RSVP to be announced.
Date: Date to be announced, depends on Covid-19
Cost: FREE. Always has been. Always will be.
Ride Stats: Around 40-miles and 6,000 ft of climbing
Route & GPS downloads: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31084863
This self-supported and self-navigated 40ish-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 40ish-mile route that is 90% singletrack, 10% jeep roads, numerous steep punchy climbs, water crossings, some bushwacking, a few short hike-a-bikes, white-knuckle descents, likely a run in with a cow, moose or bear, 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 40ish-miles.
Trails you will ride – in order: Turniphead, Pipeline, Hardscrabble Rd, Firebox Rd, Firebox Singletrack / Dead Cow, Mike’s Night Out, Cat Walk, Easy Rider, Star Wars, Tick Alley, Yellow Chair, Abrams Ridge, Abrams Ridge Connector, LOV Connection, Bailey’s, 2nd Gulch, Mayer Gulch / Race Course Ripper.
START
Date TBD
Mountain Pedaler
Eagle, CO
FINISH
Boneyard (formerly The Dusty Boot)
1099 Capitol St
Eagle, CO
This is a mass start fun ride. There is no cost to participate, but please RSVP. You are self-supported and self-navigated. Ride the route as slow or fast as you want. Some folks “race” the route. That is 100% up to you. In the spirit of these events: you do you!
Where can I park for the day? Please see the MAP
THE START – We will have a group start roll-out from the Mountain Pedaler in Eagle. Stop in and see Charlie’s crew if you need any last second tunes, parts, or nutrition. Charlie is “the man” in Eagle when it comes to pedaling two wheels. So much so, he has a local trail named after him. Remember, support those who support you. 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 ride sign-in sheet at the Mountain Pedaler, which will be produced from the number of RSVP we receive. Sign out sheet will be at Boneyard in Eagle Ranch.
Pre-ride coffee and warm food fix 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. Yeti’s will also extend a 20% discount to riders on coffee, food and drink prior to start!
THE FINISH – The finish will be at Boneyard in Eagle Ranch. The sign-out sheet will be located outside the restaurant on one of the fancy tables. It’ll be pretty obvious. Simply record the time of day next to your name when you are finished. Go get cleaned up and then hop on into Boneyard for some well earned food and drink!
How’s the weather? The trails can handle a bit of rain on or before ride day. But if we get pounded, we will not ride. 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. It’s about a 30-40 minute drive south of Eagle on Brush Creek Rd. Please note that Sylvan Lake State Park is closed for 2018 and 2019. 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. Please camp in established spots! Both roads are car, truck, and van friendly. Just be aware, if it dumps rain, you will not be able to drive up or down these roads. They turn to peanut butter….just like the Eagle trails do.
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 (food and water) to get from the start to the finish. Cell service is spotty.
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 with the track is highly advised. Do yourself a favor and upload the GPX to your favorite navigational device. See the course map and/or download the GPS file: 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. The route is not an easy one. You’ll either be going up or down.
Pack it in. Pack it out. Don’t litter in the backcountry!
While not a race, some riders may choose to “ride fast.” This is totally up to you. In the spirit of these rides: You do you.
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.
This is NOT a closed route. Other trail users, including cyclists, hikers, equestrian, and the motorized community may be encountered at any time on any trail or road. Please show respect and be nice out there.
Questions? Shoot them our way!
Hardscrabble Humper 