One day vegas itinerary

The fuel ex should be fine. I rode a 160mm bike while I was in blue diamond in November. It wasn't too much bike but I probably could have made it through fine with less bike. All the trails are pretty exposed there but nothing like bootleg canyon. Depending on your skill level you should be fine either way.

-Paul

FreuderLocks said:

The fuel ex should be fine. I rode a 160mm bike while I was in blue diamond in November. It wasn't too much bike but I probably could have made it through fine with less bike. All the trails are pretty exposed there but nothing like bootleg canyon. Depending on your skill level you should be fine either way.

-Paul

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Thanks...

Did you ride the chunky stuff at cowboy?

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Fuzzy Dunlop01 said:

Thanks...

Did you ride the chunky stuff at cowboy?

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Yes, it's not undoable lol. I'd look at it physically before deciding not to ride it.
-Paul

Sounds like a good plan but I would skip bunny and ride all the way up Kibbles instead, it has alot of fun sections past the turn off you'll take to Flow Job that you'll miss out on. I've never ridden Bomb Voyage, heard it's steep and loose, so never tried it. Boneshaker has some serious drops so be careful hitting them blind, easy to walk down if you decide not to send it, I do it often LOL! My last 2 bikes have been 145 and 140 rear susp, so I figure 130 wouldnt be too bad. Have fun on your ride, and you'll be here in May so it could be VERY hot even that early in the year, bring lots of water!

Mojave G said:

Sounds like a good plan but I would skip bunny and ride all the way up Kibbles instead, it has alot of fun sections past the turn off you'll take to Flow Job that you'll miss out on. I've never ridden Bomb Voyage, heard it's steep and loose, so never tried it. Boneshaker has some serious drops so be careful hitting them blind, easy to walk down if you decide not to send it, I do it often LOL! My last 2 bikes have been 145 and 140 rear susp, so I figure 130 wouldnt be too bad. Have fun on your ride, and you'll be here in May so it could be VERY hot even that early in the year, bring lots of water!

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Thanks I'm pushing my climbing limit for that early in the season already and was thinkin about hitting the hurl at the end which is why id rather just get up as easy as possible. Don't wanna miss fun tho!

I'll have to check out some KnB videos.

Is the difference just straight fire road/double track type grind vs. "fun" rocky/rolly climb?

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Fuzzy Dunlop01 said:

Thanks I'm pushing my climbing limit for that early in the season already and was thinkin about hitting the hurl at the end which is why id rather just get up as easy as possible. Don't wanna miss fun tho!

I'll have to check out some KnB videos.

Is the difference just straight fire road/double track type grind vs. "fun" rocky/rolly climb?

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I definately like Kibbles better for the fun factor, but if time is an issue probably just take Bunny. And dude if you hit Hurl after all that you are a baddass! 😱

Here's what I would do.
Start at Cowboy Trails and climb K&B-Goat Roper and descend Ebb and Flow.
Then, climb Flow Job and connect back to Cowboy trails via Goat Roper. Pick whatever option/options you want o get you to the top of Cowboy.
Then make your way to Boneshaker and descend that.
Exposure isn't the issue, but there is plenty of it.
The risk is in the drops and features if you intend to ride them blind. They aren't "hard" or overtly technical, but some are big and if you are tired and wobbly, you will absolutely use all your travel if you go for the "A" lines.
More travel isn't going to be the safety net. Really it will be line choice and fitness/stamina if you will be opting for the A lines.
I'd go at least 130 rear and 150 front if you are in the "send it and figure it out in the air" camp. If you are more measured and willing to opt for B lines when riding blind then anything will work. You can always hit the B/C lines and then go back and hit the A lines.

11053 has some good advice. I'd wish for 140-150 rear travel for most of Cowboy Trails (it's all pretty rocky), but it's not essential. I used to ride it on my 100mm xc/trail bike back when that was considered quite a bit of travel, ha ha. I would suggest Bone Shaker over Bomb Voyage for your first time simply because it's super fun, iconic, and you don't want to miss it. After you've done Bone Shaker dozens of times, it's fun to check on Bob Gnarley and Bomb Voyage. They're awesome and techy in a different way, but not better.

Climbing Bunny and Fossil Canyon is fun too, with plenty of techy bits and such. All singletrack, but that route is shorter and steeper than K&B. Having said that, the last several times I've been there I've done K&B. So cleverly routed you hardly notice your climbing. Oh, and I'd still go clear to the Ridge then "descend" Three Amigos back to Bone Shaker. There's some fun stuff and great views you don't want to miss there.

KRob said:

11053 has some good advice. I'd wish for 140-150 rear travel for most of Cowboy Trails (it's all pretty rocky), but it's not essential. I used to ride it on my 100mm xc/trail bike back when that was considered quite a bit of travel, ha ha. I would suggest Bone Shaker over Bomb Voyage for your first time simply because it's super fun, iconic, and you don't want to miss it. After you've done Bone Shaker dozens of times, it's fun to check on Bob Gnarley and Bomb Voyage. They're awesome and techy in a different way, but not better.

Climbing Bunny and Fossil Canyon is fun too, with plenty of techy bits and such. All singletrack, but that route is shorter and steeper than K&B. Having said that, the last several times I've been there I've done K&B. So cleverly routed you hardly notice your climbing. Oh, and I'd still go clear to the Ridge then "descend" Three Amigos back to Bone Shaker. There's some fun stuff and great views you don't want to miss there.

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Oh good call in the ridge!

Thanks for info on knb... I figured that was the hard way up just being a black climb.

I am trying to get dropped off at cowboy so have to ride flow job/EnF back to blue diamond.

Flow Job vs Ebb... Thoughts?

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Fuzzy Dunlop01 said:

Oh good call in the ridge!

Thanks for info on knb... I figured that was the hard way up just being a black climb.

I am trying to get dropped off at cowboy so have to ride flow job/EnF back to blue diamond.

Flow Job vs Ebb... Thoughts?

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I haven't ridden either of those so I'll defer to others, but Flow Job looks easier on Trailforks if you're trying to conserve some legs for the Blue Diamond trails. It's a pretty stout climb up to the top of the Hurl, but if you're looking for the more techy DH stuff, that's the one you want. If you're gassed by time you get back over to the Blue Diamond area, maybe just do the Land Mine Loop for some fast desert flow, Or if you still have time and legs, crossover onto the South side of the 160 when you get around to the Late Night TH, go up the Connector to the Dead Horse Loop and catch the 3 Mile Smile back down, Then either continue down White Rhino, or cut up to Badger Pass and continue on down to the Late Night Trail Head (either on Badger Pass or Techno depending on if you want some DH tech or fast flowy desert ST). That'd be a big day, but if you want to hit most of the best stuff over in the Red Canyon/Blue Diamond area, that's what I'd do.

At the bottom of Flow Job you just have to huck over the barb wire fence and cross the road to a parking lot where it connects back to Blue Diamond trails. There used to be a gate but was torn out because laws or something lol. Good ride!

Going to be out over Labor Day weekend, and wanting to do similar ride to what FuzzyD posted here. My questions are on the logistics, what is the easiest/cheapest (or what does everyone do) for getting to Blue Diamond from the strip?

Thinking it is an Uber to Blue Diamond, then is there a shuttle or is it another Uber to cowboy trailhead? I won’t have a vehicle, so just wanting to see what visitors are typically doing to get there.

Also thinking a Friday morning may be better than Saturday to have less people (but not sure how busy these trails get or if it is an issue).

Bills said:

Going to be out over Labor Day weekend, and wanting to do similar ride to what FuzzyD posted here. My questions are on the logistics, what is the easiest/cheapest (or what does everyone do) for getting to Blue Diamond from the strip?

Thinking it is an Uber to Blue Diamond, then is there a shuttle or is it another Uber to cowboy trailhead? I won’t have a vehicle, so just wanting to see what visitors are typically doing to get there.

Also thinking a Friday morning may be better than Saturday to have less people (but not sure how busy these trails get or if it is an issue).

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I can't really help you on the transportation part. FuzzyD mentions a shuttle, but I live nearby with a car so I haven't looked into it. I'd call the rental shop and ask.

I wouldn't worry too much about Friday/Saturday. Unless there is a race/event, I've rarely found the trails out here to be overly crowded (though I'm a Boulder City/Bootleg person rather than a Blue Diamond regular). There might be a better chance of a shuttle running on Saturday as well.

One thing to note if you're not coming from another desert area: Labor Day is generally still hot and dry out here. Highs will likely be in the 90s and it will be in the high 70s/low 80s even when you head out in the morning and the sun is strong. It's one reason why I don't think you need to worry about the trails being crowded, but you should consider how long you can go and how much water you should bring.

Marcus, thanks for the info. Yeah coming from Ohio the direct sun is a definite game changer, I was in Reno/Sparks area for a few months and rode a bit there, but you are quite a bit south so I’m hoping to be ok but really will just have to see how it works out. My current riding is under a full canopy of woods so that direct exposure will be a concern (thought about doing an ebike to get more mileage in, but thinking Fuel Ex rental will be fine). I will have a 3L hydration pack and may carry an extra bottle.

Bills said:

Marcus, thanks for the info. Yeah coming from Ohio the direct sun is a definite game changer, I was in Reno/Sparks area for a few months and rode a bit there, but you are quite a bit south so I’m hoping to be ok but really will just have to see how it works out. My current riding is under a full canopy of woods so that direct exposure will be a concern (thought about doing an ebike to get more mileage in, but thinking Fuel Ex rental will be fine). I will have a 3L hydration pack and may carry an extra bottle.

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Wait and see and watch the weather for sure. My summer rides are usually fairly short starting at 6:30 or 7. A week or two ago, I had to drop by car off at 9 for an oil change and figured I'd cut through Bootleg for a lap on my way home as the shop isn't too far. I was FEELING it by the time I got home and it wasn't even that hot by Vegas summer standards. The couple hours and higher sun made a difference for sure.

Looking at the Blue Diamond Trek Rental Center website, it seems like they open at 6AM, which is awesome (they clearly know their area). I rented a bike and rode Bootleg when I first interviewed for my job out here and the shop in Boulder City didn't open until 10. It was the very beginning of May I believe, so not quite as hot, but I think it hit 90 and I was spent and burnt out by the time I gave the bike back mid afternoon.

Bills said:

Marcus, thanks for the info. Yeah coming from Ohio the direct sun is a definite game changer, I was in Reno/Sparks area for a few months and rode a bit there, but you are quite a bit south so I’m hoping to be ok but really will just have to see how it works out. My current riding is under a full canopy of woods so that direct exposure will be a concern (thought about doing an ebike to get more mileage in, but thinking Fuel Ex rental will be fine). I will have a 3L hydration pack and may carry an extra bottle.

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Interested to hear how your trip went Bills. Thinking back, I remember that first week in September was pretty hot. Like 100-110 deg F.. Did you end up riding? What did you ride? How did the transportation part work out?

KRob said:

Interested to hear how your trip went Bills. Thinking back, I remember that first week in September was pretty hot. Like 100-110 deg F.. Did you end up riding? What did you ride? How did the transportation part work out?

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KRob - I did not end up riding, it was really hot the days we were in town, and I chickened out. Really do want to ride next time, but hoping for more of a February timeframe to be there.

Bills said:

KRob - I did not end up riding, it was really hot the days we were in town, and I chickened out. Really do want to ride next time, but hoping for more of a February timeframe to be there.

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Good call.


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