I was always going to go see Tom Petty in concert. No rush, I said. I’ll get around to it.  You know what?  Concerts are loud, crowded, expensive and the sound quality is nowhere near how it was mastered in the studio.  I can listen to Tom Petty any time I want and it is like he is in the room with me.  Maybe the Colorado trail experience is similar.  Bikepacking is physically and mentally demanding and the ride quality is nowhere what it is on an unladen mountain bike.  I can mountain bike the Colorado Trail in sections anytime I want, knowing there is a light bike to ride and a shower and a warm bed waiting for me at the end of the day. 

CO Trail Day 5
3 miles past Gold Hill Trailhead to Copper Mountain
Overall CO Trail mileage: 117.2
Daily mileage: 9
Wildlife Observed: Bikepackers galore!
Resupply Anxiety Level (1-10): 0
Water Anxiety Level (1-10): 0
Weather Anxiety Level (1-10): 9 (thunderstorm rolled in shortly before noon as I was approaching 12,500 foot ridge-line.  Fortunately no lightning, but rain and some good pelting from hail)
Fire Anxiety Level (1-10): 0
Bike Condition: I can't recommend wax chain lube for a big ride like this.  Chain needs maintenance fairly regularly with the wax.
Rider Condition: I had no idea how steep this section was and it caught me completely off guard.  I was wiped out by the time I got to the high point on ridge.
Trail Difficulty: 9 out of 10 for steep hike a bike.  The ride down into Copper was very rideable and fun however, even in my physically and mentally drained state.
Trail Condition: Stupid steep uphill.
Other Riders Spotted: Gaggles of bikepackers.  So this really is a thing, but now I am beginning to wonder WHY it is a thing.  Such a painful and uncomfortable day.
Notable Events: I love mountainbiking and I love backpacking, but unlike peanut butter and chocolate this isn't a tasty combo for me.  I had a couple nasty spills on the decent into Copper (I'm gonna blame the 25 pounds of gear that I had to lug up and down God's green earth with me) and I came to the conclusion that it was time to tap out.  I called Deb (she doesn't like being called the cavalry I have discovered) and she spirited off from work to come pic me up.  Thanks, Deb! Maybe I will continue to section ride the Colorado in the future, but it will not involve lugging around camping gear.  I'm too old for this shit!
Pics: There is still some snow up in 'dem hills!  That's the trail!

A few more pics from day 4:

CO Trail Day 4
Kenosha Pass to 3 mikes past Gold Hill Trailhead
Overall CO Trail mileage: 107.4
Daily mileage: 35.7
Wildlife Observed: Goats!  Also saw a grouse with chicks in trail.  Mama blocked trail until they were clear.
Resupply Anxiety Level (1-10): 0
Water Anxiety Level (1-10): 0
Weather Anxiety Level (1-10): 0
Fire Anxiety Level (1-10): 0
Bike Condition: Lower tire pressure and a tight seat post makes a big positive improvement
Rider Condition: Feeling fresh after my break, but the last few miles past Gold Hill Trailhead to my camp were tough.
Trail Difficulty: This section was 99% rideable and a lot of fun.  Good quality singletrrack!
Trail Condition: Really good shape
Other Riders Spotted: Beginning to wonder if bikepacing is a thing.  Pretty lonely out here.
Notable Events: Discovered some Trail Magic at Gold Hill Trailhead in the form of beer!  I drank one on the spot and greedily stuck a second in my fanny pack where it promptly exploded inside my bag drenching everything.  Remember boys and girls, greed is not good!
Pics: Kenosha is pretty, goats like pee, Trail Magic is real, fire is bad and don't mess with mama.

Cleaning bike today I noticed that my dropper seat post had slipped down about 2 inches AND I discovered that my tire gauge was off just a tiny bit.  I had done three days on the trail with a tire pressure of 22 pounds on 27.5 plus tubeless tires and not the 12.5 pounds I thought I was riding.  This bike should now feel like I'm riding on a full suspension steed after 3 days at 22 psi.  The loose seat post clamp explains why I kept raising my dropper post and it still felt like I was slowly sinking.  

CO Trail Day 3
32 miles into Lost Creek detour to Kenosha Pass
Overall CO Trail mileage: 71.7
Daily mileage: 46.4
Wildlife Observed: Chipmunks, deer, pica, rabbits and more hummingbirds
Resupply Anxiety Level (1-10): 7 (finally found a small cell window to call in the cavalry)
Water Anxiety Level (1-10): 0 (once I finally realized the second half of bypass followed Tarryall Creek)
Weather Anxiety Level (1-10): 0
Fire Anxiety Level (1-10): 7 (can see the smoke from the fire most of the day)
Bike Condition: My dropper post is fully extended, so why does my seat feel lower?
Rider Condition: Only 80% as knackered as day one, but needing a couple rest days.  Since I'm not in a hurry, the Cavalry is taking me to Denver and returning me back to trail on the 4th with fresh legs.
Trail Difficulty: Section 5 isn't too hard, or at least wouldn't be on fresh legs.
Trail Condition: Lots of small rocks that sucked energy when hit and were annoying.
Other Riders Spotted: One guy on a bikepacking rig just doing an overnighter
Notable Events: A couple of new fires started over the weekend in Colorado, impacting air quality.
Pics: Active wildfire visible and a view of some rock free singletrack.

CO Trail Day 2
Little Scraggy Trailhead to 32 miles into Lost Creek detour
Overall CO Trail mileage: 28.3
Daily mileage: 44
Wildlife Observed: Golden Eagle, buck with velvet on antlers and more hummingbirds
Resupply Anxiety Level (1-10): 7 (no cell coverage and anxious about contacting my re-supply)
Water Anxiety Level (1-10): 7 (thirsty and only able to carry three liters)
Weather Anxiety Level (1-10): 6 (looks like a storm rolling in, but, no, it is smoke from a fire)
Fire Anxiety Level (1-10): 0 (didn't know at time a fire had parts of highway 285 closed)
Bike Condition: Clicking has gone away.
Rider Condition: Only 90% as knackered as yesterday.
Trail Difficulty: Section 3 of the Colorado Trail is fun, but the bypass around the Lost Creek Wilderness in the Hayman Burn SUCKS!
Trail Condition: Fun flowing singletrack with more mild uphill (relatively speaking)
Other Riders Spotted: No other bikepackers spotted.
Notable Events: Startled a Golden Eagle and as he took off, he knocked a large branch from the tree nearly hitting me.
Pics: Cows on the bike detour and those clouds smell like smoke.

More pics from day 1.

I'll post a day two and three report later today or tomorrow with more pics.  Today and tomorrow are rest days.  I will take it back up at Kenosha Pass early morning on the 4th of July!

CO Trail Day 1
Waterton Canyon to Little Scraggy Trailhead
Overall mileage: 28.3
Daily mileage: 28.3
Wildlife Observed: hummingbirds and bees
Resupply Anxiety Level (1-10): 0
Water Anxiety Level (1-10): 0
Weather Anxiety Level (1-10): 5
Fire Anxiety Level (1-10): 0
Bike Condition: Some clicking on rear wheel that comes and goes, but appears to be coming from the brake.
Rider Condition: knackered
Trail Difficulty: The exposed terrain in the Hayman burn mid-day is not to be taken lightly.
Trail Condition: dry and a bit loose on switchbacks
Other Riders Spotted: No other bikepackers spotted.
Notable Events: My friend Paul did the first day with me, so we had a car waiting at Little Scraggy and were able to drive over to Zoka's Restaurant and Bar for burgers, beer, fries and dessert.  Yum!  

Tomorrow morning is the big day.  Two years ago when I rode my motorcycle cross country on the Trans-American Trail (TAT) I filled out a simple form to ensure that I documented the trip each day.  It worked well, so I will be doing a similar daily journal on this trip.  Here is the format:

CO Trail Day [xx]
[Start Location] to [End Location]
Overall mileage: [xxx]
Daily mileage: [xx]
Wildlife Observed: 
Resupply Anxiety Level (1-10):
Weather Anxiety Level (1-10):
Bike Condition: 
Rider Condition:
Trail Difficulty:
Trail Condition:
Other Riders Spotted: 
Notable Events:   

This weekend, riding the Colorado Trail on mountain bike transforms from an oversimplified scheme hatched from the comforts of my climate controlled house, whilst sitting on my couch drinking beer and eating Doritos, to the harsh reality of  pedaling over 530 miles and climbing and then descending over 75,000 feet of ups and downs.  A trail where the risk of hyperthemia and hypothermia are both equally possible during the same day, if not in the same hour.  A trail where both mountain lions and bear roam the trails looking for an easy mark wrapped in spandex.  Where packs of coyotes track lone bikers during the day, waiting for night fall and the sounds of a lonely banjo reminds one of the movie Deliverance as the unsuspecting rider meanders through the Colorado hills and hollers.  This is a place where softball size hail rains down on the lonely traveler mid-day and lightning chases anyone unlucky enough to be above treeline down the nearest ridge-line as the Gods have their way with the bicyclist foolish enough to attempt this trail.   

Why on earth would anyone do this?  My response is simple and to the point.  It beats a day at work! 



You can track my progress at https://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=1lGGNHb3naRWze8cmzaJQnYDZ7tUJP3Xv

The password is COTRAIL



 

 

Did an overnight shakedown ride on June 9th and 10th on segments 1 and 2 of the trail to check out the gear.  Everything except the rider performed flawlessly.  Here are a few pics.  Lessons learned:

1 -  Don't underestimate how hot and exposed the Hayman burn area can get.
2 -  Don't try to be a hero.  If it expends less energy to push vs ride, push!
3 -  Drink more water!
4 -  Carry more food!
5 -  Control that heart rate

I was always going to go see Tom Petty in concert. No rush, I said. I’ll get around to it. That is why I’m riding my bike along the Colorado trail from Denver to Durango THIS summer, not next summer or after I retire. In fact, I’m leaving in 30 days. This thread will follow my preparation (a lot has already been completed) and my journey. As of today, the bike is built, most gear has been selected and the first packing dry run is complete. Here are some photos and more posts will follow soon!