Bikepacking Trip 2025 Report - Day 4

 With days 1 and 2 still fresh in our minds, the thought of an 80 mile, 8000' day was not appealing to anyone. We looked for other options and there was an interesting one that took us over Vail pass into Copper. The problem was that the cars were not in Copper, they were still in Leadville. 

Original hellish route

Updated with fewer opportunities for suffering

Updated elevation profile

This meant that we had to do some advanced route planning: Isaac and Geoff were going to hop on the bus in Vail and ride it to Leadville while the rest of us rode over Vail Pass to Copper and all meet there for margaritas. 

Heading out of Eagle for some more bike path

Geoff coming into Avon, probably

This early route was pretty easy and a great way to start day 4. A 35 mile ride to the Vail Transit Center and we said farewell to Geoff and Isaac as they boarded the bus. 

About halfway to Vail I suffered the only flat of the trip, and I kept dealing with that for the rest of the ride! Ended up putting in a plug and then replacing it and limping to Copper. 

Later dudes

Jesse, Aaron, and I continued the last 20 miles to Copper Mountain. I'd never ridden Vail pass from this side, and it was really nice. Some short punchy climbs, and some beautiful views. They're even building a new rest stop at the top.

The frontage road leading to the bike path over the pass

looking back West into the Vail Valley

Victory margs

The last day of a ride is always bittersweet. This was a really challenging route, and luckily we were able to adjust the route as we went to avoid any additional abuse! Reflecting on the harder of the days, that is what we were in for, and it wouldn't have been an epic ride without doing some epic shit. 

Bikepacking Trip 2025 Report - Day 3

After a punishing day 2, we were slow to start and eager for a break. Today's original route took us from Basalt to Glenwood Springs, then up on top of the flat tops North of Glenwood and back down near Dotsero. This was an ambitious route that had a really intense climb in the middle. 

Outlined Route

Outlined Elevation

In universal agreement, we decided to skip the climb and enjoy the Glenwood Canyon bike path instead. It meant a slightly shorter day, but no one was complaining. 

We started off riding down the Rio Grande Trail from Basalt to Glenwood Springs. There was a fire going on near Rifle, do we were also contending with some poor air quality. 

The Rio Grande bike path

Isaac's wonderful wife left him a change of clothes and some tea in a drop car, and we enjoyed a morning cheers to help our ragged throats from the smoke. 

A more adult, refined cheers

Once we passed through Carbondale, we took a short elevator ride to the bridge over the Colorado and we were in the canyon!

No reason to climb the stairs

I hadn't ridden in Glenwood Canyon in a long time, and it was really amazing. It's a combination of looking at the towering canyon walls and the engineering feat of the highway.

Along the Colorado River

After that, it was into some bike path along the I-70 frontage road. We'd ridden some of this road a couple years ago, and it is an interesting way to experience I-70.

Picked up a guy riding from Steamboat

In a departure from the previous day's death March, we took the opportunity to stop at the Eagle River Brewing Company for pizza and beer. This got us thinking and talking - do we like really remote sections, or do we like a little Euro tour with amenities? Hard to beat pizza and beer.

Delicious beer on a hot day

Due to the shortened day, we rolled into Eagle about 4 with plenty of time to hit the shower, don the cutoffs, and check out the local scene. It was a lot of fun to have some beers and dinner when the sun was up!

Checking in to the Best of Westerns

Headed to dinner

We ate at this awesome place in downtown Eagle that served us some excellent Coors and burgers. I actually ate here a few years ago when I was in Eagle for the Enduro race series, and it was just as good. 

The Brush Creek Saloon

All in all, we made the right decision - shorter day with a lot less climbing and a fun last evening in Eagle.