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This needs to be it's own thread. Please stop by Mavic, I'd love to see 2019 softwoods, also please tell them that we NEED a 12-spd Shimano freehub body or they have lost this 30 year customer forever.
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Mountain Biking 2018
- Thread starter Jersey Skier
- Start date
This needs to be it's own thread. Please stop by Mavic, I'd love to see 2019 softwoods, also please tell them that we NEED a 12-spd Shimano freehub body or they have lost this 30 year customer forever.
This was just a few teaser pics..We are starting an Interbike thread in general cycling. Shimano is loosing not only customers but brands for not having a 12 speed. Cannondale switched to the Sram on the 2019 mid level bikes because of the same reason. Note on the softwoods, I will get some pics on them.
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Phil, 2019 XTR is 12-spd (and if the past is any indicator, 2020 XT and SLX will follow late next spring). But not all hub manufacturers are supporting it (yet). We need 12 spd driver bodies!
Today's ride, a "short" out and back from Kenosha Pass on the CT Segment #6. The first mile is a rooty climb FULL of hikers... The second mile, much more fun and less people, the third mile, super fun and almost no hikers... Just an amazing area overall. I wanna go back to go all the way to Georgia Pass. The climb back is hard. The fall Foliage is a bit early and some groves were even bare (due to strong winds earlier in the week). Weather, 80-85º, yes, at 10,000 Feet... 
Definitely NOT fall weather...
Definitely NOT fall weather...
Yeah, pretty nice. Perfect weather for riding up high!
Made a quick vid. Definitely need a gimbal!
Yes on the high level bikes that have XTR are 12 speed but the lack of 12 at the mid level was my point. Personally I prefer the Shimano drivetrain if anything just for the shifters, I prefer to have the option of using my trigger finger to shift.
Yesterday, I decided to explore a little more of the Breckenridge trail network - meaning, suck it up and do some climbing. I haven't been in Summit much this season - 9.9k to 11.1k felt like a LOT.
The route was B&B Trailhead to Turk's to French Gulch to Trail of Tears to Weber to True Romance to (got lost a little here - Pinball Alley?) to the Baker's Tank road, then back to Baker's Tank trail, Aspen Alley, and back home via Illinois Gulch. I skipped some climbing/road riding by getting dropped off at the trailhead.
The trail along the top of the ride, I think Pinball Alley and parts of Baker's Tank trail, were amazing, just splendiferous flow. So splendiferous that I think I missed the turn that would have allowed me to skip the dusty, car-infested road, but oh well. Weber was fun, but I'm pretty sure it was meant to be ridden downhill. Trail of Tears and Weber were both beautiful single track.
On the drudge climb up French Gulch, I started noticing that my knees hurt, and it seemed like my seat was a little low. But sometimes I just think that, and it's fine, and anyway, I didn't want to stop on the climb. When I got to the top, I discovered that my dropper had my seat down maybe an inch or two. This may relate to why my knees got pretty cranky last night and still aren't 100% happy. Climbing got much easier after that!
I forgot - until I was almost there, and exhausted - that the last tiny bit before the ice rink had some sections that I'd walked in the past. They made me a little nervous, but I was able to ride all of them without a hitch. Improvement feels good!
The upper part of Turk's. The first time I rode this section, the rock really freaked me out. These days, it only freaks me out moderately:
I found this at an overlook. I'm pretty sure this was a bit past where I was supposed to turn for Baker's Tank trail (instead of riding all the way to the actual tank):
The views from the road were nice, though:
Looking back at the bottom of Aspen Alley:
Just before I got back to the ice rink:
The route was B&B Trailhead to Turk's to French Gulch to Trail of Tears to Weber to True Romance to (got lost a little here - Pinball Alley?) to the Baker's Tank road, then back to Baker's Tank trail, Aspen Alley, and back home via Illinois Gulch. I skipped some climbing/road riding by getting dropped off at the trailhead.
The trail along the top of the ride, I think Pinball Alley and parts of Baker's Tank trail, were amazing, just splendiferous flow. So splendiferous that I think I missed the turn that would have allowed me to skip the dusty, car-infested road, but oh well. Weber was fun, but I'm pretty sure it was meant to be ridden downhill. Trail of Tears and Weber were both beautiful single track.
On the drudge climb up French Gulch, I started noticing that my knees hurt, and it seemed like my seat was a little low. But sometimes I just think that, and it's fine, and anyway, I didn't want to stop on the climb. When I got to the top, I discovered that my dropper had my seat down maybe an inch or two. This may relate to why my knees got pretty cranky last night and still aren't 100% happy. Climbing got much easier after that!
I forgot - until I was almost there, and exhausted - that the last tiny bit before the ice rink had some sections that I'd walked in the past. They made me a little nervous, but I was able to ride all of them without a hitch. Improvement feels good!
The upper part of Turk's. The first time I rode this section, the rock really freaked me out. These days, it only freaks me out moderately:
I found this at an overlook. I'm pretty sure this was a bit past where I was supposed to turn for Baker's Tank trail (instead of riding all the way to the actual tank):
The views from the road were nice, though:
Looking back at the bottom of Aspen Alley:
Just before I got back to the ice rink:
Around Guyot. 36 miles. 5600 vertical. Rolling time 6:16. Elapsed time 9:50.
A good start to the day.
Daymon earning the name Billy Goat. He didn't have a lot of mile in the saddle this season, but was strong all the way.
I love the colors of the Kinnikinnick
Los Seis Hombres menos uno. Russ pulled a muscle early on and had to turn around.
We would have been happy with an 8 am wake up call.
The Great Flume
Fixing a flat.
Enjoying après.
A good start to the day.
Daymon earning the name Billy Goat. He didn't have a lot of mile in the saddle this season, but was strong all the way.
I love the colors of the Kinnikinnick
Los Seis Hombres menos uno. Russ pulled a muscle early on and had to turn around.
The Great Flume
Fixing a flat.
Enjoying après.
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^ That looks like an awesome ride!
You earned it. 35 miles> No effin way. You are the man.
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Well, it looks like I've been doing a fair amount of riding this year. I've been having a bit of weirdness in my shifting. It turns out that I have worn out the parallelogram in my derailleur. It shakes all over the place. We shall see if Shimano warranties it.
Last Sunday I rode counter-clockwise around Guyot. One trail that was an important connector had some downed trees so I went back Friday night to camp then rise early and cut some of those trees out.
My dinner view.
I've made that bivy sack decades ago. It is still going strong; I don't camp out that much, but it is great to be out under the stars, of which there were many after the moon had begun to set.
The kitchen.
Room with a view.
Frost on my boots from an early morning start through tall grass.
Guyot.
A couple of the trees that were removed. I took out a couple more along the line.
The remover. This hand pack saw sees use all spring and summer as the trails around here are prone to deadfall and sometimes live trees being blown down as well.
This was along a very seldom used ditch trail between the Missouri Gulch and the CT.
All in all almost 8 miles yesterday and nearly a mile the evening before. It was fun to get out on foot on these virtually wild trails. Ditches and flumes make for nice walking. This is more than I've hiked in a long time due to foot issues. I was happy to be able to do it without foot pain. Now my right knee is another thing. It surprisingly spoke up during the last few miles. I haven't had a problem with it skiing. I camped on the far right in the Earth image.
My dinner view.
I've made that bivy sack decades ago. It is still going strong; I don't camp out that much, but it is great to be out under the stars, of which there were many after the moon had begun to set.
The kitchen.
Room with a view.
Frost on my boots from an early morning start through tall grass.
Guyot.
A couple of the trees that were removed. I took out a couple more along the line.
The remover. This hand pack saw sees use all spring and summer as the trails around here are prone to deadfall and sometimes live trees being blown down as well.
This was along a very seldom used ditch trail between the Missouri Gulch and the CT.
All in all almost 8 miles yesterday and nearly a mile the evening before. It was fun to get out on foot on these virtually wild trails. Ditches and flumes make for nice walking. This is more than I've hiked in a long time due to foot issues. I was happy to be able to do it without foot pain. Now my right knee is another thing. It surprisingly spoke up during the last few miles. I haven't had a problem with it skiing.
I camped on the far right in the Earth image.Fingers crossed. If it ain't one thing ....
I’m getting The Boy sold hook line and sinker into going to Western next year where his brother started this year.
401 today.
That’s a kicker ascent - the 1x12 drivetrain is awesome. The big low gear allows high cadence up steep climbs staying in the seat. Damn lung burner either way.
At the top of the switchback climb.
Another group coming up that we ended up riding with.
From the saddle looking north.
Everybody but me. Crested Butte down valley in the background.
These dudes just ripped the downhill. The singletrack has a lot of washboard from a summer of pounding and in places where the trail is narrow and has good fall exposure. Lots of roots in the aspens down lower.
Hell of a 2,700’ rip down.
401 today.
That’s a kicker ascent - the 1x12 drivetrain is awesome. The big low gear allows high cadence up steep climbs staying in the seat. Damn lung burner either way.
At the top of the switchback climb.
Another group coming up that we ended up riding with.
From the saddle looking north.
Everybody but me. Crested Butte down valley in the background.
These dudes just ripped the downhill. The singletrack has a lot of washboard from a summer of pounding and in places where the trail is narrow and has good fall exposure. Lots of roots in the aspens down lower.
Hell of a 2,700’ rip down.
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Yesterday was Hartman Rocks, which is a high desert slickrock 8,000 acre formation right outside of Gunnison. Absolutely awesome from techy tight rock sections (black diamond rated like the The Ridge) to slickrock climbs and descents and some ripping downhill flow on trails like Graceland.
Always climbing and descending - we did 13 miles over 2:45 of exploring. That place would make a killer home area, because it is so accessible for a ride of any length and difficulty. You could rock a killer one hour ride or go 4+ without repeats. Flow or ride “Collarbone”.
And the singletrack has almost no dust or sand - hard and grippy. So sweet.
Camping out there tonight, probably a cool down ride after 401 today, and then we’ll explore more. 53 miles of singletrack so says the guy at the bike shop.
And the feet and knees go in the river right afterwards.
Always climbing and descending - we did 13 miles over 2:45 of exploring. That place would make a killer home area, because it is so accessible for a ride of any length and difficulty. You could rock a killer one hour ride or go 4+ without repeats. Flow or ride “Collarbone”.
And the singletrack has almost no dust or sand - hard and grippy. So sweet.
Camping out there tonight, probably a cool down ride after 401 today, and then we’ll explore more. 53 miles of singletrack so says the guy at the bike shop.
And the feet and knees go in the river right afterwards.
Found this sweet singletrack very close to where I live (S. Platte Park)
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