a ? for anybody who has done a bike trip.

[Brandi]

I was pondering about a week long bike trip i am taking. The first one ever for me. For those of you who don't know, it is a hut to hut trip. We don't haul our own food just personal stuff. What i was pondering was how I am going to feel after this trip. relaxed? tired? wrung out? How have any of you felt after a week long trip through the mountains. The trip is durango colorado to moab Utah.

[solobiker]

Hi there, well I have taken those types of trips, the Hut to Hut trip via skis where you had to carry personal items and food. I found them very enjoying and relaxing although it was hard work at times. It is just so peaceful being out there away from "society" and all forms of modern society. I absolutely love the views some of the huts have. I have done many of the 10th mtn huts, only in the winter, so I cant speak of them in the summer. There is nothing like the sky above with out artifacial lights. Hope you have a great time.

[Brandi]

Well i love camping and being outdoors. And the good ting is we don't have to haul our own food just snacks from the huts.

[wavedancer]

I haven't done any trekking on bikes, but your trip sounds wonderful. I did have some experience riding in the San Juan's last summer and it is awesome. The real problem was getting acclimated. We were in Ouray, about 8000 ft for three days, just doing some short day hikes, and then went to Crested Butte to ride for a few days. Breathing was a real issue! I was not in the greatest shape to begin with, but exerting myself at that altitude was really difficult. Basically, riding any steep grade required stopping after a few hundred yards and wheezing! If there is any way you can be up at that altitude for several days before riding any distance, you will probably feel better. And of course hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Have a great trip!

Linda

[Brandi]

I haven't done any trekking on bikes, but your trip sounds wonderful. I did have some experience riding in the San Juan's last summer and it is awesome. The real problem was getting acclimated. We were in Ouray, about 8000 ft for three days, just doing some short day hikes, and then went to Crested Butte to ride for a few days. Breathing was a real issue! I was not in the greatest shape to begin with, but exerting myself at that altitude was really difficult. Basically, riding any steep grade required stopping after a few hundred yards and wheezing! If there is any way you can be up at that altitude for several days before riding any distance, you will probably feel better. And of course hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Have a great trip!

Linda

At what elevation where you coming from? I have a friend who just bought a hotel in crested Butte.

[fixedgeargirl]

Born and raised Crested Butte-y here ! Linda, did you enjoy your trip? Brandi, what property did your friend buy? I am sweltering away in Texas and miss home .

Brandi, as for your OP, after my 9 day Kokopelli tour I felt awesome ! Not "wow, I could go ride my bike for 16 more days" awesome, more of an afterglow kind of awesome. It's a great accomplishment, you feel fit, you're tan, you're satisfied. It's all good!

[Brandi]

All i know about he's hotel is there is a golf coarse either going through the property or right next to it. He works the hotel during the week then goes home to pueblo on the weekends
At least until he finds a manager, know anyone? You made me laugh with the way you wrote Crested butte-y Jim calls it that too. oh my husband just corrected me he said that the hotel is in Gunison (sorry about the spelling)which he said is really close. I got it confused cause jim always talks about the two of them, the towns that is.

[bcipam]

Do a trip every year. Always hate for them end. I'm most relaxed and comfortable out riding on a bike. Your attitude should be I'm doing what I want to do and just go enjoy. I'm jealous, Sounds like a great trip!

[wavedancer]

Born and raised Crested Butte-y here ! Linda, did you enjoy your trip?

Loved it! My family is originally from the San Juans. My great grandfather was one of the first settlers in Ouray and both he and my grandfather were miners in and around that area. My mother was born in Telluride when it was still just a mining town. The trip was partially to visit my roots, and partly to go to a mtb mecca. Definitely want to return. I would want to stay longer, though, so my body could adapt to the exertion at altitude.

At what elevation where you coming from?

I live at sea level on Cape Cod. Flew into Denver (5000ft) and drove up to Ouray the following day. I think I would have done better if I had been more aerobically fit to begin with, but the air is definitely thinner up there!

Linda

[Brandi]

Loved it! My family is originally from the San Juans. My great grandfather was one of the first settlers in Ouray and both he and my grandfather were miners in and around that area. My mother was born in Telluride when it was still just a mining town. The trip was partially to visit my roots, and partly to go to a mtb mecca. Definitely want to return. I would want to stay longer, though, so my body could adapt to the exertion at altitude.



I live at sea level on Cape Cod. Flew into Denver (5000ft) and drove up to Ouray the following day. I think I would have done better if I had been more aerobically fit to begin with, but the air is definitely thinner up there!

Linda

Did you feel ok though? Did you get sick at all? Or just harder then normal. We are in pueblo colorado the whole month before does that count for anything?

[wavedancer]

From a quick Google check, it looks like Pueblo is 4700ft, Durango 6500, and Moab 4000ft. You should be fine! I never got sick, just winded. Next time maybe we'll do some lower-elevation riding around the areas where you are going to be before tackling the higher mountains. When is your trip?

Linda

[fixedgeargirl]

wavedancer, I have a friend now living in CB who grew up in Oregon. Her great or great-great grandfather was from Ouray! Twilight Zone !

[MomOnBike]

I grew up in Pueblo, with the family ranch 60 miles away at 8,000 feet. Yes, I could tell the difference when I went up, but not as bad as now when I go back from Nebraska. With a week in Pew-town, you'll be fine.

Oh, and don't forget sunscreen. The sun can be fierce at those altitudes. (Use it, don't just take it like some dummy you know. )

[fixedgeargirl]

MomOnBike, do you pronounce it "pweb-lo" or "pyeb-lo" ? How about "byoona vista" ? Or just "Byoonie"?

Re: sunscreen: reapply, reapply, reapply!!

[MomOnBike]

MomOnBike, do you pronounce it "pweb-lo" or "pyeb-lo" ? How about "byoona vista" ? Or just "Byoonie"?

Pweb-lo. Somehow the Spanish pronunciation remains - or did when I was young and impressionable. The Pew Town is left over from when there was a working steel mill in town that Everybody's dad worked at. It had an odor.

Buena Vista is most often pronouced byoona vista. But that hurts my ears, so I often say Bwena Vista.