Saturday we were going to do the Crest with CC but he bailed (maybe next time, eh?). So we had already gotten a sitter so the wife and I decided to do 401 together with some friends. We don't ride together all that often since becoming parents so it was great to do it for a classic trail we used to do a lot when we were dating. It was pretty uneventful, but since we hadn't done it in a while we were both caught off guard with it's spectacular views and amazing riding. I snapped some photos before the camera battery died. Check them out here: <http://mattb.net/pics.aspx?gal=2005-07-30%20(Riding%20401%20near%20Crested%20Butte)> or http://tinyurl.com/8okmo
Then this morning I was a volunteer for the Crested Butte XTerra triathlon, which my bother is the director of. I was the boat (kayak) that the lead swimmer followed. So since I was in CB already, I might as well Ride after my work was done. So my buddy Steve and I decided to ride 403. We had somewhat limited time so we caught a ride (from Skyland - maybe 7 or 8 Miles) to the Long Lake trail head and started riding from there. The climb was pretty hot, and I remembered it being pretty hard. It still is. We passed a couple of other groups on the way up and I think I saw the whitest pair of legs I've ever seen on a rider. Definitely not a local dude. Steve is riding strong again. He recently got an Epic after riding mine and he's loving it and riding lots. He also moved to CB so pretty much every ride has some vertical and he's out of the slump he was in last year. The top was just as spectacular with flowers as 401 had been yesterday. We took only a couple of quick sight seeing breaks and kept moving the rest of the time. The first downhill starts steep and loose, with big exposure. I took it easy and dabbed whenever I was less than 100% sure I had the line. I just didn't want to mess with the kind of fall that could be taken there. The middle section is my favorite. Smooth, fast singletrack with banked turns flanked in wild flowers. There are short steep sections where you can air over rocks and roots with a nice smooth runout. Great stuff and over too quickly. Soon we were back in the steeps of the final descent. The skunk cabbage is almost as tall as we are and it makes for a tunnel effect down the steep switchbacks. To finish it out with a cut through he ski area to Upper Loop on the way back to Steve's place in Skyland. I didn't get any photos today. I didn't bring the camera and it was nice to just enjoy the ride.
"MattB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Saturday we were going to do the Crest with CC but he bailed (maybe next time, eh?). So we had already gotten a sitter so the wife and I decided to do 401 together with some friends. We don't ride together all that often since becoming parents so it was great to do it for a classic trail we used to do a lot when we were dating. It was pretty uneventful, but since we hadn't done it in a while we were both caught off guard with it's spectacular views and amazing riding. I snapped some photos before the camera battery died. Check them out here:
"MattB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Saturday we were going to do the Crest with CC but he bailed (maybe next time, eh?). So we had already gotten a sitter so the wife and I decided to do 401 together with some friends. We don't ride together all that often since becoming parents so it was great to do it for a classic trail we used to do a lot when we were dating. It was pretty uneventful, but since we hadn't done it in a while we were both caught off guard with it's spectacular views and amazing riding. I snapped some photos before the camera battery died. Check them out here:
It's good to hear Steve is getting back in the groove. Hopefully I'll get to ride in an aspen grove again soon...
JD
Yeah, I was happy to see that too. He was putting the hurt on me yesterday, riding super-strong. Of course he's got fatherhood coming soon (January), so we'll see how that balance works out. From my experience it takes at least a few months to get back in the groove after that change.
It's good to hear Steve is getting back in the groove. Hopefully I'll get to ride in an aspen grove again soon...
JD
Yeah, I was happy to see that too. He was putting the hurt on me yesterday, riding super-strong. Of course he's got fatherhood coming soon (January), so we'll see how that balance works out. From my experience it takes at least a few months to get back in the groove after that change.
Saturday we were going to do the Crest with CC but he bailed (maybe next time, eh?). So we had already gotten a sitter so the wife and I decided to do 401 together with some friends.
Apologies again for the cancellation, and I'm very glad to hear you found such a good use for the day. We indeed missed out. I think it was the right decision though -- an extra couple days of rest and J. was finally over her cold and ready to ride again. We did Government Trail in Aspen yesterday, the full 21-mile loop. Wuf.
We've hit the Colorado Trail in Durango, Hermosa Creek, and Molas Pass. Monarch Crest was a bust, alas. We climb Mt. Elbert (on foot) tomorrow. I'll try to write a RR or two, but we're too busy outside...
Saturday we were going to do the Crest with CC but he bailed (maybe next time, eh?). So we had already gotten a sitter so the wife and I decided to do 401 together with some friends.
Apologies again for the cancellation, and I'm very glad to hear you found such a good use for the day. We indeed missed out. I think it was the right decision though -- an extra couple days of rest and J. was finally over her cold and ready to ride again. We did Government Trail in Aspen yesterday, the full 21-mile loop. Wuf.
We've hit the Colorado Trail in Durango, Hermosa Creek, and Molas Pass. Monarch Crest was a bust, alas. We climb Mt. Elbert (on foot) tomorrow. I'll try to write a RR or two, but we're too busy outside...
CC
Good to hear you're not just sitting around. Glad to hear the crud is moving on too. Maybe another time...
