My wife and I mountain biked at last year's event but this year we're bringing the road bikes with us. There's a paved bike path thar runs down towards Frisco that we keep seeing people ride on all the time that we'll give a try this year.

If anyone else is interested in joining us let us know and we can all get a group together to ride down there. We're not in great shape so the pace won't be fast. I'll probably be stopping a bit to take pictures of the scenery and to catch my breath hehe.

If you don't bring your bikes but would like to ride then you can always rent a bike at Copper.

We'll be arriving Thursday so we're up for a ride Thur, Fri or Sat. We just need advance notice so we can do the other MINI stuff on the days we don't ride our bikes.

 

I may be interested. I am just planning on so much stuff (I want to go horseback riding and toodle down to Garden of the Gods, too) and I'm afraid I won't have time for everything.

How long of a ride, time-wise, are you thinking about?

 

Garden of the Gods is only about 35 min from our house but at least 3 hrs from Copper Mountain. When did you plan on arriving in Colorado? If you get here earlier than Thursday and decide you really want to see it then we can make some recommendations on things to do around that area.

Bike riding time....I'm guessing 2 hours because I have no idea how long that path is and where it leads. 3 hours if we stop someplace to eat and take lots of picture. Again, I'm not sure on the length of the bike path so I'm just making guesses. If it's shorter than I thought it would be then that's even better because it will leave more time for MINI activities.

Where were you planning on horseback riding? We might be interested in that if you're looking for more people to go with. If you don't need more people then no worries. We understand hehe.

 

Garden of the Gods is 3 hours away? I thought it was closer. I need more days! I am planning on arriving on Thursday.

I think I read about riding on the Copper Mountain site; I'm not sure of where it is exactly. I thought it might be nice to take a little break from driving (I'm coming 1000 miles, alone) and biking and/or riding horses would be a nice break. OK, found it. Copper Mountain Stables. I don't know rates or anything.

I am still so much in the planning phase, but I love to bike too. Maybe on Friday? Depending on how much bike rental costs. I probably won't bring my bike since I'm camping after MitM.

 

I brought my bikes last year, but we are going to rent this year. Slower pace sounds like a good plan for us too.

We won't arrive until mid-day Thursday, so a Friday ride sounds good. Morning?

Any thoughts on what the weather might be like?

 

No idea on weather conditions. This is Colorado so what I say one minute doesn't count the next hehe.

I'm assuming it will be in the mid 70s to low 80s.

Friday morning sounds good to me. Will have to check with the wife and see what she thinks as I've learned never to make definite plans without her consent...errr....input *looks nervously over his shoulder*. hehe

Let us know what you find out about the horseback riding. When you want to go, rates and stuff like that.

 

Will do!

 

There is a continuous bike path (paved trail), generally along I-70 that goes from Frisco (east of Copper Mountain Resort), through Copper Mountain, then up and over Vail Pass and into Vail. It's a challenging route, but can be ridden in shorter sections. Just a suggestion...
Rick

 

I think that's the one we were looking at doing but riding down to Frisco/Breckenridge. Is that the same path?

 

I found a map..http://www.pioneer-sports.com/images/bikepath.jpg

Is Pioneer Sports the place that rents the bike? so you have to drive to get to the rental place? or is there a bike rental place right at Copper Mountain?

Pioneer rents them for $14/2 hours. I don't think I'd want to go much longer - I want to drive my MINI, too!

 

and other sporting goods stores, located in Frisco, are as close as it gets. 1 exit down the highway.

Of course, there are rentals at Copper itself. Try Peak Sports.

JPS

 

My suggestion is rent it at Copper.

 

From my memory, there was a bike rental place at the main Copper ski lift. Don't remember the prices, but that is my current plan, cause I don't want to haul my bike again.

So was the preferred plan to ride on Friday morning?

 

I think so. We'll have to see when the shop at Copper opens Friday morning and plan on leaving about 30 min after the shop opens so everyone has time to get their bike.

 

Friday morning sounds alright to me.

 

sent IMs out to Ladidah and abbydog3 about the bike ride.

just trying to nail down non-specifics before it gets too late

 

Don't expect me to ride this trail! :D

 

Aren't those the Cliffs of Moher? I don't remember a bike trail there.

 

lol. although that looks like fun, maybe after MITM 2 but not during hehe. i want to get a few rides in before i face death. hehe

i'd also be wearing a parachute on my back instead of my camelback

 

It's a good thing that those guys in the photo are wearing helmets, or they might hurt themselves!

 

Bring your mtn bikes -- you can always take your mtn bike on the pavement but a road bike doesn't work on the dirt...

If you or anyone else is very motivated for a dawn-patrol drive over to Leadville on Saturday morning, get there before 6:30 AM to catch the start of the Leadville MTB 100. Even though Lance withdrew his entry and Floyd will probably be a no-show, there are going to be almost 1000 entrants biking down Main Street at the start. And if you brought your mtn bike, you could pace me to the finish over the last 12 miles or so so. I gotta make it back in time for the MINI group photo at Copper...

-B

 

We don't plan on going on any dirt this year.

Hmmm....at 10,000 ft or so I don't think we'd be pacing anyone the last 12 miles. I do know that the ambulance would probably be pacing us hehe.

 

Check out the course profile below. The fun part will be the five climbs, especially the mid-race 3300' climb up to the Columbine Mine at 12,550'... -B

 

oh look, at mile 40 and 60 they get a breather at 9200 ft hehe

kinda sucks that they have an uphill finish like that though.