Parking Entrance: N40°07.960’ W105°17.679’
Hunter S. Thompson had some things figured out; if I
could just convince my friends and family that the thrill they seek can be
found right under their feet. Heil Ranch
offered a little bit of what I fancy this weekend – tacky trail and mud puddles,
sun, shade and fresh mountain air. We
can all find a reason to put something off but it’s the little things you’ll
miss, waiting for the right time.
Finding the time to engage in any recreational activity
is perhaps the most difficult condition to overcome. You deserve to treat yourself to an escape
once and a while so ‘when’ you find the time, let me help you with the rest.
The first thing you need of course is a bike. If you don’t own one, you can be sure there
is a local bike shop not too far away with employees who’d love to trade places
with you. Most bike shops will have rentals available and of course the latest models for purchase. So what kind of bike? Well, if we’re talking mountain biking then
of course you’ll want the fat tire variety.
Today you have a choice of wheel size (26 or 29 inches) and your choice will depend on the type of trail you plan to tackle. Ask your sales person what they would recommend. Most bike manufacturers these days pay close attention to weight, even
on their low end bikes, which by the way are often the same as the higher
priced models but with entry level components. There’s no reason to worry so much about
weight these days unless you’re out to compete so focus more on comfort.
Full suspension or hard tail? It all depends on the trail you intend to
ride. I find that a full suspension
works great on uneven trails with lots of obstacles like rocks and roots. If you plan on riding a smooth surface with
minimal elevation changes then go with a hard tail, you’ll appreciate the less
weight plus you won’t be bobbing up and down like a chicken.
Choose your trail wisely.
When I started this blog I wanted to help people get the most out of
their afternoon and before all this technology for me it was often a roll of
the dice. Colorado has some of the most
technical riding in the country and if you’re not prepared it can ruin your
afternoon. Furthermore, we are in the Rocky
Mountains so climbing goes without saying.
This is precisely why I link my Garmin page to all my posts. On this page you will find distance and
elevation statistics to give you a better idea of what you can expect and here
in Colorado you need to know what you’re in for before you head out. Make sure you’re in good shape before attempting
high elevation climbs. The thin air will
rob you of your strength quickly.
I rode Heil Ranch again this weekend and it was just what
the doctor ordered. It is an
intermediate ride with a tasty assortment of rocks the higher you go. The Wild Turkey trail (loop) is the rockiest
part of the trail with rocks ranging from golf ball to basketball size but
nothing you can’t find your way over or around.
It smelled like Christmas all the way up to the Ponderosa Loop and snow
melt formed the many water puddles along the way; my bike and I were pretty
filthy by the end of the ride – now that’s the Dirt Life!
Finally, make sure you take some water with you. Most of Boulder County trails are short
enough that one water bottle is all you need as long as you have plenty before
your ride. On hotter days you may need
more but I’ve never taken anything more than one water bottle on each of my
rides. If I plan on really pushing it or
if I think I’ll be out for more than 3 hours then I will typically go with a Camelback.
Here is the link from my latest ride connect.garmin.com/activity/305450779 and I hope it helps in your
preparation. Lose the ‘Fear and
Loathing’ of the work week and head up to the mountains, your mind and body
will thank you for it.
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