, extreme terrain. It’ll take your breath away, literally. Info: leadvilleraceseries.com

4-11

park entrance fee for an http://www.nps.gov/colm/ individual bicyclist is $4.00 and $7.00 per vehicle.

Share the Road

Bicyclists and motorists are required to http://www.nps.gov/colm/

RIDE 4 YELLOW Third annual mountain bike ride held at the base of Steamboat Ski Mountain — a 26-mile epic MTB ride only open to the first 200 riders who register online, so get on it. Must, however, pledge to raise $250. Benefits Livestrong. Info: www. ride4yellow.com

Share the Road

through the tunnels. Bicyclists must use a Cyclists obey all traffic laws including speed limits, white light that isand visiblemotorists from at leastare 500 to obey trafﬁ passing zones, and stop signs. Bicycles or feet to required the front and a red all light thatc islaws seen speed riders must be equipped with lights visible from atincluding least 200 feet fromlimits, the rear.passing zones, and stop signs. from the front and rear for safe passage

URGENT CARE

6TH ANNUAL COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAIN BICYCLE TOUR The tour starts and ends in Pagosa Springs, Colo. It’s 473 miles of challenging riding, beautiful scenery and loads of fun. Cost is $450 per rider, and is capped at 500 riders. Info at: www.crmbt.com

Close To Home

A Tradition of Caring

ASPEN/SNOWMASS RIDE FOR THE CURE A fundraiser first, a bike ride second. Route begins at Snowmass Village and travels through Aspen, Woody Creek and Old Snowmass. Each rider commits to raising $500. 10-, 30-, 50-, 100-mile routes; fully supported ride. Info: www.komenaspen.org

• Lab, X-Ray, CT Scan, MRI, Ultrasound • Walk-ins Welcomed • Primary Care Physician NOT Required

GRAND JUNCTION

Exit 19

I-70 West FRUITA DOWNTOWN

Cherry Street

WHEN YOU NEED HELP WE’RE HERE FOR YOU.

Hwy 340 S

18-19

858-2119

Ottley Avenue

Urgent Care Located in Hospital Emergency Department 300 W. Ottley Avenue | Fruita

www.familyhealthwest.org

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

9TH ANNUAL 24 HOURS IN THE SAGE GUNNISON Mountain bike for 12 or 24 hours straight in team or solo categories. Takes place at Hartman Rocks in Gunnison. Info: www.24hoursinthesage. com

PALISADE PEDAL PADDLEPEDAL RACE This three stage race is part of the Palisade Peach Festival. The first leg is a

24-mile mountain bike race around Horse Mountain. Then you paddle an 8-mile stretch of the Colorado River followed by an 18-mile road ride along the Palisade Fruit and Wine Trail. There is a serious class and not so serious class. The race is followed by a BBQ with beer and awards. After the race you can go to the Palisade Peach Festival. For more info, visit ridepalisade.org or rapidcreekcycles.com, or singletracks.com.

20-26

2012 USA PRO CHALLENGE Stage 1 – Durango to Telluride. Stage 2 – Montrose to Crested Butte. Stage 3 – Gunnison to Aspen. Stage 4 – Aspen to Beaver Creek. Stage 5 – Breckenridge to Colo. Springs. Stage 6 – Golden to Boulder. Stage 7 – Denver. This event was created to "reinvigorate the legacy of the Coloradobased Coors International Bicycle Classic which took place from 1979 until 1988,” according to CyclingNews. com. Get off your bike on one of these days, and become a spectator. It’s a day-trip away.

TOUR OF THE VALLEY GRAND JUNCTION Starting at the DoubleTree Hotel in Grand Junction, riders from all over will be in town for a century ride with the option of three shorter routes. Event includes: massages, pre-ride breakfast, post-ride party, moving screening of “A Race Across the Sky” and more. Info/registration: www. yourcommunityhospital.com

SEPTEMBER 15

19TH ANNUAL TOUR OF THE VINEYARDS BICYCLE TOUR PALISADE

16-21

VINES AND VISTAS TOUR Six-day, 280-mile biking tour of W. Colo including Colo. National Monument, Palisade, Grand Mesa, Paonia, McClure Pass, Redstone, and more. Info: timbertours.com

21-23

MOAB CENTURY TOUR A three-day road cycling event suitable for all skill levels, taking riders through the red rock canyons of Moab, along the Colorado River and up into the La Sal Mountains. All routes begin and end at Aarchway Inn. Info: skinnytireevents.com

9TH ANNUAL MOUNTAINS TO THE DESERT BIKE RIDE TELLURIDE & NORWOOD Start in either Telluride or Norwood and ride to Gateway Canyons for the finish and post-ride bash and feast at the resort. 100+ mile rides. Early registration $100. Info: active.com

TEAM RELAY MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE Hosted by LTRSports.com

7TH ANNUAL DURANGO FALL BLAZE BICYCLING TOUR AND CELEBRATION This ride offers spectacular fall views of the scenic San Juan Basin, with 37-, 60-, and 100-mile options. A cannon blast starts the tour. Proceeds benefit #1 ranked Ft. Lewis College mountain bike team. Includes sag support

vehicles, food/aid stations, post-ride lunch and more. Info: www.durangofallblaze. com

FUELS GELS RECOVERY

25-mile bike tour through vineyards, wineries and orchards in Palisade, Colo. Runs in conjunction with the Colorado Mountain Winefest Sept. 13-16. Cost is $43, or $53 day of event. Info: www. tourdevineyards.com

OCTOBER 6

TOUR OF THE MOON Attend the inaugural Tour of the Moon, Hell of the West Cycling Classic. Named after the famous stage of Coors Classic Bike Race, the stage takes you up and over Colorado National Monument and back in a 38-mile loop. Short distance, but very challenging. Capped at 2,000 riders. Funds will go to the Colorado Riverfront Commission. Early registration is $110. Info: tourofthemoon.com

FRUITA FALL FLYER MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE Hosted by LTRSports.com

6-7

18TH ANNUAL 24 HOURS OF MOAB For one short weekend, a mountain bike city grows up out of the desert graze-lands to host more than 4,000 racers, support crews, and spectators in a stunningly beautiful, completely remote venue. Info: 304-259-5533, grannygear.com

LTR SPORTS CYCLOCROSS SERIES RACE #1 GRAND JUNCTION Race #2 is Nov. 10 in Palisade. Race #3 is Nov. 24 in Fruita. Race #4 is Dec. 8 in Grand Junction. Open to all ages and skill levels. Hosted annually by LTRSports.com

FREE SHIPPING

970.241.5326 2536 RIMROCK coloradowest.maxmuscle.com 2012 CYCLING GUIDE

RIDE like a GIRL Singletrack Sisters is the ’hood for women who like to ride

BY KRISTINA KITTELSON

he cycling community in the Grand Valley is growing every year and has something to oﬀer everyone — including women! Singletrack and Skinny Tire Sisters of Western Colorado is a cycling group for women who love to mountain and road bike in western Colorado. Its mission is to encourage women of all abilities — from novice to expert — to participate in cycling by making the sport and bicycle community in western Colorado more accessible through group rides, education clinics and fun, social events. Singletrack Sisters formed last year when a small group of local women riders realized that more and more women were taking up the sport of cycling — or wanted to but didn’t know how — yet there was no way for them to connect. “I used to ride alone because I didn’t know there were so many other women who rode the same trails I love. It’s given me a whole new community of riders to be with,” said member Heather O’Brien. The Sisters are mainly organized through their Facebook Group. They currently have almost 300 members from all over Colorado as well as surrounding states. “This group is such a great ‘hub’ for women of all levels

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

Photo Courtesy | Sarah Mah

to connect and enjoy cycling. It’s exciting to see how many women riders, novice to advanced, are in our valley! When I see another woman riding a tough section of singletrack, I’m more motivated to try it and am a better rider because of it,” said longtime rider and endurance racer Nancy Rizzo. In its ﬁrst year, the group hosted weekly mountain bike rides for all skill levels as well as a weekly road ride for intermediate and advanced riders. In addition, they hosted bicycle maintenance and repair classes, a beginning and end-of-the-year barbecue, and an event at the Hot Tomato with Goldsprint Roller Racing and a Fat Tire Bicycle giveaway. “Riding with the ‘Sistas’ gives me a level of conﬁdence I don’t have on my own. Seeing other ladies clean a technical section makes me believe that maybe I

can do it, too,” said local rider Jackie English. This year, the weekly women’s group mountain bike ride will be held 6 p.m. Wednesdays, and will rotate the local mountain bike trail areas: Kokopelli, Lunch Loop, 18 Road and Palisade. The ride is open to all skill levels. The weekly women’s intermediate and advanced road ride will meet once again at Canyon View Park 6 p.m. Mondays. “It’s a ‘girls night out!’ And I always return home with a big smile,” said local mountain bike guide Sarah Mah.

EXCITING AND NEW New this year will be a monthly downhill/freeride clinic hosted by Jessica Kirkpatrick and the female Roots Riders at Lunch Loop the ﬁrst Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m.. Grassroots Cycles will provide

the shuttle van. Also new this year, several Singletrack Sisters are partnering with the Dirt Divas Race Team, a Front Range women’s cycling organization. They will be taking part in mountain bike races in Colorado and Wyoming such as the Gunnison Growler, the Palisade Classic, the Steamboat Stinger, and the Laramie Enduro. The group plans to host more bicycle maintenance and repair classes as well as fun, social events. To hear about these events as they come up and for a complete ride calendar with all the meeting dates, times, locations and what to bring, visit www.singletracksisters.com or visit the group’s Facebook page.

Kristina Kittelson is founder and organizer of the Singletrack and Skinny Tire Sisters of Western Colorado.

2012 CYCLING GUIDE

Training your

Identifying and targeting them makes you a better racer

BY RICHARD PRICE, M.D. “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.” — Anthony Robbins

any different pursuits in life could apply to the above quote. Work, kids, family, but in this case we are going to be talking about athletics. The basic principal is change. If you want to get something more out of your training, you have to change what you are doing from time to time to maximize your potential. If you go out and ride 50 miles a day all summer long, you will be really good at riding 50 miles. But if you want to get faster or go longer, you will have to do something different. So what can you change? There are several things that an athlete can change in their training program to improve — intensity, time, distance, recovery, specificity or smarts. Most people probably think of the first five of these, but the last one may be something new. Smarts, what do I mean by smarts? Thinking!! Thinking about what cost you a podium spot last year?

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

Thinking about a race in which you did not make the final selection. Thinking about your losses. With this, you will find you weaknesses so you can attack them. Smarts is identifying your weaknesses! Power meters are quite common in cycling these days. These devices provide the rider with instant measurable feedback of effort during an event. They record data which can be reviewed at a later date. There are many advantages to using a power meter, and one huge advantage is data analysis. All the data for a season can be stored and analyzed. Specifically, where and when did you get your best numbers. With the Training Peaks WKO+ software system, you can analyze many aspects of power production during cycling. The one that I use to identify a rider’s “weakness” is the Power Profile chart (image 1). This is the chart that will give you your “bests” over a selected period of time. You can use this to identify your peak power at certain time intervals and compare them to the “norms” (image 2) provided by Andy Coggan, Ph.D. So let’s look at the chart and analyze how a hypothetical, 70 kg (154 lbs.) athlete did last season. The yellow line is last season, and the dashed line is this season. Let’s focus on last season for our analysis. The rider’s “bests” are 5 sec at 840 watts, 1 min at 480 watts, 5 min at 360 watts, and 20 minutes (function threshold) at 320 watts. Now let’s use Andy Coggan’s handy Power Profiling spread sheet (Image 2) and see how our athlete stacks up. Five second power at 840 watts/70 kg = 12 watts per kilogram. 12w/kg makes this rider cat 5 at

5 seconds. One minute power of 480 watts/70kg = 6.8w/kg which makes this rider a cat 4/5 rider at 1 minute. Five minute power of 360 watts/70kg = 5.14 w/kg which makes this rider a cat 2 rider at 5 minutes. Twenty minute power (threshold) of 320 watts/70kg= 4.57 w/kg which makes this rider a cat 1/2 rider at threshold.

IN SUMMARY: 5 seconds = Cat 5 power 1 min = Cat 4/5 power 5 min = Cat 2 power Threshold = Cat 1/2 power Looking at these calculations gives us a great understanding of this athlete’s strengths and weaknesses. This athlete is what we call an upsloper (or a time-trial specialist). He has a distinctly upsloping plot (image 3) which is the classical time-trialist pattern, weak in neuromuscular power and anaerobic capacity, but with relatively high aerobic power and a high lactate threshold. So now that we have identified this athlete’s strengths and weaknesses, we can begin to train this athlete, SMARTER. Depending on this athlete’s specific goals, we can prescribe certain training to improve his power profile. For example, if this athlete had lost several races near

the end in a sprint or on a last steep hill climb, I would coach him to target these weaknesses by prescribing short high intensity intervals. Specifically, I would have him do 2 sets of 4 intervals with 1 min on/1 minute off at >120% of threshold power (320 watts) = 1 minute at 384 watts then 1 minute rest. This would increase this athlete’s anaerobic power. Also, I would add in some neuromuscular intervals to improve the end sprint speed. For example, high power jumps, going all out for 15 seconds in a big gear after every stop sign during a long ride. With these types of small changes to this athlete’s training program, we could round this athlete out and improve on his identified areas of weakness. So go ride your bike, hire a coach, train smarter, get faster, have more fun. “Do or do not. There is no try.” — Yoda

Richard Price, M.D., is a primary care sports medicine physician with Rocky Mountain Orthopaedic Associates. He is a Certiﬁed Level 2 USA Cycling Coach and a member of the Livetrainrace.com Cycling Team. Contact Dr. Price at RMOA (970-242-3535) for more information.

Men 5s 24.04 23.77 23.50 23.22 22.95 22.68 22.41 22.14 21.86 21.59 21.32 21.05 20.78 20.51 20.23 19.96 19.69 19.42 19.15 18.87 18.60 18.33 18.06 17.79 17.51 17.24 16.97 16.70 16.43 16.15 15.88 15.61 15.34 15.07 14.79 14.52 14.25 13.98 13.71 13.44 13.16 12.89 12.62 12.35 12.08 11.80 11.53 11.26 10.99 10.72 10.44 10.17

1 min 11.50 11.39 11.27 11.16 11.04 10.93 10.81 10.70 10.58 10.47 10.35 10.24 10.12 10.01 9.89 9.78 9.66 9.55 9.43 9.32 9.20 9.09 8.97 8.86 8.74 8.63 8.51 8.40 8.28 8.17 8.05 7.94 7.82 7.71 7.59 7.48 7.36 7.25 7.13 7.02 6.90 6.79 6.67 6.56 6.44 6.33 6.21 6.10 5.99 5.87 5.76 5.64

5 min 7.60 7.50 7.39 7.29 7.19 7.08 6.98 6.88 6.77 6.67 6.57 6.46 6.36 6.26 6.15 6.05 5.95 5.84 5.74 5.64 5.53 5.43 5.33 5.22 5.12 5.01 4.91 4.81 4.70 4.60 4.50 4.39 4.29 4.19 4.08 3.98 3.88 3.77 3.67 3.57 3.46 3.36 3.26 3.15 3.05 2.95 2.84 2.74 2.64 2.53 2.43 2.33

FT 6.40 6.31 6.22 6.13 6.04 5.96 5.87 5.78 5.69 5.60 5.51 5.42 5.33 5.24 5.15 5.07 4.98 4.89 4.80 4.71 4.62 4.53 4.44 4.35 4.27 4.18 4.09 4.00 3.91 3.82 3.73 3.64 3.55 3.47 3.38 3.29 3.20 3.11 3.02 2.93 2.84 2.75 2.66 2.58 2.49 2.40 2.31 2.22 2.13 2.04 1.95 1.86

World class (e.g., international pro)

Exceptional (e.g., domestic pro)

Excellent (e.g., cat. 1)

Very good (e.g., cat. 2)

Good (e.g., cat. 3)

Moderate (e.g., cat. 4)

Fair (e.g., cat. 5)

Untrained (e.g., non racer)

hydration systems, camping equipment, maps, and guide books. 732 Grand Avenue • Glenwood Springs, CO • 800 360 6994 461 Main Street • Grand Junction, CO • 800 CLIMB IT

BOTH STORES OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

2012 CYCLING GUIDE

MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS

LUNCH LOOP GETTING THERE

At the intersection of First Street and Grand Avenue in downtown Grand Junction head west for about one mile on Grand (aka Hwy. 340), following the signs directing you to the Colorado National Monument. Cross the bridge and you’ll come to Monument Road; hang a left taking you toward Colorado National Monument. Follow that road for two miles. You’ll see the parking lot for Lunch Loop on the left.

TRAIL TALK

It’s a technical system of trails that locals love, particularly Grand Junction residents who can walk out the front door, jump on their bikes and ride a few miles to the trailhead. It’s called the Lunch Loops because locals can easily jump on for a quick lunchtime ride. If you’re from outside the area, throw the bikes on top of the car after your ride and take a drive through the Colorado National Monument, or better yet, cruise through it on your road bike. It’s a special place, complete with a pump park and jumps; you want to make sure you check out. One more note, if you ride up Widowmaker Hill without clipping out or hiking a bike, make sure you let folks know at whichever downtown Grand Junction bar you happen to be at after the ride. Such an accomplish might score you a free beer or two.

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

Trails Area

KID’S MEAL/PUMP TRACK

Distance: 1-2 miles Diﬃculty: Easy The Dirt: A one-of-a-kind bike skills park and pump track with dirt jump lines and more. And then warm up your riding skills on Kid’s Meal singletrack trail that circumnavigates the Lunch Loop trailhead area.

ANDY’S LOOP

Distance: About 7 miles, or a lot more, depending on how you ride it Diﬃculty: Moderate to tough The Dirt: Andy’s is a great technical ride with lots of climbing and lots of challenges. Don’t be ashamed to hop out of the saddle on portions, because it gets pretty steep. As we mentioned earlier, there are a lot of rocks in this system of trails, and they don’t give much when you land on them.

GUNNY LOOP

Distance: 5 miles, give or take Difficulty: Moderate The Dirt: Gunny is kind of a loner off by itself on the other side of Little Park Road, but don’t cast off this ride just because it looks like a castaway. Gunny’s a blast. As with most of the trails in the Lunch Loop area, if you’re not on your A-game, Gunny will eat your lunch.

HOLY CROSS

Distance: 6.5 miles Diﬃculty: Moderate The Dirt: Pay attention to the trail system long enough in Grand Junction/Fruita, and you’ll ﬁnd yourself tipping your

hat to COPMOBA — a lot. This local organization of riding fanatics gets credit for a ton of great trails in the Grand Valley, including Holy Cross. Holy Cross will have you screaming holy crap a lot as you twist your way through sweet, technical, rocky, swooping singletrack. If you visit Grand Junction and don’t ride this trail, please don’t admit that to anyone.

EAGLE’S WING & EAGLE’S TAIL

Distance: 5 miles, give or take Diﬃculty: Moderate The Dirt: The Eagles are at the heart of the Lunch Loop trail area. If you ride into the Lunch Loop area not knowing where you’re going, there’s a good chance you’ll land on a Wing or a Tail. That’s not a bad thing. Get to the top of Eagle’s Wing, take a few minutes to soak up the view, and gain an understanding of why it was named what it was. As with most of the rides in this area, there are more rocks than you can shake a punctured tube at.

sliding for 10 or 12 feet and three or four cactuses.

FREE LUNCH

Distance: 1 mile Difficulty: Depends on how fast your burn down it The Dirt: This black diamond freeride was dedicated in November 2007. Free Lunch is the first officially sanctioned freeride trail on BLM lands. To minimize conflicts with other trail users, the trail is open to mountain bikes only and is restricted to downhill travel. If the last jump you did on a bike was over your buddy in the driveway as a kid using a propped up piece of plywood, it’s in your best interest to avoid the jumps, drops and rocks on this trail. But make sure you watch the people who do have the ability — it’s an incredible spectacle. Pucker-Up is also a designated downhill MTB trail — one-way and no hiking.

PET-E-KES

Distance: Mile or so Diﬃculty: Moderate, strenuous The Dirt: This trail was built by community members in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management. It’s named for Pete Larson, a former teacher and BLM employee. This trail is a great way to get to higher ground — tight singletrack with lots of switchbacks. It’s a good way to hone your technical skills. Beware, fall the wrong way in some areas and you won’t stop

Information courtesy of the BLM, Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA), the “Fruita Fat Tire Guidebook” by Troy Rarick and Anne Keller, and first-hand endo experiences by former Cycling Guide editor Josh Nichols. For more information on any of these rides, check the COPMOBA website at www.copmoba.org or the Over the Edge Sports website at www.otesports.com.

2012 CYCLING GUIDE

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18 ROAD

Trails Area

GETTING THERE As you cruise through miles of farmland on your way to the trailhead, you’ll be reminded that Fruita is a tale of two happily coinciding communities — farming and riding. There are several ways to get to 18 Road, depending on which way you’re coming from. If you’re in Fruita, get on Maple Road and head north out of town for about four miles. Hang a right on N 3/10 Road until you hit a “T” intersection. That’s 18 Road. Follow it north to the singletrack promise land.

TRAIL TALK We’re calling this the 18 Road area. But when you start talking to locals, you’ll find they also refer to it as the “North Fruita Desert” and “The Bookcliffs.” Who cares what it’s called? All you need to know is this area created by a group of locals in the mid-1990s is singletrack at its best. Take a day, two days or set up camp and stay awhile. Some folks never leave. Elevation varies from 5300’ to 7200’ and skill level ranges from easy to difficult. It’s 73 miles of singletrack for your pleasure.

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

Photo Courtesy | Russ Karaus

JOE’S RIDGE

Distance: 5.5-mile loop Difficulty: Moderate The Dirt: If you’re still getting the feel for your bike on this stuff we like to call singletrack in western Colorado, Joe’s Ridge is a good first ride to get your tires dirty. It was one of the first trails developed in this area — not too strenuous, not too technical.

EDGE LOOP

Distance: 28-mile loop Difficulty: Moderate to tough The Dirt: Thinking about biting off a multi-day trip like Kokopelli or Tabeguache? You might start by spending a day on “The Edge.” It gets you on top of the Bookcliffs and allows you to soak up the site of the moun-

tain-biking heaven below. It’s long, it’s remote, it’s beautiful.

rienced riders looking to step it up a notch.

CHUTES & LADDERS

THE FRONTSIDE

Distance: 9.5-mile loop Diﬃculty: Tough The Dirt: You loved the game as a kid, now you can have just as much fun on the ride as an adult. It’s not super technical, but don’t expect to nail a perfect ride your ﬁrst time. Have a blast.

ZIPPITY DO DA

Distance: 6.3 mile-loop Difficulty: Tough The Dirt: If you don’t keep your senses sharp on this one, you’re going to find yourself zipping off the trail down the side of a hill. Zippity is a challenge, and the perfect challenge for expe-

Distance: 10.5 miles Diﬃculty: Moderate The Dirt: Be prepared to climb, but you know what climbing means — killer downhill fun. Views at the top are incredible.

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2012 CYCLING GUIDE

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KOKOPELLI'S LOOP

Trails Area GETTING THERE

Drive 12 miles west of Grand Junction on Interstate 70 and get oﬀ at the Loma Exit 15.

TRAIL TALK

WThrow a camera in your daypack for this area, because you’re going to want to get out of the saddle a few times and soak up the views overlooking the Colorado River snaking through the rock walls of the McInnis Canyons National Conserva-

MARY’S LOOP

Distance: 9.3 miles Difficulty: Moderate The Dirt: Mary’s Loop is an excellent intermediate trail that offers incredible views of the Colorado River. There’s some exposure along this route, but stay true to the trail and you don’t have much to worry about. The loop is 9.3 miles, but if you’re having so much fun you don’t want to quit, just keep riding west and follow the 142mile Kokopelli Trail to Moab (just remember that when you finish, the beer in Utah is only 3.2).

RUSTLER’S LOOP

Distance: 3.6 miles Difficulty: Easy The Dirt: Great ride for beginners. Actually, COPMOBA developed this trail FOR beginning riders — the first of its kind with trail signs along the way offering riding tips. Experienced riders shouldn’t pass this one up, though. Fun, fast ride worth a quick warm-up at the beginning of the day or cool down at the end.

HORSETHIEF BENCH LOOP

Distance: 3.6 miles Diﬃculty: Moderate to strenuous The Dirt: The worst part of this trail is all the grit you get in your teeth from the big goofy grin you can’t wipe oﬀ your face as you tear trough looping singletrack. Slow down a bit at the Colorado River overlooks,

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

because there’s a bit of exposure — but more importantly, the view’s great. Ride this trail, period.

STEVE’S LOOP

Distance: 2.9 miles Diﬃculty: Moderate The Dirt: If you’re out for a cruise on Mary’s and want to pick up a few more miles, Steve’s oﬀers some nice additional scenery worth checking out. Ride it counterclockwise and enjoy the views. It’ll add anywhere from a half hour to an hour to your ride.

MOORE FUN TRAIL

Distance: 7 miles The Dirt: Some will tell you the name ﬁts this technically and physically challenging loop to a “T.” Some will tell you a two-week vacation in a oneroom Topeka hotel room with their in-laws is more fun. It all depends on your level of riding ability. You climb 950 feet, the single-track’s tight — there are lots of rocks to get bloodied up on. If you’re conﬁdent in the saddle, have a blast. If you’re still getting used to your fat tires, check out the other area rides before hitting this one.

TROY BUILT LOOP

Distance: 8 miles Diﬃculty: Strenuous The Dirt: More sweet singletrack with lots of rocks. Ride this baby as loop or an out-andback. You want to be in decent shape for this area. One reason to ride it: Folks don’t seem to hit it as much as the other trails.

LION’S LOOP

Distance: 7.8 miles The Dirt: You can ride this singletrack fun as a loop or to connect with other trails. Continues on the same theme as the other Kokopelli rides — be ready for rocks and a challenge. The Fruita Fat Tire Guidebook oﬀers great advice on diﬀerent ways to ride one of the classic area trails.

MACK RIDGE TRAIL

Distance: 7.1 miles The dirt: Mack provides riders the opportunity to survey the entire Kokopelli riding area if they’d like. There are spectacular views on this one and about 1,100 feet of climbing. Ride it out and back, or as a loop with Troy Built.

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2012 CYCLING GUIDE

Nonprofit teaches elementary students bike safety

rand Valley Bikes, a bike advocacy group which promotes improved safety and infrastructure for cyclists in the valley, recently secured a $30,000 grant to expand a comprehensive wellness program which enables children to walk and bicycle safely to ﬁve schools in District 51. Grand Valley Bikes (GVB) received a similar grant last year for its Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. Grant money in 2011 went to purchase a ﬂeet of bicycles and a rodeo course. More than 900 elementary students learned pedestrian and bicycle safety last school year. This year, GVB hopes to double that number.

CYCLING GUIDE 2012

The SRTS program strives to create a culture of walking and bicycling at each school by increasing the safety skill-set of students as well as incorporating parents and guardians to monitor routes to school. Children in physical education classes learn walking and bicycling roadsafe skills from GVB bicycle instructors and practice them in a bicycle rodeo course. “Studies show that kids who are regularly active tend to do better in school and on tests because there is more oxygen going to the brain,” said Josh Warinner, Tope Elementary School P.E. teacher. Tope was the ﬁrst District 51 School to hold a SRTS program

Photo Courtesy | Sarah Mah

in November 2011. Next up for a visit from GVB is Rocky Mountain Elementary, Chipeta Elementary, Dual Immersion Academy and Fruitvale Elementary. “The City of Grand Junction is committed to accommodating all modes of transportation and believes programs that

encourage children to walk and bike safely school contribute to achieving our goal of ‘Becoming the Most Livable Community West of the Rockies’,” said Kathy Portner, neighborhood services manager for the City of Grand Junction and liaison to the SRTS program.

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2012 CYCLING GUIDE

Bicycle Outfitters, Inc. is celebrating their 20th year in the bicycle business on the beautiful Western Slope of Colorado. We are located in downtown Grand Junction just minutes away from some of the best mountain or road biking in Colorado. Our staff is very knowledgeable on all aspects of cycling and are dedicated to enhancing your bicycling experience. Stop by to check our our bicycles and meet our staff.

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