Math for Mtn Bikers 401+403=804

Spent the day riding up 403 and then to 401 yesterday. The views were killer, and the ride was awsome as well! Riding Washington Gultch up to 403 is quite the climb. The house at the top of the hill is where I plan to retire one day. Talk about livin large! The only downside of today's ride was the climb from Gothic camp ground to the trailhead at the top of Scholfield Pass. We got a late start so there were a lot of cars, bikes, and sight seers on the road. My ride partner Rey and I were able to pass most of them on the climb until I got a bad link in my chain. Rey kept climbing while I took time to fix it. There's nothing more irritating than bad shifting.

View from 401 Trail

Once I got to the trailhead on Scholfield Pass I was able to catch the groups we passed. They were nice enough to rest at the top of the hill so it was easy to catch them. Instead of stopping we kept riding, hoping to get a nice fast downhill. We were able to get a couple of miles in before we ran into several groups of six or seven each we had to pass. Word to the wise....when you hear bikes coming on you from behind on a downhill, they will most likely want to pass you. Be polite...pull over....especially when they ask nicely.

We lost all the packs when we started climbing again at the bottom of 401 at Rustler's Gultch. Most people head down from there rather than taking the climb back up to add more single-track into the town of Gothic. From there we did my least favorite climb back to Crested Butte. As an added bonus, we rode the front side of the resort, and then grabbed Upper Loop to Tony's, finishing at the parking lot at the Chamber. All in all it was a great day of riding!

Doctor's Park, or Reno Flag and Bear today...not sure...have to get Rey fed first.

Later,

Sir RexALot