Our imminent trip to Crested Butte inspired a conversation with my pals Chris and Rusty (over beers): if you had one day to live, what ride would you do? Feel free to post your favorites, I'd love to hear about them!I'm not planning on dying anytime too soon, but here were some of my choices (only including rides I've actually done here, I'm sure there are trails all over the world that I'd love but have never seen):
-Reno/Flag/Bear/Deadman loop off Cement Creek in Crested Butte. Buffest singletrack on earth, perfect distance, mile for mile the best XC ride in CB.
-Quemazon/Guaje Ridge loop in Los Alamos, my hometown. My first ride with clipless pedals, too many years ago.
-Raven's Ridge/Winsor in Santa Fe. Climb to 12k feet, descend singletrack all the way back to town. Starts and ends near some fantastic Mexican food - if only they could teleport Nellie's there I could ride it every day...and gain 50 pounds in a year.
-Mrazek trail to Phil's area (or Mrazek out-back) in Bend. I am mystified why this trail isn't more popular - climb up, then turn around and do a _12 mile_ descent! Then go drink at Deschutes...
-San Juan trail (San Juan Capistrano). The best singletrack in the OC, baby! Buff, smooth, and super duper fun. Laugh at the silly people on 8" travel bikes as you climb up, too.
-Bachelor street trails in Northampton, MA. Our only ride here ended in a massive hike-a-bike epic, thanks to Hassan "Magellan" Ibrahim of the desert folk. But the trails were pretty darn sweet (even though I whined a lot about the roots). It doesn't hurt that Hassan has a deck and alcohol with which to erase the memory of the pain.
-Indian Creek loop. Contains what might be my favorite 2 miles of singletrack in Colorado, and it's just remote and uncrowded enough to feel epic - even though it's really not.
-Couple of poach/illegal rides in Boulder that I won't mention here. Everything I like locally is quasi-illegal or a full-on poach. C'est la vie.
11 comments:
Poached single-track is always more fun. Always.
Bachelor St (eastern side) and Earl's (western wide) are a heck of a great time -- especially when combined!
There are just so many great places to ride that it's difficult to pick a favorite. Some great riding in Jim Thorpe, PA. French Creek (also in PA) is another worthwhile destination. VT has lots too.
West of Fruita: Mary's Loop to Horsetheif to Moore fun. Fast single track, slick-rock and a good technical finish. And a 6 pack in a cooler in the car waiting for you. Perfect day.
Kihei to Hana, Maui by way of Haleakala Volcano first or Pecos Wilderness, NM a close 2nd are the first two rides that come to mind.
Mark -
Pecos? Can you legally ride there?
-Walt
Nope, Pecos is wilderness, not legally. The Maui ride would get you in a heap of trouble too
If I am to understand your list correctly I've been involved in two of the seven or so rides... so... are you saying that you actually see me as the harbinger or cause of your demise? hmmm....
Laurel Mountain to Squirrel Gap
or
Heartbreak Ridge via Old Toll Road
or
Black Mountain to Bennett Gap
or
Farlow Gap to Black Mountain
or
Black->Turkey->Squirrel->Black
or
Laurel->Big Creek->Trace Ridge
or.....
One day to live, Sea of Tranquility, Always wanted to go there....
I'd ride Kessel Run on 18RD on every bike I own. The trail is very different on different bikes, and sprinting out of the corners is a always blast.
Then I'd ride Holy Cross in GJ. That trail is Heaven . . might as well ride Heaven since I'm goin' to Hell.
Kennebeck pass outside of Durango. Hands down. 20+ mile downhill with a 'little' climb in the middle.
Post a Comment