I switched over to Ride with GPS for the most part (my activity there still syncs over to Strava), but I grabbed the route files from here: https://ridewithgps.com/users/171708
How was the WP area? I thought their rides up there looked really nice. I’ll have to try one soon.
I followed this, except on the way back, I stuck to the right and went back the way I came on 343 instead of taking 344 over to 306 early as I wanted to avoid the pavement as much as possible (there was a lot more traffic than I was expecting). I parked in town, but if you wanted to avoid the paved road completely, it looked like you could park on some pull-outs on 343.
https://www.gravelbikeadventures.com/route/buena-vista-to-cottonwood-lake-out-and-back
Picture from Friday’s ride from Buena Vista, CO to Cottonwood Lake and back (25.5mi/2,200ft elevation gain).
Picture from last night’s after-dinner ride on my nearby trails (10.5mi/550ft elevation gain).
No pictures from this morning’s trip to the farmer’s market (18mi)
The cream/white shape wear is so 2017
Does he own any other outfits? Every picture I see of him for like at least the last 6 months, he’s wearing the same suit and tie.
I like it, but it’s a complicated answer. First, I really like it as I’d been away from any kind of cycling for some years and this was one of the first bikes that had fit me for some time (not a weird size or anything, I was just riding old bikes I’d outgrown or second hand). For the price point, it was a great reintroduction.
I’ve had mine for a year in mid-August. I ride ~50mi/wk on a combo of paved multi use tail, gravel roads, and single track. At the moment, it’s my only bike and because of that I’m also taking it places it probably shouldn’t go, like rough/rocky single track. But…at the lower cost, that’s something I’m more willing to do with that bike than say a $3k carbon gravel bike.
I see a lot of people out on more expensive bikes that look barely used and I’m keeping up with them just fine.
I have put some work and money into this, but nothing too outside to norm for maintenance in a year’s time - standard saddle and pedal swap, tires, replaced the brake cables and re-wrapped the handle bars in the process.
I recently had a spoke break on a ride, and I think that’s kind of turned my attention to wishing that there were just better components as a whole on the bike. Things like hydraulic disc vs mechanical would be nice.
However much I’d love to have a better gravel bike though, my focus is on getting a mtn bike again as I think I’m currently just treating this bike too rough. I’ve just found I’m really enjoying riding again and want to do it all.
If you’re not sure how much you’ll actually ride gravel, I’d say it’s worth checking out. I believe their current line addresses some of the issues people have had with brake cables and they’ve moved to thru-axle as more standard, but I honestly haven’t kept up with them much. It’s been great for my all-around use. You just may find yourself wanting an upgrade if you get into riding gravel. But if not, at least you haven’t overspent.
Hope that helps!
Trade you my Poseidon X for either 😅
They both look great - enjoy the ride whichever you decide on!
The birthday cake is symbolic of one’s birthday suit. And “surprise party” is akin to “surprise, genitalia”. The metaphor works. I’d explain it more, but it would be to no avail.
Biking is also pretty dependent on the individual and their setup. The elevation changes, distances, sustained speed, and terrain one individual and their equipment can handle can vary drastically with another person. Not to mention someone’s tolerance for whatever the weather might be doing at the time while you’re completely exposed to the elements on a bike or walking.
It’s just them taking a “your results may vary” approach while covering their own ass.
Anecdotally, while driving in Colorado, I put in a destination that I was driving to in bike mode on accident. The destination was like 80 miles away from where I was and involved climbing and descending a mountain pass. Google Maps was very optimistic about how long it would take me to bike there…all without knowing my anything about my health, the kind of bike I have, if I would be able to bike at that elevation, etc. (being Google they probably knew)