TUNAGE: tune of the day: ‘Champagne Jam’ by Atlanta Rhythm Section
SEEN: small burn area, clouds hiding the Pike’s Peak vista to the west.
3 seperate rides on trails fairly close together north of Colorado Springs.
Installed the 1UP fat bike rack after is arrived on Friday. Decided to run down to Colorado Springs my new Nissan Pathfinder to put the whole package to work. This vehicle will enable more distant rides and more trips into the mountains. The earlier car burnt oil, had no climbing power, the heater was half working, no A/C, and I have to carry the bike on a rook rack. Look for a awesome product review on the 1UP rack in separate post. I also installed a new SRAM chain on the bike last night. This eliminated some strange sounds coming from the drive train that I ignored for way too long.
Other than Pike’s Peak Trail, the first two trails were easy but scenic in the Black Forest. Surface is dirt/fine gravel trail with plenty of snow and ice still in all shaded areas, Everywhere are lot’s of Ponderosa Pines, just not that tall. Recent snows here are still covering the trail, with minor mud, and some real fun terrain overall. There’s a small burn area at one of the hilltops but otherwise an interesting forested area. I need to return in in spring when things are busting out.
The Pike’s Peak Trail is the most fun and challenging. It’s a five mile loop with lots of short up and down terrain. Not much overall elevation gain, but it was like a large BMX track. The clouds hide Pike Peak mountain from view so I’ll have to return on a clear sunny day to get some great pics. These trails are not up against the foothills so the panoramic view is awesome facing west obviously.
This rack is still on the car with the bike still on it and inside my garage. Tomorrow I will just hop in the car and head out to another destination with a big wide grin on my face.
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