[chuckjoga]

I'm thinking about a long weekend getaway to do some winter riding.

What's the best non-snowed-in place to ride within about 8 hours drive of Denver? I assume that driving south would be the right direction to go.

-Chuck

 

[Turner 29er]

Well, aside from the typical Moab/Fruita recommendation, I really like the Tucson area. It's kinda far...I think 10 hours?...but usually nice and warm, and some great rides. Just watch out for the cactus....one inch off the trail, and you will be fixing a flat tire.

 

[snowskilz]

bootleg or south mtn

 

[WKD-RDR]

Sedona and surrounding areas.

New Zealand.

 

[T-Coop]

I think Moab/Fruita are a bit chilly. For some rocking winter ridding go to Phoenix and ride National trail on South Mountain or any of the trails on South Mountain for that matter world class it rocks! It's 13 hour drive though.

 

[xlr8rbmx]

supposedly snowing in moab this week.

i would second the arizona recommendation and suggest tucson as well

 

[jonny boy]

Fly somewhere, and rent a bike. As you can see, not much within driving distance, for a long weekend. I have considered the same thing. You can take your chances with Moab, and you could score a good weather weekend, but you still have to drive through the mountains which is not fun this time of year.

 

[BetterRide]

see below

 

[BetterRide]

Bootleg, Phoenix, Sedona, Austin

Bootleg rocks! Well it snowed 6" at bootleg canyon last week (most snow in 35 years) but other than a few drifts the riding yesterday was the tackiest best riding I have done here.

South mountain rocks too! Great xc and downhill trails and they don't roll the clocks back so an extra hour of sunshine in the afternoon!

Sedona also rocks, great riding and can often be very warm in the winter.

Austin, TX has really good riding, great music and beautiful, friendly people (weather is hit and miss in Dec. and Jan.)

For downhillers El Paso has Rough Rider Canyon, sick gnarly trails.

 

[chuckjoga]

Looks like Bootleg Canyon and Sedona are equidistant from Denver. Has anybody ridden both?

What's lodging like for Bootleg or Sedona?

How do these places compare to Fruita/GJ/Moab?

-Chuck

 

[BetterRide]

I ride Bootleg Canyon a couple months a year and spend a month in Phoenix and Sedona.

Bootleg is made of volcanic rock so it is loose, technical, challenging, fun and unforgiving. It has about 30 miles of singletrack and 6 or 7 dh trails that you can shuttle. It is 20 miles from the Vegas strip and there is reasonably priced lodging in Boulder City as well as the Vegas casinos which have gone Way down in price.

South mtn. is more like Fruita, hard packed sand with a mix of smooth flowy trails and technical trails with fun rock moves. It also has dh trails that can be shuttled. Phoenix is typically 10-12 degrees warmer than Bootleg or Sedona. Lodging here is like in any other big city.

Sedona is one of the most fun places to ride in the US! Moab views with tons (over 150 miles marked and 150 miles unmarked I have heard) of singletrack. Some winters it is warm and rideable all winter some years it gets a little snow. Check for conditions at local bike shops. The Bike and Bean has rooms for rent above the shop.

 

[Veruca Salt]

Looks like Bootleg Canyon and Sedona are equidistant from Denver. Has anybody ridden both?

What's lodging like for Bootleg or Sedona?

How do these places compare to Fruita/GJ/Moab?

-Chuck

The Sedona area is a lot like Moab, but more singletrack as oppose to jeep roads. The drive is long (10hrs) and the lodging is expensive. Sedona is a very wealthy community. However, well worth it. In the past, we would fly in (cheap) and rent our bikes from Bike and Bean. I rented a Santa Cruz Nomad from there last month - they have a nice selection of high-end bikes to rent.

If you don't want to pay for a rental car, you can take a shuttle from the Phoenix airport for about $60.00.

Good luck!

 

[headhunter]

Albuquerque area?

What's winter riding like in NM?

 

[MK_]

I've been hearing great things about Alien Run by Aztec, NM. It's very much northern NM, but the weather's supposed to be mild, overall, through the winter.

http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=2610

Albaquerque or Las Cruces are could be nice too, with a base at Truth or Consequences hot springs hotels; and a mandatory stop over in Las Vegas town square (or circle) for a bean cone with green chili and cheese!

_MK