[jasonb]

This past wednesday, one of my first riding buddies I had met when I moved to Colorado six years ago, returned from his new home in Ashville, NC for some Rocky Mountain riding. Singletrack Pig arrived with Broussard in tow and we headed out from the Denver airport to a sweet camp overlooking Buena VIsta and across to the Collegiate Peaks which had been staked out earlier in the evening by traveler royal Icegeek.

The plan was to ride Monarch Crest and the Rainbow Trail the following morning and then off to Crested Butte for a Friday of Reno/Flag/Bear/Deadmans followed by the CB Classic 100 on Saturday. The CB 100 was a tall order since I had not been training for a ride of that magnitude and the east coasters would be riding at altitudes up to 12,000 feet after only a couple of days of acclimation but that pain would wait until Saturday.

After a couple of weeks of intense storms the grass and wildflowers were flourishing on the bright and beautifully sunny Thursday of our Crest ride. Many of you are familiar with this classic Colorado ride but a brief description for those unacquainted: the Monarch Crest ride follows the path of the Continental Divide Trail, joining mid-ride with the Colorado Trail and descending on the Rainbow Trail. The first 12 miles rolls between 11,000 and 12,000 feet offering incredible high altitude scenery and riding before descending through alpine meadows and evergreen forests, along (and in) Silver Creek, and down the final steep scree strewn pitches.

Broussard leading us up the initial climb from 11,312 ft Monarch Pass...

<img src=https://www.bertolacci.org/distribution/monarch_cb/2006-07-13_09-01-30.jpg>​

Icegeek is a happy pedaler...

<img src=https://www.bertolacci.org/distribution/monarch_cb/2006-07-13_09-03-38.jpg>​

Singletrack Pig rolling along a treeline...

<img src=https://www.bertolacci.org/distribution/monarch_cb/2006-07-13_09-03-10.jpg>​

Icegeek with the Collegiate Peaks as a backdrop...

<img src=https://www.bertolacci.org/distribution/monarch_cb/2006-07-13_09-27-18.jpg>​

The Crest...

<img src=https://www.bertolacci.org/distribution/monarch_cb/2006-07-13_09-08-47.jpg>​

And the climb up...

<img src=https://www.bertolacci.org/distribution/monarch_cb/2006-07-13_09-12-52.jpg>​

Playing in the high country at the intersection of the Continental Divide Trail and the Colorado Trail...

<img src=https://www.bertolacci.org/distribution/monarch_cb/2006-07-13_09-31-27.jpg>​

Solitary country...

<img src=https://www.bertolacci.org/distribution/monarch_cb/2006-07-13_09-27-27.jpg>​

All together now...

<img src=https://www.bertolacci.org/distribution/monarch_cb/2006-07-13_12-05-34.jpg>​

Descending to Silver Creek on the Rainbow Trail. Can you find the cyclist?

<img src=https://www.bertolacci.org/distribution/monarch_cb/2006-07-13_11-24-17.jpg>​

 

[icegeek]

...
Icegeek is a happy pedaler...

Actually I was wincing in pain and delerious from hypoxia.

Typical scene: three riders hammering off in the distance, me looking around trying to find where I dropped that lung.

(nice pix jb)

 

[scrublover]

Further reminder that I *must* ride that this year.

Nice stuff!

 

[Singletrack Pig]

For the love of God!

What's wrong with those two dorks from NC and SC? Are they afflicted with some kind of rare altitude sickness that turns you into some kinda inbred, doofus dressing hayseed?

Jeez.

Great pics otherwise, keep em coming! Awesome trip fellas, looking forward to doing it again next year. And actually finishing the third loop of the CB 100.

"2 ounces...mission accomplished. 300 people are gonna be there, and mushrooms..."

 

[indyfab25]

Why am I still in Maine? Jesus!!

 

[Broussard]

"2 ounces...mission accomplished. 300 people are gonna be there, and mushrooms..."

fingers on nose/

"I'm in a hurry, give me five shots of Jim Beam!"

/fingers off nose

 

[icegeek]

That's right FIVE shots. FOUR's fer drankin, ONE's fer throwin.

 

[edemtbs]

What's wrong with those two dorks from NC and SC? Are they afflicted with some kind of rare altitude sickness that turns you into some kinda inbred, doofus dressing hayseed?

Great pics otherwise, keep em coming! Awesome trip fellas, looking forward to doing it again next year. And actually finishing the third loop of the CB 100.

"2 ounces...mission accomplished. 300 people are gonna be there, and mushrooms..."

You two just need to switch jerseys.

Were you guys driving a Bio Diesel in CB over the weekend? Thought I saw one of them vehicles at the start area.

.......nice pics.

Ed E

 

[Singletrack Pig]

Mountain Assault Vechicle

No, the Bio Benz stayed in NC. We rolled in Jason B's 2 door Acura with 180,000 miles on her. Loaded down with 3 guys, all their bike gear, camping supplies for 4 nights and 4 bikes.

Oh yeah, and some beer. Good times.

 

[jasonb]

No, the Bio Benz stayed in NC. We rolled in Jason B's 2 door Acura with 180,000 miles on her. Loaded down with 3 guys, all their bike gear, camping supplies for 4 nights and 4 bikes.

Oh yeah, and some beer. Good times.

AKA the uber-acura. Here is how she looks with a full load...

 

[jasonb]

What's wrong with those two dorks from NC and SC? Are they afflicted with some kind of rare altitude sickness that turns you into some kinda inbred, doofus dressing hayseed?

Jeez.

Great pics otherwise, keep em coming! Awesome trip fellas, looking forward to doing it again next year. And actually finishing the third loop of the CB 100.

"2 ounces...mission accomplished. 300 people are gonna be there, and mushrooms..."

Oh heck! I forgot the best one...

 

[teamdicky]

No, the Bio Benz stayed in NC. We rolled in Jason B's 2 door Acura with 180,000 miles on her. Loaded down with 3 guys, all their bike gear, camping supplies for 4 nights and 4 bikes.

Oh yeah, and some beer. Good times.

What's up with the fork-swap action there? I see a beautiful rigid on the car shot and a sussy on the ride photos. Is that thing for go or for show??

 

[Singletrack Pig]

Outed!

Forgoshdogdoggit!

I was hoping on one would notice my poseurdom. Yeah, I just dropped a paycheck on a sweet Black Sheep custom fork so's I could look like a hard man at the CB 100 start. Then I dashed off to the bushes and slapped the Reba back on real quick.

The new fork arrived in NC the afternoon after I had shipped my bike to CO so I had to do the install on the road. Its frickin' sweet.

 

[hogwash]

i will be out there next week and hope to ride the monarch crest. especially now that i've read this thread! sweet pics.

 

[teleken]

Nice pics. Thanks for the quick trip out of the cube.

 

[gotdirt]

time for a new air freshener

We rolled in Jason B's 2 door Acura with 180,000 miles on her. Loaded down with 3 guys, all their bike gear, camping supplies for 4 nights and 4 bikes.
Oh yeah, and some beer.

let's keep fingers crossed that RMH is held out that way this fall... course even if it is not, i'll make the trip down for sure this year (MC virgin), as it looks too good to miss.

nice photos btw.

 

[jasonb]

Monarch is one of FRMBP's fun rides this year. Might be a good time to go.

 

[Jdub]

Icegeek is a happy pedaler...

Hey Icegeek,

Is that a chest-mount SLR bag? If so, which brand/model is it? I've been at a couple different ones as I'd like to start taking my DSLR with me instead of my P&S.

 

[Gaffney10]

what kind of bike is the Green Bike??

 

[icegeek]

what kind of bike is the Green Bike??

Does this help?

Sometimes I wonder if it isn't one of the more seen bike in MTBRdom