mullerb's musings

Here's a 7-day gravel ride we rode in early August, 2021. Yet another fine escape from the crowds! Stout climbs, smooth gravel, diverse ecosystems, undeveloped camping for all but one night.  We started and ended in Shell, Wyoming, parking on a side street after getting the OK by the cook at the Trapper Creek Lodge to leave our van there. The route took us all the way around the Cloud Peak Wilderness in the Big Horn Mountains. This mountain range is surrounded by fairly dry, high desert sage country. We yo-yoed up and down, into and out of the dry sage to the piney alpine three times over the 250 odd miles. Big, stout climbs and long, steep descents!  75+% of the route is on hard-pack dirt and gravel. There's a short 6 miles or so of more rugged riding past Medicine Lodge Lake on Forest Service Road 344, which is more of a motorcycle/ATV trail. And a mile or so of sandy single track just before dropping into Medicine Lodge Archaeological State Park. Both of these stretches were

Back in 2006, when I first started getting a bit more serious about biking, I bought an all carbon Giant TCR2 . That thing was soooo smooth and fast and light relative to anything I ever put under my butt. I enjoyed countless lunch rides and long Saturday loops up to the Peak to Peak. But then I discovered gravel riding back in 2012 and bought a steel Salsa Vaya for a trip to Patagonia. That Vaya changed how I wanted to spend my time building up lactic acid. Instead of fast and smooth pavement, I wanted bumpy and steep gravel paths and dirt roads. The TCR started spending way more time hanging from its front wheel in the back of the garage. For a couple of years, I don't think it even made it out once. It's still a great ride, though. And it did get some updated shifters and a cassette for the 2017 Ride the Rockies. But mostly, it's been neglected and sitting idle.  This past weekend, I did a nice loop up Sunshine Canyon to the Peak to Peak and Brainard Lake then down Left

The summer of covid, the summer of people avoidance. Thus we spent July riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) from Boulder to Helena, Montana. Here's the route we took: (view the route details on RideWithGPS) It was super fun to start from home and catch a bus up to Nederland to kick off the ride. From there, a big ride up Rollins Pass and a day of dirt roads heading west from Winter Park brought us to the GMBDR near Ute Pass. A mellow pace, 1,152 miles and 82,373ft of elevation gain got us to Helena over 28 days. We spotted bears, moose, golden and bald eagles, a couple of badgers and a couple dozen fellow GDMBR riders along the way (all heading the opposite direction, north to south). And loads of wildflowers everywhere! We're so very privileged to have so much open space and beautiful landscapes to explore - and the time and health to make it happen. Here's my gear list: Bike Salsa Fargo Apex 1, 2020 edition ( details ) 1x32 with 11-42 in rear for me and 1

After 7 years it is finally time to retire the old Stumpy and get a more modern ride. After a bit of research and  deciding to go for something a bit less slack and more crosscountryish, I started looking for something along the lines of the Spark. And lo and behold, craigslist came through with a listing pretty much just as I started seriously searching. Here's the manufacturer's story: 2015 Scott catalogue, see page 46-47 And here's the Owner's Manual The drivetrain has been converted to 1x11: Raceface 32T on Shimano Deore XT 175mm cranks Shimano Deore XT CSM8000 11-42T Shimano Deore XT derailleur with long arm The wheelset is probably the first place I'll look to upgrade. It's currently running the stock wheels: Syncro XR2.5 27.5 made by DTSwiss on a rear axle 142-RWS12 Here she is after her maiden ride, Marshall Mesa, 13 Sept, 2017:  And the maiden ride on Strava :

Fun exploring new territory with Rach.

A bit of snow to pusht the bikes through for the last miles before Shrine Pass but no cars yet. Wicked wind in the face going through Vail! No coasting it home to the car.

Another round up Wall Street and the CH Trail. Water water everywhere. Every gully and gulch is flowing this spring. Saturated ground and plenty of rain are keeping the pumps wet. As always, an awesome loop with great views and a peaceful setting.

Saturday ride with some nice beer as a follow up at the Golden City Brewery.

Sunday morning mellow ride.

Quick ride on Saturday morning before a day with the in laws. Fog rolling in up  Eldorado Canyon.

Full outer loop starting up Good Kitty

Road trip with Dan Riter and David Russi to reintroduce David to riding dirt and rocks. Camped at CO National Monument, overflow spot on Sand Flats above Slickrock, and on the north rim of the Little Grand Canyon above the San Rafael River in the northern Swell. 

Big climb on a perfect spring day on the best back roads in Boulder. No speed records but thoroughly enjoyed the views and roads.   

Home the long way on a pleasant Friday eve.

First time on the White Rocks trail since last fall's flooding.

A blustery but warm Sunday. Lots of mud and snow, surprisingly. 

Slight detour on Isabel to 95th since the White Rock connector is still closed from the floods. A bit Patagonia like with the winds!

With Rach. Best loop! Park at Buffalo Creek Road. Up Nice Kitty, CO trail to Red Slate to Upper Gashouse to Charlie's Cutoff to Homestead to Sand Wash. Nice.