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FRUITA! |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by M. Longhofer
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Tuesday, 26 June 2007 |
Destination - Fruita, Colorado!
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My hip thankfully seemed to turn a corner about three weeks prior to my planned trip out west. So, it indeed looked like I would be able to ride while there. I was super-jazzed about this and the fact that I hadn’t had a week’s vacation in over a year!
Day 1 – at altitude – 9800’
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We rolled out of bed at approximately 7 after an evening of dinner wine-laden frivolity. Note to self – drink less alcohol at altitude in future…. We ate breakfast, packed up the car and headed south-west for the approx. three-hour drive that was breathtakingly beautiful the entire way. We passed through Vail and Glenwood Springs. See photos of the journey, as it’s not just about the destination but also the journey.
 
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We rolled into Fruita at 1:00 PM on Wednesday June 13. After coming from higher elevation and rainy, cool weather, the heat and 5000’ elevation of the “desert” was welcomed! We immediately when to the “Over the Edge” bike shop to pick up my rented ride.  | | click to enlarge |
We then headed out to the Kokopolli trailhead about 10 min. out of town.
The first trail that was recommended was the “Mary’s Loop” which seemed fairly appropriate. It starts with a road climb up over the “hogback” then a road descent and drops onto the trail on the other side. The trail starts with a loose rocky jeep road climb then immediately starts skirting the canyon with numerous incredible views of the canyon and Colorado River.
 
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At approx. mile 2, we crossed through a cattle gate to drop (and I mean drop!) into the Horsethief Bench Trail. It starts with a KNARLY rocky descent and my riding partner, Mark, and I chose mostly to walk (see me sizing it up at the top and then riding about two drops ).  | | click to enlarge |
Most of it was un-rid able but being on a rented bike with a wobbly front tire (thought it was out of true but turns out the bead wasn’t set well….uh…could’ve died descending on this thing….) thought it smart to not risk ending up in the Fruita ER and having the trip be game over on day 1. So we clamored down this section on foot, which turned out was no easy feat (pun intended).
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So, the payoff was at the bottom. The trail was situated down in the canyon, which translated into amazingly smooth, fast, buttery, sweeping single track that was totally dry and hard packed (and with no roots – I’m not in New England anymore!!). There was also what felt like a 10-degree increase in the temp. which was 90 degrees outside the canyon.  | | click to enlarge |
So for this girl from Maine used to 60 degree temps., suffice it to say it was CALIENTE! It sure felt good to sweat and bake, all the same though. The 4 mile loop totally rocked!! At the end we literally crawled back up the rocky ridge to the top of Mary’s Loop rim to complete our ride.  | | click to enlarge |
The remainder of this trail hugged the ridge and continued to provide incredible over look views with not too much trail to spare on the other side in some spots. One of those “one bad move or whack of the inside pedal thereby sending you off the ridge into the canyon and I’m a gonner” situations. Woo ha! The thrill of it all. We ended the ride on an approx. 4 mile frontage road in the 88 degree heat.  | | click to enlarge |
We were pretty much baked after 2 ½ hours of riding and not a drop of water to spare in Mark’s camelback! I was toting bottles, which clearly wasn’t too smart in this heat. Can chalk that up to Maine ignorance (or should I call it bliss…). We completed the day with Mark getting his banged up wheel re-trued, my tire put on properly, $2.00 beer at the local brewery, showers (ah yes, but how’d my hair become a salt lick?!), then a Margarita (salt of course) and Mexican dinner at “Fiesta Quadalarharra!” Ole! This is living! I think we were all asleep by 9 PM, dog included. We were beat - someone snored that night…and it wasn’t me.
Day 2-
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We leisurely got around in the morning, had really bad Super 8 Coffee, and made our way to the trail at about 9:30 in hopes of catching cooler temps. My ‘druthers would have to been to be on the trail by 8 or so, but my friends move even slower than I in the AM. Today, Mark and I were joined by his lovely wife, Carolyn. She is 6 months pregnant and saddled up for the Rustler’s Loop. She motored up the hill – blowing up dust and rocks the entire way.  | | click to enlarge |
Now that’s what I call one tough lady! Rustler’s Loop was a blast! Swooping hard packed, 100% rid able, single-track fun with more incredible views of the canyon and river. I banged out a couple of loops – one to leisurely ride for photos ops. and one to ride hard. I stopped to snap a photo of Mr. cool colored lizard sunning himself on a rock. He didn’t seem too concerned by my presence…must be used to traffic out there. The trail finished with some super fun, twisty whoops!
 
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After resting in the shade of the cut out canyon with Mark and Carolyn, I decided continue my ride up the steep road over the hogback and on toward another trail that had been recommended. I got about 2-3 miles down the frontage road and succumbed to the heat. It felt like 90 degrees already at 11:30 AM.  | | click to enlarge |
I couldn’t risk blowing up on the trail out in the middle of nowhere so I packed it in to have some lunch with Mark and Carolyn and dog, Bridger, in the picnic area at the trail head. After all, I wanted to save something for the planned Summit Cove/Keystone ride (at altitude) the next day. (Which did prove to be phenomenal by the way, although the air was pretty thin up there!)
So, in conclusion, for anyone even remotely considering a trip to Fruita, my advice is that YOU MUST GO! Fruita is a definite must stop – whether as a destination or as a stopping off point for mt. bikers of all levels. (I’ve heard from others that Moab pales in comparison to Fruita) My suggestions to anyone that plans to go:
1. You could easily spend a week there.
2. Preferable to go prior to June or in the fall as it is HOT in the summer. I just can’t tolerate that heat, at least not being acclimated to it.
3. Preferable to have one’s own bike for any extended trip. I did enjoy the comfort of the dual suspension (Rocky Mountain Element) I rented but sure missed riding my dialed in Salsa Moto Rapido or Surly single speed. What I rode would be very do-able and quite fun on a single speed.
4. If you can’t avoid a trip in the summer, at least bring yer sun block and a camelback. The sun there is very direct and heats you up quick!
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So, the journey back to Mark and Carolyn’s was again full of beautiful scenery. We made a stop in Vail to walk around the village, have a cold bevy, and see how those with da bling, bling live.  | | click to enlarge |
We then continued back up to altitude to finish our evening with some of Mark’s home brew and another great meal put on by my hosts. A double thumbs up road trip and couple of days!!
Until next time, ride on, ride safe, and ride happy!
Mary
 
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