[LyNx]

Damn I just downloaded this off his site and it definitely has me itchin to get to CO this summer more than I already was. Are all the trails in the CO area that nice/that sort of trail type? Really looked fun and technical and makes me need to do some more research into the Grand Junction area. What sort of altitude is that trail at?

 

[29Colossus]

Grand Junction's altitude is less than 5,000 feet. The Holy Cross/Lunch Loop area is just a bit higher.

 

[pisgahboy]

That vid and the Eagle's Wing vid made go there this past October. We did a shuttle day starting up on the Ribbon and then looping up back up to Eagle's and then back up to Holy Cross. It's every bit as good as it looks in the video. The guys who laid out and built the Cross really did a great job of creating a trail with maximum grin factor.

pb

 

[screampint]

Are all the trails in the CO area that nice/that sort of trail type?

One thing to remember is that CO is a big state. There is high country stuff, foothill stuff, and desert stuff, all very different. The Front Range is far different from the Western Slope and Crested Butte is different than either. Even in the Grand Valley (Fruita/Grand Junction) there are huge variations, think 18 RD smooth tight and twisty to the stuff you saw in the video.

 

[29Colossus]

One thing to remember is that CO is a big state. There is high country stuff, foothill stuff, and desert stuff, all very different. The Front Range is far different from the Western Slope and Crested Butte is different than either. Even in the Grand Valley (Fruita/Grand Junction) there are huge variations, think 18 RD smooth tight and twisty to the stuff you saw in the video.

Not to mention that even in one ride there are huge variations. You remind me of that as one time in Fruita, I was headed out at about 3 o'clock to do the Edge loop. I had never done it before, and was needing a challenge, or needing to prove my stupidity or something. I'm pretty sure the last person I saw as I headed out was you. You were climbing up Frontside, and I was on my way down. I was on the Niner One9. I think you were on the Edge bike with your almost trademark red, long-sleeved jersey. I didn't know it was you at the time. Maybe it wasn't you!

Needless to say, it was pretty brutal. From desert to high ridge pine tree altitude and back. I had been looping Joe's and Prime, and just took off on a whim.... late. I was unprepared. It got cold at altitude. Then the dark came. No lights. No coat. nothing. Stuff that I had carried up at 8,000' all year long... I just decided to leave it all in the car as I was only doing laps and such.

I got lost and ended up coming out on some 4x4 "trail" well past the rock portage of the Edge Loop. I was going to shoot for Fruita, but realized I was looking at Junction, not Fruita. Well that wasn't going to work, so I made my way across the bookcliffs for hours until I finally found the standard 18 road parking lot.

I have been around Colorado a long time, but disrespect it or take it for granted, and it can quickly bring you down.

:thumbsup:

 

[LyNx]

Thanks again for the replies, very helpful and insightful and teasing all in one T-Minus what 8 months fingers crossed for the lottery :thumbsup:

 

[screampint]

Not to mention that even in one ride there are huge variations. You remind me of that as one time in Fruita, I was headed out at about 3 o'clock to do the Edge loop. I had never done it before, and was needing a challenge, or needing to prove my stupidity or something. I'm pretty sure the last person I saw as I headed out was you. You were climbing up Frontside, and I was on my way down. I was on the Niner One9. I think you were on the Edge bike with your almost trademark red, long-sleeved jersey. I didn't know it was you at the time. Maybe it wasn't you!

Needless to say, it was pretty brutal. From desert to high ridge pine tree altitude and back. I had been looping Joe's and Prime, and just took off on a whim.... late. I was unprepared. It got cold at altitude. Then the dark came. No lights. No coat. nothing. Stuff that I had carried up at 8,000' all year long... I just decided to leave it all in the car as I was only doing laps and such.

I got lost and ended up coming out on some 4x4 "trail" well past the rock portage of the Edge Loop. I was going to shoot for Fruita, but realized I was looking at Junction, not Fruita. Well that wasn't going to work, so I made my way across the bookcliffs for hours until I finally found the standard 18 road parking lot.

I have been around Colorado a long time, but disrespect it or take it for granted, and it can quickly bring you down.

:thumbsup:

Was it this fall/late summer? I vaguely remember someone on a 29'er.

Anyway, sounds like you found Hunter's Canyon, that's up 21 Rd, a few miles away from where you wanted to be!

 

[29Colossus]

Was it this fall/late summer? I vaguely remember someone on a 29'er.

Anyway, sounds like you found Hunter's Canyon, that's up 21 Rd, a few miles away from where you wanted to be!

I guess it would have been September maybe. Could have been earlier. I can't remember.

Yes... Hunter's Canyon would make sense. I did see some fat, couch surfing hunter types smoking cigars and sighting in their rifle scopes once I got onto 21rd proper at dusk.. I thought I knew what 4x4 trails were all about, but that stuff back up in there is insane. It is ironic. All the tending to the 18rd trails by mountain bikers over the years. All the work done. All the barney warnings, and JD rantings... All the off-trail, crypto-crust killing education and policing... and what do we have 3 blocks over? Total carnage. It is a mad world.

I did get a map at OTE the following week just to see where I did come out, and you are correct, 21rd. It is amazing what 3 "blocks" can be when you are fighting the dark, SSing back to 18rd from 21rd.

It experience wasn't that bad, but I have ridden Fruita 100's of times. I can't imagine what people new to the area do when they get back on that Edge fire road. At least I knew I would be able to make it out and back to the cliffs one way or the other. When I got to where I knew I was lost, I was turning down one gas pipeline road after another. There are a bunch of new gas pipeline roads back there. It would be a SUPER steep hill down to the gas pipe mechanical area, and then it would dead end. I would then have to ride and push back up those dang steep hills, wasting precious time and daylight and warmth. I must have done that 5 times before I just pointed the bike to where I knew the highway was, and rode and hike-a-biked my way out of that dang canyon ignoring the fire/gas pipe roads.

The funniest, and potentially most tragic thing? There were bike tracks EVERYWHERE. Every wrong turn. Every dead end gas pipe area. They all had tons of bike tracks. It had me shaking my head perplexed. When I took my own route, ending up on the 4x4 trail, there were no bike tracks.

I saw one sign towards what I imagine would be the end of the fire road part of the ride. It was on a gas pipeline sign. It just said EDGE on the top, and LOOP on the bottom. It had arrows pointing down the fire road. Crazy as it sounds, I think that is about the point I got lost. I obviously missed the turn. :lol:

 

[singletrack]

Anyway, sounds like you found Hunter's Canyon, that's up 21 Rd, a few miles away from where you wanted to be!

Hunter's Canyon? That calls for a gratuitous Subaru pic.

 

[pivotpoint]

Subarus

Dang Joel your f u c /< ing crazy man!ut:

 

[BobL]

SWEET!
Would that be a Subie-Roota?

 

[jdkobe]

Can someone post a link to the video? Love to see it.

 

[LyNx]

I'm not going tlooking for the exact link, but here's the link to Pete's video page http://www.petefagerlin.com/video_gallery.htm

Can someone post a link to the video? Love to see it.

 

[banditriders]

see the World

Obviously a lot of these guys don't get out enough. Why waist your time in this little valley when you could go to Moab, or heck, the entire state of Utah or Sedona. AND, the Lunch Loop is not worth a trip- a few acres of scrub brush with a couple trails.

Lots of places to visit before you waist your time in this little valley.

Ride the World
BRs

P.S. Isn't it nice to ride among the few and not the many!

 

[jdkobe]

BanditRiders - I'd have to disagree, sure there is other riding in the world and states, but the riding here is Primo... I lived in GJ for 10 years and was one of the founders of the ribbon, did trail work to start horsetheif bench and troys loop (just past Lions) and I'm coming back with my bike in mid march with a friend in tow. I've now lived in Washington state for 10 years and biked all over Ore WA and southern BC and this area is definitely worth my vacation time. Infact, when I dream at night, I still dream of ripping down Pollack bench trail - a sad loss.
jdkobe
Jonathan in Spokane, WA

 

[Bushwacker]

Jdkobe

Stay where you are or go elsewhere! Don't come here, there is a bad MOJO here. The stench of the OTE is all over this place. Everyone, just stay away!!!!!! :madman:

 

[banditriders]

missing the point

First, everyone knows that The King of Fruita was the only local rider that was willing to dirty his hands making alllll the trails on the Western Slope- Reference Fruita guidebook. Like you, The Winer, The Nixman, Tiggerider, Sparrow, & Angryman have tried to take credit where credit is not theirs- So I am not buying your argument that you too were part of the development.

Secondly, last I heard Pollack Bench is open for ghost-riding, enjoy.

Thirdly, Catch a clue from bushwacker-he/she was not as stealthy. Those of us not interested in commerce would like you (and the World) to know the truth- the riding here is, at best, just okay when compared to all the other great spot, ie, the great NW.

Cheers
BRs

 

[Winans]

BR - you sneaky little devil.. or is it stinky little devil.

I don't know why anyone would endure the gosh-awful summer heat, or the muck-fest fall through spring .... simply surprising.

 

[DavoK]

jdkobe I'm sure petefish could have used your help on the ribbon, you poser

 

[jdkobe]

Davok - boy, that hurt, why would I make something like that up? What do you want for proof? I tell you what.. ask Dave at DT who was the 1st person that showed him the Ribbon trail? You can ask Troy too, tell him some guy on the internet claims that he used to live across the street from you on Kennedy Avenue and also says the guy on the internet talks some smack like he is the guy on his (Troy's) butt in the Bicycling Magizine photo from '95 (see shop wall)

:thumbsup: