Trips and Destinations
Road (aka Rode) Trips
We love riding local routes, but it sure is fun to mix it up a bit! Plus, there’s hardly a better way to get to know your teammates than spending a long drive or weekend with them, our trips have been the catalyst for many lifelong friendships. Every year can be different in regard to destination, logistics, and timing. Just like everything on our calendar, these trips are totally optional. Following are examples of some of our favorite past trips:
PALISADE
Glamping in the Vineyards has become a “have to” road trip. This location is extra special with options galore! Roadies, gravelers, and mountain bikers of all levels cross-pollinate to set out on pavement or dirt. We call Palisade Basecamp RV Resort home for the weekend while enjoying local wine tasting, lounging in the Colorado River, and sharing stories around a campfire.
MOAB
Mountain bikers rejoice at the thought of a weekend in the cyclist’s mecca of Moab. Team leaders organized the trip to epic proportions: a group campsite, carpools, rides for different ability levels, and even a shuttle service to bag epic trails. For those who love NOT camping, they grabbed their own lodging in town and just met up at trailheads. Since it’s a haul to get from CO’s Front Range to Moab, this has been at least a 4-night weekend. Some folks had to arrive a day late or leave early, and that’s OK. We’ve learned things over the years so the Moab trip is recommended only for blue (intermediate) riders to black (advanced) levels.
ASPEN
Independence Pass is closed to cars during the shoulder season, so we've planned road-riding excursions to Aspen to take advantage. We’ve pedaled up to the Maroon Bells (and have a tradition of taking this epic pic). After a celebratory photo session (weather depending) we cycled through Snowmass to the Woody Creek Tavern for lunch and margs. The big gig is an out-and-back to the summit of Independence Pass. Those who don’t want that magnitude of a ride did their own thing by riding the Rio Grande Trail or Castle Creek. This is an incredibly beautiful area to ride in and is perfect for all rider levels.
There’s so much to explore in Colorado’s high country. Summit, Eagle, and Mesa counties beckon us on gravel, road, and mountain bikes. We have some one-day events where we’ll just meet up at the destination for the day. We also have weekends where we’ll suggest or facilitate lodging. Past rides have included road rides over Vail Pass, around Lake Dillon with a Montezuma offshoot, and our own version of the Copper Triangle. Mountain bikers have hooked up for a singletrack day near Breck, Vail, Buffalo Creek, Fruita, Eagle, and other locales. Gravel meccas include Steamboat, Grand County, and Shrine Pass.
A woman’s got a right to change her mind, so we keep our options open and add new and different trips to our calendar to keep things fresh!