A buffet serving of the mountain biking in Eagle, CO

Date: Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 9 AM

Ride Stats: Around 37-miles and 6,000 ft of climbing

Official Route & GPS downloads: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31084863

Website: https://hardscrabblehumper.com/mtb/

This FREE self-supported and self-navigated 37ish-mile backcountry ride gives you a buffet serving of the mountain biking goods that Eagle, CO has to offer. Bring your sense of adventure, as the ride climbs up to 9,000 ft in the White River National Forest and then makes it’s way back down to the lunar and sage littered hills surrounding Eagle. Riders can plan for a 4-6 hour day on a 37ish-mile route that is 90% singletrack, 10% jeep roads, numerous steep climbs, water crossings, a short hike-a-bike, white-knuckle descents, likely a run in with a cow or 2, and numerous fast flowy descents that’ll make your cheeks hurt you’re smiling so hard! Total amount of climbing in this adventure? About 6,000 ft over the 35ish-miles.

Trails you will ride include: Turnip Head, Pipeline, Firebox Rd, Mike’s Night Out, Cat Walk, Easy Rider, Star Wars, Tick Alley, Yellow Chair, Abrams Ridge, Abrams Ridge Connector, LOV Connection, Bailey, 2nd Gulch, Mayer Gulch aka Race Course Ripper.

START
October 6, 2019 at 9 AM
Mountain Pedaler
101 E 2nd St.
Eagle, CO

FINISH
Boneyard (formerly The Dusty Boot)
1099 Capitol St.
Eagle, CO

This is a group fun ride. There is no cost to participate. You are self-supported and self-navigated.

We will have a group roll-out start from the Mountain Pedaler in Eagle. Address is 101 E 2nd St, Eagle, CO. Stop in and see Charlie’s crew if you need any last second tunes, parts, or nutrition. Since this is just a “ride”, some of you may choose to start at your convenience, and that is totally cool. We will have a rider sign-in log at the Mountain Pedaler. When you RSVP, you are automatically added to the sign in/out sheet.

Pre-ride coffee and food can be obtained just a short walk from the Start line at Yeti’s Grind. They open up at 7 AM. I suggest a 3 shot Americano to get the system ready for the climb up and out of Eagle at the start.

How’s the weather? The trails can handle a bit of rain on or before ride day. But if we get pounded, please ride elsewhere. We will all use our best judgement for the better of the Eagle area trails. Check the local forecast.

Where can I camp? There is a nice list here. The closest established campground is Yeoman Park. Sylvan Lake State Park is closed for 2019. Yeoman is about a 30 minute drive south of Eagle on Brush Creek Rd. If you do not need the finer things in life and just want a place to squat for the night, please drive up Hardscrabble Rd or Bellyache Rd. Both roads are car, truck, and van friendly. Just be aware, if it rains, you will not be able to drive up or down these roads. They turn to peanut butter.

This ride is fully UNSUPPORTED and you will need to be SELF-SUFFICIENT in order to complete this 37ish-mile route. Faster riders can plan for roughly a 4 hour day. Slower riders may take as long as 7 hours. We cannot say this enough, YOU are responsible for YOU. Plan on carrying everything you need to get from the start to the finish. Cell service is spotty at best.

The route will NOT be marked. With that said, MOST of the trails in Eagle are signed or labeled. Be ready to self-navigate. A GPS is highly advised! I’ll say it again, a GPS is highly advised! Locals are known to get lost. Do yourself a favor and upload the GPX to your favorite navigational device: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31084863

Riders are encouraged to ride as little or as much of the route as they feel comfortable with. There are various bail out points to get back to Eagle…should you choose you bit off a little more than you could chew.

Pack it in. Pack it out. Don’t litter in the backcountry!

While not a race, some riders may choose to “ride fast”. In the spirit of these events, you do you with in the rules.

No more than 75 people allowed for this ride. This is intended to be non-commercial and is a recreational-use activity that is held on parts of USFS / BLM lands in compliance with USFS / BLM Special Use Rules and Regulations. Please RSVP.

This is NOT a closed route. Other trail users, including cyclists, hikers, equestrian, and the motorized community may be encountered at any time. Please show respect and be nice out there.