Itinerary

**The itinerary below is indicative. We may make alterations to the itinerary due to weather or other circumstances.

Day 0 - Friday
You don't have to, but we recommend you arrive on Friday, a day before the tour starts, and stay the night in Boulder, near Denver. This gives you an extra day to acclimatise, and spending a night at around 5,5000 feet, instead of 9,5000 feet in Breckenridge also provides you an extra opportunity to adjust to the U.S time-zone with a good night’s sleep at a lower altitude.

Day 1 - Saturday
We pick you up in Boulder, or at Denver airport before making the two hour drive up into the Rocky Mountains to the chalet in Breckenridge, our base for the following three days. Breckenridge lies at an altitude of 9,500 feet, so we spend a couple of days acclimatizing to the altitude and getting over your jet-lag with some relatively cruisy rides to start with . We’ll head out for a quick ride this afternoon to get the legs moving – nothing too strenuous. Afterwards, we go out for a welcome dinner at one of Breckenridge's many excellent restaurants.
Riding time: 1-2 hours.

Day 2 - Sunday
Breckenridge - Dredge Boat SingleTrack. We head out on the local bike path to Tiger Road where an old dredge boat sits in a rocky creek bed – it’s a reminder of the mining era and the industry this area was founded on. A gentle singletrack climb leads us to a short and fast descent, followed by a 20 minute medium grade climb that will start to test the lungs. But not for long as we soon enter snaking undulating singletrack that leads to a fast descent into an open meadow, framed by views of the 14,000 foot peaks of the ten mile range in front of us. Finally, we are spat out at the tops of steep and tight switchbacks – it takes finesse to ride them all the first time!
Ride time: 3 hours.

Day 3 - Monday
Breckenridge - Baker's Tank. We start by heading up Boreas Pass Road, a gradual cruisy paved climb, which quickly turns to dirt road and heads up towards Boreas Pass on the Continental Divide. We soon reach Baker's Tank, about half way up the pass, previously used to refill the old steam trains which laboured up and over the Pass. This will be enough hillclimbing for some of us. Those who are feeling frisky can continue up another few miles to the Continental Divide for great views over Breckenridge and South Park (yes, that South Park ). From Baker's Tank we head into some sweet fast singletrack that is a great introduction to Colorado riding.
Ride time: 2– 3 hours.*
Distance: 26 kms
Elevation gain/loss: 580 metres
High point: 3,200 metres

Day 4 - Tuesday
Breckenridge - the Peaks Trail. This ride is probably the locals' favourite. The Peaks trail traverses the 10 mile range of mountains which run between Breckenridge and Frisco. After some nice gentle singletrack climbing out of Breckenridge, with a few challenging rock garden climbs (kudos if you manage to ride through all of them), we top out and take a break with great views of the valley below. Then the infamous 6 mile descent into Frisco begins. It's not steep, but its big-ring pedalling gnarly singletrack with enough surprises around the corners to keep you on your toes. We'll stop for a break and a bite to eat in Frisco, before either returning on the bus (it takes bikes), the paved bike path back to Breckenridge, or for those feeling energetic, returning the way we came on the Peaks Trail.
Riding time: 3-4 hours.*
Distance: 37 kms
Elevation gain/loss: 660 metres
High point: 3,100 metres

Day 5 - Wednesday
Monarch Crest Trail, Salida. Today we leave Breckenridge for Crested Butte. But on the way we ride one of the most epic trails in all of Colorado – the Monarch Crest Trail. Starting at over 11,000 feet, the trail starts with a medium difficulty climb to an elevation of 12,000 feet. Some will make an effort to middle-ring the whole climb, others may push short sections. We might also get our feet wet in patches of snow. The views from Monarch Crest Trail are incredible – the Rockies stretch out in every direction. After 10 miles of the sweet narrow stuff, we leave the Crest Trail and drop onto Marshall Pass via a 4wd track with humps just made for high-speed launches – no crashes please, you’ll need your collar-bones for the next descent. Another honest singletrack climb with some flat sections for recovery leads us to the top of Silver Creek trail. Can you say ‘narrow and rocky’? It’s a superb descent, and all the more enjoyable as you get used to your bike shifting around on the rocky, shale surface. Tubeless tires are the go hear as piles of rocks jump out at you just after you’ve let the brakes of and ‘let ‘er rip’. At the bottom of Silver Creek trail, after the trail and creek become one (wet feet are ensured), it’s decision time. Some will be buzzed enough from Silver Creek trail and can shoot down the 4wd track to the van – 10 miles of fun 4wd track that is – watch those collarbones again! Others will be up for another 10 miles of undulating singletrack – fast and narrow and complete with several lung busting short steep climbs. Not many manage to climb them all first time, but several have managed it with a couple of attempts – can you say ‘altitude interval training’? If you like tight, narrow singletrack where your efforts to maintain momentum are rewarded, Rainbow trail might be your favourite trail of the tour!
Riding time: 5-7 hours*
Distance: 53 kms
Elevation gain: 620 metres
Elevation loss: 1830 metres
High point: 3,660 metres

Day 6 - Thursday
Day off in Crested Butte. Everyone in Crested Butte seems to own an old-school cruiser bike and the town is a test centre for how to increase the use of the bicycle as transport in the USA. It's also the home of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, where you can check out some of the original clunker bikes that started it all. Or just sit with a cake and coffee and watch the world go (by bike) by. There is also an optional ‘cruisy ride’ today with no significant hills, but plenty of amazing views of the Slate River and the Maroon Bells range of mountains.
Riding time: none, or optional 1 hour cruise.

Note on Crested Butte: just where mountain biking was born is a bone of contention, Mt Tamalpais in Marin County, California with it’s Repack downhill and the big names of Gary Fisher, Tom Ritchey etc is a strong contender. Crested Butte is another: in 1976, in an effort to show a group of motorbiker’s who was the tougher bunch, a motley crew of Crested Butte locals rode their fat-tired ‘clunker’ bikes from Crested Butte over the steep and rocky Pearl Pass – staying the night on the pass (and making merriment into the small hours), before rolling into Aspen victorious the next morning. Since then it’s become an annual event, with 2006 the 30th anniversary. Whether it’s the birthplace of mountain biking or not Crested Butte gets our vote for the coolest little town in Colorado. Everyone in town seems to own an old-school fat-tired cruiser bike and the town is a test centre for how to increase the use of the bicycle as transport in the USA. It's also the home of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, where you can check out some of the original ‘clunker’ mountain bikes that started it all.

Day 7 - Friday
Crested Butte, 401 Trail. Crested Butte gets my vote for the best little town in Colorado. Everyone in town seems to own an old-school cruiser bike and the town is a test centre for how to increase the use of the bicycle as transport in the USA. It's also the home of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, where you can check out some of the original clunker bikes that started it all. The 401 trail is one of the most beautiful trails in Colorado, the rolling green meadows and wild flowers are incredible. We start the morning by cruising out of our chalet and up Gothic Road, an easy gradient dirt road passing beneath Gothic Mountain (when you see it you'll see why it's named that) on our way to Scofield Pass. From there, a short steep singletrack takes us up to the grass meadows and the fantastic 25 minute singletrack descent. After descending through the masses of wildflowers, half way down we enter the Aspen trees and shoot through a thin trail cut in the lush vegetation that slaps your handlebars. Hooting down this trail is like riding a speeder bike in Star Wars-if you make it around all the surprise switchbacks without getting into the weeds, the force is obviously strong in you.
Riding time: 3-4 hours.
Distance: 43 kms
Elevation gain/loss: 850 metres
High point: 3460 metres

Day 8 - Saturday
Reno, Flag, Bear, Deadman trail. A short shuttle delivers us to a gradual 4wd climb following Cement Creek up-stream. It becomes steeper as we leave Cement Creek behind and climb through the trees to Reno Ridge. The descent from here is pure fun – smooth fast and full of woops carved in the by the motos who also use this trail too (though we rarely see them). If you like pump-tracks, you’ll like this descent. A stiff singletrack climb follows as we head back up for more elevation. The last descent is steep at first as we plummet down into the Aspens over small drops and sharp corners. Finally we reach Deadmans Switchbacks – these are wide switchbacks that can be taken at quite high speed – just watch for the sudden drop-ins on some corners! Apparently there’s at least 33, but most people lose count after the first couple and just hang on and enjoy the ride! A stream crossing at the end provides an opportunity to practice your log riding skills…
Riding time: 4-6 hours.

Day 9 - Sunday
Durango/Silverton - Hermosa Creek Trail. From Purgatory ski resort, home of the 1990 World Championships, we ride 2 miles up a gentle dirt road, before descending to Hermosa Creek. From Hermosa Creek we start the 20 mile singletrack descent following the creek to the township of Hermosa, just out of Durango. There are a couple of short sharp singletrack climbs to break the descent and keep us honest. This is classic gravity assisted Colorado singletrack – fast and flowing with a few rocks to keep you on your toes. It’s an absolute favourite with the Durango locals and is a favourite trail of many our past guests.
Riding time: 3-5 hours.
Elevation gain: 420 metres
Elevation loss: 1230 metres
High point: 2520 metres

Day 10 - Monday
Day off in Durango. Durango is another mountain bike mecca in Colorado. Mountain Bike Specialists on the main street has many of local hero and mountain bike legend Ned Overend's World Champ bikes on display - well worth checking out. A great option for the day is to take the scenic steam-train journey over to Silverton and check out "Notorious Blair Street" formerly lined with houses of ill-repute and the scene of many "this town ain't big enough for the both of us" shootouts. In the afternoon we make the four hour drive to Moab.
Riding time: none

Day 11 - Tuesday
Moab - Slickrock Trail. Moab started life as a missionary outpost in the late 1800s, then fuelled by the cold war Moab became a key source of uranium in the U.S. Nowadays four wheel driving, rock climbing and mountain biking are what people come to Moab for. Possibly the most well known mountain bike trail in the world: Slickrock Trail is unique - the "trail" is painted on the super grippy sandstone surface. The grip available on Slickrock Trail is like no other and it means you can ride all sorts of inclines and descents that wouldn't be possible elsewhere-leave your excuses about your rear tyre slipping out at home because making it up these climbs is all about balance, and lungs! It's only 12 miles long, but this trail is constantly pushing you and you'll be amazed how worn out you feel after riding such a short distance. Due to the heat, we hit the trail early to avoid the worst of the afternoon heat. Spend the rest of the day soaking in the pool, or lazing under shady trees.
Riding time: 3-4 hours.
Distance: 20kms
Elevation gain/loss: 640 metres
High point: 1460

Day 12 - Wednesday
Moab- Porcupine Rim Trail including UPS and LPS trails. Porcupine Rim is arguably the best trail in Moab. We shun the usual 4 mile rocky climb (excellent though it is) and shuttle up into the La Sal Mountains above Moab to include the lesser known and recently legalized singletracks (upper porcupine singletrack and lower porcupine singletrack) that start in the La Sal Mountains and drop into the top of the Porcupine Rim ride. Unlike most Moab riding, which is on rocky ground through barren landscape, the Upper Porcupine Rim singletrack is a relatively smooth snaking trail through trees and the scrubby bush that can withstand the harsh desert conditions. It’s one of the two best single tracks in Moab (the other is coming up at the end of this ride!). Soon enough we reach Porcupine Rim trail proper and the overlook over Castle Valley-which is the setting for many a cowboy film and the for the old Marlborough Cigarette advertisements. It's a hell of a view. Then we begin the infamous double track descent that reportedly has 200 rock drops and ledges (who's counting after 100?). The singletrack begins again at Jack Ass Canyon, a 4 mile descent that has many riders waxing lyrical for hours afterwards "did you see me make it up that rocky ledge and then drop down that rock step before railing that corner just after the big rock???". After 4 hours of descending, this ride alone will give you plenty of material to talk the ears off your riding buddies back home.
Riding time: 4-5 hours (downhill!).
Distance: 40kms
Elevation gain: 180 metres
Elevation loss: 1520 metres
High point: 2530 metres

Day 13 - Thursday
Moab – Amasa Back. With an early morning start providing shade, the gradual incline of the dirt road climb is a nice warm-up to our ride. But don’t get comfortable, because after crossing a small creek, the sickrock climb up Amasa Back begins in ernest. It’s rocky, and ledgy and technical, but 100% rideable if you pick good lines over the slabs and up the rocks. The grade isn’t steep but the continuously technical nature of the trail makes it an honest couple of hours to the top. At the top, those who suffer vertigo may want to look away – a cliff with a 1000 foot straight drop signifies the end of the trail! Now, we either head back down the way we came for fast descending, picking your line over ledges and rocks, or some may want to head down the optional Jacksons Trail – a thin ribbon of sometimes steep and technical singletrack clinging to the canyon wall above the Colorado River. You have to be really on your game to clean Jacksons Trail! After the ride, we follow the Colorado river to Vail, then onto Breckenridge
Riding time: 3 hours*.

Day 14 - Friday
Breckenridge. There are two options today. The super-fun West Ridge section of the Colorado Trail – a hard hour long singletrack climb in the trees leads to probably the fastest narrowest in the trees singletrack downhill of the tour. It’s simply magic and an awesome way to end your tour. Or, for those who fancy a truely epic ride, we begin on Kenosha Pass and make our way up to the almost 12,000 Georgia Pass, taking in views of the plains of South Park below. It’ll take us about three hours to reach the pass, and after an equally epic singletrack descent, if you have the legs, it’s time to do what the others did earlier in the day – West Ridge Colorado Trail. Either way, you’ll have earned the farewell dinner tonight, with a chance to relax and reflect on the past two weeks of riding with new friends.
Riding time: 3-7 hours*.
Distance: 43 kms
Elevation gain/loss: 800 metres
High point: 3,400 metres


Day 15 - Saturday
Depart Denver and return home with plenty of memories and a bunch of new riding buddies.

Day 16 – Sunday, in transit to New Zealand

Day 17- Monday, (“sweet mercy, let me off this plane!”) Arrive in New Zealand.


*Riding time varies depending on which trail option you choose, and of course, how fast we ride.
**We may make alterations to the itinerary due to weather or other conditions.