I was talking this over with my wife last night, playing devil's advocate and the like and where we got to was; if I just take off the front wheel and pedal, then it's still a bike, still a no-go. But if I can't put it back together using the parts on my back, then it's fine. At this point my wife said "well why would you even want to do that then?" Well I ride a 29+ and my buddy rides a 26fat. we swap front wheels when we disassemble. Then neither of us can physically build a bike with the parts on our back. Wife gets angry and says I'm being pedantic.

It sounds like it really comes down to the opinion of the ranger who sees you, if you even meet one.

And I would doubt any hiker would have issue with you hiking with the bike on your back. At that point you are a hiker too, just with a ridiculous pack.

I guess I don't really have anything to add other than contacting the ranger district before hand until someone says "go for it" then write their name down so when you run into ranger 'bob' you can say ranger 'joe' with your district said I could.

hey Long Ranger,

I made an account just to ask where you are getting that information. I am not trying to be accusative, but sincerely curios. Have you talked with any of the specific ranger districts in colorado? Are you going off the 1984 Forest Service regulation that prohibited “possessing or using a hang glider or bicycle” in a Wilderness area (CFR 36 Sec. 261.16 (b))? Since one can argue that once partially disassembled, you no longer have a bicycle, but bicycle parts, that you would be permitted.

It is an attempt to follow the intent and spirit of the law while ALSO following the letter of the law.

I have been contemplating doing something similar myself on the CT. Taking apart my bike, walking through the lost creek wilderness with the bike on my back, then riding the other side, staying out of wilderness areas.