Our Little Ride from Telluride to Moab

[yellow]

We're baaaack! I'm just going to try to keep it short so y'all don't snooze off on us. Hopefully SadieKate has some better photos than I do...mine didn't turn out all that great. And someone has a photo of usn's and RunningMommy...hopefully it will surface.

In short, SK, her DH, yellow, her DH, and friends Emerald and "Laverne" (turns out two of us had the same first name, so we became known as "Laverne" and "Shirley") rode their bikes from Telluride, CO to Moab, UT in 6 fun filled days last week!

Because Math Is Hard, I'm going to let SK post the mileages after she uploads all the data from her gizmos. The total mileage was about 200 miles, maybe more. Most of it was on dirt road, though we did have a little pavement (upon which I broke my land speed record for my mountain bike [46.1 mph!], which is not that far off of my road bike record; Laverne went over 50 mph).

Anyhoo, SK and her DH arrived in Mobe on Thursday eve and were able to ride Klondike Bluffs on Friday am (that's the ride where the dino tracks are). We arrived Friday early afternoon when it was already hot so we just went to the Slickrock Cafe and had...beer. We rode a great newish singletrack trail called Sovereign on Saturday. Here's SK.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Rides/T2M/SK_Sov.jpg

We began our journey from Telluride to Moab on Sunday 6/17 (after a 3 hour shuttle from Western Spirit (http://www.westernspirit.com/)'s Moab HQ). Here's a couple of shots from the first day's ride, which included a big climb over a pass that's about 10,600' (maybe higher...SK's gizmos will know).

The scenery...ho hum (the San Juan Mountains in CO):

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Rides/T2M/Day1.jpg

SK and I somewhere in the middle of the climb (still smiling):

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Rides/T2M/ThisSucks_Day1.jpg

SK whizzing by as she summits the pass:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Rides/T2M/SKwhizzesby_Day1.jpg

Day 2 we rode down off the pass, through big fields and meadows and lots of aspen. Here's Emerald giving us a parade wave in the aspen:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Rides/T2M/paradewave_Day2.jpg

The next day was our longest day (I rode about 55 miles...I had a little extra from riding out to a scenic viewpoint). Lots of riding through aspens, and meadows, and more crummy scenery. Here are the La Sal Mountains in UT, which is the mountain range we'd ride over on our last day:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Rides/T2M/LaSallesFar.jpg

Day 4 was our "easy" day (17-ish miles) since day 5 included a big climb. We had a hot climb up to camp, and once there tried to stay cool in the shade. This was "flat tire" day. My DH and SK's DH both got the only flats of the trip.

Day 5 started with a big brake burning descent to the town of Gateway, CO, which is turning into a resort town thanks to an influx of money from the folks that own the Discovery Channel. Here's the only picture of me and my DH that I have (taken half way down the mountain)!

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Rides/T2M/BriSue_Day5.jpg

After a short latte break in Gateway, we tackled the BIG climb up John Brown Canyon. Thankfully we had some clouds and some folks even got a little virga to cool them down. Here are three of our new friends at the top of the climb: Tony a radiologist from Tennessee, Dan a retired MD from Michigan, and Mr. Gnome, our good luck mascot (in Dan's pack). We called Tony "Mr. EPO" this day as he smoked the climb. Mind you this man was on platform pedals and really hadn't done that much mtn biking.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Rides/T2M/MrGnome_Day5.jpg

Tony had his daughter Ann with him, 17 years old and a very, very strong climber. She was always one of the first people to top out on the climbs (she was also riding platforms)!

We were all pretty beat when we got to the campsite overlooking the Fisher Valley. It was gorgeous--lots of flowers and hummingbirds and pretty decent weather. Here are some shots from there:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Rides/T2M/FisherVlly_camp5.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Rides/T2M/clouds_day6.jpg

Our last day included a stop at some dino tracks (here's Emerald showing you just how big they are):

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Rides/T2M/dinosteps.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Rides/T2M/dinotrack_Day6.jpg

And ...a fun and fast descent off of the Beaver Mesa (where I hit my record speed), a long climb up over the La Sal Mountains, and then a fast and fun ride down Sand Flat Road into Moab, where we put the hose over our heads and attempted to cool off. You can see the La Sals in the background (overhead) in this photo of several riders living on the edge:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/tasdan/Rides/T2M/exposure_Day6.jpg

It was a great trip: great company, beautiful scenery, and some fun riding. I ate so much more than I normally do (thanks to the great cooking of the guides) that I gained 5 pounds! :eek:

Where's the next one??? :)

[mimitabby]

excuse me, these aren't good pictures?? Most of them look like they should be framed and hanging on the wall! But what's the one right below the gal stretching.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful ride photos with us.
Looks like you had a wonderful time!

[BikeDutchess]

Fabulous photos! Sounds like a wonderful trip!

[yellow]

But what's the one right below the gal stretching.

A dinosaur track in the rock. Emerald is showing you how far apart they are in the picture above. If you didn't see RunningMommy's pictures from Moab, then you probably wouldn't know about the tracks. These are some different ones that we came across (different from the ones that RunningMommy's picture shows).

[RolliePollie]

WOW! OK, now I'm gonna have to get a mountain bike too :)

Amazing pictures...amazing scenery! Sounds like a really fantastic trip!

[margo49]

Wow!
Beautiful scenery!

[aka_kim]

Your little ride looks like great fun! Hopefully more pictures will be coming (a Still Life 2007 series maybe?).

[Running Mommy]

Spencer and I have been thinking about you guys all week! He kept saying " I wonder where they are riding today mom??".... And I would reply "Oh I'm sure it's somewhere beautiful!"...
Sounds like a ton of fun. I think Tony is considering doing something like that..
Ohh, and in case you missed my other thread.. I have a NEW BIKE!!!
Thanks to you guys I'm now the proud owner of a Juliana!!! :D

[crazycanuck]

Ohh..cool :cool:

My first thought was " gee that looks a bit hot to ride in " :o Next thought " :eek: those are moutains behind them :eek: "

:o

c

[Lise]

Wow you guys! What a fabulous trip! Incredible pictures. And that you could do so much, so fast, so high up in elevation! When I was in your fair town last year, I could barely walk down the side walk. It sounds like a blast, and I'm so happy for you all. :D

Lise-the-flatlander :p

[sulis]

Beautiful pictures. I'm glad you had a wonderful trip and arrived home safely!

[mekira]

Beautiful pictures and such a fabulous trip.... I wish I had scenery like that where I live :)

The dino tracks are so cool... first time I hear about that...

[maillotpois]

Oh wow - great pictures and great report!! Almost makes me want to dig out my rusty mountain bike. Almost.

46 plus mph on a mountain bike!!!???!!!??? :eek: OMG I cannot even imagine that!! I routinely hit that on my road bike (like Saturday :D ) but I can NOT fathom doing it on fat nubby tires! You da woMAN!

Those mountains are just gorgeous.

[Lise]

PS: The fastest I've ever gone on a bike was 31 mph, downhill, on a Bianchi Veloche, in the aerobars, during a triathlon.

You guys are amazing! :eek: :D

[mimitabby]

Hey, Lise, I beat you. I went 31.5 mph this weekend! (And it felt REALLY REALLY FAST!) I agree, she was smoking!

[Xrayted]

Wow, what an incredible adventure you all had and I agree, beautiful pics there Yellow. One of my goals is to be able to finally start taking some biking vacations later this year or next. Everytime I see some of you ladies post stuff like this, I go online for weeks looking up good adventures to put on my list. :D

thank you so much for sharing. :cool:

[yellow]

I have a NEW BIKE!!!
Thanks to you guys I'm now the proud owner of a Juliana!!! :D
Bwaa haa haa haa haa! Beware! You won't want to get back on your road bike!

I ended up riding (mtn bike) in the mountains here yesterday and heard myself saying, out loud, that I felt guilty for buying that new road bike earlier this year and that I...really...don't...want...to ride on the road. :eek: (Of course, after about 1.5 hours of climbing my legs almost expired completely, and couch potato-dom was sounding pretty good. Think I need a little break?? :rolleyes: )

[Tri Girl]

Wow!!! :eek: What do you mean "crummy scenery?" It's sooooo beautiful!!!!! Great pictures, and great adventure story. Sounds like soooo much fun! I only like to ride my mtn bike in the winter, but your adventure makes summer riding look like so much fun. May have to re-think that (there's no ticks and spiders out there, right??? right??? ;) )...

Thanks for sharing! :D

[Jones]

Looks like a great trip! My DH and I have been thinking about the San Juan hut to hut ride from Telluride to Moab but now I think I guided trip may be better and cheaper in the long run 'cause I wouldn't have to buy panniers and a bunch of other stuff. Plus I wouldn't have to hall all that stuff. Thanks for sharing your trip.

Jones

[bikerz]

What a great trip! Wonderful photos, Yellow!

Are the La Sal mountains the ones in the distance in the 6th photo? And you rode OVER those? :eek:

[eofelis]

You folks were in my neck of the woods. :)

It looks like it was an awesome ride!

I live in Grand Junction. I haven't mtn biked the routes you took, but I am familiar with the Gateway area. I've been to that dinosaur tracksite with a paleontological group a few years back.

Edit: I went back and looked at your pics again. It looks like you went down the Niche Road (read as "nitch"), also called Casto Wash, when you went down into Gateway. I've been up and down that road in a vehicle a few times, but not on a bike. It's quite a grade.

[Deanna]

Gorgeous photos. Fisher Valley doesn't even look like a real place!

Edited to add: Where were you staying? I don't see any camping gear on those bikes (and I can't imagine hitting those speeds fully loaded)

[weathergal]

Wow, those are wonderful pictures. It makes me want to dust off my neglected mountain bike and head west. Glad you guys had a fun trip.

[SadieKate]

Hi everyone! Just getting back into the swing of things (only 2 loads of laundry left to go - woohoo!). After much planning we only got one addition for the Still Life Series. Much have been all the other fun and games distracting us.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/Still%20Life%20Series/IMG_0250.jpg

For those not in the know, the Still Life Series was started last year and is here (http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/Still%20Life%20Series/). I'll do my best to create more this year.:o

SurlyPacer, yes, we rode down the Niche and then back up John Brown Canyon. The grade, road surface and exposure of the top 2.5 miles of the Niche can be pretty terrifying. Fortunately, I've gotten some of my fear of exposure under control AND the road surface was much better than when we rode the same route in 1998. Imagine trying to ride down the Niche when it's littered with fist sized rocks.

Deanna, we were with Western Spirit Cycling. I have no desire to carry my own stuff or even doing my own cooking when riding these miles and at that altitude. This isn't a trip for the coach potato, but it is a perfect trip for a fit road cyclist who wants to get into the back of beyond. Bubba and I did this tour in 1998 and loved the epic nature of the trip plus the incredible diversity of scenery. You feel on top of the world once you're rolling along the Uncompaghre Plateau.

http://www.westernspirit.com/trips/mtb-telluride_to_moab/telluride_to_moab.html

If anyone wants to see the actual route I've loaded the GPS files to MotionBased here:
Day 1 - http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3110478
Day 2 - http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3110841
Day 3 - http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3111040
Day 4 - http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3111096
Day 5 - http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3111467
Day 6 - http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3111656

Total mileage was 194 (though I think that's a tad low as the GPS operator was bit challenged :rolleyes: ) and climbing was 20,597'. Average elevation for the trip is in the high 8,000 ft range (and Bubba and I live at 52'). When you realize that the first day had a pass at 10,700' and one mtb mile is generally considered twice the effort of a road mile (just a general rule of thumb), this wasn't a ride for the faint of heart. And we not only paid for such masochism but Bubba and I have paid to experience it twice.:p

Photo links:
http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/Telluride%20to%20Moab%202007/
http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/Moab%20Trails%202007/

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/Moab%20Trails%202007/IMG_0216.jpg

[Lise]

Phenomenal pix, SK! I'm always looking forward to the next installment in the Still Life series. :p Loved the one of Bubba and his sister wives. :cool:

You guys truly rock. L.

[Veronica]

Very cool! Love the photos.

V.

[SadieKate]

Spencer and I have been thinking about you guys all week! He kept saying " I wonder where they are riding today mom??".... And I would reply "Oh I'm sure it's somewhere beautiful!"...
Sounds like a ton of fun. I think Tony is considering doing something like that..
Ohh, and in case you missed my other thread.. I have a NEW BIKE!!!
Thanks to you guys I'm now the proud owner of a Juliana!!! :DOMG! Our blatant and totally non-subtle campaign for you worked! I noticed there was a lot of beer being consumed at the other end of the table.

How's Spencer liking that toothpaste. Mr. Yellow repeatedly said how he'd learned his lesson when requesting non-specific "manly" toothpaste. You'd think he would have learned Bubba's evil ways by now.

[Trekhawk]

WOW - love the pics guys. Glad to hear you all had a great ride. That is some beautiful scenery.:)