Betasso Preserve 2.0: A Lil' Ain't Enough

Trailhead Entrance: N40°00.873’ W105°20.662

Had a chance to stretch my legs last weekend and what a gorgeous day it was.  It had snowed a few days earlier but up here in Colorado the snow doesn’t stick around for long.  It was a brisk Sunday afternoon and the clouds were breaking to reveal a sun just waiting to warm up the trail.

Betasso Preserve is so close to Boulder and perhaps one of the most enjoyable trails around.  It’s not too difficult for an intermediate rider, quite easy for an advanced rider but it could be a bit strenuous for a novice.  I’m convinced that even a novice can enjoy this ride as long as they ride at a comfortable pace, rest often and hydrate.

The trail is chocolaty sweet; very well groomed with few obstacles.  The climbs are gradual but may feel lengthy to a novice.  This day there were a few wet spots; boy how I love sinking my tires into wet gravel mixed with dirt.  There was also a little snow in the shady areas but no match for my Nobby Nics.

The trail on this day was running counterclockwise, which I had not done before so I was looking forward to a different experience.  I couldn’t decide if the trail was more difficult in this direction or if I was just out of shape; perhaps a little of both. 

I usually catch the main trail by way of the Boulder Canyon Drive link trail.  I decided on this day to drive up to the trailhead instead since I hadn’t started from there before.  You novice riders would be wise to do the same, the link trail from Boulder Canyon Drive can be about as foolish as putting your life savings in a Cyprus bank account. 

The first 1.36 miles are what mountain bikers crave, smooth winding single-track headed downhill.  There are some twists and turns and of course other trail users so please use caution and always yield to hikers.  At 1.36 miles the trail turns up mildly with another short downhill section at 2.05 miles when you reach a trail junction.  Staying right will link you over to the Benjamin Loop, which I highly recommend.  So I chose to go right where you will bottom out again at 2.51 miles to the next climb. 

You’ll climb for another 0.25 miles when you reach the Benjamin Loop.  Today this loop ran clockwise and the climb would continue for another 0.95 miles.  All this climbing is so worth it; rest as much as you need to because this section is great.  For the next 0.84 miles you will be treated to one of the finest downhill sections in the area.  Very few obstacles but many twists and turns on some very smooth single-track-kudos to the track builders.  Of course ride in control because there are some steep drop-offs and a small mistake at high speed can spell big trouble.

The trail levels off a bit at 4.55 miles and you finally return back to the junction at about the 5 mile mark.  The ride back to the Canyon Loop trail is a gentle climb until you start heading up to complete the loop.  For a novice this section will take a bit out of you.  The wet and snowy areas made it more difficult but even on a dry day this section won’t be easy for a novice rider.  It’s a pretty steady climb for about a mile but you do have one short downhill section to catch your breath.  At 6.67 miles it’s all downhill back to the parking lot. 

Remember to enjoy yourself and stop to take in the views.  We were all beginners at one time and when we had to stop to catch our breath, we made sure to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells that keep bringing us back time after time.

Follow along at connect.garmin.com/activity/287247439 and take a little time to plan out your rides using all the mapping information contained on my Garmin page.  Spring is here so oil up that chain and adjust those derailleurs; hope to see you out there.

Dirt Life – Alan Romero

North American Handmade Bicycle Show | Denver 2013

It's winter in Colorado and today we were under blizzard conditions here in Boulder County.  I haven't had much of a chance to take the mountain bike out at all in 2013 and it's been tough to find things to do indoors.  Thankfully Denver came through this weekend by hosting this years North American Handmade Bike Show.

This was my first time attending and I'm so glad I took the time to experience one of the coolest shows to come through town.  The show was very well attended and at times at certain booths it was elbow to elbow, especially at the Boo booth.  I also noticed that the Fat Bikes were getting a lot of attention, perhaps because the show was in Denver or maybe this is the new direction we're headed and we'll all be replacing our worn out standards with Fatties.  Maybe not but I know someone who'll be adding one to their collection.  

I wasn't prepared to give a play by play of my day in bicycle wonderland but I did snap some pictures of some of the coolest and most interesting items on display.  Here are some of my favorites from the show; enjoy.

Coolest Fat Bike

Coolest Fat Bike (wood)

Most Unusual

Best for Trail Work

Most Impractical

Coolest Display

Most Lustrous

Coolest Wood

Most Beautiful

Coolest Booth

Artists Favorite

Simple yet Sophisticated

 

Rabbit Mountain: They Call Me The Breeze

Great tune by Lynyrd Skynyrd and a great way to describe Rabbit Mountain's Eagle Wind trail.  This is a low impact, low risk trail that is perfect for those novice riders seeking rougher terrain not typically found in town. 

I forgot how much fun Rabbit Mountain was.  The very first time I tried this trail was shortly after moving here from Houston and I remember that I could barely make it 30 yards up the first climb before I had to stop and catch my breath.  Since then I’ve come to appreciate the subtleties of Rabbit Mountain and the Eagle Wind Trail loop.  This trail may not offer much of a challenge to a seasoned rider but for someone who loves rugged terrain it won’t matter.  At a moderate to slow pace this trail will test your balance, line selection and bike control.  My favorite part of this trail is the rugged terrain and mild slopes-once on the Eagle Wind Trail loop. 

From the parking lot you can tell that there is not a lot of atmosphere around the area but don’t be fooled, there is much more to this trail than meets the eye.  The first, and perhaps the only real climb, is right out of the parking lot.  It’s half a mile of well groomed gravel road leading you to the trailhead.  If you’re new to mountain biking or from lower elevation, take it slow and stop if you need to, you don’t want to wear yourself out here.

At 0.51 miles you reach the trailhead, off to the right, leading up to Eagle Wind Trail loop.  For 0.44 miles you have an easy to moderate climb, depending on your skill level, on rugged single-track.  Most rocks are embedded in the trail but there’s still plenty of the loose stuff too.  This trail can get busy with hikers so yield as always although I find that most hikers are happy to yield to bikers.  This section is rather mild by Colorado standards but for a beginner it should start to test your skills.  Also, make sure you have a flat tire repair kit because there can be cactus needles to deal with.

You’ll reach the start of Eagle Wind Trail at 0.95 miles; I chose to go right.  I just love the idea of my tires grabbing the terrain and sinking those nobbies into the dirt, negotiating rocks, pointing that front tire right where it needs to go.  Now it may seem by my description that the trail is a bit too rugged for a beginner but quite the opposite, it is absolutely rideable at any skill level, just remember to wear a helmet.

For the next 1.92 miles you’ll roll over some unique terrain.  You have a lot of embedded rock and they come in a variety of sizes.  With minimal elevation changes, you have a perfect trail to practice line choice and you’ll want to choose the path of least resistance.  From time to time you’ll have the opportunity to shift your weight to get over some of the larger rocks.  Also, pay close attention to your pedals and try to avoid smashing them against the rocks.  Try and keep a steady pace and see if you can make it all the way without setting your feet down.  I found using a wheelie to place your front tire was helpful in a few areas.

At a moderate to slow pace, this is a great trail to also test your balance.  When I’m not on our beautiful trails, I’ll practice my balance in my driveway by bringing my bike to a complete stop and using my weight and handlebars to keep my balance; you will not believe how helpful this is when you’re out on the trail.  Take some time to enjoy the scenery while you're out here and keep your eyes peeled for the occasional Red Tail Hawk or Golden Eagle; they are often seen in this area.

You’ll complete the loop at 2.87 miles.  For a longer ride, try riding back in the opposite direction; should make for a pretty good ride the more mileage you add.  When you finally decide to head down, this section can add some difficulty the more speed you carry-remember to yield to other trail users.  Keep your weight centered and your eyes on the trail, feather the brakes and this should be a piece of cake.

So I’m now at 3.31 miles into my ride and back at the dirt road.  Now all mountain bikers can appreciate the speed and sensation of rolling downhill and you’ll be greeted with an opportunity here to let the good times roll but be very careful because the gravel is loose and you don’t want to lose control here.  Always yield to others and stop if you must to let others go by.

It was a very short but delightful ride and you can follow along at connect.garmin.com/activity/268836312; these maps provide some very useful information and will certainly prepare you for your ride.  Rabbit Mountain is the perfect trail for the new mountain biker and it’s so close to town that you could do a quick run and still be back by lunch.

Thanks for checking in and happy trails....AR

Flatirons Vista: One For All

Flatirons Vista trailhead is just off Highway 93 (S. Foothills Highway) and South of the intersection of Hwy 93 and Hwy 128 (W 120th).  This is a parking fee area so if you wish to avoid the fee (although it does help to keep our parks and open space clean and clear) you may want to consider parking at the Greenbelt Plateau trailhead at the intersection of Hwy 93 and Hwy 128.

It was a very pleasant afternoon, the air temperature was in the 50’s and clouds kept the sun hidden for most of the day.  A bit chilly for shorts with all the cloud cover, but not a big deal if you take a light wind jacket and warm layers up top.

At the trailhead you have two options and I chose to stay left at every trail junction for the first 2 miles or so.  The first mile is a very gradual climb that flattens out as you roll along.  It’s a little rocky but mostly pebbles; your tires could lose a little traction but it's perfect for testing your balance.  At 0.96 you reach your first junction and I stayed left along more rocky tread.  From this point to the 2.33 mile mark you’ll be traveling on rocky tread at first then nice hard pack as you meander through the trees.  This trail is very popular with hikers and their 4-legged friends so please yield to other trail users.

At 2.33 miles, I went left on a slight descent through one of my favorite parts of the trail.  It’s just over a half-mile long but you’ll roll over nice single-track, threading through pine trees as you hug the edge of the Doudy Draw trail.  At the switchback the trail continues at a much steeper slope.  The trail is loose and larger rocks are present so stay in control or dismount if necessary.  This is a good winter practice spot for climbers and I know I really appreciate those who yield as I’m climbing this section.  It isn't long before you reach a short mild climb once past the small bridge at the bottom.  This gentle climb takes you to the next trail junction; left leads you to the Spring Brook loop.  I chose to go right here back down Doudy Draw to the Community Ditch trail.

So now I’m 4.04 miles into my ride and the Community Ditch trail is off to my right.  You'll cross a small bridge over a running stream and this time of year you'll find the surface frozen as water flows underneath.  Head right on a dirt road that runs along this small waterway leading you to a Hwy 93 crossing.  For almost 2 miles you’ll roll along a flat dirt road with spectacular views of the Boulder Flatirons.  The landscape is open with a few head of cattle to lighten up the mood.  Cross over Hwy 93, where you’ll catch the Greenbelt Plateau trail, just to the right across the street.  This can be a busy highway at times so cross with caution.

Throughout this ride you have multiple cattle gates to pass, just make sure you secure them once you’re through.  You’ll have another one here as you catch the Greenbelt Plateau trail.  The trail climbs mildly for 0.76 miles; the trail is well groomed so you shouldn’t have any problems here.  If you’re from lower elevations, a climb like this could be tiresome-I am and it took me a few rides to finally get comfortable but then I am a little asthmatic. 

At 6.63 miles the trail levels off and throughout this section you can either continue on the dirt road or if you’re like me and you can’t get enough single-track, you can take the narrow single-track that follows right along the dirt road.  The trail descends ever so slightly but enough to get your wheels rolling pretty good.  One word of caution though; some rocks will offer minimal clearance between them and at least 3 times my pedals and feet made connection resulting in a toe smash inside my shoe.  Off to the left you'll see Marshall Lake as you make your way to the Greenbelt Plateau trailhead where I went right towards Hwy 93 again.  Cross the Hwy then take the well groomed trail down to the Flatirons Vista parking lot. 

This is a really nice beginner trail with some technical sections that may require a little experience.  If you’re just out for a little fun, you can skip the Doudy Draw, Community Ditch and Greenbelt Plateau sections and go right at the 2.33 mile trail intersection.  Going right will take you back to the Flatirons Vista parking lot and/or the Greenbelt Plateau parking lot.  Check out connect.garmin.com/activity/266350266 for some trail statistics to help you plan your ride.  This is a great ride if you have some visitors coming to town who would enjoy spectacular views of our Boulder Foothills.  Our weather can change in an instant this time of year but when dry conditions exist, you just can’t keep cyclists at home.  Thanks for checking in and hope to see you on the trails.

Alan Romero

Hall Ranch / Prelude to a Fawn

One of my favorite Debussy pieces has to be Prèlude à L’après-midi d’un Faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun).  It's the perfect theme for exploring the outdoors and the perfect soundtrack for my ride this past weekend.

It has been extremely cold lately and the mountain bikes have been hanging in the garage getting little, if any, use.  This weekend however we were greeted with 50 degree weather and I was not going to let this weekend go by without sinking some nobbies into the dirt.  I checked my favorite local websites for trail conditions and I was glad to see a couple of my favorites may be dry and clear.  I decided on Hall Ranch and this time I would map Bitterbrush and Nelson Loop.

The weather was perfect but I still wore some cold weather layers just in case it got cold up top.  In my earlier posts I described the lower half of the trail and this time out was no different.  The first 0.80 miles is well groomed with a couple of rocky areas but nothing too difficult.

At 0.80 miles you cross a service road and begin the most difficult part of the trail.  From here to about the 2 mile mark you’ll cross one heck of a boulder garden with very challenging terrain.  If you’re not used to this type of terrain don’t experiment here, dismount so you can enjoy the rest of the ride.  The service road is restricted to mountain bikers unless you have an emergency so you don’t have much of a choice; just take your time and be careful.

At the top you’ll come up to a nice resting spot with a bench and nice open view of the mountains.  From here to about the 2.5 mile mark you’ll be delighted with a smooth winding downhill speed section.  This is new and we should thank our trail builders for such a fine job.  You can pick up a ton of speed here but please make sure you yield to other trail users and bikes climbing in the opposite direction.  You’ll come to a trail junction with Antelope trail and if you’re going to tackle Nelson Loop you’ll need to go left.

It’s a really smooth open single track up to the 3.82 mile mark.  This steady climb should be no problem unless you’re like me and let your fitness slide over the cold winter days.  The trail is really smooth with very few rocks.  You’ll have a little shade closer to the loop but most of this section is exposed and today the sun was nice and toasty.

You’ll reach the Nelson Loop at the 3.82 mile mark and from here I chose to start the loop to the left.  This is a well groomed mild climb and today snow still covered part of the landscape.  Parts were wet and frozen with little mud-perfect for sinking those waiting nobbies.  At around the 4.25 mile mark you’ll come to a small bridge.  Perched over a small stream, this is a great resting spot with great views so make sure you have your cameras.

The climb will continue for another half mile till you reach the intersection of Nelson Loop and Nighthawk trail at the 5 mile mark.  It was here that I came across a small group of deer enjoying the company of mountain bikers and hikers.  While the bucks retreat to the wooded areas, the fawn’s stood just feet from the trail as I rode by.  At around 4.5 miles I rode down to the Nelson farm house-if this is your first time, take a few minutes to ride down and have a look.

So at the Nighthawk, Nelson Loop intersection the trail heads down.  Today since the trail was under a bit of snow I had to take it a little slower than I normally would.  There aren’t many rocks but it will run through the trees and nobody wants see them up close at high speed.  In the summer this section is one heck of a good time and worth the climb.

At about the 6.25 mile mark you should be back at the trail junction for the descent to the Antelope, Bitterbrush intersection.  You can reach some mind blowing speed just make sure you yield as with all descents.  So you’ll have the final climb back to the resting spot then back down the rock garden-I was tempted to take the service road but I didn’t want to break the rules so back down the hard way.

It was a great afternoon and the perfect escape from the daily grind.  As always, follow along at connect.garmin.com/activity/263899231 and use the map information to plan your next trip.  A little preparation ahead of time can make all the difference.  I wish I had this kind of information back in the day, I can’t tell you how many times my brother and I drove out to ride only to find the terrain far too difficult.

Get out and ride! 

Alan Romero

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD - From Kelly and I