Elevation Outdoors April 2016

ADVENTURE BIKES | ALISON POWERS’ CYCLE STATS | CHASING EPIC APRIL 2016

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GETTING DEEP IN SEDONA

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NEW RIDES

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THE UPGRADED CHACO Z/SANDAL

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LIFE’S A RIDE. BRING GOOD BEER.

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS

LEARN ABOUT LOCAL EVENTS NEAR YOU AT NEWBELGIUM.COM/CO

CONTENTS

April 2016 HAS THE

ULTIMATE 29er TRAIL BIKES ER W O T H G RUZ HI C A T N SA

TRAIL 9 2 4 T PIVO

DIRT DOGS: TAKE THE GEOMETRY OF A ROAD BIKE, ADD DISC BRAKES AND THICK TIRES AND YOU GET ONE HOT NEW CYCLING CATEGORY—MEET THE ADVENTURE BIKE. SEE PAGE 12

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

7 EDITOR’S LETTER

21 SEDONA ROCKS

How bikes can make public lands part of a sustainable community.

New trails in Del Norte, monkeying around in Manitou Springs, Chasing Epic, handmade bikes and more ...

Zach White had heard all the stories about why he had to ride Sedona: It's the promised land of early-season singletrack, a playgournd of mystic vortexes and red rock that calls to mountain bikers across the West.

Then he found out about the snakes.

12 FLASHPOINT

25 CHOCOLATE SPOKES

Road cyclists want to hit the dirt— and bike manufacturers are listening.

Gregory Crichlow creates bikes that are works of art out of his friendly little shop in Denver's Five Points.

8 QUICK HITS

15 HOT SPOT

4.5c YETI SB

Explore Penitente Canyon.

16 THE TRAIL Follow our GPS coordinates on Buena Vista's Midland Trail.

19 NUMEROLOGY Cycling legend and coach Alison Powers runs down some important digits in the bike world.

STLER U R Y N PO SALSA

Try and buy yours at GBS

OUR DEMO PROGRAM HAS 50+ MOUNTAIN BIKES YOU SHOULD RIDE Goldenbikeshop.com has details

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27 THE BIG BIKE ROUNDUP Spring is here and it's time to drool over that new bike you can't afford— oh, sure you can. At least, you won't be able to help yourself after you dig into our picks for the best new rides of the year. Plus, we run down our favorite new cycling accessories. photo above COURTESY GT BICYCLES

33 HEAR THIS Roll with the Infamous Stringdusters.

35 THE ROAD Endurance champ Sonya Looney goes enduro in New Zealand.

39 ELWAYVILLE. Peter Kray calls for Colorado to bring back the USA Pro Challenge.

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CONTRIBUTORS

ElevationOutdoors.com EDITORIAL

04.16

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO RECOVER AFTER A BIG RIDE?

ED ITOR -IN -CH IEF

DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

doug@elevationoutdoors.com

There is only one answer: It starts with “b” and ends

MAN AG IN G ED ITOR

CAMERON MARTINDELL

cameron@elevationoutdoors.com SEN IOR ED ITOR

CHRIS KASSAR

with “eer.”

chris@elevationoutdoors.com ASSISTAN T ED ITOR

KELLY CASSIDY

play@elevationoutdoors.com CON TRIBUTIN G ED ITORS

AARON BIBLE, ADAM CHASE, ROB COPPOLILLO, LIAM DORAN, JAMES DZIEZYNSKI, HUDSON LINDENBERGER, SONYA LOONEY, JAYME MOYE, CHRIS VAN LEUVEN ED ITOR -AT-LARG E

PETER KRAY

C ON TRIBUTIN G WRITERS

BEN DELANEY, KIRSTIN DOBROTH, KIM FULLER, BRENDAN LEONARD, ALISON POWERS, BETSY WELCH, ZACH WHITE ART + PRODUCTION MEGAN JORDAN

A RT D IREC TOR

megan@elevationoutdoors.com SEN IOR D ESIG N ER

LAUREN WALKER

lauren@elevationoutdoors.com G RA PH IC D ESIG N ER

PAIGELEE CHANCELLOR

paigelee@elevationoutdoors.com

ADVERTISING + BUSINESS PRESID EN T BLAKE DEMASO blake@elevationoutdoors.com

CAMERON MARTINDELL If I push it hard, I just want to lay out on the ground. For more casual big rides, a big chug of water, a burger, fries and milkshake do the trick.

CHRIS KASSAR Sipping on a cold one while soaking my legs in the cool Arkansas River.

TYRA SUTAK Chill out with a cold craft beer on a brewery patio somewhere.

SONYA LOONEY Cookies, lots of cookies (and a cold craft brew).

PU BLISH ER

ELIZABETH O’CONNELL

elizabeth@elevationoutdoors.com SEN IOR AC C OU N T EXECUTIVE

MARTHA EVANS

martha@elevationoutdoors.com AC C OU N T EXECUTIVE

BEN YOUNG

ben@elevationoutdoors.com

B U SIN ESS MAN AG ER

MELISSA GESSLER

melissa@elevationoutdoors.com C IRC U LATION MA N AG ER

HANNAH COOPER

hcooper@elevationoutdoors.com

DIGITAL MEDIA CRAIG SNODGRASS

ON LIN E D IR EC TOR

craig@elevationoutdoors.com D IG ITA L MA N AG ER

TYRA SUTAK

tyra@elevationoutdoors.com

E L E VAT I O N OU T D O O R S M AG A Z I N E

3000 Pearl Street, Suite #202 Boulder, Colorado 80301 (303) 449-1560 PU B L I S H E D BY ©2016 Summit Publishing, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

SUMMIT

BRENDAN LEONARD I forget where I read it, but I believe that horchata and a burrito make for the optimal carb-to-protein mix for recovery.

ALISON POWERS Eat a chocolate chip baked good, sip an Osmo recovery drink and lie on the couch with nothing important to do.

ZACH WHITE I try to line up a massage with my angry-elbow'd goddess, Darcie Jones, though obviously that doesn't happen all the time. Legs in a cold river or creek comes in a distant second.

PUBLISHING

PETER KRAY No ride. No recovery. Perfect solution.

PRINTED ON RECYCLED NEWSPRINT WITH 100% POST-CONSUMER CONTENT

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ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / A P R I L 2 01 6

EDITOR’S LETTER

0 4 .16

DIGGING IN: VOLUNTEERS FROM THE VAIL VALLEY MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION (VVMBA) BUILD NEW SINGLETRACK ON THE COUGAR RIDGE PROJECT. photo courtesy VVMBA

WISE USE

T

his winter, an old debate over public lands in the West reignited. Screaming about the Constitution and freedom, a self-styled militia spearheaded by the Bundy family took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.

This was just another chapter in a long chain of protests against the idea that the federal government can own land in the West. In 2014, the Bundys and accomplices took up firearms and stood down the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other federal agents. Stopping them from imposing grazing fees and impounding cattle that the family had let run roughshod over public land. It was a battle call reminiscent of earlier sagebrush rebellions and even the 1980 incident when poacher Claude Dallas shot two federal agents dead and went on the lam to become a folk hero to many locals in the rural West.

For the Bundys and other sagebrush rebels the case is clear cut. They don't believe in public lands (depsite the fact that they graze cattle on them for a price far lower than they would pay on private land). And they feel the millions of acres of BLM, Forest Service and other federal lands in the West should be made private, or at least handed over to individual states. Of course, there is no basis in the Constitution for their childish claims. But they have been perhaps emboldened by some Western lawmakers, such as the Utah legislature, which has passed a bill demanding federal land be handed over to the state (a state, which research has proven cannot afford to manage them). Truly, it's sad. The Bundys have felt so wronged that they have put themselves in prison (perhaps for life), and many like them still feel that the federal government does not have their best interests in mind.

It does not have to be this way. The truth is that the vast majority of Westerners love public lands. It's certainly true that public lands are the backbone of the vast and growing outdoor recreation economy, which not only benefits current residents but also attracts new companies and employees to our states. In fact, many towns, counties and private groups are finding ways to work with public lands agencies in order to build more sustainable communities.

Look at Eagle County, Colorado. The Vail Valley Mountain Bike Association (VVMBA) has been working like mad alongside the Forest Service to build new trails. This new singletrack, in turn, brings more business into town, business that is not tied to the ups and downs of extractive industries.

The VVMBA has built 13 miles of hiking and biking trails in the West Avon Preserve. It has constructed the Mesquite Trail and Berry Creek in Edwards and plans on re-routing trails in the Endo Valley area this summer. It has been working on The Cougar Ridge Trail system in Minturn, which will eventually create a bike route from Vail's Game Creek Bowl to town. And it is actually raising $50,000 to pay for a Forest Service ranger to oversee Eagle Trails.

The VVMBA did all this by working with public lands officials, rather than by pointing guns at them. The lesson? Think about creating a lasting community. Public lands are key to that goal.

A P R I L 2 01 6 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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QUICK HITS

04.16

TECHNOLOGY BEARTOOTH Turn your phone into a walkie-talkie with texting and navigation when you are out of range from cell towers or WiFi networks. Beartooth pairs with your smartphone and and reaches around two miles. $399; beartooth.com

DELIGHTFUL, DEL NORTE

THE SINGLETRACK OPTIONS JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER IN COLORADO’S SAN LUIS VALLEY.

GEAR WE LOVE FOLDING LOCK BORDO GRANIT X PLUS 6500 Abus provides the best bike security we have seen with the Folding Lock Bordo GRANIT X Plus 6500. It has the highest security rating for bike locks (15 out of 15). The downside? This bad boy is pricey and weighty—at nearly 3.5 pounds you’ll notice it strapped to your frame. Then again, you’ll always have that bike. $180; abus.com

BOOKS 59 ILLUSTRATED NATIONAL PARKS The only problem with this coffee table book is that you’re going to want all of the beautiful poster artwork inside in poster form to hang on your walls. Each spread also includes interesting facts and practical information about each of the 59 National Parks, on this the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. $50; adgstore.com

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ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / A P R I L 2 01 6

Mountain bike tires are ready to roll on the trails around Del Norte, a quiet town in the San Louis Valley of Colorado. Spring and early summer present just the right daytime temps in this highdesert destination—a four-hour drive from Denver, set at 7,884 feet.

Del Norte’s trail systems revolve around D Mountain, and several others prime spots are scattered throughout the area. The rides take on mostly primitive terrain, ranging from from rolling and semi-technical to rocky and steep.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas like Limekiln, Stone Quarry and Bishop’s Rock are just a short drive from town and prime in the early season. Head for the higher-altitude Rio Grande National Forest trails, like Middle Frisco Creek, when summertime heat makes the valley floor too hot to handle.

More is coming. This summer, an approved government grant and a contribution from Rio Grande County will fund a connection project, starting from the in-town D Mountain trails area, and eventually reaching Stone Quarry and beyond.

“There will be a singletrack system starting from Del Norte, and going as far as we can see to the north,” said Brink Messick, volunteer and partnership coordinator for Volunteers For Outdoor Colorado in the Rio Grande National Forest and San Luis Valley.

“It really helps the community more if you can leave right from town,” added Messick.

It’s a “perfect storm” for the local mountain bike scene, as described by Kevin Hass, co-owner of The Windsor Hotel. Recently, the San Luis Valley —Del Norte in particular— has been participating in the surge of popular interest for developing and emerging train systems.

“Tens of thousands of man hours funded by the federal government, among others, have taken the existing trails to a new level,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”

The plan for the future is to tie together areas

DE-LOVELY: IT'S HIGH TIME YOU GOT DOWN TO THIS END OF THE SAN JUANS AND CHECKED OUT ALL THE BRAND-NEW TRAILS. photo by KRISTI MOUNTAIN SPORTS

like Middle Frisco and Bishop. Stone-coated Penitente Canyon sits on its own across the valley, so while it won’t be a part of the upcoming connect project, it’s still worth the 15-minute drive from Del Norte (see page 15).

—Kim Fuller

LOCAVORE? RIDE MORE

THE GROWING SYNERGY BETWEEN FARMERS MARKETS, BREWERIES AND BIKE BUILDERS. Let’s face it: “local” is a trend with staying power.

And it’s one worth following—how can you argue with keeping the doors open to a buddy’s business or frequenting a different brewery every weekend?

If we’re already making weekly trips to the farmers market for locally-grown greens and filling our baskets with Colorado-crafted booze, shouldn’t we be doing so on a bike that was also hand-built in the Centennial State?

A herd of craftsmen are challenging the corporate bike world by fabricating handsome and durable bikes right here in our backyard. Fat tires or skinnies, titanium or steel, when you work with a custom builder, you get to call the shots (and pick the paint color).

When Matt Nunn called his wife with a typical Colorado problem—he really had to have this new single speed 29er—she put her foot down.

“Absolutely not,” Nunn recalls her saying. “You already have five bikes! No more!”

He hung up the phone and had a realization.

He was already a welder with a manufacturing shop, so Nunn built a jig and ordered some materials. He soon had a design for a bike that rode exactly how he liked to ride. Then, interest on the trail and from friends prompted him to buy insurance, create a name and start building frames for other people.

After all, his wife never said he couldn’t build the bike he wanted.

That was 2007. Now, Samsara Cycles is Nunn churning out road bikes, fat bikes, gravel grinders, track bikes and mountain bikes in his Frederick, Colorado shop. When you decide to buy a bike from Nunn, he’ll sit you down to collect data—hard numbers like inseam and wingspan— and quiz you about what you want out of your bike. In the process of creating a blueprint for the bike, he starts building something else— relationships. Although he admits he took a big financial risk in entering the bike industry, this is an area where Nunn believes that the “little guy” wins every time.

IRON MAN: NUNN IN HIS SHOP. photo by MATT NUNN / SAMSARA CYLES

“I can say that I’ve become good friends with a number of my customers, and that’s something many bigger companies can’t touch,” he said. “When a customer calls me to build a frame, they talk to the guy who answers the phone, designs the bike, cuts every tube, welds every part, specs every component, torques every bolt and sweeps the shop floor.”

A relationship with the bike shop that doesn’t end when cash is exchanged has a value that far exceeds the cost of brakes and wheelsets. When you buy local, your bike is much more than moving parts; it’s a conversation starter, a vehicle for fun and adventure, and most importantly, a Colorado work of art.

—Betsy Welch

CHASING EPIC

THESE MOUNTAIN BIKE GUIDES BRING THE HEAT. Chasing Epic is a new kind of adventure travel company offering all-inclusive mountain biking trips for intermediate to advanced level riders.

Based in seven different locations across Colorado and the Southwest, the company works with a network of guides who know the local trails inside and out to create flexible itineraries for groups looking to push themselves on some incredible terrain. Along with local insight to the area, each trip comes with everything riders need to make the most out of a Chasing Epic mountain bike adventure.

“We take things to the next level with included high-end carbon mountain bikes from Ibis and Niner,

GOOD STUFF: CARBON BIKES MAKE IT BETTER. photo STEVE MOKAN

training programs, a nutritional component and local, experienced guides,” explained Chasing Epic’s founder and owner Steve Mokan, “Bring your helmet and your bike shoes, and we’ll do the rest.”

Along with knowledgeable guides, jaw-dropping destinations and the gear to make to make it all possible, Chasing Epic has teamed up with female sports leader SheJumps in an effort to get more ladies out on the trail, too. The two companies will be hosting three women’s specific camps in Colorado featuring female coaches and women’s specific demos. chasingepicmtb.com —Kirsten Dobroth

A P R I L 2 01 6 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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QUICK HITS

0 4 .16

MANITOU SPRINGS IT'S TIME TO GET DOWN AND DIRTY IN STYLE IN THIS CLASSIC COLORADO PLAYGROUND JUST WEST OF THE SPRINGS. EAT | Nestled in the shadow of Pikes Peak is some of the best Middle Eastern food in the state of Colorado. The Sahara Cafe offers delicious Gyros, homemade hummus, fresh falafel and kabobs that are perfect to fuel up on after a day spent exploring the mountains surrounding town. The owner, Sam, is from North Africa and uses spices and ingredients imported from his hometown to create warm, welcoming food. A true gem.

TheSaharaCafe.com

SLEEP | Built in 1873 during the gold rush on the

building was left vacant for 16 years until a 10-year restoration finally saw it returned to all of its glory in 2007. It’s located near all of the major attractions in town: Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Manitou Incline and Garden of the Gods. TheCliffHouse.com

PLAY | Although it's best known for the supremely steep Manitou Incline (a trail that rises over 2,000 vertical feet in less than one mile), there are many other unique outdoor offerings spread around town. The Cave of the Winds (caveofthe winds.com) has been introducing individuals to underground adventures for over 100 years. Located just outside of town, it offers several different tours through the caves. You can either follow established

Photo: Dawson Friesen

location of a stagecoach stop from the late 1850s, the Cliff House at Pikes Peak incorporated all of the Victorian grandeur of the times. Large covered porches, expansive windows and soaring ceilings all create an atmosphere of refined luxury that you could easily see the aristocracy of the past enjoying.

Each of the 54 rooms is decorated in its own unique turn-of-the-century style, but the hotel offers all of the modern amenities one expects these days— WiFi, fitness center, an 800-plus-bottle wine cellar.

After almost being destroyed by fire in 1982, the

DIVINE RIGHT: GETTING AFTER IT AT GARDEN OF THE GODS. photo by STEWART M. GREEN

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SITTING IS BELIEVING 10

ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / A P R I L 2 01 6

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trails or explore off the main routes with guides for several hours of spelunking. If climbing is your thing, or you always wanted to try it, Front Range Climbing Company (frontrangeclimbing. com) will take you out for a day of scaling some of the iconic routes spread throughout nearby Garden of the Gods and Red Rock Canyon.

After a day of getting dusty and dirty, stop by for a tour of the historical Miramont Castle Museum (miramontcastle.org), an 1890s Victorian mansion, to tour its 33 rooms and have high tea. Then head into town to play a few games of Skee-Ball and air hockey at the Manitou Springs Penny Arcade.

—Hudson Lindenberger

FLASHPOINT

0 4 .16

OFF ROADING THE NEW CATEGORY OF ADVENTURE CYCLING IS REDEFINING WHAT'S POSSIBLE ON A BIKE.

by BEN DELANEY

WIDE OPEN: WITH BEEFY TIRES AND RELAXED FRONT GEOMETRY, ADVENTURE BIKES ARE BACKCOUNTRY CRUISERS.

R

oad cycling looks and feels a lot different this year.

As more riders are taking their road bikes on dirt roads and even tame trails, the bike industry is responding with a new breed of machines dubbed adventure bikes, which combine comfortable road-bike geometry with disc brakes and beefy tires that can soak up rough surfaces.

Former pro road racer Don Powell, the founder of cycling clothing company Panache, has bought into the adventure bike concept, recently purchasing a Niner RLT 9 from the Fort Collins brand.

“I bought that bike for two reasons. One, the style of riding and places to ride are evolving, from pavement to dirt to gravel and even trails. I wanted a bike that would be able to do that. At the same time, I wanted to simplify. I didn’t want to have a cyclocross bike and a road bike and a mountain bike. I can ride this one anywhere.”

Powell is not alone. Panache hosts weekly “rowdy rides” from its Boulder offices, where groups will ride a combination of crushed-gravel paths, pavement, dirt roads and some singletrack trails. Meanwhile, out in Lyons in February, a few hundred riders who raced the Old Man Winter photo by NINER BIKES

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Bike Rally exemplified the passion for this new style of riding.

A CLEAN SLATE

A few manufacturers are experimenting with the very definition of a road bike. The most dramatic is Cannondale’s Slate, which features smaller wheels, plump but slick tires, drop handlebars and a suspension fork.

“Riding road bikes on dirt keeps things interesting,” said Cannondale’s James LaLonde. “Road bikes like Slate allow you to explore roads and trails beyond what you’re comfortable taking your race-ready road bike on.”

These new-school road bikes let riders loosen up, LaLonde said. “It’s a subtle reminder of why we were all so attracted to bikes in the first place— they’re fun and allow us to explore and choose a new path of adventure.”

RIDE WHAT YOU HAVE

Many riders on the Front Range are enjoying this new style of riding on old bikes, whether their road bikes with wider tires or their cyclocross race bikes. Web developer Scott Upton races cyclocross in the fall, but rides his ’cross bike year-round on and off the road.

“I prefer to ride on dirt whenever possible,” Upton said. “On dirt roads, there are fewer cars, better views,

and a greater challenge. Plus, they take you off the beaten path. My ’cross bike is faster than my hardtail mountain bike and has more tire choices than a road bike.”

“Simply swapping racy 23 or 25mm tires for 28mm rubber with flat protection hugely ups a road bike's versatility,” he said. “Sure, you have to be careful on gravel-covered descents, but it's manageable. If you're

“The style of riding and places to ride are evolving ... I didn't want to have a cyclocross bike and a road bike and a mountain bike. I can ride this one anywhere.” careful, you can even get away with road bikes on rockier jeep roads, like Switzerland Trail. And disc brakes are only making such off-road forays safer on road bikes.”

Cycling coach Frank Overton is another all-road rider who runs his cyclocross bike year round for a simple reason: options.

“I ride a cyclocross bike on the road because I have one bike that handles both road and trail, so when I

go out for a ride, I can spontaneously take any turn I want,” Overton said.

ISN’T IT A ’CROSS BIKE?

Specialized has long prided itself on making highly specific bikes for different types of riding, and adventure bikes are no exception. The Diverge is the California company’s ride for exploratory road riding.

“Where our road and ’cross bikes are designed to perform and win in a racing environment, our adventure bikes are designed more to be the trustworthy jack of all trades,” said Specialized’s Sean Estes. “Racing is rarely considered a priority for adventure riders, instead utility and comfort reign supreme. Our adventure bikes are designed to perform on pavement and further allow riders to push beyond onto dirt without having second thoughts.”

Compared to a road bike or even a cyclocross bike, adventure bikes in general and the Diverge in particular feature stable front ends thanks to a relaxed front geometry, so you can cruise confidently over washboard or down dirt descents. The Diverge also has rack and fender mounts.

At Niner in Fort Collins, marketing and events coordinator Brad Cole said that he's seeing people riding road bikes on “singletrack, backroads, jeep roads—anywhere

with a trail to somewhere new.”

As for why someone would want to choose an adventure bike over a cyclocross bike, Cole said it’s a matter of priorities and the resulting differences in design and handling.

“A cyclocross bike is intended for racing, and on the road less travelled it's still very capable and feels exotically fast. But sometimes you want to relax and enjoy the ride and that's where these adventure bikes become appealing,” Cole said. “They are more like high-efficiency gravel cruisers that you can ride for long hours without a lot of rider input. You can use either, but the majority of us can do with a larger tire than 33c [as on a ’cross bike] and the comforts of an adventure-focused product. Less race, more fun.”

“Typically these ‘new road’ or ‘alternative road’ bikes like our RLT have a slackened head angle, a lower bottom bracket, increased tire clearance and slightly longer chainstays; these traits provide control on the rockiest of roads.”

IT'S ABOUT THE TIRES

Whatever the type of bike, the most important piece of the equation is where the rubber meets the road: the tires. Former mountain bike racer Johs Huseby is a passionate dirt-road rider who now works to develop product for the boutique tire brand Clement, which specializes in this style of riding.

Besides the subtleties of balancing high puncture protection with low rolling resistance, the main thing is just getting a bigger tire.

“Having a wider tire on dirt roads gives you more comfort through larger volume. It also gives you the ability to run a lower overall air pressure,” Huseby said. “A more voluminous tire also gives you greater surface area contact and thus more traction. Most of the good gravel tires have some tread, which helps on loose or broken up surfaces.”

At Panache, Powell sees another reason for the popularity of new road riding beyond the commonly cited quiet, safety and adventure: “We don’t have racing heroes anymore,” Powell said, referring to the falls from grace of athletes like Lance Armstrong.

“And we no longer feel the need to have the race bike of those heroes and to emulate them in what they ride and how they look. What’s emerging or re-emerging now is riding the bike for the sake of riding the bike. Having

fun. And with the big tires, disc brakes and overall great bikes, the technology is there to back you up.”

PROS

|

AMATEURS

|

JUNIORS

—Ben Delaney is the current US editor-in-chief of BikeRadar and the former editor-in-chief of VeloNews.

IN THE SADDLE

CHECK OUT THESE BIKES FOR THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED. With wide tires to smooth out rutted roads and disc brakes to keep you under control on steep descents, adventure bikes open up your options.

Here are six of the best.

#ENDUROCUPMTB

NORCO SEARCH ULTEGRA Carbon fiber frame, DT Swiss tubeless wheels, Shimano Ultegra components and hydraulic brakes and Clement X’Plor USH 35c tires … you get a lot of bike here for the money. $3,450; norco.com CANNONDALE SLATE FORCE CX1 The wildest of the bunch, the Slate features 650b (27.5 inch) wheels and a suspension fork—things you’d only normally find on mountain bikes. The ‘one-by’ single-ring drivetrain furthers the MTB vibe, but the slick tires and drop bars insist that the Slate is, in fact, an adventure road bike. $4,260; cannondale.com GT GRADE CARBON ULTEGRA There's a lot to like here: A carbon frame hosts Shimano Ultegra drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes, and the whole package rolls on Stan’s No Tubes Grail Disc tubeless wheels. $3,499; gtbicycles.com/gorogue NINER RLT 9 3-STAR This bike out of Fort Collins can handle both 700c road wheels and, true to the company’s name, 29-inch wheels, with up to 1.75-inch tires. $2,500 (options run from the $2,000 2-Star up to the $5,500 5-Star); ninerbikes.com/RLT9 SPECIALIZED DIVERGE COMP The Diverge line ranges from $850 to $5,500. This model comes with tubeless wheels, Shimano 105 drivetrain and hydraulic brakes, plus mounts for racks and fenders. $3,300; specialized.com/diverge DIAMONDBACK HAANJO TRAIL A good value option with an 11-speed Shimano Ultegra drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes, HED wheels and Kenda Happy Medium 40c tires. $2,300; diamondback.com

—B.D.

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GET OFF IN EAGLE Skip the long drive and exit at Eagle, Colorado where over 100 miles of pristine, multi-use singletrack await.

C E L E B R AT I N G 1 5 Y E A R S !

Crank it

RESTAURANTS BREWERIES • GOLF MOVIES • BOWLING SPAS • YOGA COFFEE SHOPS YEAR-ROUND FESTIVALS & EVENTS

The River Ride is a charity bike event benefitting SOS Outreach, a youth development organization.

It starts at Beaver Creek and takes riders along the scenic banks of the Colorado and Eagle Rivers.

Choose from 100, 68 and 42 mile routes on great roads. Full SAG support and spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains make it one of the don’t miss century rides in Colorado!

for aavon, cause Colorado Saturday, July 23 Support youth while taking in spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains.

IMAGE COURTESY DEVON BALET

Register at www.sosoutreach.org or call 970.926.9292

MARCH

ies #1 12—Alpenglow Ascents Rando Ser Demo Day and 26—8th Annual Save Our Snow 27—Beach’N Egg Hunt

APRIL

ies #2 9—Alpenglow Ascents Rando Ser 13—27th Annual Enduro 22—Earth Day Dinner & Movie cert Series 30—Shakin’ at the Basin Spring Con Live Music by Coral Creek

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HOT SPOT

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ROCK AND RIDE LOOKING FOR A GETAWAY THAT HAS IT ALL—CLIMBING, RIDING, HIKING, RUNNING, HISTORY, AND CAMPING—BUT LACKS THE CROWDS CHARACTERISTIC OF FRONT RANGE SWEET SPOTS? HEAD TO PENITENTE CANYON.

by CHRIS KASSAR

N

estled in the volcanic foothills of the sweeping San Luis Valley, Penitente Canyon has a unique history. The place was once a spiritual haven for a group of Catholic monks, called Los Hermanos Penitente (The Penitent Brothers). Local legend has it that one of the brothers sat suspended in a car tire to paint the Virgin de Guadalupe, which you can still see (despite damage due to vandalism) on the sheer face called Virgin Wall. More recently, the Penitente Canyon Recreation Area, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), has garnered attention for its distinctive rock formations, excellent mountain biking and stellar hiking.

Even though it is perched at 8,000 feet, the canyon stays relatively warm all year long. Just keep an eye out for rattlesnakes, especially in summer.

Here’s what you need to know to make the most of this wonderful and wild spot.

photo by BEN KNIGHT

TRAIL Over twenty miles of trail twist through this high-desert canyon, passing towering boulders, natural arches, ancient art and steep cliff faces. Beginning mountain bikers will love the fast and scenic Ute Loop (1.5 miles) and the recently constructed, flowy Los Hermanos (1.3 miles). Those with a bit of experience will enjoy the lungbusting Wildhorse Loop (2.1 miles) which boasts a big climb and an exciting descent full of technical challenges. Wildhorse also provides access to the fun, rocky Hidden Treasure area. Experts should hit up Sunshine Kitty (2.4 miles), a recently built, largely slickrock route that twists and climbs steeply from the bottom of Witches Canyon to descend via Rock Drops (one mile), a fast downhill characterized by—you guessed it—huge drops, rollers, and constant fun technical features.

If riding isn’t for you, hit any of these trails on foot for a solid run or hike. You can also head out on the Penitente Canyon Loop Trail (hikers only), which meanders up the main canyon and passes historic wagon tracks. Continue past the tracks, climb up the rock ramp, and wander along the canyon rim for miles. For more information and a map, contact the BLM, San Luis Valley Field Office. 719-852-7074; blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/slvfo.html

ROCK In 1984, a pair of joggers ran through Penitente. Upon seeing its 100-foot sheer cliff walls, they immediately recognized the potential for a spectacular climbing hub. One of

these men, climbing legend and guide-book-hero Bob D’Antonio continued exploring, building trails, and establishing routes in the area.

Penitente and nearby Rock Garden, Witches’ Canyon and La Garita Wall now boast 300 sport climbing routes, a few trad lines and tons of bouldering options.

Though routes here are short, ranging from 25 to 75 feet long, many are challenging, with rankings of 5.10 and above. There are, however, also a solid number of easier routes as you get further into the main canyon. Regardless of the difficulty, most climbs in Penitente provide a great opportunity for pushing your limits thanks to well placed bolts and anchors, and high quality rock.

The canyon itself is part of the much larger La Garita Caldera, a huge volcanic eruption that left Penitente full of solid, grippy rock with plenty of cracks, arêtes, crimps, edges and hueco-ridden walls.

First-timers will want to check out Mr. Breeze, a bolted, slabby 5.2. Beginners will have fun on The Serpent (5.7), Mr. Wind (5.6), and May-B-Nueve (5.8), but these can be busy on weekends so arrive early.

Advanced climbers can test their mettle on famous routes including, Los Hermanos de la Weenie Way (5.11c), Tanks for the Hueco (5.10d), Shear Strength (5.11) and Copacetic (5.11b) and Bullet the Blue Sky (5.12c/d), as well as Forbidden Fruit (5.12a) on the Whipping Wall. For detailed beta, grab a copy of the San Luis Valley Rock Climbing and Bouldering Guide by Bob D'Antonio (Chockstone Press).

FOR THE FAITHFUL: THE SINGLETRACK AT PENITENTE CANYON JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER THANKS TO DEDICATED TRAILBUILDERS WORKING WITH THE BLM.

THE DETAILS SLEEP On-site camping (drive-in and tent) is available all year unless it’s snowed in so grab a site, relax and enjoy the stellar star watching from this remote area ($11 for individual site, $20 for group site). Drinking water is available nearby. If you’d prefer the comfort of a bed, the historic and luxurious Windsor Hotel (windsorhoteldelnorte.com) in Del Norte offers cozy rooms at reasonable rates.

EAT AND DRINK After a hard day of climbing or riding, head to Del Norte’s Three Barrel Brewery (threebarrelbrew. com) for refueling. Choose from an array of handcrafted pints and delicious homemade pizzas and calzones. For something more upscale, try the Windsor Hotel’s Dining Room for elegant, locally sourced lunches and dinners.

RACE Consider coming back in fall to satiate your competitive side by taking part in the 12 Hours of Penitente Canyon, a mountain bike race on an advanced, 21-mile loop that runs through the area.

To register, volunteer or become a sponsor for the event on October 8, 2016, go to the website 12hoursofpenitence.com.

—C.K.

A P R I L 2 01 6 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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POWERED BY

THE TRAIL

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MIDLAND TRAIL

DOWNLOAD THE FREE VIEWRANGER APP AND THESE TESTED TRAIL COORDINATES AND GET OUT ON ONE OF BUENA VISTA, COLORADO’S SECRET GEMS—NO MATTER IF YOU WANT TO HIKE, BIKE OR BRING YOUR BURRO.

by CHRIS KASSAR Sometimes the best things in life are, in fact, free.

Take the Midland Trail, which is easily accessible from downtown Buena Vista. This 18.8-mile route, which travels between Trout Creek Pass and town doesn’t require a long drive or a ton of effort to reach. And it makes for a good spin on the bike, perfect rail run or casual hike—hey, it’s even been the site of Western Pack Burro Ass-ociation races.

Here, we describe what locals call the Gentlemen’s Loop, a moderate 11-mile route that cruises through small canyons, passes historical railroad ruins, and serves up spectacular big-mountain views. Pick your poison—ride, run, hike or bring your ass—and enjoy this beautiful, dog-friendly high-desert trail.

If you want a bigger burn, reverse our directions and follow the trail clockwise.

BUENA VISTA RIVER PARK TRAILHEAD

Start at the Buena Vista River Park, which you access by turning east on Main Street from Highway 24. Follow East Main for 0.5 miles until it turns to dirt. At the signed junction, keep left toward the river park where there is ample parking, informational kiosks and a toilet. Take the pedestrian bridge across the Arkansas River and follow the double-track to the left up the rocky switchbacks. (Bikers may find it hard to stay in the saddle here, as this climb pushes your legs and technical skills, but it’s short-lived so hang in there.)

CRUISING THE RAILROAD

After the initial lung-busting climb of about 200 vertical feet, you turn south (right) onto CR 304 16

ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / A P R I L 2 01 6

and the trail levels out and joins the old Midland Railroad Grade. Enjoy rolling along, climbing gradually through cuts in the rock and taking in views of the snow-covered Collegiate Peaks across the valley. Keep an eye out for cinders from old engines and railroad relics scattered along the trail.

MIDLAND BIKE TRAIL

About 3.25 miles from the trailhead, you pass the CR 304 Trailhead and parking area (an alternate access point). Pass the map kiosk and hit the wide trail traveling east to enter the non-motorized section of the Midland Bike Trail (FR 1450). Now, the real fun, a.k.a. rolling singletrack, begins. A short technical rocky stretch, with a narrow chute at the top, leads into a fast, flat stretch of trail. Several sandy washes challenge your balance and calf strength, while steep rocky walls seem to be closing in as you pass. It’s mostly smooth and relatively doable, but a handful of short, steep technical sections (some of them where railroad trestles used to be) keep it interesting.

7.

SOUTH LOOP OPTION

As you near the river, keep an eye out for the South Loop trail to your left. Descend to the bridge via this steep, rocky, flowy route that drops closer to the river. Enjoy one final burst of beauty before heading home.

TRAIL GEAR SCOTT GENIUS 930

This do-it-all 29er trail bike boasts a Fox Nude shock and Fox 34 Float performance fork that allows you to switch between three settings to dial-in the ride. Slightly slacker geometry offers up stability at speed, while added travel (140 front, 130 rear) means you can make mistakes and still plow through without ending up on your head. Made of super light custom-butted alloy, it handles like a champ. $4,000; scott sports.com

JUNCTION

Head left (north) at this junction and climb steeply along 1450 A, a rough spur that climbs over loose rocks through peaceful forested terrain to reach 376 A. LOOPING AROUND

At the junction with 376 A, turn left (west) and meander along this rarely used road that serves up some incredible views in every direction. Follow the trail as it curves left and descends back toward 304. Choose your line well on this descent to steer clear of the rough, gravel-filled ruts prevalent on this rough road.

RETRACE YOUR ROUTE

Reach the junction with the Midland Bike Trail, turn right (west) and begin to retrace your tracks back toward the car.

SCOTT VIVO PLUS HELMET

With vents to keep it cool and an easy-to-dial-in fit system, this extendedcoverage helmet features MIPS Brain, a technology that mimics the fluid around your brain and acts as a barrier to reduce the chance of a concussion in the event of a crash. $150 —C.K.

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ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / A P R I L 2 01 6

EO_HORIZ_AD.pdf

1

3/2/16

4:50 PM

NUMEROLOGY

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SPOKE STATS

WANT TO GET INTO THE NUMBERS BEHIND CYCLING AND TRAINING? WE ASKED ONE OF THE BEST RIDERS TO EVER HOP ON BIKE TO DO THE MATH WHEN IT COMES TO LIFE IN THE SADDLE.

by ALISON POWERS

144

Laps Evelyn "Evie" Stevens completed on Colorado Springs’ 333 meter track to set a world record of by riding 47.980. kilometers in one hour.

2,600

Kilojoules a 150-pound person can burn while racing the Gila Monster, the last stage of racing at the Tour of the Gila.

19.98

Watts per kilogram a worldclass female sprinter can put out in five seconds (1,226 watts for a 135 pound rider). .

5.66

Watts per kilogram a world-class female bike racer can pump out in 20 minutes (347 watts for a 135 pound rider).

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MILLION

The estimated number of bicycles sold in the U.S.A. in 2014, according National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA).

71

U.S. National titles American Coryn Rivera has claimed (by age 22).

$6,000

320

Watts | (American Alison Powers) pumped out for 40 minutes to win my second USA National Time Trial Championship in 2014.

230

Calories per hour you should aim to consume while riding.

1

Liter (minimum) you should drink per hour of riding.

57

Number of race days in the National Racing Calendar.

The average price of a new carbon mountain bike.

Alison Powers is the only person in history to win all three road disciplines at the National Championships in one year (2014). She’s currently sharing her knowledge and experience as the founder and owner of ALP Cycles Coaching (alpcyclescoaching.com).

A P R I L 2 01 6 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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SKARAB / SKIMMER SINGLETRACK | HYDRATION

Introducing the Skarab/Skimmer series. Equipped with the NEW Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir by Hydrapak, a comfortable carry system combined with smart features and just the right amount of storage, these packs are ready for any urban or trail based adventure.

PHOTO / ©OSPREY PACKS 2016 – DAN HOLZ

ON THE TRAIL

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ENTER VORTEX

THE

SEDONA, LONG POPULAR FOR NEW AGE TYPES SEEKING TRANSCENDENCE, HAS BECOME THE PILGRIMAGE SITE OF MOUNTAIN BIKERS SEEKING A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ENLIGHTENMENT ON RED-ROCK SINGLETRACK. JUST LOOK OUT FOR THE SNAKES IN THE TREES. AND DON’T TOUCH THE SIDES.

by ZACH WHITE

FULL ENLIGHTENMENT: LOOKING FOR THE VORTEX? WE FOUND IT RIGHT HERE. photo by DEVON BALET

T

hroughout a dozen-hour road trip, I’d chatted up a virtual list of Sedona oddities that were all but expected, or at least needed to be sought out, between bike rides, of course. “Ooh! Maybe we’ll run across shape-shifters out on the trail!”…“Man, I can’t wait to see the freakshow parade in town. $5 to whoever spots the first tinfoil hat!”… ”Do you think the vortexes will affect electronic shifting?”

This was my first trip to the Arizona town, and I was going to be extremely disappointed if we didn’t get plucked off Highway 89 by a UFO, or at the very least get whirled into the spirit world for a few minutes from our buddy’s backyard deck. We’d be there for the Blood Moon Eclipse after all, so in reality, it seemed my imagination was actually aimed a bit low.

For a place renowned as both a mountain bike mecca and a New Age nebula, however, Sedona is pretty boring on its first lap through town. On the north side, it feels like a typical western tourist trap where you can get a stick of cotton candy while waiting for the leathersmith to find another “e” to finish stitching “Fred” on the back of your custom, size 42 leather belt. On the south end, the vibe feels much more retirement community, save the one and only bike shop and a tasty little taqueria.

Here's the thing: Behind the strip malls, day spas, and occasional kitschy UFO-themed establishments lies an impressive network of trails that wind through what many claim to be spiritual vortexes and intergalactic alien rest stops. The technical, rolling singletrack and its accompanying backdrop are definitely impressive, but to call it unworldly would deny the locals and seasonal resident mountain bikers (who built the trails specifically for riding) of their due credit. Sure, you occasionally have to share the singletrack with aimless tourists scouring the trailside in false hopes of finding a monolithic amethyst like the one on the front of their spa’s brochure, but, for the most part, the trails remain impressively biased to mountain bike traffic.

One would think that without much consistent concern for mowing down other trail users, there’d be plenty of opportunity to at least glance at the phenomenal rock formations while bouncing down the singletrack, if not let the mind

succumb to some of the spiritual, vortexual or extraterrestrial energies and influences whirling around. But, unlike any type of alien influence, the first thing that probed into my thick skull was a deep, cheesy announcer’s voice from the 80’s TV commercial for the board game Operation.

“Doooon’t touch the sides!” reverberated between my ears within the first 50 feet of Sedona singletrack as I quickly realized just how intrusive and downright threatening those sides can be.

Riding singletrack lined with rocks isn’t anything out of the ordinary by any stretch, but cram in several species of jumping cactus between/on/under/in those rocks, then add in exposed cliffs and encroaching piñon pines, and that happy Zen place my non-Arizonan mind usually finds while riding gets buzzed right off the board game.

“One would think that without much consistent concern for mowing down other trail users, there’d be plenty of opportunity to at least glance at the phenomenal rock formations while bouncing down the singletrack, if not let the mind succumb to some of the spiritual, vortexual or extraterrestrial energies and influences whirling around.”

S

peaking of getting buzzed and showing poor game, riding Hangover trail the morning after a long night of stepping up to a pro-league pitcher with a Wiffle Ball bat in one hand, and one of Pogi’s margaritas in the other, probably wasn’t the best of ideas. My guess is that she was playing with me like a cat does a mortally wounded mouse, but at the time I really thought I had a chance. Maybe if my buddies knew her, they would’ve warned me—or probably warned her.

Either way, what they did caution me about were the sections of very

A P R I L 2 01 6 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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ON THE TRAIL

Like the jagged rocks and cactus lining most of the trails, the piñon branches deserve a dose of healthy respect. Not just because they like to reach out and grab helmet vents and jersey sleeves, but more so because they’re sometimes home to snakes.

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exposed cliffs that give Hangover Trail its name. Though none of us had any real issue with the exposure (at least not that anyone admitted to), we did watch a runner stop dead in his compression socks, drop to all fours, and crawl backwards away from the edge of one section of trail.

Laughing at that runner came back to haunt us the next day as we crawled down a couple of steep, rocky chutes on Hiline Trail. Though not as exposed as Hangover, it still offers impressive views from high above the valley floor, which is a great thing to pretend you’re in awe over, instead of pointing and laughing at your buddy scrambling for handholds while his carbon-soled shoes slip off the rocks below him.

Most of the trails we rode were a nice mix of rocky, technical sections buffered by a few fast and flowy sections of singletrack. Not every trail has stomach-dropping exposure or World Cup DH chutes that only aliens must be able to ride, but all the singletrack in the valley is lined with those afformentioned piñon pines.

“Though there were no UFO sightings, sleeping out on Jimmy’s back porch to watch a full moon eclipse into a namesake blood-red orb was more than enough galactic entertainment for the trip.”

Seriously, snakes in trees. They’re said to climb up into the twisted, horizontal low-hanging branches of piñon pines and other shrubs, waiting to ambush birds and scare the clean chamois right out from under cyclists.

Vortexes. Sedona is full of them, though maybe not in the traditional sense—if a vortex can even be

DON’T TOUCH THE SIDES: IN SEDONA AT SOME POINT EVERY RIDER WISHES THERE WAS A VERSION OF TIRE SEALANT FOR YOUR LEGS, IF NOT YOUR WHOLE BODY. photo by DEVON BALET

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“traditional.” Ask anyone who’s been, and chances are they’ll have an entirely different take on what lies in and around the tiny town. While we missed any notable energy fields or supernatural phenomena, it’d be hard to argue how quickly and fantastically we were absorbed right into our own mountain bike maelstrom.

“Seriously, snakes in trees. They’re said to climb up into the twisted, horizontal lowhanging branches of piñon pines and other shrubs, waiting to ambush birds and scare the clean chamois right out from under cyclists.”

Though there were no UFO sightings, sleeping out on Jimmy’s back porch to watch a full moon eclipse into a namesake blood-red orb was more than enough galactic entertainment for the trip. On a hotter

week, we’d have probably ridden a little less and explored many more of the swimming holes throughout the valley. Instead, we spent most of the crisp, lukewarm daylight hours exploring the singletrack worthy of a 12-hour drive.

Even with the usual high expectations I pack for most trips to places with reputations like Sedona, it didn’t disappoint. In my case, it essentially took decades to get over the idea that I’d simply be doubling drive time past Moab to ride what surely would be Arizona’s version of red rock desert trail. To be perfectly honest, Sedona comes up short in direct comparison to Utah or Colorado desert by way of both lack of camping options and expansive trail networks.

That said, when those other states are showcasing just how harsh and unpredictable their winter weather can be, chances are it’s sunny and 60 down in Sedona. Throw into the mix an impressive trail network designed by mountain bikers for mountain bikers, and Sedona is definitely a place to add to the list. Just don’t touch the sides!

#DiscoverNWNebraska

A P R I L 2 01 6 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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THE BIKE AS ART

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CHOCOLATE SPOKES

AT THIS LITTLE SHOP IN DENVER, A BIKE— AND A BUSINESS—BECOME A WORK OF ART.

by BRENDAN LEONARD

GREGORY CRICHLOW SHOWS OFF THE AUTHOR’S BIKE AT HIS FIVE POINTS SHOP. photo by BRENDAN LEONARD

O

ne of the first times I visited Chocolate Spokes Bike Studio in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood in 2013, a young man rolled his bicycle in the door of the cramped shop and asked if he could get a flat tire fixed.

Gregory Crichlow, the owner of the fledgling bike shop, said yes, and apologized for stepping away from our conversation.

The young man had an ankle monitor on his leg, the ones you get when you’re on house arrest or parole. He said he just needed the tire fixed so he could get to work that morning. Gregory said, “Absolutely, no problem, and whipped through the tire change in about three minutes, with the speed and grace of someone who’s changed a thousand tires.”

“That’ll be $11 including the new tube,” Gregory said.

“Man,” the young guy said, “I only have $6.”

The guy with the ankle monitor is white. Gregory’s African-American.

Five Points, where Chocolate Spokes is located, is historically a black and Hispanic neighborhood, once known as “Harlem of the West”—black musicians used to come to Denver and play downtown hotels where they were allowed to perform, but not stay, so they’d stay at the Rossonian

Hotel, three blocks away from where Chocolate Spokes now sits, and jam into the night. The shop is next to a liquor store, popular with folks who pass a lot of their daylight hours drinking single cans of malt liquor in public, and, of course, urinating in public, sometimes on the walls of the bike shop.

In Chocolate Spokes' early days, business was primarily bike maintenance. Gregory wore a bow tie to work and didn’t look down his nose at anyone who came into the 400-square-foot space, treating them the same as the college students he taught architecture to at CU-Denver.

He built custom steel frames, but he didn’t consider himself “an artist.”

One of those bikes he made for himself and displayed in the front window of the shop until someone stole it while he was helping a customer and had his back turned.

“You know what breaks my heart about that,” Gregory told me, “is that someone’s going to get 40 bucks for that bike, and that 40 bucks is going to buy crack.”

But Gregory didn’t give up and close up the shop, and customers of all walks of life came in, including a lady who had a baseball bat strapped to her bike frame (because she had no place to live and needed to use it for

protection) and that young man with the ankle monitor who needed to get to work.

This is America—you can definitely say we don’t haggle over prices. When someone says something is eleven dollars, you don’t say how about $5—you give them $11. But the guy didn’t have eleven dollars. He has six bucks in his pocket and a flat tire, and a guy who’s trying to run a business and feed his two kids has just told ankle monitor guy that he needs to have eleven dollars in order to get to work. Right?

But Gregory says, “That’s fine, $6 is just fine.”

In my head, I figure Gregory probably paid $4 wholesale for the tube, so he only made $2 on the transaction, and that’s kind of shitty, but I guess some things are worth more. When Gregory had the choice to help out a guy who’d taken a few wrong turns in life and was just trying to take a step in the right direction, he did it for a little less profit.

I went home and told my girlfriend I was going to buy a custom bike from Gregory. I am not a fancybike kind of guy, but that guy is a good dude, and I want to support him.

Two years later, I had the money to do it, and Gregory started building my bike. I came into the shop, which

has now doubled in size, to talk about this thing and that thing, and get measured, and to watch him weld a little bit, and figure out what kind of handlebars I wanted. Gregory and I talked about how the neighborhood was getting gentrified and the good things and the bad things about that.

“I don’t have to ask people to stop peeing on the shop wall anymore,” Gregory said. But of course the liquor store is still in business, and it's not like they started selling expensive wine instead of those cans of cheap malt liquor.

I know Gregory says he’s not an artist, but I got my bike, and if I do say so myself, it’s a piece of art. So I guess that means the guy who made it, the guy who sketched it out and cut the tubes and welded it together into the right shape and sweated all the details, is an artist. I mean, he didn’t open a bike shop because he loved to change tires, although he does that too, when he’s not hand-building bikes that are works of art.

—Brendan Leonard took his new bike on a 10-day gravel grind through Utah a few days after he bought it at Chocolate Spokes Bike Studio. His latest book, Funny Shit in the Woods and Other Stories, is available at semi-rad.com/book.

A P R I L 2 01 6 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / A P R I L 2 01 6

Live Love Ride

warriorscycling.com

GEAR

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EIGHT NEW BIKES THAT TURNED OUR CRANKS SPRING IS HERE AND YOU WANT (NEED?) A NEW RIDE. NO FEAR. WE HAVE SOME HOT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE BEST BIKES WE TESTED THIS SEASON.

by DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

BRING IT ON GIANT REIGN 27.5 1

This 27.5-inch beast represents the full evolution of the trail bike. With 160mm travel in its plush Maestro suspenson, the aluminum-frame Reign 27.5 1 can tackle hardcore downs that you want to attack at full speed—think everything from enduro racing to showing off for the GoPro on Porcupine Rim. And while it's not a crosscountry race bike, it can climb without beating you down (a plus for those enduro races when you don't want to be trashed by the time you need to focus on the descent). It's a fine choice for anyone who wants to have a blast on burly terrain. $5,350; giant-bicycles.com

EMBRACE ALUMINUM

SPECIALIZED ALLEZ DSW SPRINT X1 EXPERT

Ah, the joys of aluminum in a carbon-centric world. Quite simply, this bike is hard to beat for anyone who does not want to shell out over a month's worth of paychecks for a stiff, competitive road ride. Credit that bang for your buck to the time Specailized spent testing this machine in the wind tunnel. It's a ride that excels in crits, but can handle a lot of abuse anywhere you want to take it. $2,600; specialized.com

TRY THE HOMEGROWN ALCHEMY ATLAS

Few things up our Colorado stoke more than buying local, especially when it's from a brand like Denver-based Alchemy Bicycles, who craft beautiful carbon rides out of a shop tucked away right alongside the REI flagship store. Weighing in at under 900 grams, the Atlas is the culmination of the brand's hard work when it comes to a do-itall road ride. Best of all, Alchemy offers up a ton of build options for all budgets. $3,999 (frame set), $5,699–$9,299 (built); alchemybicycle.com

SAVE SOME CASH GT VERB ELITE

It's a question we get a lot: How can I buy a full-suspenison mountain bike on a tight budget? The answer has always been you can't ... until now. With a respectable 160mm of travel and SR Suntour XCR fork, this value cycle has guts on both the ups and the downs. It's the ideal mountain bike for those who want to hang with friends on the trails but don't have the ability to tap into a trust fund. $1,299; gtbicycles.com

A P R I L 2 01 6 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

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GEAR

0 4 . 16

KNOW WHAT WOMEN WANT LIV LUST 1

Giant sought to build a line of bikes specifically for the needs of female riders with its new Liv brand. And when our women put it to the test, they were quite impressed by the handling and ability to suck up the trail that this 27.5-inch beauty served up. It's a do-it-all cross-country ride that has the oomph for big climbs but also rails down through steep switchbacks on those big wheels. $2,900; giant-bicycles.com

TAKE ON ADVENTURE SALSA VAYA DEORE

Adventure bikes are hot right now (see page 12) and this steel dirt banger is a blast if you want to head out on rides that require long stretches of gnarly dirt. The relaxed geometry means those jarring paths won't take a toll on your body and the WTB rims and macho Surly Knard tires add up to make this nine-speed masterpiece our favorite off-the-beaten-path ride. That's not to say it can't handle the blacktop. The drop bars and ease of maneuverability make it a stable road ride, too. $1,499; salsacycles.com

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ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / A P R I L 2 01 6

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We are big fans of Priority's smooth, simple, belt-drive town bikes (you will see them parked in front of our office, in fact). The NYC-based brand orginally launched the new Eight—which features sportier design and an eight-speed hub—in a limited release, but it's now opening the chance to order the bike to the public. Best of all, it rings up at about half of what it should cost. $799; prioritybicycles.com

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We couldn't ignore fat bikes in this little roundup (especially since we had so much time to get out and play on them this winter) and Reeb came through with a ride that combines size with simplicity. With the ability to fit up to a four-inch tire and weighing 38 pounds, this monster can crush snow and mud. Don't worry about the size: A Gates Carbon Drive cuts down on componentry and delivers quick responsive power when you want to drive this big boy. $1,600–$4,800; reebcycles.com

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ADD IT ON

THESE FIVE EXTRAS WILL ADD TO YOUR CYCLING EXPERIENCE— OR AT LEAST MAKE YOU LOOK GOOD TRYING. 1. GIRO REVEL MIPS | Forget

specialization. These busy days we look for a helmet that can do-it-all: bang singletrack, hang on group road rides, and cruise to the farmers' market with the kids. The Revel can pull off all of that while providing plenty of ventilation and outstanding protection thanks to a MIPS system that helps cut down on your chances of sustaining a concussion. $65; giro.com

2. CRAFT GLOW JERSEY | Meet another do-it-all piece. We took the Glow mountain biking, road riding and communiting. In all cases, the fabric pulled sweat away from our skin and kept out the chill. It also offered up builtin safety thanks to material that glows in headlights. Best of all, it had a bit more relaxed fit than so many cycling shirts made for svelte Euro freaks. $80; craftsports.us 3. KYT TAILORED CYCLING SHORTS | A new brand out of

Highland Ranch, Kyt is doing away with

4. BRIDGEDALE COMPRESSION | Few things

feel better after a big ride than kicking back in a pair of compression socks and enjoying a cold one on a sunny patio. Built of breathable CoolMax these technical socks will ease the pain. $20; bridgedale.com

5. ZEAL ALL IN | It's a plus to have cycling shades that can transition from road or trail to the coffe shop without making you look like a dork. These bad boys impart wide, wrap-around performance during the ride, but look damn good when you chill out and watch The Tour in a cafe post-game. $139; zealoptics.com

CHILe PEPPER BIKE SHOP repairs • Rentals • apparel Shuttles • tours • espresso chilebikes.com

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the problem of how to get tight cycling shorts to fit a wide range of body types with a line of high-performance customfit kits. Send them your details and you end up with a pair of shorts that actually fit your tush. Kyt is for men and women and they also offer bibs for $359. $299, tailoredkyt.com

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UPRIGHT FELLOWS: THE STRINGDUSTERS WILL PLAY RED ROCKS IN MAY.

RIDE AND ROLL TALKING BIKES, BEER AND BLUEGRASS WITH THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS’ BASS PLAYER, TRAVIS BOOK.

by TYRA SUTAK

T

wo years ago, a friend handed me a copy of “Let it Go,” the fifth album from the Grammynominated bluegrass band The Infamous Stringdusters.

“Just watch,” he said. “These guys will be playing Red Rocks in the next couple of years.”

He was right. The progressive acoustic quintet will officially have the honors of taking the stage at the legendary amphitheater on May 6 along with PDX-based Fruition and Southern infusion jam band—JJ Grey & Mofro.

This year marks the 10year anniversary of the band’s inception as well as the launch of the group’s sixth full-length studio album, “Ladies & Gentleman,” a collection of tunes highlighting The Infamous Stringdusters’ artful photo courtesy INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS

composition skills and transcendental instrumentals as well as the group’s knack for orchestrating exciting collaborations. We recently caught up with Travis Book, upright base player for the ‘Dusters and aficionado of two-wheeled transportation, to chat about the band’s latest album release, his love of mountain towns and his favorite places to ride in his free time.

love riding mountain bikes in DuPont State Forest. A day in the Pisgah is really great, too. I’m from Colorado and I would also take riding from town in Durango any day of the year.

There are five different trail systems and you can ride them all from town.

Palmer Lake, where I grew up, also has some hidden gems. There’s a lot of horse trails there and a lot of old mining roads. It’s a really sweet spot.

AS A BAND, YOU GUYS TOUR—A LOT. BUT YOU MAKE JUST AS MANY STOPS IN

YOU RECENTLY STARTED A PROGRAM

SMALL MOUNTAIN TOWNS AS YOU DO BIG

CALLED BLUEGRASS, BIKES, & BEERS.

CITY VENUES. WHY?

TELL US MORE…

Those are our people in a lot of ways.

There’s so much energy in mountain towns. They want to get out and party and have a great time. You go to Jackson, Wyoming, and people are there because they’re trying to have an amazing experience every day of their lives. The other side of the coin is that we love going to these towns ourselves. We definitely use the band as a driver to experience things outside of just playing shows.

I got inspired to put together those three things because I love music, and riding bikes and drinking beer.

We do a group ride during the day and then we play bluegrass and serve beer at a free event that night to help raise money for local bike clubs. We’re doing a six-show tour through the Blue Ridge Mountains this April, May and June. People can visit bikesbluegrassbeer.com for the official dates.

YOU’RE AN AVID CYCLIST AND MOUNTAIN

YOU RECENTLY RELEASED "LADIES & GENTLEMAN," THE ‘DUSTER’S SIXTH FULL-LENGTH STUDIO ALBUM AND THE BAND’S FIRST ALBUM THAT FEATURES A DIFFERENT FEMALE GUEST SINGER ON LEAD VOCALS ON EACH SONG. WHAT INSPIRED THE DIRECTION OF THIS ALBUM?

BIKER. WHERE’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO RIDE?

I ride as much as possible. I live in Brevard, North Carolina, and there’s a great riding community there.

Mountain bikes, riding gravel, riding road—I love all of it. But I really

In our band, we have lots of singers, but one thing that we definitely don’t

have is … any estrogen. For the most part all of the guest vocalists we have on this album are our friends and contemporaries in our little corner of this musical world. We started making lists and matching names to songs—everything came together really organically. We just knew that taking this approach to this album would be really challenging and really interesting. Bluegrass has always been a really prime place for evolution and exploration.

PLAYING RED ROCKS IS ONE OF THE TOP GOALS FOR ANY BAND. SINCE YOU GUYS ARE SET TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL THIS YEAR, WHAT’S NEXT?

We hadn’t really thought much past 10 years, past playing places like Red Rocks and the Fillmore in San Francisco. I don’t really know what’s next. I think we’re just going to continue to explore the music and try to reach more and more people.

We’re already working on our next record. We’re hoping to have that out in February of next year. We really believe that our music has good effect on the world and on the people that are part of it. Hopefully, that continues to grow because if you can be a force for good in this world, that’s a gift.

A P R I L 2 01 6 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

33

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THE ROAD

0 4 .16

DOWNTIME: SINCE THE CLIMBS ARE NOT TIMED, SONYA LOONEY HAD TIME TO ENJOY THE VIEW DURING THE TRANS NEW ZEALAND ENDURO STAGE RACE. photo courtesy MATT EWONUS

PUSHED TO THE LIMIT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A DEDICATED ENDURANCE MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMP DECIDES TO SET HER SITES ON ONE OF THE TOUGHEST ENDURO RACES ON THE PLANET?

by SONYA LOONEY

I

’ve always considered myself more of a slow-burn adventure seeker than an adrenaline junkie, however, my name was on a start list for a five-day enduro race where only the downhills were timed and big-travel mountain bikes were required. This could hurt.

I’m a professional mountain biker and I have what normal people would consider a problem. I want to do things that are on the edge of being too hard or too scary. I like feeling somewhat anxious because it means I’m about to do something incredible, something that will guarantee I won’t be the same once I’m finished.

The problem is that every time you push your limits, it takes something even bigger to satisfy the craving the next time. As an ultraendurance specialist, I’ve chased the longest, most grueling races across the globe. But this month, I would try something completley different.

D

espite the blockbuster snow year we were having in the mountains at Britsh Columbia home, my quest for endless summer had me on a 14-hour plane ride across the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand.

My first stop would be Rotorua in the North Island to defend my title at the 24 Hour Worlds, however, my aspirations came crashing down after a destructive fall. I had been riding an easy trail preoccupied in a daydream.

Somehow my bike slipped off a wet bridge. It ejected me squarely on my head, cracking my helmet and crushing my repeat dreams with it.

After a few medical opinions, it was decided that I had a mild concussion and I was strongly advised not to defend my title in Rotorua. I was heartbroken by the verdict, but changed my outlook and decided to travel to the event anyway to support the other racers and volunteer. I was in New Zealand not only to race my bike, but also to build community.

The outdoor and cycling world is special and it feels like family no matter where you are in the world.

For me, being a part of it is truly so much more rewarding than just going fast on a bike.

Besides, after my time in Rotorua, I had my sights set on an event the following week in the South Island and it was the one I was secretly most excited to do: the Trans New Zealand Enduro Stage Race. I’d never tried an Enduro nor did I quite understand the

format. I did know you have to race downhill at full speed on trails you’ve never seen and drop down very steep technical descents. Hey, that sounded like the perfect way to regain confidence a week after a big crash!

Only the downhills are timed, but you still have to grind through the climbs. We would start individually in 30-second intervals on each stage.

You ride all the descent­s blind—none of the racers get a chance to scope out the course before the start.

“Racing blind requires full commitment. You have to trust in your abilities instead of letting hesitation stop you in your tracks.”

I questioned whether I really should be lining up for a race where crashing would carry such high consequences. I felt intimidated and worried that my skills would not be good enough for the features on the trail. I love riding challenging, technical terrain but I generally slow down to look before I bomb down it.

In the Enduro, I’d have to approach each feature at full sprint. Sometimes it would appear to be the edge of a cliff, and sometimes it might be just that! But I would not have the time to

hesitate if I wanted to be competitive.

The event featured 22 timed descents/stages over five days, travelling through the rugged landscape outside Christchurch and Queenstown. We would ride anything from panoramic high alpine ridgelines with tufts of bunchgrass, to dry, loose rock rolls lined with fragrant thyme and scrubby bushes.

A

s I found myself in the queue for the first stage of the race, I chuckled. I was actually nervous and intimidated. I usually relish the start of a stage. But my mind was running: Would I crash and end up a total yard sale like at Rotorua? Would it be caught on camera? Would the person starting 30 seconds behind me mow me down? Would there be mandatory 10-foot cliffs I’d have to huck and try to land? Where was the balance between being smooth and fast versus a spastic muppet? How was this brand-new type of bike )for me) supposed to feel and ride?

All the questions came to a screaming halt. I was next in line.

I clumsily scanned the RF ID card strapped to my wrist. The transponder beeped indicating the timer had started, and I pushed forward hammering downhill.

We rode down narrow skree trails carved into the sides of craggy mountains. We wound down slopes with perfectly manicured berms that pushed you out as quickly as you

A P R I L 2 01 6 / E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S . C O M

35

railed into them. Day after day, we started in the chutes and entered a world of pure instinct.

It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. Sure, I had my fair share of “oh shit” moments when I would turn a corner stare down a cliff or a steep root section that would be a challenge to even navigate on foot. But those ended up being my favorite moments, those times when I faced split second decisions. I loved the thrill of simply having to rely on my skills and just believe it would work.

The hardest stage had sustained 30-49 percent grade. This was the longest continuous steep trail I had ever ridden and it required as much pure mental toughness as it did skill.

Once you left the start chute, it was almost impossible to stop. I was overwhelmed but I pressed on. I kept my wits about me. I pushed out any thoughts of doubt. And in the end, that stage ended up being one of my best of the race.

R

acing blind requires full commitment. You have to trust in your abilities instead of letting hesitation stop you in your tracks. It requires intense focus. For me, the

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ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / A P R I L 2 01 6

biggest challenge was not dwelling on my mistakes. Bombing at 25 miles per hour down a trail, there were a couple times I missed an arrow resulting in a wrong turn. It only took 30 seconds to realize my mistake but when the stakes are this high, you can't lose 30 seconds. But I realized that you have to just leave the mistakes in the past and look to the future—a lesson that’s applicable in many situations in life.

When I saw something scary coming up straight in front of me, part of me wanted to stop and get off my bike, but I would punch through the fear, ride faster. I felt like one of those cartoon characters who is stuck between an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other, one telling me to be careful, the other just to ride. The decision to listen to the devil happened in a split second. I could barely even remember what I came down after it was over. The adrenaline rush grew stronger.

For someone who races through climbs, the transitions were odd. It was a foreign feeling riding uphill at a leisurely pace with a number plate on my bike. But it gave the chance to enjoy riding with other

people and take in the impressive landscape. We’d see faint signs of a trail zigzagging up the shoulders of enormous mountains with tiny dots of people making their way to the top.

Soon, we would be heading down impossibly fast again.

As I accepted my unexpected award for third place overall, I felt satisfied in a way that I hadn’t felt since I first started endurance racing.

Success was defined as trying a new discipline and pushing a new type of limit. One I hope to visit again someday soon.

THE OTHER DOWNTIME: SONYA LOONEY BOMBING THE COURSE EN ROUTE TO A THIRD-PLACE OVERALL FINISH IN HER FIRST ENDURO RACE. photo courtesy DIGBY SHAW

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ELWAYVILLE

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PEDALS AND PROFITS WHY COLORADO NEEDS TO BRING BACK THE USA PRO CHALLENGE.

by PETER KRAY

I

n those hazy, vaguely hopeful years before John Elway joined the Denver Broncos and put Colorado sports on the national map, it seemed, at least to some of us, as if professional cycling—along with skiing—might become the Centennial State’s competitive trademark.

We were bored by baseball, too skinny for football, and too in love with the sun to spend an entire day shooting hoops in a gym. Instead, we dreamed of summers spent summiting high mountain passes on steel steeds, and we cheered for our heroes as they churned out hot, crowded laps in North Boulder Park.

We had movies like Breaking Away and American Flyers, and events like the Red Zinger Classic, to guide us. We had heroes like Andy Hampsten and the homegrown likes of Alexi Grewal and Ron Kiefel to worship. And there were a couple of gritty, druid-like bike shops where we could geek out on gear we could rarely afford the way we had previously geeked out on comics.

Bikes had always been a source of freedom and inspiration to us: They served as X-wing fighters and unbroken mustangs in our imagination. They acted as swim team, soccer practice and 7-11 shuttles. But it was the Red Zinger— which later grew and briefly thrived as the Coors Classic—that made us finally realize that bikes could also make us athletes.

DRAFTING FOR DOLLARS Why all this nostalgia, especially from someone who never rode in a professional race, and whose bestever touring bike was (is) still kind of a piece of crap? Because I recently learned that the USA Pro Challenge llustration by KEVIN HOWDESHELL / kevincredible.com

38

ELEVATION O U T D O O R S / A P R I L 2 01 6

race would be canceled this year, and that we’ll just have to wait until next summer to see if it’s coming back.

Rambling across the Rockies for the past five years, the USA Pro Challenge has been the fulfillment of the unfulfilled dream of the Red Zinger and the Coors Classic to many Coloradoans (especially former Governor Bill Ritter and cycling cover-up cover-boy Lance Armstrong who co-jointly envisioned the race).

The Pro Challenge was as much a nod to Colorado's own cycling history as an answer to Europe’s tour classics.

It felt as if our state was once again North America’s headquarters on the world cycling map.

Every mountain town that has hosted a stage of the race knows the electricity and instant festival thrill of race day when the fans start showing up. And each new day on the route inspired another impromptu parade and another great reason to set up the beer tents—yet another reason for everyone to get the dogs and kids out in the sun, enjoy all the beautiful scenery and say, “Colorado really is the best.”

VeloNews, which was one of the first media outlets to report on the decision to suspend the race, said, “According to organizers, the event had grown into Colorado’s largest sporting event, with an estimated economic impact of $130 million.”

I don’t doubt that number, but I

also don’t know how to quantify it.

Does it include margaritas consumed, burgers devoured, B&B and hotel rooms booked, or even ironically, how much people following the race spend on gas—especially in a sport where no one has to buy any tickets?

So why did it end? According to VeloNews, the Schaden family, who had backed the race for the first five years, announced in September that they were stepping down from the project. Since that time, the state hasn’t found anyone else to step up.

Despite all those cycling cash claims, is the event just too expensive to host?

BACK IN THE SADDLE As both a sports fan and a pragmatist, I do believe bicycling—and a professional bicycle race—are as important to Colorado’s future as they are to its past. Thanks to the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2011, which allowed ski areas across the country to offer more off-season amenities, mountain biking is thriving on our slopes in the summer. Along with ziplines, rope courses, and wildflower tours, area-based biking is giving ski bums all over the state a job outdoors (other than landscaping) once the snow stops.

How about this? If you bring back the Pro Challenge, tie in some mountain bike races at key stops,

and maybe even throw in a couple hopped-up cruiser rides. We could have the biggest bicycling event in the world—with legal “doping” to boot.

Take that France!

It’s the dreamer in me (see last issue’s column) who also believes that bikes help make the world a better place. Exhaust-free, powered by people and as cheap or expensive as you want them to be, they immerse you in the environment like no other form of transport.

The founders of the Celestial Seasonings herbal tea company launched the Red Zinger way back in 1975 with the idea that it would be an important event, but also because they thought it would help promote the building of bike lanes and bike paths. It worked. It certainly helped get a lot of Colorado kids out on two wheels more often. And every time I’m stuck in traffic in this increasingly crowded state I can’t help but think, More bike paths? Yeah, I can get behind that. #BringBackProChallenge

—Elevation Outdoors editor-at-large Peter Kray is the author of The God of Skiing. The book has been called “the greatest ski novel of all time.”

Don’t believe the hype? You can buy it here: bit.ly/godofskiing

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