Browsing Trails

Mountain Biking: Marshal Mesa Loop

January5

I had a good ride out at Marshall Mesa (which is only about 20 min away from my house!). A dude over at Boulder Cycle Sport suggested it and it is a great one for newbies like me :). I plan to do it fairly often given how close it is and it has a lot of good practice points.

There are some rocky parts, some technical parts, and a lot of just fun gravel roads and single track. It was good practice to stay on a line, do a little rock climbing stuff, and get in better shape. It is pretty exposed so if there are high winds I would avoid it. If the sun is out I think it will be fairly warm even in the winter. so here are a few from around the net

Total ride 16.7 miles with an average speed of 9.3mph and a high of 24.2 miles per hour. Ascent/descent of a little over 1000 feet.

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Mountain Biking: Round 2 of… Forest Road 550 + Shingle Mill Trail No. 725 + Sandy Wash.

December30

The day started out cold and with little snow flurries, but by the time I got to the trail it was blue skies and beautiful. It was so warm I wore shorts and just a light pullover. I did this trail Dec 13th, and loved it so I decided to do it again. I am already in better shape and it felt good to be able to do more, and not feel so out of breath going up some of the hills. I also found this little Sandy Wash trail at the end and did it twice it was so much fun.

How much better shape? On Dec 13th I finished stage 1 of the ride in an hour and 20 minutes, this time it only took me an hour and 8 minutes.

Total ride 24.4 miles with an average speed of 9.6mph and a high of 25.7 miles per hour. Ascent/descent of a little under 2000 feet.

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Hiking Backpack For Calico!

December22

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Mountain Biking: Lair O’ The Bear

December20

My Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars.

So the Lair O’ The Bear trail was rated intermediate, but I decided to go for it and it was tough. Initially, it is just a lot of climbing on some pretty intense terrain for a newbie, and over the 6 miles out to the turn around point, I had to walk about 5 spots. Usually, because a drop was a little too big for my confidence levels, or a little too rocky next to a 10 to 15-foot fall/roll, or because it was just super super rocky with a very tight line or no line I could see. I think once I am in better shape it will be more fun, but I was so winded by the time I got to some flowy stuff I was just spent.

I also made a mistake and did not realize it was 6 miles out and back, I thought it was 12 miles out and back. Thus giving less elevation intense elevation gain. Oh well as it will help me get in better shape. I also went a bit slower and did some practice over the same spots that I struggled with. Going back was fun, but with my current bike, a lot of pogo stick action.

Total ride of 13.15 miles with an average speed of 5.9mph and a high of 19 miles per hour. Ascent/descent of a little over 1700 feet. Maybe more telling is that when I look at my heart rate stats I spent 50 minutes in very hard and 1 hour and 3 minutes in very hard (avg heart rate 139, max at 161). I think my watch told me I should take a 37-hour break to recover, lol :).

PS. I did wear some fox launch pro knee pads I bought so that when I fall it won’t jack my knee like last week. So far they are ok, but going to see after a few more rides.

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Mountain Biking: Forest Road 550 and Shingle Mill Trail No. 725

December13

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars.

Forest Road 550 is just my speed, the first 5.5 miles is a huge beautiful dirt road, with a ton of single track to either side. At 5.5 miles it hits another forest road and you can go left or right. Left is a gradual climb that eventually hits 126. Right goes forever and ends up at a lake and then 287. I went left and the climb was nice since I am trying to get in better shape. After 9 miles (since the start) I stopped and had a quick snack, and then took Shingle Mill Trail No. 725 back down.

Shingle Mill Trail is FUN! I am really new to mountain biking and this felt like a fast trail without too many crazy parts. The total thing is 3.4 miles and I finished it in ~21 minutes with a few stops for bikers coming up it (which was a nice break to take photos). I fell twice, and caught myself once mid-fall. Usually, because I was going fast and some rough dirt/rock mix that I turned too quick on. Really fun and highly recommended trail. I am looking forward to going back once I am in better shape.

Fun day, total ride 15.3 miles with an average speed of 8.9mph and a high of 24.5 miles per hour. Ascent/descent of a little under 1300 feet.

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Coulson Gulch Trail: Mountain Biking & Hiking

December6

I am a newb when it comes to mountain biking on single track. I’ve done a lot of forest/logging roads but not much of anything else. I am trying to learn so I decided to do Coulson Gulch Trail. A local guide book rated it as “Technically easy to moderate with a few steep sections of rock and sand”. Unfortunately, I only made it 0.71 miles in before my back tire died :(… so I hiked the rest.

It was a BEAUTIFUL hike. There is an abandoned cabin 1.8 miles in, and the canyons are stunning. I also found several deer legs that were pretty fresh so watch out for animals. The trail did not seem like it was used very often, pretty overgrown. Some old wagon trail road for part of it too.

The book (referenced above) was written before the trail was washed away and a bridge (link goes to forest service details). I was able to leap from rock to rock to get across one area, but it is a mess. It made for some adventuring though. I walked along Button Rock Trail for about half a mile (which was amazing).

Hiking? Beautiful and fun! If you are feeling adventurous cross the stream and go up Button Rock Trail. Watch out for bears.

Biking? Good for about ~2 miles in max, and I am not sure it is really good for newbies. Pretty difficult with some of the washout, and a steam climb back which you are mostly walking.

It was a blast driving the new truck on some dirt roads, and some off roady type things. So much fun :)

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This is bwb’s personal blog, so he can share his thoughts with the world, however scary or silly they might be. Plus family and friends can track what I am up to, and where I am in the world.

I am pretty simple. I love Mangos. I love the ocean (although mostly at sunset, as I’m a ginger). I love to travel, eat exotic food, do long bike rides, read, and use my imagination. At some point, I decided it was better to be a pirate captain than an admiral. I am a globalist and see the entire world as my responsibility and playground. And I am married to an amazing woman who makes life even more fun :)! And we are now the proud parents of Calico Jack :).


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