[KRob]

I did the Cowboy trails this past Saturday morning in Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas. Still one of my favorite trail systems. Lots of fun techy, flowy, droppy, climby, singletrack.

I couldn't get any of the Vegas boys to join me with the dark start time (6:00am) and the "cold" weather (32 deg) but I can't blame 'em. It was sunny and well into the forties by time I got back at 8:15. If you don't have to be at work at 9:00 who wouldn't rather do that? The problem is.... you'd miss views like this. I love the early am.

 

[KRob]

1.My kids say I always close my eyes and make stupid faces in pictures. I guess they're right.
2. They've added a sign for the Boneshaker downhill. fun, fun stuff... though I didn't do it this morning.
3. Happy trails. Maybe I'll see you guys next time .

 

[CDtofer]

NIce shots!

Krob,
Love these, especially that first one. Made me think of getting up at 5AM to beat the heat in Phoenix in the summer. I too loved the early morning colors.

Thanks for sharin.

 

[Low_Rider]

Nice view you've got there!!

I can't honestly say I've ever done an early morning ride that's started quite that early!!

Top stuff.

Dave.

 

[mandkthomas]

I set the first pic as desktop wall paper, should be a good week!

Thanks!

MT

 

[wooglin]

Very nice. There's something about a sunrise. More gentle and less lurid than a sunset, or maybe just that most people miss it.

 

[hfly]

Great pictures, KRob.

One of the best rides I've ever done was a trip around the Cowboy Trails about two years ago. Rode down the Boneshaker behind (way behind) the guy who "built" those into bike trails. He had no front brake.

Gotta go to Vegas again this winter.

hfly

 

[Jisch]

Certainly a different kind of winter ride!

As much as I like CT riding - seeing pics like that make me realize that the scenery is certainly lacking...

Great shots.
John

 

[konahottie_311]

Nice!!

I would say that is a reasone to get up and ride in the morning. The sunrise is the best part of my commute but the views are nothing like your picts.K

 

[pacman]

Another morning

While others slept.
(1) A deserted trail and I get to make the first impressions
(2) The sun burns the dew off
(3) There are some other early birds

 

[brianthebiker]

Great pics!

Thanks for sharing. Admittedly, I have gotten up that early to go kayaking, but never for riding. Perhaps I will after seeing those shots;-)

 

[njcoppola]

I love riding up there in the early morning like that, however it's a little easier to do in the summer than when it's 30 degrees! Could someone clarify for me where "Cowboy Trail" is? I think I've ridden almost everything out there, just don't know all of the official names. Great pics, thanks for the post!

Neal

 

[E !]

cowboy trails

I love riding up there in the early morning like that, however it's a little easier to do in the summer than when it's 30 degrees! Could someone clarify for me where "Cowboy Trail" is? I think I've ridden almost everything out there, just don't know all of the official names. Great pics, thanks for the post!

Neal

That is the trail system across the road from red rock canyon area. The trail head is the area where they rent horses,just a tad north and east of the redrock visitors overlook.

 

[E !]

Next time

Sorry Krob. I woke about 4:30 am. stepped outside and it was just too darn cold and dark for me. I was just waking when you finished your ride. I didn't need to slow you down either. Which route did you end up doing?
James and i hit bootleg at 8 am yesterday. It was right about 40 degrees when we started with a raging wind. BRRR! My posted limit is now 45 degrees. 0 is just crazy. Unless you have all the right gear i suppose.

 

[KRob]

Krob,
Love these, especially that first one. Made me think of getting up at 5AM to beat the heat in Phoenix in the summer. I too loved the early morning colors.

Thanks for sharin.

Thanks. I like to think I would still ride at sunrise if I didn't have to beat the heat... make it to work on time, be there for family duties, etc. Whatever gets me out there, I'm glad.

I've done Phoenix (and Vegas) at dawn to beat the heat. Oooooh. I nice cool 85! LOL.

 

[KRob]

Nice view you've got there!!

I can't honestly say I've ever done an early morning ride that's started quite that early!!

Top stuff.

Dave.

See what you're missing? I think if I lived somewhere in the thick trees where you can't see the sunrise anyway.... I'd not be as enamoured with early am riding. The views and the sunrise make it worthwhile though.

 

[KRob]

I set the first pic as desktop wall paper
MT

Thanks. That's a great compliment.

 

[KRob]

Very nice. There's something about a sunrise. More gentle and less lurid than a sunset, or maybe just that most people miss it.

Thanks. Maybe that's what it is.... I don't have to share it with many people. The air seems fresher and cleaner like it hasn't been all used up already too.

 

[KRob]

Great pictures, KRob.

One of the best rides I've ever done was a trip around the Cowboy Trails about two years ago. Rode down the Boneshaker behind (way behind) the guy who "built" those into bike trails. He had no front brake.

Gotta go to Vegas again this winter.

hfly

Thanks Tim. NO FRONT BRAKE???!!! Yikes. The boneshaker rocks. I need to get a bigger bike (or bigger cajones) so I can launch all those drops. I launch the two footers, roll a couple of the 3-4 footers, and walk a few others. My style on that section is slow and controlled, especicially on the lower, steeper, droppier parts. One day.

 

[KRob]

Sorry Krob. I woke about 4:30 am. stepped outside and it was just too darn cold and dark for me. I was just waking when you finished your ride. I didn't need to slow you down either. Which route did you end up doing?
James and i hit bootleg at 8 am yesterday. It was right about 40 degrees when we started with a raging wind. BRRR! My posted limit is now 45 degrees. 0 is just crazy. Unless you have all the right gear i suppose.

Yep. I think if I'd've had a choice, I would've gone back to bed too.LOL. Although I warmed up pretty quick once I started climbing.

My route: I climbed up Bunny, up Cat in the Hat crossing over to Fossil canyon at the second divide, then I did that long skinny inner loop, then up SARS (I finally cleaned that steep switchback with the 3 foot step-up in the middle and the small Joshua tree on the inside of the switch. The trick was to stay left and attack the steep rock face rather than try the cheater line on the inside by the little joshua tree) then up to the "Y" for Boneshaker and the Vegas Overlook (avoiding the moonscape and the "road" climb), climbed up to the overlook, then retraced
back the same way except I came all the way down on Fossil back to Bunny (I was looking for one of my neoprene toe booties that fell off somewhere in Fossil canyon.)

Good ride.... and no wind at all, which was funny because it was blowing like crazy the night before in Cottonwood and was blowing again by time I got back to my hotel room at 8:30am after my Cowboy trails ride. Another advantage of early am riding? perhaps.

See you January.