Need to do this again!

 

Count me in.

 

PM Sent. Thanks.

 

I would be glad to do it again if there is enough interest. This is a grueling ride unless we make it longer than 5 days. 340 or so miles a day through those mountains requires11 to 12 hours per day with a group. When we did the first one, it was like a mission. A fun mission, but a mission none the less.

Bill

 

Agreed!!! It was an epic ride but parts of which I wouldn't want to repeat in one day. Anything over 250 miles/day is a long day in the mountains.

 

This is the best riding pass in Colorado, 52 miles with 169 turns and over 11,000 at the summit. I have ridden it since my twenties, but now I live in Seattle. Got to make the ride last summer again with a ride from Seattle to NM and back in 6 days. Still an awesome ride.

 

We take a guys bike trip every year through the Colorado Rockies, usually take up to a week and put more than 1000 miles on. We never get tired of the roads and scenery!

One road not to miss is Hwy 92 at the bottom end of Blue Mesa Resv near Gunnnison. The road twists and turns up the side of the Blue Mesa and then on top goes over to a little town named Crawford.

We time it so we can camp at Crawford state park which is a great little place at about 6600 ft. and always seems to have open campsites. Being so far away from any large towns you can clearly see the milky way and a sky full of stars at night.

Note that you'll want to get supplies in Gunnison before you go, or set-up camp and then ride to Hotchkiss about 13 miles away to get supplies as Crawford doesn't have any stores.

The next day we ride into Hotchkiss for breakfast and then hit Hwy 133 through Paonia state park, then through Redstone to Carbondale near Aspen where we stop for a bit before riding Independence pass.

Great ride among many others in the state!

 

We have a forum ride that will be along this route among others starting Monday.

There's a place in Cawford called the Mad Dog Cafe or something like that. Has a great fountain with malts, shakes, sundaes, etc, as well as some pretty good burgers.

Bill

 

The wife and I just rode the million dollar highway last weekend. Trees are in bloom and the winter sand is pretty much cleared from the road. We went from Grand Junction to Pagosa Springs and other than getting snowed on going over Molas Pass on Friday, it was a nice ride. Coming back on Sunday it was bright and sunny. It could have stood to be about 10 degrees warmer (it was somewhere around 50-55 degrees), otherwise it was a perfect day for the passes. Before the summer crowds start or after they're done are the best times to ride 550.

 

Packet of Maps and additional material arrived in yesterday's mail. You, sir, are an absolute gentleman. Thank you so much.