The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Roaring Fork Valley Ramble

August 6th to August 16th

Ride Director: Bob Smith
Ride Co-Director: Anne Smith
Ride Driver: Karen Johnson
Report by: Brian Aldrich

Day 1:  Glenwood Springs:  We checked into the Hotel Colorado, which was a very classic hotel, with large rooms, grand halls and public areas, and many historic photographs of people like Roosevelt, who would stop there on his whistle stop tours or for hunting expeditions.  We wandered around town following the steps of Doc Holiday, but after not many steps, decided we liked the town much better now.  We met at for Happy Hour at the Glenwood Springs Brewing Company, which had great food and even better beer!

Day 2:  Glenwood Canyon Bike Trail ride:  This ride left town and we were immediately within a pack of Bighorn Sheep, which often hung out in this spot.  It was great to observe them from just 10 feet away.  The canyon ride was excellent; it was quite an engineering achievement to fit the highway, the rail line, the Colorado River, and the bike trail within the same canyon.  There were lots of whitewater rafters along this stretch.  An adventurous option was to hike to Hanging Lake, a 3 mile (both ways) steep hike up to a very scenic lake.

Day 3:  Glenwood Springs to Redstone:  Did I mention that I generally hate bike trails?  However, the trail along the Roaring Forks, actually named the Rio Grande trail after the railroad it replaced, was the nicest bicycle trail that I have ever ridden on, often a whole road width wide, with well-marked lanes. Nothing off the charts scenic today, just very nice! The Redstone Inn was a fantastic lodge, with even better food and a pool. An added benefit is no phone service, so that you can really feel on vacation.

Day 4:  McClure Pass and Historic Marble:  The ride to McClure Pass was beautiful, the descent awesome, and the slight uphill ride to Marble very beautiful.  Marble was a cool little town, with examples of its marble, carved and uncarved, all around.  The gentle but fast descent all the way back to Redstone was fantastic.

Day 5:  Marble to Basalt:  This day is tricky to time, as there is a temptation to stop for breakfast in Carbondale.  So, since the breakfast at the Redstone Inn was so very good, I had breakfast there and then again at the Village Smithy in Carbondale.  To make up for this extra food we did the entire Frying Pan River ride, to make it a 50-mile day.  The Frying Pan is one of the nicest rides one can do with its red cliffs, and gentle flowing whitewater, with many happy fisherpersons.

Day 6:  Basalt to Aspen:  We chose to ride the Frying Pan River again as it was “over the top” beautiful.  After returning to Basalt we headed on to Aspen. The ride to Aspen was great except that by the last 8 or so miles it was quite hot and exposed.  Those that stopped for a great meal at Woody’s Roadhouse had an even hotter ride; temperatures did reach the mid-90s as they had several other days.  The section of the trail that was hardpacked gravel was best; great views of waterfalls and whitewater rapids.  Arriving at the Hearthstone House in Aspen was great, they had everything you need including a nice jacuzzi!

Day 7:  Maroon Bells Ride:  We set out early to avoid the heat.  The bike trails early on were great, but they are doing some upgrades so you had to watch out for changes. Once we were on Maroon Bells road the pavement was perfect and it stayed low gradient for a long way.  Once we were near the top, it steepened to an occasional 8% section, but the reward at the top made it well worth it.  Back to the Hearthstone for a hot tub soak.  For lunch we hit the 520 Grill, which we soon figured out was related to the 420 related shop next door.  The food was great!  No, we didn’t have the munchies!

Day 8:  Ashcroft:  Today we chose to climb to the Ashcroft Historic Ghost town.  The climb was very mellow with a lot of 4 to 6%, and very scenic, nearly as nice as Maroon Bells.  We didn’t take part in the ghost town tour, or stop at the acclaimed Pine Creek Tavern, but we had a screaming downhill back to town, after which we had an outstanding lunch at the White House Tavern.  This was taco night at the Hearthstone, catered locally, which was very good!

Day 9:  Independence Pass:  At long last the big day has come!  The long and winding road took us past many rock cliffs, beautiful views, and ghost town scenery.  When it was steep, it was often only 6%, but often the pavement was silky smooth.  Traffic was light and rarely a problem, occasionally I would find a pullout and let some cars by.  The summit push was two big switchbacks that got a little steep at times but gave way to a summit meadow, and finally the Continental Divide!  In our group just four tackled this climb; all west coasters used to big climbs.  One had also done it the day before!

Day 10:  Aspen to Glenwood Springs:  We opted for the Snowmass option, which started with a stiff climb, followed by curvy downhill, then along scenic side roads until it joined the Rio Grande Trail at mile 20.  This was a very nice ride with several of us opting for lunch in Carbondale.

The maps, cue sheets and GPS files were spot on, the advance ride information was very thorough and complete.  BTW, we took the train from California, making the trip logistics extremely simple.  Overall the Roaring Forks trip was outstanding, led flawlessly, making it a very worry and stress-free trip; a true vacation!

Ode to the Roaring Fork Valley Ramble by Lary Schiller

Just sit back folks and listen to my tale

And I’ll tell ya bout some bikin’ on the Rio Grande Trail

We were pushin’ and pullin’ mostly coastin’ today

But we made it, yippy yippy yea

When Bob and Anne sent out this ride

On a Monday 9AM

Cyberspace was buzzing with

 requests to ride with them

We lucky few who clicked our mice

Got in because you can’t think twice.

And so we came from far and near

With fancy bikes and too much gear

At our age should we take a chance

By wearing Lycra and skin tight pants?

Many sought the land of gold

That was known as El Dorado

But we preferred to seek the Smiths

At the Hotel Colorado.

We met new friends at Happy Hour

With name tags magnetized.

Our choices at the Brew Pub

Were strictly authorized.

But nobody went hungry and we left there Supersized.

The Glenwood Canyon river trail

Was smooth and never steep

One side the road, one side the train

The canyon green and deep

As Frost the poet wisely said

We’ve miles to go before we sleep.

From Glenwood Springs we hit the trail

Just 10 miles down to Carbondale where

Under the spreading umbrellas

The Village Smithy stands

The Smithy serves up tasty meals

And we’ve become its fans.

The food is great but while you wait

Be sure to wash your hands.

The ride to Redstone was pretty hot

The swimming pool sure hit the spot

We liked the Redstone Inn a lot

Once coal was king, but now it’s not.

Ride without a cue sheet

And you will have no harm and

Forget about a GPS and just turn off your Garmin

No matter where we’re riding

A river flows beside us

Just listen for the rushing stream

The rushing river guides us.

The next day up to Marble

But not just for the view

Forget the town and just take out

SLO Groovin’ barbecue

And so farewell to Redstone,

Let’s slog on to old Basalt

The temperature was ninety-five

I’m crying, Oy Gevalt

Most frying pans are hard as Steel

But this one’s beauty makes you reel

But as the midday sun rose higher

It was out of the Frying Pan and into the fire

At Happy Hour Bob took command

And brought out lots of maps

We all paid strict attention

Drinking wine and taking naps

And then we came to Aspen

Where the aspen leaves were quaking

With gorgeous homes and gardens

How much are these people making?

We gained elevation each day, which was great

Since later that evening we also gained weight.

Marianne went up the hills

And up and up and up

She leaves the rest of us behind

Is it lonely at the top?

Most folks ride fast like T and T

And some ride slow like Judy and me

We’re always drinking water

So we have to stop and...

But whether you go fast or slow

Or somewhere in the middle

When you get down to Happy Hour

It matters very little.

Anne and Bob,  Elaine and Boyd, Kathy and Dennis, always practice safe sex

The reason isn’t random.

Cause every time they start to mount

They always use a tandem.

Did you think you saw UFOs?

They’re huge and round and flat.

No, it’s Dennis and Marita

With their screaming chartreuse hats.

Many rivers we have crossed

The names can drive you crazy

Colorado, Crystal, Maroon, Castle Creek

My memory gets hazy

Forgive me if I seem a dork

But I don’t give a Roaring Fork

This poem is getting much too long

But it would be a crime

Not to mention everyone

But I just don’t have the time

Cause Andrea and Steve and Joyce and Bill and Janet and Brian and Noreen and Yvonne

Don’t rhyme.

Our helmets off to Bob and Anne

Our leaders extraordinare

Gary and Karen drive the van

Our luggage always  there.

Our trip is done, we’ve made new friends

We’ve weathered every load,

And so until we meet again,

Somewhere down the road.