Radio Flyer: Not Just For Kids

When I think of Radio Flyer I picture a little red wagon filled with dirt or maybe your favorite niece or nephew.  For my significant other, hers carries 3 fertile tomato plants.  Whatever you choose to pull, one thing is certain, no one can resist the smile it brings.

I had the pleasure of riding on a Radio Flyer recently, all 195 lbs of me.  Ok, you might think I’m a little too big for that now, perhaps for the little red wagon, but for me this Radio Flyer was atop Vail Mountain and one of their newer downhill rides.

I’ve always wondered how they come up with names for these trails and I got to thinking about Radio Flyer last night.  For me this little red wagon represented joyful youth and thinking back on my ride down Radio Flyer, nothing could have described it better.

It started with a calming ride up the mountain on the Eagle Bahn Gondola.  It was just me and my trusted steed on the Gondola today.  If you’ve never been on a Gondola, Vail has one of the best with a great view of Vail Village below and beautiful scenes all the way up to Adventure Ridge.  For this ride I took a full suspension bike with the fork and rear shock at full travel.  I opted to leave the padding at home but I did decide to use my downhill helmet.  I used my clipless pedals but I would have preferred platforms-I know what you’re saying, “change them already!”

At the trail head you’re greeted with a bright red sign reading “RADIO FLYER IS AN ISOLATED AND MORE DIFFICULT TRAIL” among other warnings.  I knew I was in store for quite a ride and honestly I was a little intimidated at first.  Weather was approaching and it had rained earlier because the trail was damp.  When you’re surrounded by towering pines and moist Dirt, there is an additional element to your ride that you just can’t forget, it’s a rush of aromas that just fills your senses and all you can say is WOW.

So I start down Radio Flyer and at first it seems pretty easy, the Dirt is damp so the tires really hook up nicely and very few rocks although trees line every foot down this trail.  As I progress I begin to let off the brakes a bit more and the twists and turns bring out the little kid in me as I find myself hootin’ and hollering’ down the trail.  You can gain a lot of speed down this trail.  It’s well groomed so even at slow speeds you’re sure to relive your own childhood.  Water puddles are scattered throughout on this day and although I don’t mind getting dirty the challenge to take the outside line was just too much.

There is a really cool section of whoops on this trail and my first tendency was to try and ride a wheelie through them until I came to my senses and realized I wasn’t on a motorcycle-I have to believe the really fast guys could do it.  The tight switchbacks will force you to brake but don’t let them stop you from letting go right after.  The forest is pretty dense down the trail and I’m surprised I could maintain satellite communication.  It was really cool that day but I don’t think it would get terribly hot with all that shade.

This trail can certainly be one of the most difficult trails on Vail Mountain depending on your speed.  Never ride any trail beyond your ability and I believe anyone who has good control on the bike and has a great feel for braking can ride this trail.  You don’t have to be an expert to enjoy this ride but it will look steep for those who aren’t used to riding on mountains and definitely make sure your equipment is in good working order, any brake malfunction or rider error won’t end well.

Radio Flyer doesn’t run all the way down to Vail Village so on this particular ride I caught PMT, which is categorized as a Black Diamond trail, for a few meters with two frightening drops for someone on clipless pedals.  From there I caught Hank’s Hideaway, which any level of rider would enjoy (picture above).  It runs through many Aspen groves and lush vegetation when combined with an intermediate run makes for one heck of a ride. 

These trails were a delight for the mind, body and soul and you can catch it all at Radio Flyer

Don't forget to click on the green arrow in the map to watch the movie and Happy Trails!

Alan Romero

Vail Mountain: Suffering Nicely

Mark Twain once said, “A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.”  I’m sure Mark Twain didn’t have to attempt this to know how it would turn out but sometimes challenges present themselves and the outcome isn’t clear unless we try.

This was my motivation for my ride up Vail Mountain this past June.  Sure, for a seasoned pro or any well conditioned cyclist, riding up Vail Mountain is just another ride.  For me it would be somewhat of a larger challenge. You see just a week earlier my doctor had diagnosed me with exercise induced asthma along with prescribing Albuterol Sulfate aerosol, otherwise known as an inhaler.

At an elevation of over 8000 feet your lungs must work overtime and at the highest point of my ride I will be 1/3 the cruising altitude of a passenger jet.  For someone with strong lungs consequences might just mean a little more time in the hot tub.  For those with asthma the experience could be life threatening.  I knew what I was in for but for some strange reason it just didn’t matter “because all the really good looking girls would still go out with a guy from Camp Mohawk because they got all the money, uooh…”

My plan was simple, take the service road as high as I can until my lungs or my legs call it a day.  At that point I’ll catch one of the sweet downhill bike trails back to the Village.  The goal was to make it to Mid-Vail without stopping.  I also knew I would have to be as stubborn as that beach ball we try and hold under water. 

I chose to leave all my extra riding gear in the car and just take a water bottle, my camera and my Garmin Edge.  After taking one dose of my inhaler I began my trek from Vail Village at the Vista Bahn lift (8180 feet elevation).  The first few meters were quite steep but nothing I couldn’t handle.  From there it was a pretty steady climb with a few challenging switchbacks.  This time of year the road was very dusty.  The Dirt was so fine it felt like sand in some places and when a service vehicle would pass you would be overcome with dust, even Pig Pen would find this objectionable.

I must have been keeping an ok pace because I think only a couple of people passed me.  It got so steep in a couple of spots I had to traverse just to keep up my momentum.  This was my most ambitious ride ever, given my circumstances, and with each pedal stroke I could feel my heart pounding as I gasped for air. 
 

Nothing was making this easy for me-the sun was blazing, the dust and the thin air were taking their toll on my lungs; was it time to turn back?  I did get a burst of confidence as the words “my hero” came and went with a young woman on her way down the mountain.  Certainly doesn’t take a hero to climb the mountain on a bicycle but it sure was nice to hear.

There was only one hiccup along the way.  The road was closed about a mile from Mid-Vail and for a brief moment I thought I could turn back with no regrets.  Something inside me just couldn’t let go so I decided to wait and see if anyone would ride past the barrier.   Five minutes later I got my answer and my ride would continue.  I made it to Mid-Vail (10,150 feet elevation) when I placed a call to my significant other and although I could barely speak I felt I wasn’t done.  I assured her that I was ok and that I was going to continue.

I’ve climbed some treacherous terrain before but this was by far the longest and highest climb I’d ever attempted on a mountain bike.  After a 10 minute rest I had began to catch my breath and strangely I felt more energized.  When I finally reached Adventure Ridge (10,479 feet elevation) I stopped to decide if this was my limit. I looked around for a few moments at Vail down below, in my mind I was asking how many more times am I really going to be able to do this?  Avanti Express was within view and the road continued even further past that.  I’m no spring “chicken” and even though these rides get harder and harder with every passing year, in a faint voice I asked “if you feel you can go longer then don’t let your lungs stop you.”   My choice was clear so I headed for Avanti Express.  

This section turned out to be the steepest yet.  I was the only rider among many hikers and with every word of encouragement I pressed forward.  Like parting the Red Sea, the hikers happily cleared a path for me to follow.  I made it to the Avanti Express lift (10,807 feet elevation) where I finally stopped to enjoy the sights and smells.  The wind was blowing wildly but I managed to prop my bike up just long enough to snap a picture.  Not bad for a flat-lander from South Texas and after a little pat on the back, it was literally all downhill from here.  

Back at Adventure Ridge I had many trails to choose from and I made my choice: Big Mamba.  Before heading out I had thought about switching to platform pedals for better balance but ultimately decided to stick with clipless.  I haven’t been riding on clipless pedals for very long and what a big mistake it was on the Big Mamba.  Tip; unless you crave a soil sample, get used to your pedals first before attempting a difficult trail.  I had a few close calls with the loose dirt but with a little luck and a lot of might I made it down without a scratch.

This downhill can really test your skills.  There are a fair amount of rocks looking to slow you down, the Dirt is very loose and the switchbacks come fast and furious.  There were a few novice riders on this trail and many lay victim to the Mamba’s bite.  A smooth steady speed and feathering the brakes is key, stay off your seat and distribute your weight evenly over the bike and you’ll be fine.  If you’re riding outside your abilities get ready for the Malacci Crunch because there are plenty of boulders and trees to set you straight.  There’s no shame in taking it slow and never try this trail without a helmet, a BMX helmet I believe is the best option.  A good portion of this trail is through the trees and some of these switchbacks can be very dangerous at high speeds.  Ride in control at all times and enjoy some of the best downhill Colorado has to offer.

I set out to prove to myself that asthma wouldn’t hold me back.  It was a daunting task for sure and one I hope to do again.  Next time maybe I’ll try two loops. 

Catch this ride at Vail Mountain and don’t forget to click the green arrow on the map to watch these rides play out.  Thanks for checking in and happy trails.

Alan Romero

Dot Trails: A Mountain Bike Tale

My nephew was just awarded his Eagle Scout badge last month and each time I head out for the woods I’m always reminded of the Boy Scout motto; BE PREPARED.  My significant other is the first to remind me of the dangers of the forest and I do my best to assure her that I understand.  She grew up in the foothills of Boulder and she can speak with some authority. Of course for me any sign of good sense seems to vanish somewhere between our house and the trail head. 

Take this past weekend for example.  I have a backpack neatly packed with everything you need to get you out of a tight spot and this always seems to be the last thing on my mind before leaving for my ride.  I took the Scott Genius full suspension out to Nederland yesterday (8200 feet elevation), late afternoon to avoid the scorching heat.  I made sure to take inventory of the contents in my backpack which is also equipped with a whistle in case I find myself in a monkey wrench and out of sight.  I was out on the trail about 30 minutes before I realized I hadn’t brought my backpack.  I did however remember my Garmin Edge which you'll find a source of amusement at the end of this tale.  

I often have conversations with my significant other about how prepared I “can” be for my rides like having a first aid kit, some matches, extra food bars, extra tubes, a pump and Slime Skabs (these work great) and of course a multi-tool.  I also have a Garmin Etrex Vista HTx for some personal GPS navigation in the event I get lost.  But just in case my heart precedes my brain I tuck away some bright colored ribbon to tie around tree branches to help guide my way.  Oh how foolish these mortals be-I seem to forget my backpack about 75% of the time and these rides are always followed by a “you can’t believe what happened” story followed by the eye roll and "when will you learn?"

Back to the trail; I catch it off Magnolia Road just off Hwy 119 in Nederland Colorado.  It begins nicely with some mild ascents and great rolling sections, I would rate this first section a Green although be prepared for some threading, the trees get pretty tight especially when you’re gaining some speed.  The trail gets a little rockier but nothing too difficult, maybe a Blue.  I think what was most unique about this ride is how tight the trees are in some places.  There is a part of the trail around the 3 mile mark that runs right between two rows of pine trees just inches apart from each other but so perfectly lined it’s hard to believe they grew naturally that way.  The trail was just wide enough for my handle bars and with every elbow rub you could smell the fragrance of pine oil released into the air.

This part of my ride I will call “I don’t know where I’m going is the best way to get some place you’ve never been.”  

About 3.2 miles into my ride I decide it’s time to head back.  Almost a mile later I suddenly found myself on a strange path.  The environment seemed to be a bit damper than I had remembered.  A couple of downed trees cut in two for trail users to pass that I didn’t seem to recall and then a sure sign my next story was unfolding-a water crossing; “I don’t remember crossing any water” I utter to myself!  

So I reach a Dirt road and now I have 3 decisions; go right downhill perhaps to Nederland, go left uphill maybe to the car or turn back around up the trail.  It was still light out, a few more rain clouds had gathered and my watch said 7:30pm (if you're not on the path home by 8:00pm you'd better have a light) so naturally I decide to head back up into the forest.  I make my way back to the only junction I recognize and I head south thinking I hadn’t gone high enough the first time.

I come to the junction I’m sure will lead me home.  Here’s a tip: don’t go so fast that you don’t notice other feeding trails, a problem I’ll soon discover.  Along the way I meet with a trail junction and my next mile becomes a nervous loop.  Now I'm back where I started and I now have to decide, do I follow a four wheel drive road back to Magnolia Road or try the trail again hoping my luck will change.  Meanwhile the sun is fading and up at that altitude it starts to get cold.  The scenery is absolutely beautiful; it must have rained earlier that day because the smells seemed so fresh.  A few sips of Gatorade and I’m off to try my luck again.  I come to the junction again with one trail clearly visible and one that barely qualifies as a trail.  I tried the obvious before to my own groundhog day, perhaps I should try the more obscure so I start up what appears to be a water way for snow melt but nothing looks familiar.  I turn back after just a short distance and then I notice another trail on my way down.  Ah, this has to be it!

Despite my lack of good sense and poor recollection I’m having a great time.  My fitness is great, the bike with its full suspension brain allows me to adjust my suspension on the fly for great control, my tires (Schwalbe Nobby Nics) are really tracking well, it’s rocky enough to test some skills but not so much for a blindfold and a smoke.  There are plenty of sections to gain insane amounts of speed for such a tight trail, you don’t want to attempt this without a helmet.   There was absolutely no one on the trail this time of day so an accident could have been real trouble.

I finally begin to recognize my path and I make it back to the car in one piece; it was a great day.

All’s well that ends well but the forest is no place for carelessness especially when you ride alone.  I love a good challenge but I wouldn’t recommend attempting a new trail without preparation, plus a riding buddy wouldn't hurt.

To watch this whole ride play out, go to Dot Trails

Alan Romero 

My Dirt Life

My love affair with dirt began at a very early age.  I remember playing with my favorite 4-wheel drive hot wheel on a big mound of dirt my dad had delivered to help raise our front yard back home.  I used to carve out roads and tunnels and the occasional rain storm brought a whole new dimension to my unusual obsession.

In the early 1970’s my dad brought home a Honda XL250.  I still remember sitting on the gas tank with my feet over the handlebars riding through one of our favorite parks.  Soon afterward my oldest brother became the proud owner of a Yamaha YZ80.  He and his buddies would take off and ride all over the neighborhood and sometimes I was lucky enough to ride along.  My brother would keep this bike in his bedroom and I recall just staring at those nobby tires, I could really throw some dirt with those, I thought.  I remember only making one attempt at riding the yellow and black machine, with my brother switching gears while he rode in back. 

 

It wasn’t long after that the YZ was replaced by a late 70’s Suzuki RM250.  We still had the XL and my older brother, not the oldest, was the only one crazy enough to let me take it for a spin while he rode on back.  I can just imagine his regret after I ran us into a wooden fence my first time out.

I had such a fascination with dirt bike tires back then and still do to this day.  I think I enjoyed dirt roads just so I could work out those tires.  Perhaps it is the adventures possible on such a tread; those tires can take you just about anywhere.  My dad would take us to the motocross races from time to time but it all seemed so far away until “On Any Sunday” which opened at theaters in 1971.  For the first time I was able to observe the dirt life from those living it.  This movie introduced me to all kinds of two-wheeled adventures and nothing more terrifying than ice racing with a shot of a motorcycle tire adorned with what reminded me of ice picks.  No dirt life is complete without the “OAS” experience.

Well, time passed and as the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end and so it was for my two wheeled companions sometime around my sophomore year in high school.   I gave the Suzuki one kick and it started briefly before stalling.  Frantically I kicked it over and over again hoping for some sign of life but it was not to be. Both bikes just failed to start after that day, it was like losing my best friend, I was so bummed.  (If I knew then what I know now, I could have fixed at least the RM as I’m sure it was something as simple as a fouled plug.)

Decades would pass before I found myself throwing a leg over another dirt bike, an old and poorly restored Honda XL250 in fact.  Now living in Colorado, I could really take those tires for a ride although early on I was quite limited because I had no way of transporting a dirt bike.  Consequently, I rediscovered the thrill of mountain biking.  Now, when I’m not on the dirt bike or out catching Sunday motocross races you’ll find me threading through some of Boulder County’s most beautiful mountain terrain.  I dreamed of adventure all my life and Colorado was where I would find it.  Colorado was my destiny and now I live here with my beautiful wife and I want to share my dirt life with you.

Colorado is best known for its winter sports but with over 300 days of sunshine every year residents know that spring, summer and fall is our best kept secret.  I’d like to take you on a 2-wheel journey through our beautiful state and experience Colorado and all its splendor.  Check back often for detailed ride descriptions and trail conditions, helpful tips and best of all the many lessons learned as an intermediate enthusiast.  Mountain biking and dirt bike riding carry additional risks so look for some safety tips and words of caution to help you prepare for your own adventures.  Also, nothing can ruin a great day of exploring like an equipment malfunction so lists of recommended items to carry with you will also be included. 

This blog is dedicated to all who have come to realize that the fountain of youth is actually a trail in the dirt.

Alan Romero