A Saturday and Sunday full of riding. Can't get better than that.
Well, it can. I got to lead my first Team Evergreen ride. I've always
been a little apprehensive about leading a ride because I'm not fast
enough to ride out front. But, this is my favorite ride of all-time and
one that I have done for the past seven years (even before moving to
CO). We had fourteen including myself show up for the ride. So, we
arranged the shuttle, dropped the return fleet in Minturn, and started
up Shrine Pass Road.
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Then up Bowmans Shortcut. 4.0 miles of steep climbing to a half mile of
fall line downhill erosion. Fun!
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And plenty to see.
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Then more climbing.
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We hit the meadow at 11,700' before the final climb. Think no
switchbacks on a fall line. Ouch!
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And more views!
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The washed out downhill was a lot of fun. So much that I didn't stop to
get a picture. I don't think I could of stopped if I wanted to without
killing myself.
Matt scoots down the final portion before we come to the intersection.
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Then the fun begins! Fourteen miles of ripping downhill with a little
bit of everything. Six inch wide singletrack, six inch wide rutted, hit
the sides and your going flying singletrack, exposure, rocks, and a
missing bridge. Hoo ha!
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The bottom of the vail bowls.
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The really fun stuff.
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The missing bridge scheduled for a 2008 replacement.
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We finish up with a nice smooth downhill into Minturn and fourteen happy
people. I can't resist doing this ride every year and it's always changing.
Sunday morning I debated weather I had the legs for another ride. Then
I found myself at Waterton Canyon for a ride up the road to the CT.
Then Up to the first rocky rest area (7 miles from the start). The DH
into the creek after reaching the top is just way too much fun to let
the climbing bother me. Though I have to say, I am pretty wasted from
the double dose this weekend. Tomorrow is a recovery day for sure.
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o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws