TrailLove Episode 2: The Grand Valley, Colorado
Episode 2 of the 4-part #TrailLove series comes from the Grand Valley of Colorado. This region, found on Colorado's western slopes, is an arid and rugged high desert, with beautiful flat top mesas and red rock formations; and features some of the world's most heralded mountain bike destinations. While the region is exploding with more and more trails, and exciting opportunities including lift-served downhill atop the Grand Mesa overlooking the valley, it is Grand Junction and Fruita that serve as the area's premier trail destinations. Despite only a dozen miles separating their respective city centers, the two towns offer vastly different riding opportunities, with Grand Junction's Lunch Loops providing an abundance of rocky and technical options, and Fruita's 18 Road area offering ridgelines and flow for miles and miles. Adam Snyder, Brice Shirbach and Derek Bissett had a blast exploring the two areas in spite of some early season inclement weather and untimely injuries, and soaked in as much of the Grand Valley mountain bike culture and history as they could.
The BMC Trailcrew follow each other down a Fruita classic, known as "Joe's Ridge". Moon dust be damned.
Derek Bissett was on fire all week leading up to his separated shoulder. The Ohio native sacrificed a lot for this project, and was keen to be a part of it even when riding wasn't an option.
The Trailcrew experienced a bevy of weather conditions throughout their week in western Colorado, including several days of high winds, thunderstorms and below average temps. That meant that when it was go time, it was go time. Just ask Adam Snyder.
Free Lunch was a favourite among the Trailcrew in Grand Junction, with high speed technical sections, jumps, drops and plenty of rocks.
By the week's end, Brice would amass a nice collection of ailments including a broken toe, a torn calf muscle, a bruised knee cap and a hole in his palm. When you pick a fight with rocks, the rocks will always win.
Time has done some wonderful things to the Valley, and much of it is fair game for riders.
There are line choices aplenty throughout the Lunch Loops in Grand Junction. Derek usually prefers the most direct route from Point A to Point B.
The Book Cliffs offer up an astonishing backdrop to the north of the Grand Valley. You often need to remind yourself to keep your eyes on the trail with scenery like this, as the trail will often disappear from beneath you without much notice.
Adam Snyder is one of the country's best bike handlers, and had a blast two wheel-drifting the thick layer of high desert dust found throughout Fruita's 18 Road area.
The Grand Junction Visitor and Convention Bureau
The Moon Farm in Fruita
Over the Edge Sports in Fruita
The Grand Valley Trail Alliance
Want to join the BMC Trailcrew?
BMC is searching for local riders; the men and women who are on the trails riding, digging, and shooting every chance they get. These individuals are the core of their local crew. They organize the rides, are a regular at their local bike shop, know the best lines, and always have cold beers ready at the end of an epic day. Interested? Find out more at:
www.bmc-switzerland.com/bmc-trailcrew-program
If you like what you see then please support our friends at the COPMOBA - Grand Valley Canyons Chapter and earn some Trail Karma while you're at it.
MENTIONS: @ridebmc / @briceshirbach / @trailforks / @devonbalet
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Ryan - some fall I'll make it there somehow!
Yikes.
Should have been wearing gloves and knee pads...oh, never mind. (bruised v. broken I guess)
Looks like the rocks are bigger there than the Brandywine.